Yoga & Architecture

For me there is a dialogue between how we feel and how we perceive the world to be. When we feel well there is a natural inclination towards awareness; of the beautiful, the positive. The way the light expresses itself over a surface can induce happiness for example. Yoga is a practise of awareness. It is a practise which is very effective at cultivating a sense of ease and joy.

Architecture also has the possibility to affect how we feel. We are sensory beings affected by the many qualities that layer up a space; light, sound, colour, texture and smell. All of these qualities can contribute to how we feel. A space can make us feel overwhelmed and anxious or promote feelings of tranquility and ease.

Imagine for a moment a dimly lit corridor, low ceilings, tiled floors which are yellowed with age and dirt. There are no windows or doors. Then imagine a room which is flooded with natural light, high ceilings and windows framing a garden. 

Both scenarios induce a feeling.  

Both architecture and yoga affect how we feel, one from the inside out and the other from the outside in. 

I am interested in this inquiry of happiness and human flourishing.

I lived away from the ocean for over a decade and ‘post swim feeling’ became the term used to describe that sense of vitality, joy and wellbeing after an experience; a sauna, a mountain walk, a yoga class. The nostalgic strings of home for the very specific sensory drenching that the indian ocean offers me. Inherent in this idea is the role of memory to define our preferences, our story. This is something that yoga also tries to unlock. 

So the relationship with yoga and architecture is a dance. The happier we are on the inside the more inclined we are to notice the positive aspects of our surroundings (architectures humble accolades; beauty, virtue) and the more we surround ourselves with positive architecture the more possibility we give ourselves to flourish.