Dance and Yoga

More commonly seen as seperate in western society, dance and yoga are intertwined in myriad ways. Many teachings of yoga emphasise and embrace the connection between the two forms of movement. Shiva Rea states in The Yoga Journal, that in the Hindu tradition gods and goddesses dance as a away of expressing the dynamic energy of life. Shiva, the Lord of the Dance is also Yogiraj, who it is said created more than 840,000 asanas and most hatha poses practiced today.

More recently, NIA (Neuromuscular Integrative Action), developed in the 1980s, incorporates elements of modern and jazz dance, martial arts, yoga in a class that focuses on strength, endurance, balance and flexibility through choreographed action and improvised movement. As Kelle Walsh writes in The Yoga Journal, Founders Debbie and Carlos Rosas note that the philosophy of Nia is to achieve fitness goals through the pleasure principle, focusing on self-expression, healing, and mindfulness.