Architecture + Yoga

I feel like this post should come with a disclaimer that I am not religiously affiliated with the practices of yoga, but simply enjoy the occasional yoga class and the calming effect it has on me.  The practice of yoga involves the connection between the mind and the body, creating a wholesome environment. In the text by Phillipe Rahm, he says that “Between the infinitely small of the physiological and the infinitely vast of the meteorological, architecture must build sensual exchanges between body and space and invent there new aesthetical philosophies approaches capable of making long-term changes to the form and the way we will inhabit buildings tomorrow.” This can be directly linked to the practice of yoga in the sense that architecture and design should be a wholesome integration of these aspects that he talks about including sustainability.

He presents an interesting case because a lot of practicing architects don’t design in such a way…for example LEED design. The intent of LEED is good, but one of the problems that it creates is that sustainability is not fully integrated into the design but rather implemented later to fulfill a requirement.  But such is the nature of our profession- everything is dictated by money and deadlines and often times sustainable and wholesome practices or innovative ideas are just an afterthought.  Imagine what would happen if the mindset could shift and these ideas were more integrated into our buildings instead of the buildings that go up so thoughtlessly. Imagine the effect on society if more people did yoga.