Kate Hardy - 2021

Artist's Statement

Given my lack of skills in visual art or music composure, I wanted to gear my project to something else I'm passionate about: yoga. I'm a yoga instructor and I love designing classes.Yoga has a lot of connection to the natural world and humans’ relationship with it. In addition to yoga, I love writing so I incorporated some informational writing within this project as well.

For this project, I designed a short yoga asana sequence that would connect to a yoga term called “ahimsa,” or nonviolence. I recorded the sequence and then sped it up to make it more succinct (usually such yoga sequences would be very slow and mindful, but for the sake of time and viewer’s sanity I elected to make it shorter). The video is embedded in a Google Slide presentation so that I could provide some written work describing these aspects of yoga and how they connect to the Anthropocene. This way, I could fully explain information regarding yoga and how it connects to this class, without having to cram it into one page as part of my artist statement.

My motivation for this yoga-based project was to show yet another method of caring for and preserving the earth. We have become familiar with the science and the politicization of climate change and human impact. We can also utilize introspection and observance practices that are very present in yoga, and use those to better appreciate the earth that we have.

Yoga and the earth. Kate Hardy.
Yoga and Nature. The word yoga means "to yoke" or "to unite." This can mean any number of unities, whether it be the unity of body and breath, of mind and spirit, or of body/breath/mind with Earth and nature. Yoga can be a tool to connect us more intimately with the natural world.
The Yamas and the Niyamas. The Yamas & Niyamas are yoga's ethical guidelines for one's practice or their entire lifestyle. Consider it as a map of do's and don'ts for this journey we refer to as life. Yamas are restraints (don't), Niyamas are observances (do),
The Yamas and the Niyamas continued. Yamas: Ahimsa: nonviolence Satya: truthfulness Asteya: non-stealing Brahmacharya: non-excess Aparigraha: non-possessiveness non-greed. Niyamas: Saucha: purity Santosha: contentment Tapas: slef-discipline, training your senses Svadhyaya: self study, inner exploration Ishvara Pranidhana: surrender. For this project the focus will solely be on the first of the Yamas- Ahimsa.
Ahimsa. Ahimsa translates to "nonviolence". This means nonviolence towards ourselves, others, and the environment. Kindness, love, comopassion, forgiveness, protection
Example video. Ahimsa yoga Asana Sequence. I designed this short yoga sequence keeping in mind poses that provide more surface area and direct contact with the earth. At the end you'll notice that I am seated on my knees (contact with the earth) and breathing for several moments. This introspective time allows for further connection not only to my breath, but also to the living, breathing organism that is our planet.
Ahimsa with the anthropocene. Ahisma does NOT mean that we avoid change or hard work. We MUST have accountability, discipline, and compassion toward the earth if we are to have any hope of preserving it. Instead of observing the decimation and creating an attitude of resignation or defeat, we can still acknowledge what the earth still has to offer, and commit to protection it in anyway we know how. NONVIOLENCE, love, respect, honor and protection toward nature.