REIMAGINING TRADITION: DYNAMICS OF YOGA AND ODISSI DANCE THROUGH THE LENS OF ŚĀSTRIC FRAMEWORKS AND CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE

Abstract

This article critically examines the symbiotic relationship between Odissi dance and Yoga through the integrated framework of classical śāstric literature and modern pedagogical practices. Grounded in foundational texts such as the Nāṭyaśāstra (Bharata, trans. 2006), Abhinaya Darpaṇa (Nandikeshvara, trans. 1992), and Sangīta Ratnākara (Sharma, 2001), this study explores how embodied movement, breath control (prāṇāyāma), and spiritual intent converge to form a unified psychophysical discipline. This study, informed by Sharon Lowen's foundational analysis of Odissi (Lowen 1982) and my doctoral research titled “Dynamics of Yoga and Odissi Dance: Exploring the Benefits,” underscores the enduring significance of ancient knowledge systems in influencing modern performance techniques, choreography, and dancer well-being. The combined practice of Yoga and Odissi fosters comprehensive well-being by synchronizing physical discipline with meditative awareness, which is scientifically associated with enhanced mental health, emotional regulation, and neuroplasticity (Goyal et al., 2014; Tang et al., 2015).