The Yoga of Drawing – Seeing as Practice

The Yoga of Drawing – Seeing as Practice

What if yoga were not only something you practice on a mat,but also a way of seeing and experiencing yourself and the world around you?

This weekend workshop explores selected ideas from yogic philosophy through the practice of observational drawing (realistic drawing from direct observation).

While we will touch on basic drawing skills, the main focus is not technical mastery but on how we see, perceive, and relate to what is in front of us and to what arises within us as we look. Through drawing, these ideas are approached not only through thinking but also through direct experience.

We will explore themes such as separation, connection, and dualism, and the ways we take part in shaping them, often without noticing. Much of what we experience is shaped not only by what is actually seen, but by what we think we see, through memory, past experience, and familiar patterns.

Rather than trying to change or improve what we find, the practice takes a different direction by introducing perspectives that invite us to approach life with curiosity and honesty. In this sense, yoga is not approached as a way to fix the self, but as a starting point for self-discovery. It is a practice that includes, rather than excludes, the different parts of our experience.It is also held as one perspective among others, something that can enrich how we relate to ourselves and the world, without needing to replace other ways of understanding.

This is not a typical yoga or drawing workshop, but a unique combination that creates a space for simplicity and groundedness from which new ways of seeing what is can blossom.

When?

Saturday, June 13th,  10:00 - 13:30

Sunday, June 14th, 12:00- 15:30

*Each session might be extended by 30 minutes.

Where?

Ashtanga Yoga Berlin, Saarbrücker Str. 26, 10405 Berlin

Each session includes:

• Gentle asana (soft, accessible movement)
• Guided meditation
• Short philosophical talks and inquiry
• Introduction of drawing principles and their connection to yoga and perception
• Practice of observational drawing from direct perception (with support, of course)
• Reflection and closing meditation

Price:

Regular price: 130 Euros

Social price: 90 Euros

Sponsor price: 150 Euros

The event can be canceled up to 72 hours in advance. For cancellation requests, please send an email to info@ashtangaberlin.com

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is for curious people interested in finding new ways to see and experience themselves, life, and the world around them. 

It is designed for those who wish to:

• Make abstract concepts tangible by exploring them through the direct experience of drawing.
• Look behind what our eyes see, noticing how memory and familiar patterns shape what we think we see and experience.
• Discover more about themselves by approaching their experience with curiosity and honesty rather than trying to fix or change it.

Also, no experience in yoga or drawing is required.

Come as you are.

A few words about Shiran, your guide

Hi, I am Shiran. I am an artist, drawing instructor, and yoga teacher+student. I’ve been drawing from observation for as long as I can remember, and I started my regular Ashtanga Mysore practice over 13 years ago.

Early on, I saw a connection between the ideas in yoga texts and the practice of drawing. While yoga brought wonderful gifts into my life right from the start, for many years, I also used it as an escape, especially from eating disorders. Finding recovery from eating disorders, addictions, and physical illness through various services and techniques has profoundly shaped how I relate to yoga today. Over time, I found my way to incorporate yoga as a precious perspective rather than the only answer, moving away from the rigidity that went hand in hand with my conditions.

This is the first time I am officially bringing drawing into the yoga studio. The aim is to make these perspectives tangible and simple by drawing what our eyes see. It is a way to deepen our perception of ourselves, others, and the world around us without rejecting parts of our experience in the name of "purity." I see the yoga of drawing as a door to honest communication and presence.

I would be delighted to see you at the workshop!