Including Art in Yoga Therapy: A Journey to See Myself More Clearly 

October 10, 2025

This week, I had a module on Yoga Therapy and Art Therapy, and it was such a beautiful and eye-opening experience.

When I started drawing, I didn’t think too much — I just let my hand move. But soon, I realized that what appeared on the paper was actually me — my emotions, my thoughts, my patterns, even parts of myself that I wasn’t fully aware of. Art really reflects who you are, both consciously and unconsciously.

Seeing it visually helps you understand yourself more deeply — your bliss, your memories, the people who shaped you, and your whole journey that brought you here. It’s like seeing your own life story laid out in color and form.

One exercise I really loved was to draw my “inner bliss,” then cover it with paper as if to protect something sacred inside. Later, we opened it up and looked again — and that simple act felt so much like yoga itself. Yoga is also about gently opening what’s hidden within, with kindness and awareness.

After that, we did a yoga practice and then returned to our drawings. The difference was amazing. With a clear and calm mind, the drawing felt completely different — more peaceful, more authentic. I could see things I hadn’t seen before.

Another drawing that touched me deeply was one of a castle and moat. The image was meant to reflect our relationships, boundaries, and defenses. When I looked at my drawing, I noticed that I had built a bridge over the moat so people could come into my property, but the door to the castle was closed. That made me realize that I do want to invite people into my life, but I’m also careful about who I truly let into my private world.

Maybe it’s something that comes with age, but after turning 50, I’ve started to feel that I want my circle of friends to be quality over quantity. I value deeper, more genuine connections — people who can come into my “castle” with honesty and warmth.

Art therapy, just like yoga, helps you notice what’s going on beneath the surface. Sometimes you realize, “Oh, I didn’t know that thought or feeling was still there.” That kind of awareness is so healing.

For me, combining art with yoga therapy became a way to look at myself from another angle — not just through the body or the breath, but through colors, shapes, and emotions. It’s another path to kizuki — to realization and self-understanding.

If you’d like to try it yourself:
Before your next yoga practice, take a few minutes to draw — anything that comes to mind. Don’t think too much; just let your hand move. Then do your yoga, breathe, and return to your drawing afterward. Notice if something shifts. You might be surprised by what your inner self reveals.