Yoga & Yoni Art: Why They Belong Together

Finding a deeper connection between yoga and yoni art allows us to move past the "fitness" mindset and start treating our bodies as the sacred spaces they've always been.

I initially set foot on a yoga mat for reasons that were, admittedly, rather petty. 

For years, whenever I mentioned my struggles with anxiety, someone would inevitably ask, "Have you tried doing yoga?" The suggestion, however well-intentioned, felt dismissive; as if a few stretches and poses could unshackle weights I’d been dragging for years. 

When I did finally go to a yoga class at a 24-hour gym, it was mostly because I wanted to prove them wrong. And, on first pass, I succeeded. 

I stood on a thin rubber mat, surrounded by mirrors, under buzzing fluorescent lights. The room smelled of sweat and hand sanitizer. On the other side of a glass wall, treadmills whirred and free weights pounded the floor. My skepticism was rewarded; the experience was anything but relaxing.

This is how many of us first encounter yoga: in spaces designed for fitness, within a mindset of self-improvement or "fixing" a problem. 

But this modern framework has disconnected the practice from its actual soul. Yoga was not conceived as a way to stretch, tighten, and tone, but as a path toward spiritual liberation — a way to bring harmony to the mind, body, and soul.

When we look deeper at these origins, it becomes clear why the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery was built as a space to both view yoni art and practice yoga. These two traditions, together, can both help us stop managing our bodies and start inhabiting them.

How Yoga & the Yoni are Connected

If you have ever spent time in a yoga studio, you have heard Sanskrit words like Āsana (postures), Prāna (life force), and Vinyāsa (intentional movement). Yoga itself originates from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means "union." It implies a union of mind and body, directing thoughts toward a specific intention.

Yoni is also a Sanskrit word with layers of meaning. It refers to the female reproductive anatomy as well as the "source" or "origin" of life. When we talk about yoni art, we mean any work that symbolizes this creative power.

The shared thread between yoga and the yoni is found in the Tantric tradition. While yoga has older Vedic origins, modern physical yoga (Hatha Yoga) has deep roots in Tantra. To understand why this matters, we have to look at how spirituality viewed the body before Tantra arrived.

Many earlier spiritual paths saw the physical body as an obstacle to overcome or a burden to be ignored in favor of the "higher" mind. Tantra flipped this perspective. It taught that the body is not a distraction from the spirit, but as a “temple” through which we can achieve spiritual growth.

One of the most important Tantric rituals is yoni-puja (yoni worship). In this context, the yoni represents Shakti, the primordial creative force that moves through the entire universe. Yoni-puja is the practice of treating the source of life with reverence rather than shame. Yoni art is an external symbol of that internal power, acting as a reminder that the body, including the vulva, is a temple; a site which holds the power of creation.

Some yogic practices also centre on the yoni specifically; including modern “womb yoga”, which focuses on the uterus, ovaries, and pelvic bowl. The pelvic bowl, which includes the psoas muscles and the pelvic floor, is sometimes called the muscle of the soul in yoga; it is also known to be a primary site for the stress response. When we experience fear or anxiety, these muscles tighten automatically. Combining yoga and yoni-puja can serve to help cultivate a sense of healing and empowerment.

The Yoni Mudra

Perhaps the most direct link between physical yoga and yoni symbolism is the Yoni Mudra, for which this Gallery is named. In Sanskrit, mudrā translates to a "seal" or "gesture." These gestures are used during meditation to influence the flow of energy and quiet the nervous system.

The Yoni Mudra is a hand gesture where the thumbs and index fingers join to create a downward-facing triangle, physically representing Shakti. This is not a modern invention; it appears in classical Hatha Yoga texts, thousands of years old, proof that the yoni was always intended to be part of yogic practice.

Practicing the Yoni Mudra is said to:

• Quiet the mind.

• Sharpen concentration.

• Balance internal energy.

• Strengthen the connection to oneself.

While a painting depicts this symbol on a wall, the mudra allows you to hold that symbol as a part of yourself. It transforms the practice from a "workout" into a "work-in": a moment where you become more compassionate and connected to your own body.

How Art & Yoga Help to Heal Your Mind

If this spiritual history feels a bit abstract to you, fear not; modern science provides us with yet more reasons to believe that yoni and yoga are connected. 

Yoga has been described as "weightlifting for the brain." Regular practice helps brain cells develop new connections. MRI scans show that regular practitioners often have a thicker cerebral cortex (responsible for processing information) and a thicker hippocampus (which handles learning and memory).

Beyond structural changes, yoga influences brain chemistry by elevating levels of GABA, a chemical associated with better moods and lower anxiety. It also reduces activity in the limbic system, or the part of the brain dedicated to emotional reactivity. By calming this emotional centre, yoga creates the mental "clearing" needed to truly experience art.

Speaking of art, research tells us that engaging with art, like the pieces you’ll find at Yoni Mudra Art Gallery, comes with its own set of neurological rewards. Research tells us that engaging with the arts can reduce symptoms of depression and ease pain.

Neuroaesthetics is the area of neuroscience that studies how our brains process art, music, and nature, including the basis for which we find certain images especially beautiful or meaningful. This, too, can shed light on why yoga and art feel so innately connected. 

One of the most fascinating aspects of viewing yoni art involves "mirror neurons." These are specialized brain cells that fire both when we perform an action and when we observe someone else (or an artistic representation) performing that same action.

When you look at a piece of art that represents the yoni as a source of strength or creative power, your mirror neurons help your brain simulate that state within yourself.

You aren't just observing a painting but practicing and recreating it in your mind. When see the divine feminine celebrated on a wall, our mind and body begin to celebrate it internally.

Powerful aesthetic experiences also activate the "default mode network" (DMN). This part of the brain is usually active only when we are daydreaming, reflecting on our past, or thinking about our identity. It is the seat of our "sense of self." However, for many people, it is also the source of rumination and mind-wandering that can interfere with our day-to-day well-being.

Yoga has been shown to modulate the activity of the DMN, quieting the "noisy" rumination that keeps us stuck in our heads. This frees the mind to engage with art, whether as a creator or a viewer, fully and openly. Just as yoga is said to be a vehicle for spiritual growth, it can also be a vehicle for artistic experience – which, depending on who you ask, could be said to be one and the same.

Where Yoga & Yoni Art Live Together

The community space at the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery feels nothing like the gym where I first stood on a thin, pocked mat. There are no buzzing fluorescent lights, nor rows of mirrors inviting self-critique. Instead, the walls are alive with art that honours the body’s creative power. The sound of pounding weights is replaced by a quiet, intentional atmosphere.

Usually, wellness practices are compartmentalized. You go to a gym, you leave, and instantly you are thrust back to "real life." The transition can be jarring. Yoga at the Yoni Mudra Art Gallery is completely different; after śavāsana, you are welcome to sit with a coffee or tea to gives the brain and body time to settle. 

The Yoni Mudra Art Gallery, located at 241 Duke Street West in Kitchener, is an inclusive, healing-oriented space. We invite you to visit us to practice yoga, view the gallery, or simply spend time in the café, a space dedicated to the intersection of these ancient traditions.