“Let your breath lead you into the pose”

For those of you who practice yoga you have no doubt heard that quote at one time or another during your practice. It means you can’t (or shouldn’t) force your body into a yoga pose, rather, let your body acclimate to and deepen into the pose by using your rhythmic breath. It’s patience, it’s acceptance, it’s surrender.

I recently started practicing yoga and think there is an analogy to be made here with architecture, at least how it’s practiced today. Architects no longer let our breath lead us into design. There’s no patience, no acceptance and no surrender to the creative process.

Damaged heavily by the recession, pushed by clients to get things done quickly and the need to complete more projects to compensate for shrinking fees all lead to inferior design. Rehashing old design concepts, adopting a signature style because the production process can be streamlined to maximize efficiency and an over reliance on technology are all contributing to the dilution of the role of the architect.

I would argue we would all see greater success if we stopped, slowed down, “breathe” and enjoy the creative process, regardless of how long it takes. It’s what we do, it’s in our DNA. Don’t let anyone strip the creative process from us.

It’s all we have left.

Namaste

Robert Vecchione is an architect/designer and principal of the multidisciplinary firm Cobrooke Ideas-Architecture-Design (www.cobrooke.com)