UW Recreation’s Ashwini Sadekar fuses logic, art and yoga
It would not be too far a stretch to describe Ashwini Sadekar as a Renaissance woman. That’s not to say she is some kind of modern-day Leonardo da Vinci (though the 15th century polymath is one of her foremost inspirations).
But, in her own way and time, Sadekar is fusing disparate disciplines into a body of work that is novel and sublime. She is an engineer by training, an artist by temperament, a dancer by nature and a yogi by birth. The combination of intellect, self-expression, logic and spirituality makes her yoga and art instruction greater than the sum of her parts.
After formal training, Sadekar began teaching yoga with UW Recreation in 2019. She has led UW Rec’s yoga teacher training since 2022. Independently, she also runs Ashwini’s Yoga Academy, which offers private yoga classes and teacher trainings in a variety of yoga types, especially prenatal yoga. She also makes art and teaches a variety of art classes.
The Whole U asked Sadekar to explain what makes her tick.
When were you introduced to yoga?
As Patanjali’s first Yoga Sutra says, अतः योगानुशासनम् — Now, the practice; now, the discipline; now, the inquiry; now, the experience; now, the state of yoga.
I was born into yoga. Yoga is about coming together, integrating, uniting. My coming into this world as a human expression, like all other beings, is itself an act of yoga.
With this philosophical understanding, I was born into the Yoga-Vedantik tradition in India, I was introduced to yoga at a young age, practicing asanas and Surya Namaskar under the guidance of revered gurus. Chanting, japa, mantra and mudra have been part of my life since childhood. Growing up in a family of priests, rituals hold a deep significance for me. For me, rituals are as meaningful in as much a grand fire ceremony as they are in a simple moment of chanting or simply experiencing the breath. Even a small mantra, like I am breathing in or I am breathing out, can be profound. Mantras can be as elaborate in Sanskrit or as simple as an affirmation; they’re simply a way to tune in.
Rituals are woven into my daily life, grounding me and giving structure to each day. The simple act of a five-minute soft chanting bedtime ritual can shift my brain waves from the busy hum of daily life to a calm, restful alpha state as a welcome cue for sleep.
This early exposure instilled in me a deep appreciation for the mind-body connection, which I’ve come to see as key to tuning all aspects of my life academic, artistic and personal. Yoga offered a pathway to inner clarity and physical discipline that spoke to me. Over time, my practice evolved from something personal into something shared, and teaching became a natural extension.
Is there a connection between your training in engineering and yoga?
Do you know why did the Engineer become a yogi? Because she wanted to program her own “flow” to enlightenment!
In yoga practice, we have a breathing technique called alternate nostril breath, or Nadi Shodhana. Nadis are energy pathways within the body, similar to veins and arteries carrying blood, nadies carry prana, our life force, our breath, our energy. By using this breath, we balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This technique is meant to engage the whole brain.
The left side is associated with lunar energy, bringing qualities of receptivity and fluidity, while the right side is connected to solar energy, which is active, warm, and giving. We need both energies of the moon and the sun as human beings. We are designed to work with the whole brain, integrating both sides.
This is why I don’t see engineering as conflicting with yoga practice; rather, it’s all part of an integrated life. My background in engineering complements my yoga practice, as both fields require analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. Engineering has honed my ability to approach challenges methodically, while yoga enhances my mindfulness and emotional intelligence. This synergy allows me to integrate technical expertise with holistic well-being, benefiting both my personal practice and teaching methodology.
When and why did you begin making art?
I began creating art in my early childhood, winning my first painting award at age 10, which hinted at a creative path ahead. However, life had other plans. I pursued a career in engineering, earning my master’s degree in electronics and telecommunications after moving to Canada. After getting married, I moved to the Pacific Northwest.
While waiting a long 1.5 years for my work permit (2017), I felt alone in this beautiful new place with no friends. During that time, my creative seed was planted as I visited a local art store and purchased acrylic paints and canvases, diving into YouTube tutorials on how to paint flowers. With each brushstroke, I rediscovered my love for art and filled my home with colorful blooms.
Encouraged by my passion, I displayed my paintings in a local coffee shop. One day, a visiting artist admired my work and suggested I get formal training to become a “real” artist. That advice led me to the Gage Academy of Art, where I received traditional atelier training. After graduating in 2019, an artist was born, ready to embrace my creativity.
The vibrant colors and rich culture of India continue to inspire me. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, I’ve explored my artistic side even more as inspired by the four seasons and their colors. Each piece I create reflects these experiences, blending my roots with the beauty of my surroundings.
The engineer within me transformed the “blueprints” with the “brushstrokes.”
Watch a conversation between Aswini Sadekar and her art mentor, Disney veteran Steve Huston.
How do you describe your style of art?
My work is rooted in a deep commitment to color. I paint planes of color like facets on a diamond. My representational oil paintings embody my own cultural fusion, combining the vitality and color of India with the rigor of western European painting traditions. I study the intricacies of human anatomy, as well as the birds and native flora of the Pacific Northwest. Through my experiments in color theory, I welcome viewers into a luminous world.
My process is precise and infused with intention. I prepare my canvas by applying natural earth tones like red stone and turmeric to create warmth and radiance. I delicately sketch the composition using brushes, mapping out geometric shapes to ensure accuracy in light and shadow articulation. I create detailed underpaintings, employing a nine-value scale of earth pigments. The next stage is color construction, in which I harmoniously layer the full rainbow spectrum using glazing techniques, merging classical realism with impressionistic expression. I employ the sfumato effect to create soft edges that enrich the dynamic quality of my compositions. The finished work is an illuminated, seamless color veil with a uniform surface quality.
Inspired by nature and diverse cultural experiences, my art is a bridge for deeper connection to the world around us. Combining classical realism and impressionist techniques, I strive to capture and enhance the radiance of light through color, and in so doing invite an experience of awakening, a moment of enlightenment. Each brushstroke communicates profound emotions and reflects the unity of being.
If Rembrant and Monet had a progeny who was good at math… that would be me!
What are the connections between yoga and art?
Yoga and art are both practices that cultivate mindfulness and presence. Yoga integrates mind, body and breath, while art engages creativity and expression. Together, they offer practitioners a holistic approach to well-being, enhancing self-awareness, reducing stress and promoting inner harmony.
When I teach the 200-hour yoga teacher training at UW Recreation Center, which we run in winter and summer, I find that my painting practice in the studio serves as a form of mindfulness, balancing my external and internal realities. When I’m creating paintings for an upcoming show or a custom commission, teaching yoga classes becomes my mindfulness practice again, allowing me to navigate the delicate dance between creativity within and without.
For me, art and yoga are not separate; they are expressions of my being. They flow together like a glacier branching into different rivers, ultimately meeting the vast ocean of unity consciousness. Each discipline feeds into the other, creating a symbiotic relationship that enhances my overall experience.
In moments when I paint and narratives of inadequacy arise, my yoga practice allows me to offer myself grace. Each piece of art goes through various stages, much like the phases of the moon transforming from a blank canvas to a full moon shining brightly, embodying the glory of the sun. This journey of creation mirrors my own, reflecting the beauty of resilience and the importance of embracing each stage of growth.
Create Consciously from A(Art) to Y(Yoga) to achieve your Z (Zen).
How do you mix dance into your yoga instruction?
Dance has long been a primal form of celebration throughout human history, serving as a profound expression of joy and connection. You don’t need to be a trained dancer to partake in this universal language; simply play a drumbeat, and your feet and body instinctively begin to sway in rhythm. Just as the earth orbits the sun and the planets engage in their celestial dance, so too do we find ourselves in movement. In yoga, this is beautifully illustrated by Ras Lila, a sacred dance that embodies a universal choreography, inviting us to participate in the divine flow of life.
Bollywood dance, in particular, is a vibrant celebration of life itself. It encourages us to honor our individuality and embrace the rich diversity of the world around us. Through its energetic movements and expressive storytelling, Bollywood dance invites us to move beyond self-imposed limitations and societal judgments, allowing us to simply be.
Integrating Bollywood dance into my yoga classes infuses energy and joy into the practice. This fusion allows students to experience the rhythmic and cultural vibrancy of India, making sessions engaging and lively. It’s a delightful way to blend traditional yoga with contemporary movement, enhancing both physical fitness and cultural appreciation as myself being a trained Indian classical dancer.
How are you inspired by Leonardo da Vinci?
Leonardo da Vinci’s embodiment of both art and science serves as a profound inspiration for me. His holistic approach to knowledge, seamlessly blending creativity with analytical thinking, resonates deeply with my own journey of integrating engineering, art, and yoga. This multidisciplinary approach enriches my perspective and fuels my passion for teaching and creating. It loops back to the idea of harmonizing the left and right hemispheres of the brain, creating a complete and well-rounded operating system that we are designed to work with.
My human operating system operates on philosophy and science simultaneously; logic acts as the spine of my life, guiding my decision-making and helping me navigate the next steps in my journey. At the same time, intuition serves as the heart that guides my logic, creating a beautiful synergy, a yoga moment, if you will, where unity and integration manifest. Just as Leonardo da Vinci explored life through various facets and applications, I relish the opportunity to explore and discover how each step of my journey unfolds perfectly, connecting seamlessly to the next.
“Learning never exhausts the mind.” – Leonardo da Vinci
What advice do you have for someone new to yoga?
Just DO IT!
If not NOW, when? beyond body type, beyond self-doubt, beyond rigid definitions of flexibility and beyond any and all labels. If you can extend your knee and flex it, and if you can extend your elbow and flex it, guess what? You’re flexible! Yes, these joints can move, and therefore, you are already embodying flexibility.
Yoga isn’t about body eligibility; according to Patanjali, it’s a comprehensive system of practice encompassing eight limbs: 1. Yama (Relation with the world outside), 2. Niyama (Relation with the world within/the self), 3. Asana (Postures), 4. Pranayama (Breath Techniques), 5. Pratyahara (Sensory Withdrawal), 6. Dharana (Focus), 7. Dhyana (Meditation), 8. Samadhi (State of Equanimity).
Asana is just one of these eight limbs. You can engage in meditation as Dharana or Dhyana, the practices are a whole buffet designed with the rich diversity of human nature in mind. Each of us is unique, and our yoga journey reflects that individuality.
It’s not just about the one-hour class you attend on a Wednesday night (though that can be a great entry point for many!). It’s about the ongoing practice of arriving elegantly in the present moment, whether through your seat in asana, your body as an experience, or your mind as ideas, and imagination and your breath as life itself. Ultimately, yoga is about embracing life itself, fully and wholeheartedly, in every moment.
Why do you practice and teach both yoga and art?
BECAUSE I LOVE IT! Practicing and teaching both yoga and art allows me to express and share the multifaceted aspects of my identity. These disciplines offer avenues for creativity, mindfulness and personal growth. My motivation stems from a desire to help others discover their own potential and achieve holistic well-being through these practices. And, yes, I love creating consciously as all this creation is an expression of the consciousness. Do what you love and nature supports you in all possible ways!
“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” – Confucius
UW Yoga Month: Restore in 2024
November is UW Yoga Month! Immerse yourself in the restorative power of yoga through a month of stress-reducing classes and activities guided by The Whole U and its community yoga partners. Register today.