Through Me, Not By Me: The Subtle Shift in Yoga Practice

“Less is more.”This quote by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe shows up in surprising places—including yoga asana classes, especially in Svaroopa® Yoga practices. But what does it really mean?

For me, the meaning shifts each time I hear it. That’s part of the beauty: it’s not a directive, but an invitation. Open-ended. Malleable. Timeless.

To explore it, let’s borrow a lens from yoga’s understanding of the mind. Even a basic look into this system reveals why “less” can, in fact, become “more.”

The Yogic Map of the Mind

In yogic philosophy, the mind isn’t one singular thing—it’s a dynamic team with four distinct parts:

Manas – the sensory mind. It gathers data from your five senses and helps with simple decisions.
Chitta – the unconscious mind. It stores memories and impressions, like a personal archive of everything you’ve experienced.
Ahamkara – the ego mind. It evaluates all that sensory input. It categorizes, compares, and judges: good/bad, better/worse, success/failure. It’s the part that says, “I am doing this.”
Buddhi – the higher mind. It receives the same information, but doesn’t judge. It simply witnesses. It is calm, present, and operates with the awareness that “It is being done through me.”

Two Ways to Practice an Asana

Imagine you're in a yoga pose.

Your body is aligned, breath is flowing, and your senses are fully alert. Manas is gathering information. Ahamkara, your ego mind, kicks in: “That hamstring is tight.” You analyze, adjust, maybe push deeper into the stretch. You strategize: How can I make this better?

That’s one way to practice—as the doer, the fixer, the improver.

But there’s another path.

The same pose can be experienced from the perspective of Buddhi, the higher mind. Rather than analyzing or striving, you simply let the pose happen. You soften effort. You trust your body’s intelligence. You allow breath and awareness to unfold naturally. The shape is being expressed through you. You’re not doing the pose—you’re being it.

Where “Less” Meets “More”

So how does all of this connect to “less is more”?

The less refers to effort driven by ego. Less pushing, less fixing, less striving to “get it right.”And the more? It’s not more achievement or perfection. It’s more presence. More ease. More truth.

When you release the grip of Ahamkara, you create space for Buddhi to shine. You access something that doesn't need words—what some call bliss, essence, or the True Self.

That’s the quiet power of “less is more.”

It’s not a technique. It’s a state.It’s not something you figure out. It’s something you feel.

So the next time you’re on your mat and you hear the words “less is more,” try softening just a little. Let go of the plan. Breathe. Witness.

And notice what unfolds when you do less… and receive more.