Is Yoga Also Tantra?
Is Yoga Also Tantra? A Journey into Presence and Connection
"Is Yoga also Tantra?"
This was the question that sparked a profound discussion during my master class at the Olso Tanra Festival. Instead of giving a simple yes or no answer, we embarked on an exploration—through reflection, dialogue, and embodied experience—to understand the deeper connection between yoga and Tantra.
Defining Tantra: The Path of Presence
To begin, I invited the group to share their thoughts:
"What is Tantra for you?" I asked.
One participant responded, "Experiencing the Divine through the body."
Another added, "Awareness in the present moment."
A third reflected, "Connection with my essence and everything around me."
Each answer illuminated a different facet of Tantra, yet they all shared a common theme: presence.
If Tantra is about presence—about fully experiencing life through our body, breath, and senses—then by that definition, all yoga that engages the body could indeed be considered tantric.
But is it that simple?
The Dance Between Yoga and Tantra
We took a step further.
"What is Yoga for you?" I asked.
One student hesitated before responding, "I don’t really know yet. That’s why I’m here—to explore what it can be for me."
This honesty was a perfect starting point. Yoga, like Tantra, is not something we understand through theory alone—it is something we experience.
Yoga invites us to move into the present moment. It calls us back into our bodies, into our breath. And in doing so, it dissolves the illusion of separation—between ourselves and the world, between movement and stillness, between effort and surrender.
One participant beautifully put it:
"For me, yoga and Tantra are about being with my own energy, and also with others."
"Exactly!" I responded. "That’s a beautiful experience, isn’t it? It’s like a party!"
Laughter rippled through the group.
But this was more than a metaphor. The word party itself holds deep meaning—it means being a part of something. And this is the heart of Tantra: overcoming the illusion of separation and remembering that we belong.
Western Tantra vs. Indian Tantra: Two Perspectives
At this point, I introduced an important distinction: the difference between Western and Indian approaches to Tantra.
In the West, Tantra is often seen as a path to release blockages—whether emotional, psychological, or physical—that prevent us from fully surrendering to life.
Think of a social gathering. How often do we struggle to be fully present? We might feel self-conscious, unsure of how to engage, distracted by internal anxieties. Western Tantra works on dissolving these barriers, allowing us to flow more freely in life’s dance.
"Does this make sense?" I asked.
The group nodded in agreement.
In contrast, Indian Tantra takes a different approach. It doesn’t just help you let go—it tests and challenges you.
It constantly asks:
Is this the experience you truly want to be part of?
Are you connecting with something real, or are you caught in illusion?
Indian Tantric traditions often use extreme methods to provoke deep self-inquiry. While Western Tantra focuses on releasing blockages, Indian Tantra confronts us with them—pushing us beyond comfort, demanding that we question our attachments.
This led us to a critical question:
"Are we connecting with our deepest truth, or are we simply finding another distraction?"
Tantra as a Spiritual Path: Liberation or Enjoyment?
This brought us back to the heart of the discussion.
"Is Tantra just about having a good time?" I asked. "Or is it a spiritual path?"
Traditional Tantra is rooted in the pursuit of liberation—the Sanskrit term Mukti, meaning freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth. The ultimate goal of a Yogi is to realize oneness with the Divine—to awaken to the understanding that the soul within me is the same light within you, and that all existence is pure consciousness.
However, the way Tantra has evolved in the modern world is different. Rather than seeking to escape this world, our focus today is on fully embracing it—using this life as an opportunity to heal, grow, and awaken.
"Tantra today is about saying: 'I am alive. I am incarnated. And I want to be fully present in this experience.'"
One participant reflected, "So, it’s about being in both duality and non-duality at the same time?"
"Exactly!" I said. "And that requires a strong nervous system—to be able to hold both realities at once."
Tantra Beyond the Self: The Collective Experience
As we neared the end of the discussion, I introduced one more important point.
Many people approach Tantra as an individual pursuit—seeking personal enlightenment, deeper pleasure, or even the “ultimate orgasm.” But real Tantra is not just about me—it is about us.
"The practice we do has an immediate impact on the people around us," I explained. "Imagine if we could take this practice beyond closed spaces—if we could truly radiate this energy in our daily lives."
The group sat in silence, absorbing this.
"Even something as simple as a smile," I continued, "if it comes from a truly heart-centered space, can shift the energy around us. That is the Tantra I want to practice."
From Understanding to Experience
With that, we moved into the physical practice—breathing, movement, meditation—allowing the body to integrate what the mind had explored.
Because in the end, Tantra is not something we intellectualize—it is something we live.
Conclusion: Is Yoga Tantric?
So, after this deep dive, how can we answer the original question: Is Yoga also Tantra?
It depends on how we define Yoga.
If we define Yoga in the Classical Sāṅkhya-Yoga sense as described by Patañjali, then no—Yoga is not Tantra. Classical Yoga, rooted in Sāṅkhya philosophy, sees the body and senses as distractions and seeks transcendence through withdrawal. It is dualistic in that it separates Puruṣa (pure consciousness) from Prakṛti (the material world).
If we define Yoga in the Hatha Yoga sense, then yes—Yoga is deeply Tantric. Hatha Yoga evolved from Tantric traditions, particularly those of the Nath yogis, who used the body and breath as tools for transformation. Unlike Classical Yoga, Hatha Yoga embraces Prakṛti (nature, the physical world) as a path to enlightenment.
Modern Yoga, which is largely based on Hatha Yoga, retains Tantric elements but has often lost its deeper energetic and spiritual practices. Much of contemporary yoga focuses on physical postures, but its roots are in Tantric Shaivism.
Thus, modern Yoga, being heavily influenced by Hatha Yoga, has more in common with Tantra than with Classical Yoga. However, many contemporary teachings still blend elements from both traditions.
Rather than a simple yes or no, the real answer is:
"Yoga and Tantra share a deep historical and philosophical relationship. Hatha Yoga is undoubtedly Tantric in origin, but Classical Yoga is not. Today, many yoga practices retain Tantric elements, though not all are fully rooted in Tantra."
Ultimately, the practice of Yoga can be Tantric—if we approach it as a means to fully engage with life rather than escape from it.