Connecting as One Through Yoga and Buddhism at OCBC

“There is a misconception that Buddhism is a religion and that you worship Buddha. Buddhism is a practice, like yoga.” 

— Thich Nhat Hanh

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Fifty participants and volunteers of all ages, conditions and levels of flexibility gathered at the Orange County Buddhist Church to explore the spiritual and practical links between two ancient practices — Buddhism and yoga — through breath, movement, learning and community.

The OCBC’s Buddhist Education Center (BEC) presented a Buddhism and yoga seminar on Feb. 15 at the church in Anaheim, California.

In addition, other yoga retreats were held on: Feb. 16 at the Vista Buddhist Temple; Feb. 22 at the Ogden Buddhist Church; March 6 at the Buddhist Church of Fowler; and April 12 at Ekoji Buddhist Temple in Fairfax Station, Virginia. A weekend yoga retreat is planned for May 23-25 at the Jodo Shinshu Center.

The retreats, titled “Yoga and the Three Treasures,” are sponsored by the BCA, the Center for Buddhist Education (CBE) and a grant from the Dharma Forward campaign.

The day at OCBC opened with levity, thanks to Bob Matsueda, yoga and wellness instructor and certified yoga therapist from India. 

Matsueda kicked off the session by asking the question, “What is yoga?” only to be answered by silence. 

“Yoga is universal oneness, bringing all sentient beings together as one,” he said. “And, that’s pretty much it .... I guess I can go now!” 

With that, the tone for the seminar was set — light-hearted and deeply meaningful. 

“Yoga is not a religion, but is a spiritual practice as a means to realize liberation from suffering,” Matsueda said. “Buddhism, along with many other eastern religions and spiritual practices, falls under the umbrella of yoga philosophy and practice. Shakyamuni Buddha practiced yoga as a technique, a tool, to attain enlightenment.”

The retreat explored basic yoga breathing techniques, the foundation for yoga practice, three-part breathing and alternate nostril breathing, to calm and connect the mind, body and spirit. 

The connection occurs when these breathing techniques are practiced slowly in combination with intentional movement. Yoga can truly benefit anybody, any age, any condition and flexibility. Yoga can be applied to whatever it is that you enjoy in your everyday life including walking, chanting, golf, pickleball and travel, to enhance your experience and enjoyment in life.

Rev. Jon Turner, Resident Minister at OCBC and lead minister with EverydayBuddhist.org, offered a warm and captivating Dharma talk exploring the shared history, philosophy, origins and practices between Buddhism and yoga. He provided insight into impermanence, interconnectedness and no permanent self. 

Rev. Turner explained that Buddhism has much more in common with yoga as a practice than with Christianity as a world religion. He said that, when asked about Buddhism, he finds that the “good” questions are the same questions you would ask a yoga instructor — questions about “how,” not about “why” and “what.”

Linda Turner, an advanced yoga instructor and sound bath practitioner, led yoga-breathing techniques, sitting and standing movements (asanas), and relaxation techniques. 

She intrigued the audience with examples explaining the “science of vibration” and how it can help us deal with stress in life. She enveloped attendees in a soothing sound bath with sound bowls originating from Tibetan, Himalayan and Nepalese cultures. The experience for some brought calm and peace. For others, it brought up unexpected buried emotions. 

The audience consisted of a mix of open, excited and curious longtime OCBC Sangha members, returning members and new guests. A common bond was to learn something new about Buddhism and yoga and its connection, and to connect with fellow seekers and new Sangha friends. 

There was time for chatting and getting to know each other over a healthy buffet lunch catered and made from scratch from Flower Child restaurant. For the last retreat session, everyone arranged their chairs to form one big question-and-answer circle, creating a safe space for participants to talk about their experience and ask the speakers questions for deeper understanding.

“I’ve been practicing yoga for about 15 years, including teacher training, which led to my exploration of Buddhism,” said Bob Ericksen, one of the participants. “I’m grateful for this workshop, which so profoundly affirmed my path, answered many questions and so warmly welcomed me into its community.”

The OCBC BEC expresses deep gratitude to BCA, CBE, Dharma Forward, and Bob Matsueda for giving our community a unique opportunity to explore a timely and powerful connection, one that brings relief from modern stress while fostering mindfulness, well-being and oneness.

We invite everyone to continue exploring the integration of Buddhism and yoga in a personal way, and to stay engaged through temple events and Sangha connection. And stay tuned for a sequel in 2026.

Special thanks to the Buddhism and Yoga Committee: Bob Matsueda, Rev. Jon Turner, Linda Turner, Rev. Ellen Crane, Namy Folick, Rumiko Nakatani, Merry Hiroshima and Janet Anwyl; and volunteers Tom Crane, Daniel Sasaki, Glenn Morita, Stacy St. James and Eugene Scott.