Sunteți pe pagina 1din 76

IYENGAR

YOGA NEWS

Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

ISSUE NUMBER 26 SPRING 2015 1

IYN26 version9.indd 1 17/03/2015 18:41:11


I Y E N G A R® Y O G A ( U K )Honorary president: Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar

www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

Iyengar yoga NEWS Issue No.26 Spring 2015

Editorial

)ROORZLQJRXUODVWPDJD]LQHZKLFKZDV
SXEOLVKHGVKRUWO\DIWHU*XUXML·VGHDWKZH
KDYHLQFOXGHGLQWKLVLVVXHDOOWKHDUWLFOHV
KHOGRYHUIURPODVWWLPHSOXVDIHZPRUH
PDNLQJWKLVRQHRIRXUWKLFNHVWHYHULVVXHV

,QDGGLWLRQWRIXUWKHUWULEXWHVWR*XUXML
WKHUHLVDVHFWLRQRQWKHUDS\DQGVRPH
SUDFWLFDODUWLFOHVRQVHOISUDFWLFHDQGVHWWLQJ
XSFODVVHVDVZHOODVDOORIRXUQRUPDO
Please help us preserve Guruji’s legacy
IHDWXUHVDQGUHSRUWV
'R\RXKDYHDQ\SKRWRJUDSKVRUGRFXPHQWV
UHODWLQJWR%.6,\HQJDUDQGWKHGHYHORSPHQWRI :HKRSH\RXHQMR\WKLVPDJD]LQHDQG
,\HQJDU\RJD" ZHOFRPHDQ\IHHGEDFNIURPRXUUHDGHUV

,< 8. KDVDQHVWDEOLVKHGDUFKLYHDQGWKH
$UFKLYHDQG5HVHDUFK&RPPLWWHHZRXOGOLNHWR
LGHQWLI\PRUHDUFKLYDOPDWHULDO7KH&RPPLWWHH
LVDOVRZRUNLQJKDUGWRSURYLGHDVXLWDEOHHQYL 0HPEHUVKLSDQG2IÀFH0DQDJHU.DWLH2ZHQ
7HOHSKRQHHPDLONDWLH#L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN
URQPHQWWRSUHVHUYHGRFXPHQWVDQGSKRWR
,< 8. 32%R[6KHIÀHOG6+(
JUDSKVUHODWLQJWRWKHKLVWRU\RI,\HQJDU\RJD )LQDQFH %RRNLQJV$GPLQLVWUDWRU-HVV:DOOZRUN
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

7HOHSKRQHHPDLOMHVV#L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN
,I\RXKDYHDQ\OHWWHUVFODVVQRWHVHYHQW :HVW*URYH%ULVWRO%6/6
QRWLFHVQHZVOHWWHUVSKRWRJUDSKVHWFWKDW\RX $VVHVVPHQWV$GPLQLVWUDWRU.DWH:RRGFRFN
7HOHSKRQHHPDLONDWH#L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN
WKLQNPD\EHKHOSIXOLQGRFXPHQWLQJWKHKLVWRU\
32%R[%UDGIRUG%';)
RI,\HQJDU\RJDSOHDVHJHWLQWRXFK,IUHTXLUHG
ZHFDQDUUDQJHIRURULJLQDOVWREHFRSLHGDQG (GLWRULDO%RDUG6LJXWH%DUQLVN\WH.LGG-RKQ&RWJUHDYH
UHWXUQHGWRWKHLURZQHUV 3KLOLSSH+DUDUL-XGL6RIID7HKLUD7D\ORU
/D\RXW 'HVLJQ/XF\2VPDQ6LJXWH%DUQLVN\WH.LGG
$UWLFOHVWRHGLWRU#L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN
3OHDVHHPDLODUFKLYHFROOHFWLRQVL\XN#JPDLOFRP
$GYHUWLVLQJ-RKQ&RWJUHDYHFRWJUHDYHM#JPDLOFRP
ZLWKDQ\TXHVWLRQVDQGGHWDLOVRI\RXUSHUVRQDO &RS\GHDGOLQH-XO\
FROOHFWLRQ
2

IYN26 version9.indd 2 17/03/2015 18:41:11


Contents
Features
4.<RJDVWKD$7ULEXWHWR*XUXML
 E\'U6DPHHU.XONDUQL
14. <RJDWKHUDS\$Q,QWHUYLHZZLWK
 %.6,\HQJDU
 E\5DMYL+0HKWD
17. 6HQVLWLYHQHVV7KH.H\WRD6XFFHVVIXO
 <RJD7KHUDSLVW
 E\$66XEUDPDQLXP
20. <RJDDQG0XVFXODU'\VWURSK\
 E\(ODLQH.HDWLQJ
23. %.6,\HQJDU·V,QJHQLRXV8VHRI3URSV
 $Q,QWHUYLHZZLWK0DQRXVR0DQRV
 E\%HH2WWLQJHU
28. 5HÁHFWLRQVRQ<RJDQXVDVDQDP$5HSRUW
 RQ*HHWDML·V%LUWKGD\&RQYHQWLRQ
 E\.LUVWHQ$JDU:DUG
30. (VWDEOLVKLQJDQG6WUXFWXULQJ6HOI3UDFWLFH ,
 E\(\DO6KLIURQL
40. ([SORULQJ3DWKVWR,\HQJDU<RJD
 E\/DXUD3RWWV
43.0RGHUQ<RJD3UDFWLFH
 E\%DUEDUD$\DOD
48. 6WDUWLQJ2XWDVD7HDFKHU
 E\(PPD+DUULVRQ
52.,\HQJDU<RJDDW2DN/RGJH6FKRRO Member Information
 E\.RULQQD3LODÀGLV:LOOLDPV
19.7KH5ROHRIWKH,< 8. 7KHUDS\
54.<HDUV3RVHV0LQXWHV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

 &RPPLWWHH
 E\(ODLQH5HHV
55.)HDWXUHG,\HQJDU<RJD$IÀOLDWHG
 &HQWUHL<RJD&HQWUHLQ0DQFKHVWHU
56.<RXU5HSUHVHQWDWLYHRQWKH,< 8. 
 ([HFXWLYH&RXQFLO
57.,< 8. 5HSRUWV
61. $VVHVVPHQW3DVVHV
62. 3URIHVVLRQDO'HYHORSPHQW'D\V
64. ,< 8. ([HFXWLYH&RXQFLODQG
 &RPPLWWHH0HPEHUV
66.0HPEHU,QVWLWXWHVDQG$IÀOLDWHG&HQWUHV

IYN26 version9.indd 3 17/03/2015 18:41:13


Yogastha
Dr. Sameer Kulkarni, a student of yoga

Originally written in Marathi and published in a local Pune magazine, “Anubhav”, this article was read out at
Geetaji’s birthday convention in December 2014.

Translated by Abhijata Sridhar


Abridged by Kirsten Agar Ward

,WKDVEHHQWKUHHZHHNVVLQFH*XUXMLOHIW,KDYHQRW ,VWDUWHGP\VWXG\,QGXHFRXUVHRIWLPH,IHOW,
EHHQDEOHWRJDWKHUP\VHOIDIWHUWKLVSHUVRQDOORVV JRWDKDQJRIDOOWKHSULPDU\LQVWUXFWLRQVSHUWDLQ
LQJWRWKHERG\0\EURWKHUVDLG,VKRXOGJRWR
$QLQQHUXUJHWRZULWHDERXWWKLVJUHDWPDQWDNHV WKH,QVWLWXWHEXW,FDPHXSZLWKPDQ\H[FXVHV
PHWRZDUGVP\FRPSXWHU+LVOLIHVSDQVDFURVVP\ 7KHUHDOUHDVRQZDV,KDGKHDUGWKDWLI\RXZHQW
PLQG,DPDGLUHFWZLWQHVVWRJOLPSVHVRIKLVOLIH WR%.6,\HQJDUKHZRXOGEHDW\RXVLWRQ\RXDQG
IRUDVPDOOSDUWRIKLVOLIHWLPH7KHUHVW,JDWKHU EUHDN\RXUEDFN+RZHYHUP\EURWKHUZDVSHUVLV
IURPWKHP\ULDGRILQWHUYLHZVDQGDUWLFOHV6R WHQWDQGVRPHKRZ,ÀQDOO\WRRNDGPLVVLRQWRWKH
PDQ\NQHZKLPDQG,DPFHUWDLQWKDWHDFKRQHZLOO FODVVHVLQWKH,QVWLWXWH
KDYHXQLTXHVWRULHVUHYROYLQJDURXQGKLP
:KHQ,ÀUVWZHQWWRWKH,QVWLWXWH*XUXMLZDV
,VWKHUHVRPHWKLQJEHVLGHVDQGEH\RQGDOOWKLVWKDW QHDUO\%\WKHQKHKDGVWRSSHGWHDFKLQJWKH
,GHHPÀWWREHDXWKRUHG" JHQHUDOFODVVHV+RZHYHURQHFRXOGDOZD\VVHHKLP
LQWKHWKHUDS\FODVVHVDQGSUDFWLVLQJ,LQVWLQFWLYHO\
,DPFHUWDLQWKDW,GRQRWZDQWWRPDNHDGUDPD GHIHUUHGIURPJRLQJFORVHWRKLPZKLOHKHZDVLQ
RXWRIHYHQDVLQJOHHSLVRGHRIKLVOLIHGRQRWZDQW SUDFWLFH-XVWVHHLQJKLPZDVVXFKDPDJQLÀFHQW
WRDPSOLI\DQ\RIKLVGHHGVLQDZD\WKDWZLOODOLHQ WUHDWRQHFRXOGVRPHKRZVHQVHWKDWKHZDVD
DWHKLPE\JLYLQJKLPDGLYLQHLGHQWLW\DQGGRQRW JUHDWPDQ$QLQH[SOLFDEOHGULYLQJIRUFHZDVWKHUH
ZDQWWREORZP\RZQWUXPSHWE\SXEOLFLVLQJP\ E\KLVPHUHSUHVHQFH6REDFNWKHQ,ZRXOGVHH
LQWHUDFWLRQVZLWKKLP<HW,ZDQWWRZULWHDERXW KLPRQO\IURPDGLVWDQFH7KLVZDVVRIRUPDQ\
KLP \HDUV

1RZZKDWGR,ZULWH":KDWLVLWDERXWKLPWKDW ******
TXLHWO\VKRXWVDWPHIURPZLWKLQWRSXWP\SHQRQ
SDSHU" $FWXDOO\,DPDVWXGHQWRI3UDVKDQW,\HQJDU:KLOH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

OHDUQLQJIURPKLPWKHIHDURIWKHVXEMHFWRI\RJD
,DPVLWWLQJORRNLQJDWWKHEODQNVFUHHQRIP\FRP ZDVSXWWRUHVW7KHUHLVDUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQ
SXWHUORRNLQJLQWRP\E\JRQHGD\V WKHERG\DQG\RJDEXWWKDWLVQRWWKHHQGRILW,W
LVDFRPSOHWHdarshanaWKDWWUDQVFHQGVWKHERG\
****** WKLVUHDOLVDWLRQFDPHWRPHEHFDXVHRIKLP

7KLVLVDVWRU\RI\HDUVDJR0\IRUPDOHGXFD 2QHGD\LQFODVVKHPDGHXVGREka Pada Rajkapo-


WLRQRIPHGLFLQHZDVFRPLQJWRZDUGVLWVHQG$W tasana.:HSXOOHGWKHOHJWRWKHKHDGZLWKDZN
KRPH,FDVXDOO\UHPDUNHG´,DPWKLQNLQJRIOHDUQ ZDUGIDFHVKROGLQJWKHEUHDWKDQGELWLQJWKHWHHWK
LQJ\RJDµ0\HOGHUEURWKHULPPHGLDWHO\EURXJKW DQGOLSV3UDVKDQWVLUVDZRXUEDWWOHIRUVRPHWLPH
KLVFRS\RI/LJKWRQ<RJDWRPH DQGVDLGXQH[SHFWHGO\VKDUSO\´5HOHDVHWKHasana


IYN26 version9.indd 4 17/03/2015 18:41:13


&RPHKHUHµ+HOHGXVWRZDUGVDSKRWRRI*XUXML <HDUVODWHUZKHQ,PHW*XUXMLZKLOHWUDQVODWLQJKLV
in Eka Pada Rajkapotasana+RZ*XUXMLGLGZKDW ERRN¶<RJD6XWUD3DULFKD\D·KHVDLG´/LIHLVOLNHWKH
ZHZHUHWU\LQJWRGREHDXW\DQGDPDVWHUSLHFH ULYHU$PD]RQµJHVWXULQJZLWKKLVKDQGWKHÁRZ
WKDWRQHFDQQRWPLVV:KDWHYHU6YDWPDUDPKDV ZLWKVXFKSRZHUWKDWWKHULYHULWVHOIHPHUJHGLQ
PHQWLRQHGLQ+DWKD\RJD3UDGLSLNDangalaghava LH IURQWRIP\H\HV´,WÁRZVLQFHVVDQWO\Jatyantara
OLJKWQHVVRIWKHERG\HWFDOOWKDWZDVFU\VWDOFOHDU parinama prakrityaapooraat.<RXUWUDQVODWLRQVKRXOG
YLEUDQWO\ÁRZOLNHWKDWµ
´'RQ·WORRNDWWKHSRVHWDNHQRWHRIKLVIDFH
7KHUHLVQRWDVLQJOHIURZQOLQHRQ 7UDQVODWLRQVVKRXOGEHVXFK:K\
KLVIRUHKHDGH\HVDUHSDVVLYHDQG MXVWWUDQVODWLRQ",WFRXOGEHDQ\WKLQJ
SXUH([DPLQHKLVHQWLUHERG\DQGLWV UDQJLQJIURPDQ\DUWIRUPWROLYLQJ
VHQVHVHYHU\QRRNDQGFRUQHURILW WRDQ\ZRUNWKDWRQHKDVWDNHQXS
,WLVDOODFOHDUUHÁHFWLRQRIKRZUH HDFKDQGHYHU\WKLQJVKRXOGEHVR
OD[HGKHLV8QGHUVWDQGWKLVSHDFHIXO DOLYHDQGÁRZLQJZKDWDFOHDUDOO
FRQGLWLRQ8QGHUVWDQGWKHTXLHWXGH HQFRPSDVVLQJLQVWUXFWLRQ
+LVVHQVLWLYLW\LVDOHUWDZDUHDQGWR
WDOHYHQLQWKLVGLIÀFXOWSRVLWLRQ&DQ :KHQ,FDPHKRPHDQGWROGP\
\RXUHDOLVHWKLV":HGRWKHasana EURWKHUZKDW*XUXMLVDLGDERXWVHQ
DQG*XUXMLDFWXDOLVHV\RJDWKLVLV VLWLYLW\DQGKRZDPD]LQJWKDWZDVP\
WKHHVVHQWLDOGLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQ EURWKHULPPHGLDWHO\FXWPHVKRUW
*XUXMLDQGRXUVHOYHVµ DQGVDLG´1HYHUMXVWKHDU*XUXML·V
ZRUGV,I\RXGR\RXZLOOEHWUDSSHG
,QDPRPHQW,IHOWDVWKRXJKVRPH /LVWHQWRWKHLQWHQWLRQLQWHQVLW\DQG
RQHOLWPHXSZLWKDQLQWHQVHO\VKDUS SXULW\RIZKDWKHLVVD\LQJ/RRNDW
DQGEULJKWWRUFK7KHGDUNQHVVZDV WKHELJJHUSLFWXUHRUHOVH\RXZLOO
JRQH PLVVWKHEXV+LVZRUGVDUHVRHQ
FKDQWLQJDQGSUHFLVHWKDWLWZLOOSXOO
****** \RXWRZDUGVWKDWPDWWHU%XW\RX
VKRXOGOHDUQWRWDNHLQWKHHVVHQFH
*XUXMLZKRIDFHGOLIHZKROHKHDUW DQGWKHVXEVWDQFHRIKLVVWDWHPHQWV
HGO\KDGFDVWDVSHOOXSRQPH,ZDV +HLVEH\RQGZRUGV0DQ\SHRSOHIDLO
HQFKDQWHG WRXQGHUVWDQGWKDWµ

,VRRQVWDUWHGVWXG\LQJ*XUXML·V $VSDUWRI*XUXML·VWKELUWKGD\
RWKHUERRNVHDUQHVWO\,DOVRVDZ FHOHEUDWLRQZHPDGHDpothiRQ
'9'VRIKLVWHDFKLQJV,NHHQO\ WKHÀUVWSDJHRIZKLFKLVSULQWHGLQ
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

OLVWHQHGWRHYHU\ZRUGWKDWKHVDLG *XUXML·VKDQGZULWLQJ´<RJDLVQRWD
,WULHGWRLPSOHPHQWKLVWHDFKLQJV UHOLJLRQ,WLVWKHVFLHQFHRIUHOLJLRQ
LQP\RZQSUDFWLFH:KHQKHZDV ZKLFKPDNHV\RXXQGHUVWDQG\RXU
SUDFWLVLQJLQWKH,QVWLWXWH,ZRXOGMXVW RZQUHOLJLRQEHWWHUµ7KLVVWDWHPHQW
VSHQGKRXUVVHHLQJKLPDQGWDNLQJ LVQHDWO\IRUPHGDQGSUHFLVHO\H[
FRJQLVDQFHRIZKDWHYHUKHGLG SUHVVHG7KRXJKLWWDNHVZLWKLQLWVUHDOPWKHHQWLUH
VXEMHFWRI\RJDHDFKLQGLYLGXDODFFRUGLQJWRWKHLU
$UHDOLVDWLRQGDZQHGXSRQPH,I,KDGWROHDUQ FDSDFLW\ZLOOVWLOOÀQGLWSUHJQDQWZLWKJUHDWSRWHQ
VRPHWKLQJIURP*XUXMLLWZDVKLVUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK WLDO
OLIHDQGOLYLQJ7KLVLV\RJD

IYN26 version9.indd 5 17/03/2015 18:41:15


,QRQHRIRXULQWHUYLHZVZLWK*XUXMLKHVDLG´, RZQGLFWDWHWRKLPVHOIWKDWDWDQ\SRLQWLQWLPHDQG
KDGWRJRLQGHSWKWRÀQGRXWZKDWODQJXDJHWR LQDQ\JLYHQVLWXDWLRQWKHmahavratamKDGWREH
XVHZKDWZRUGVWRXVHZKLOHLQVWUXFWLQJVWXGHQWV SUDFWLVHGDQGZLOOEH7KLVKHIROORZHGWLOOKLVYHU\
DERXW\RJD,KDGWRÀQGRXWZKLFKZRUGVSURYLGHG ODVWEUHDWK
WKHGHVLUHGHIIHFWV,EHJDQWRDVFHUWDLQDQGÀQH
WXQHWKHP7KXVFDPHDVSHFLÀFVW\OHRIODQJXDJH $QLQFLGHQWWKDWWRRNSODFHDFRXSOHRIPRQWKV
IRUWHDFKLQJ6RPHWLPHVWRÀQGWKHFRUUHFWZRUG EHIRUHKLVGHPLVHLOOXVWUDWHVWKLV+HZDVXQZHOO
IRUDSDUWLFXODUH[SHULHQFHLWWRRNPH\HDUV +HWROG$EKLKLVJUDQGGDXJKWHU´%ULQJWZRVi-
,I\RXKDYHWRGLYHLQWRDQ\DUWDQGXQGHUVWDQGLWV parita DandasanaEHQFKHVIRUSavasanaµ7ZRVXFK
FRUH\RXKDYHWREHUHDG\WRIDFHGLIÀFXOWLHV EHQFKHVWKDWRZHWKHLUELUWKWR*XUXMLKLPVHOI
ZHUHEURXJKWDQGDUUDQJHGZLWKEROVWHUVEODQNHWV
´:KHQ,WDXJKW,ZRXOGGHPRQVWUDWHZKDW, DQGSLOORZVVXFKWKDWDYHU\PLOGVXSSRUWZDV
ZDQWHGRUZKDW,H[SHFWHGWKHPWRGREHFDXVH FUHDWHGZKLFKHQDEOHVEUHDWKLQJWRKDSSHQPRUH
EDFNWKHQP\YRFDEXODU\ZDVYHU\OLPLWHG,GLG HDVLO\ZLWKIUHHGRP
QRWKDYHWKHSURSHUH[SUHVVLRQ6RP\WZRIRUNHG
sadhanaZDVRQ2QRQHVLGH,ZDVEHQWXSRQ *XUXMLJRWLQWRWKHSRVHDQGJUDGXDOO\VHWWOHGLQ
PDVWHULQJWKHasanasDQGRQWKHRWKHUVLGH,ZDV Savasana´:KHQ,DPLQDQasana,,EHFRPHWKH
WU\LQJWRJLYHELUWKWRDSSURSULDWHYHUEDOH[SUHV asanaµWKLVVWDWHPHQWFDPHDOLYHULJKWWKHUHLQ
VLRQV2WKHUZLVHP\WHDFKLQJZRXOGQRWKDYHKDG IURQWRIP\RZQH\HV$EKLDQGDFRXSOHRIRWKHUV
WKLVFODULW\,FRXOGQRWKDYHVKDUHGZKDWFDPHP\ VWD\HGDURXQGVRWKH\FRXOGEHWKHUHLIKHQHHGHG
ZD\RUZKDW,H[SHULHQFHG,IZKDW,VD\LVLPSURS VRPHWKLQJ:KHQKHRSHQHGKLVH\HVKHVDZWKHVH
HUKRZZLOOP\VWXGHQWFRPHWRH[SHULHQFHZKDW \RXQJVWHUVVWDQGLQJWKHUH+HJHVWXUHGWRWKHP
KDVWREHH[SHULHQFHG"µ2QKHDULQJ*XUXMLVD\VR ZLWKKLVKDQGVWRJRDQGFORVHGKLVH\HVDJDLQ
LWPD\DSSHDUWREHDOLQHDUSURFHVVEXWDVWXGHQW +RZHYHUWKH\FRXOGQ·WEULQJWKHPVHOYHVWROHDYH
RI\RJDZLOOKDYHWKHVHQVLELOLW\DQGVHQVLWLYLW\WR
FRPSUHKHQGWKDWLWLVQRWVR $IWHUVRPHWLPH*XUXMLRSHQHGKLVH\HVDQGWKHUH
KHVDZWKHVHFKLOGUHQVWLOOVWDQGLQJ´'LG,QRWWHOO
2QFHLQDQLQWHUYLHZZLWKKLVJUDQGGDXJKWHU*X \RXWRJRDQGSUDFWLVH":K\DUH\RXVWLOOVWDQG
UXMLVDLG´0\PRWKHUWRQJXHLV.DQQDGD0\IRUPDO LQJKHUH",I\RXVWDQGKHUHOLNHWKLV,ZLOOVWRSP\
HGXFDWLRQZDVYHU\OLPLWHG,XVHGWRWHDFKSULPDU SUDFWLFHµKHVDLGZLWKTXLWHVWURQJLQWHQVLW\*XUXML
LO\LQ3XQH0XPEDLDQGRYHUVHDV0DQ\DWLPH ZDVYHU\GLVWXUEHGWKDWWKH\ZHUHPLVVLQJWKHLU
WKRVHZKRFDPHWRP\FODVVHVZHUHVFKRODUVRU SUDFWLFHE\WU\LQJWREHDURXQG
SXQGLWV,I,HUUHGWKHEOHPLVKZRXOGKDYHFRPHWR
\RJDDQGP\JXUX,FRXOGQHYHUWDNHWKDW+HQFH :KHQ,PHWKLPDIHZGD\VODWHUKHVDLG´3DWDQMDOL
SUDFWLFHZDVDQGLVDOZD\VRQ0\SUDFWLFHLQYROYHG KDVVDLGLQKLVRZQZRUGVabhyasaKDVWREHORQJ
DZDUHQHVVRIZKDW,DPGRLQJDQGVHQVLWLYLW\WR FRQWLQXRXVXQLQWHUUXSWHGDQGZLWKUHYHUHQFH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

ZKDWDOOLVKDSSHQLQJ,UHOLHGRQO\RQP\H[SHUL 2QO\WKHQZLOOLWEHGHHSURRWHGSa tu deerghakala


HQFHDQGP\SULPDU\GXW\ZDVWRVKDUHWKDWLQWKH nairyantarya satkarasevito drudhabhumi.µ2QKLVIDFH
IRUPRIWHDFKLQJ6RP\SUDFWLFHQHYHUVWRSSHG ZDVDQH[SUHVVLRQZKLFKVDLG´&DQZHQRWIROORZ
DQGQHYHUZLOO,DPDyoga sadhakaµ WKLVVLPSOHLQVWUXFWLRQ"µ

8QUHOHQWLQJSUDFWLFHSUDFWLFHSUDFWLFH,WLVQRZ ******
FOHDUWKDWKHWRRNWKLVDVKLVPDQWUDEDFNWKHQ
DQGVLQFHWKHQDVWKHRQO\PHDQVIRUVXUYLYDO +HUHLVDVWRU\ZKHQ*XUXMLZDV
7KDWKHDFFHSWHGWKLVZKROHKHDUWHGO\LVFOHDU
3DWDQMDOLVSHDNVRI sarvabhauma mahavratam)RU +HZDVKHOSLQJDQROGPDQZKRZDVLQWKHWKHUDS\
*XUXML\RJDLWVHOIZDVWKHmahavratam,WZDVKLV FODVVHVZLWKDEDGEDFNDFKH+HVSHQWTXLWHD
6

IYN26 version9.indd 6 17/03/2015 18:41:15


ZKLOHDGMXVWLQJWKHROGPDQVRKHFRXOGÀQGVRPH 7KHPLQXWH\RXWRXFKWKHSDWLHQW\RXFDQIHHOWKH
HDVHLQEUHDWKLQJ$ZLWQHVVWRDOOWKLVZDV$EKL YLEUDWLRQVLQKLVERG\$WWKDWPRPHQW\RXKDYH
ZLWKKHUKDQGVHQWZLQHGEHKLQGKHUEDFN WROHDYH\RXUERG\DQGHQWHUWKHVWXGHQW·VERG\
´$EKL\RXSHRSOHFDQQHYHUKHOSDQ\ERG\µKH 1RWKLQJP\VWLFDO7KLVLVQRWP\ZRUGV3DWDQMDOL
VDLGDIWHUKHZDVÀQDOO\VDWLVÀHGZLWKKLVPDQ\DW VD\Vbandhakarana shaithilyat pracharasamvedan-
WHPSWVWRKHOSWKHROGPDQ$EKLZDVFRQIXVHGDV achha chittasya parashareeraveshahµ
WRZKDWKHUJUDQGIDWKHUPHDQW´<RXDUHDOOVFDUHG
RIWRXFKµKHVDLGSDVVLQJDFKHFNLQJJODQFHRQWKH (YHUVRJHQWO\*XUXMLOLIWHGWKHSDWLHQW·VKHDGDQG
ROGPDQDJDLQ´:LWKRXWWRXFKKRZFDQ\RXXQGHU JDYHDEODQNHWWKDWKHKLPVHOIIROGHGPHWLFXORXVO\
VWDQGVRPHERG\·VSDLQ"&RPHKHUH6HHµKHSXOOHG DQGWKHPDQKHDYHGDVLJQRIUHOLHIDJDLQ$ORQJH[
KHUWRZDUGVWKHROGPDQDQGPDGHKHUWRXFKKLV KDODWLRQ´<RXVKRXOGHQWHUWKHVWXGHQW·VERG\DQG
FKHVW$VWKHSDWLHQWFDPHRXWRIKLVSRVH*XUXML XQGHUVWDQGZKDWLVKDSSHQLQJWRKLP:KHUHLVWKH
VDLG´7RXFKKLVEDFN+RZDJLWDWHGLWZDVEHIRUH,W SDLQ":K\LVWKHSDLQWKHUH\RXKDYHWRWUDFHWKH
ZDVDQJU\6HHKRZLWLVQRZ&DQ\RXSHUFHLYHWKLV SUREOHPIURPZLWKLQ\RX<RXKDYHWRIHHOWKDWSDLQ
WUDQVIRUPDWLRQ"µ0RUDODQGHWKLFDOSULQFLSOHVEHJLQ DQGWKHQÀQGRXWKRZWRVROYHWKHSUREOHP2QO\
KHUH WKHQZLOODFOHDUVROXWLRQWRWKHSUREOHPFRPHWR
\RX%\NHHSLQJ\RXUKDQGVEHKLQG\RXUEDFN\RX
7KHVWXGHQW·VIDFHZKLFKKDGEHHQVKULYHOOHGZLWK FDQQHYHUKHOSDQ\ERG\µ
GLVWUHVVQRZVKRZHGVRPHVLJQVRIUHOLHI+LV
UK\WKPRIEUHDWKLQJLPSURYHG*XUXMLNHSWKLV *HHWDMLWROGPHDIHZKRXUVDIWHUKLVGHPLVH´,IHHO
KDQGVRQWKHSDWLHQW·VH\HVDQGVDLGVRIWO\´5HOD[ KRZGLG$QQD>IDWKHU@VXUYLYHIRUVRPDQ\\HDUV"

Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

IYN26 version9.indd 7 17/03/2015 18:41:17


+HKDVXVHGKLVERG\VRPXFK\RXFDQQHYHU te svarasavahi vidooshopi tatha roodhobhniveshah II.9
IDWKRP$Q\RQHPD\FRPHDQGWHOOKLP¶*XUXML,
KDYHWKLVSUREOHP·DQGWKDWZDVHQRXJKIRUKLPWR 7KHVXEWOHVWRIVXEWOHDIÁLFWLRQVLVLQKHUHQWDWWDFK
JHWXSWRJRDQGKHOS&RQVWDQWVWUXJJOHFRQVWDQW PHQWWRRQH·VH[LVWHQFHDQGIHDURIORVLQJLW7KLV
VWUXJJOHµ IHDURIGHDWKGRHVQRWOHDYHHYHQWKHZLVHPHQDV
WKHLQVWLQFWLYHIHDUZKLFKLVFRPPRQWRDOOLVDOVR
****** SUHVHQWLQWKHP

August 2014. Guruji’s house 3DWDQMDOLWKXVFOHDUO\LQGLFDWHVWKDWHYHQWKH


OHDUQHGDUHQRWVSDUHGIURPWKHFOXWFKHVRIWKLV
*XUXMLZDVQRWNHHSLQJYHU\ZHOOIRUVRPHGD\V klesha
QRZ$OOZHUHGLVWUHVVHGZLWKGRXEWV
%HLQJLQWKHPHGLFDOSURIHVVLRQ,KDYHHQFRXQWHUHG
´1RZ\RXDOOGHFLGHZKDWLVWREHGRQH,DP GHDWKPDQ\WLPHV0\SHUVRQDOH[SHULHQFHLVWKDWLI
QRWJRLQJWRGHFLGHWRQRWJRWRWKHKRVSLWDO<RX RQHH[DPLQHVKRZDSHUVRQGLHVDQGKRZKHIDFHV
GHFLGHZKDW\RXWKLQNLVULJKWµKHWROGKLVFKLOGUHQ GHDWKLWZLOOWHOOXVPRUHDERXWKLVOLYLQJKLVYDOXHV
DQGJUDQGFKLOGUHQZKRZHUHDURXQGKLP DQGKLVFRUH0DQ\SHRSOHIDOWHUPDUNHGO\LQWKLV
H[DP
:KLOHVD\LQJWKLV
WKHUHZDVQRWDWLQJH 7KRVHVRFDOOHGHYROYHG
RIHJRRUVHQVHRI
7KHVXEWOHVWRIVXEWOHDIÁLFWLRQVLV SHRSOHZKRWKURXJKRXW
DFFRPSOLVKPHQWWKDW inherent attachment to one’s WKHLUOLYHVEHDWDERXW
KHKDGQRWVHHQWKH existence and fear of losing it. WKHLUGUXPVWKLQNLQJ
IDFHRIDKRVSLWDOIRU WKDWRQO\WKH\KDYH
KLPVHOILQWKHODVW
This fear of death does not leave even XQGHUVWRRGWKHGHHSHU
\HDUV1RWDFXUUHQW the wise men as the PHDQLQJRIOLIHIDFH
RIDGDPDQFHWKDW, instinctive fear which is common GHDWKXWWHUO\SDWKHWLFDO
ZLOOGHFLGHZKDWLV O\$WWKDWSRLQW\HDUQ
WREHGRQHQRQHRI
to all is also present in them. LQJIRUGHDWKWRWXUQ
\RXVKDOOLQWHUIHUH KHUIDFHDZD\WKH\DUH
1HLWKHUZDVWKHUHDQH[SUHVVLRQRIGHSHQGHQFH UHDG\WRGRDQ\WKLQJMXVWDQ\WKLQJ6RLWEHFRPHV
WKDWZKDWHYHU\RXGHFLGHZLOOEHWKHFRUUHFWWKLQJ YHU\FOHDUZK\3DWDQMDOLSXWVabhiniveshaLQWKHÀUVW
$VWUDLJKWFOHDULQVWUXFWLRQ SODFHDPRQJNOHVDV

2QWKHIDFHRILWWKLVLVQRWDVLJQLÀFDQWVWRU\%XW $WWKHRWKHUHQGRIWKHVSHFWUXPDUHWKRVHXQ
ZKDWVWULNHVPHLVWKHDZDUHQHVVDQGFDUULDJHRI QDPHGSHRSOHZKRKDYHVWUXJJOHGLQHYHU\VWHS
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WKDWVLWXDWLRQZLWKWKDWDZDUHQHVVHYHQLQWKDW RIOLIHDQGVWLOOPDNHQRQRLVHRUVKRZDERXWLW
GLIÀFXOWWLPH2QRQHKDQGLVWKHVORZO\ZHDNHQ KDYHQ·WKDGDQ\DFFODLPDQGYHU\QDWXUDOO\UHFHLYH
LQJWKUHDGRIOLIHDQGRQWKHRWKHUVLGHLVDVLWXD GHDWK7KLVXQVSRNHQJUDQGHXULQWKHPPDNHVPH
WLRQWKDWKHKDVQHYHUIDFHGEHIRUHRQO\DIXWXUH ERZP\KDQGVDQGKHDGWRWKHPZLWKDOOKXPLOLW\
WKDWRQHKDVLPDJLQHG*XUXMLZDVDWWKDWPRPHQW $WWKHOLJKWRIGHDWKOLJKWLVWKURZQRQWKHLUWRWDO
ZKLFKZDVH[DFWO\EHWZHHQWKHVHWKUHDGV7REH OLYLQJ
DOHUWDWWKDWSUHFLVHPRPHQWDQGLQWURVSHFWLQJ
ZLWKWKDWDZDUHQHVV'HFLGLQJDQGH[HFXWLQJWKH ´<RJDXQGRXEWHGO\WHDFKHV\RXKRZWROLYHKRZ
GHFLVLRQZLWKGHWDFKPHQWLVVXFKDGLIÀFXOWWKLQJ HYHUWKHVXSHULRUOHVVRQLVLWWHDFKHV\RXKRZWR
7KRXJKRQHPD\UHFNRQVRLWLVRQO\ZLWKDUHIHU GLHµ3UDVKDQW,\HQJDUKDVUHSHDWHGO\WROGXVLQ
HQFHRIWKHLQGLYLGXDODQGOLPLWHGPHPRU\ FODVV+HVHHPVWREHWDONLQJDERXWabhinivesha


IYN26 version9.indd 8 17/03/2015 18:41:17


6WDQGLQJYDOLDQWO\DWWKLVVWHS*XUXMLZDVGHWDFKHG :KDWFDQWKHGRFWRURUDQ\RQHIRUWKDWPDWWHU
IURPKLVERG\DQGJDYHLWWRWKHRWKHUVDVWKRXJK VD\WRWKLV"
LWZHUHWKHLUV+HYHU\HDVLO\FURVVHGRYHUWKLV
WKUHVKROGZKLFKZDVabhinivesha (YHQWKRXJKLWPD\VRXQGXQLPDJLQDEOH*XUXMLVD\
LQJWKLVZDVQRWMXVWIRUWKHVDNHRILW7KDWLVQRW
****** KLP+HZRXOGHYHQFDXWLRQKLVVWXGHQWV´7HDFK
RQO\ZKDW\RXNQRZ:KDW\RXKDYHQRWH[SHUL
,WZDVGHFLGHGWRWDNHKLPWRKRVSLWDO HQFHGGRQ·WVD\DZRUG7KLVLVIRROLQJWKHP(YHU\
VLQJOHWKLQJWKDW,KDYHWDXJKWLQP\OLIH,KDYH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

+HOLVWHQHGDWWHQWLYHO\WRDOOWKHGRFWRUVDLGDQG H[SHULHQFHGLW:KDW,KDYHQRWH[SHULHQFHG,KDYH
ZLWKKLVKDQGVIROGHGLQNamaskarWROGKLP´2K QHYHUWDXJKWµ+HLVDPDQZKRLVVRFOHDUZKRUH
GRFWRU\RXDUHWDNLQJVRPXFKWURXEOHIRUP\ OLHGRQO\RQKLVH[SHULHQFH«DQGZDVFRPSOHWHO\
VDNH«WKDQN\RX«WKDQN\RXµ,WGLGQ·WHQGKHUH KRQHVWZLWKDQGWRWKDWH[SHULHQFH
+HDGGHG´2QHWKLQJLVFHUWDLQ7KHVHDIÁLFWLRQV
DUHDOZD\VJRLQJWREHWKHUHIRUWKHERG\2QH :KHQWKHVDPHJUDQGIDWKHUWHOOVWKHGRFWRU´,
RQO\KDVWRIDFHWKHPDOO7KHUHDUHQRVKRUWFXWV DPLQVLGHTXLHWDQGSHDFHIXOµKHLVUHDOO\¶LQVLGH·
%XWWKHVHDUHDOOSHUWDLQLQJWRWKLVRXWHUERG\,I ¶TXLHW·DQG¶SHDFHIXO·
WKHWLPHKDVFRPHWRFKDQJHWKHFORWKHVVREHLW
,DPLQVLGHTXLHWDQGSHDFHIXOµ ******

IYN26 version9.indd 9 17/03/2015 18:41:17


Hospital I.C.U. JUDQGIDWKHU·VLQWHQWLRQ,WZDV OLIHIRUFHLQVLGHWKHERG\VKRXOG
MXVWIRUDPRPHQWEXWWKHQ$EKL EHFRQJUXHQW<RJDLVWRXQLWHWR
+LVFKLOGUHQDQGJUDQGFKLOGUHQ UHFRJQLVHGWKDWLWZDVWKHVDPH \RNHWRMRLQ<RJDLVWRH[LVWLQ
DOOWRRNWXUQVWREHZLWKKLP ZDWFKIXOIDFHIURPKLVSUDFWLFH UHODWLRQVKLS)HHOWKDW$QGLQWKDW
GD\DQGQLJKW7KHUHKHLVDW VHVVLRQV EHDOHUWYLJLODQWDQGZDWFKIXOµ
SHDFHO\LQJRQWKHEHGZLWK
H\HVFORVHG1H[WWRKLPVLWV :KLOHWHDFKLQJasanasZK\KH $EKLLVRYHUZKHOPHGZLWKWKH
$EKL7KHVLWXDWLRQLVVHULRXVWKH KDVVWUHVVHGWKLVHYHU\WLPH´%H VLWXDWLRQ+HUHLVDPDQZKRKDV
ERG\·VUHVSRQVHWRWKHWUHDWPHQW ZDWFKIXO,QJanu SirsasanaZDWFK DOZD\VWROGHYHU\VWXGHQWDQG
LVXQIRUWXQDWHO\RQO\PHGLRFUH ZKDW\RXUEHQWNQHHLVGRLQJ DQ\RQHLQWHUHVWHGLQ\RJD´1HY
KRZLVWKHVWUDLJKWHQHGNQHH« HUJLYHXSSUDFWLFH<RXUSUDFWLFH
7LPHSDVVHV*XUXMLRSHQVKLV KRZLVWKHVWRPDFKWXUQLQJ« VKRXOGDOZD\VEHXQGHUWDNHQ
H\HVDQGORRNVDWKLVJUDQG LVWKHFKHVWVLQNLQJ«ZKHUHLV ZLWKDZDWFKIXODQGDOHUWPLQGµ
GDXJKWHU+HVPLOHVSOHDVDQWO\ WKHSXOO«DQGZKLFKLVWKHDUHD 7KLVPDQZKRLVKHUJUDQGIDWKHU
6KHOHDQVIRUZDUGDQGDVNV ZKHUHWKHUHLVQRDFWLRQKDSSHQ GLGQRWVZHUYHIURPWKHSDWKRI
KLP´'R\RXZDQWDQ\WKLQJ LQJ<RXKDYHWRREVHUYH'RQ·W \RJDHYHQDWWKLVMXQFWXUH6KH
7DWD"µ*XUXMLQRGVKLVKHDGDQG MXVWVWRSWKHUH,QDQGWKURXJK KROGVKLVKDQG
ZDYHVKLVKDQGJHVWXULQJD¶QR· Janu SirsasanaKRZGRHVWKHYLWDO
´$EKL«,DPWKLQNLQJ«WKHODVW HQHUJ\WKHFRQVFLRXVQHVVÁRZ" ´,DPWHOOLQJ*RG¶,I\RXKDYH
\HDUV«ZKDWHYHUUHDVRQ 7DNH\RXUPLQGWKHUH7KDWÁRZ WRJHWDQ\PRUHZRUNGRQH
*RGKDVVHQWPHIRUKRZPXFK of Chaitanya«,WVKRXOGÁRZOLNH IURPPHNHHSPHKHUH·µ6KH
RILWKDYH,FRPSOHWHG"µ$EKL DULYHU8QLYHUVDOOLIHIRUFHZKLFK KDVQRZXQGHUVWRRGZKDWKHU
GLGQ·WLPPHGLDWHO\JUDVSKHU is ChaitanyaDQGWKHÁRZRIWKLV JUDQGIDWKHUZDVFRPLQJWR6KH
GLGQRWKDYHWKHVWUHQJWKWRKHDU
ZKDWKHUJUDQGIDWKHUZRXOGVD\
QH[W6KHGLGQRWZDQWWRKHDU
KLPVD\DQ\WKLQJDERXWKLPG\LQJ
6KHUHVWOHVVO\VWD\VRQIRUZKDW
ZDVWRIROORZ$QXUVHHQWHUVDQG
XVLQJWKDWVKHZDONVRXW

August 20. Yet to dawn.

0\PRELOHQH[WWRWKHEHGULQJV
´6DP. DQDPHZKLFKP\FORVH
IULHQGVKDYHJLYHQPH «µ$EKL
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

VD\V1RPRUHZRUGV,KHDU
KHUFRQWUROOLQJKHUWHDUV$IHZ
VHFRQGVRIVLOHQFHDQGWKHQD
VKDNLQJYRLFH´6DP.«7DWDµLW
ZDVDVLIVKHGLGQ·WZDQWWRVD\
DQ\WKLQJHOVH

$EKL·VIDFHFRPHVWRP\PLQG,W
LVQRWGLIÀFXOWWRLPDJLQHZKDW
VKHLVJRLQJWKURXJK,WLVQRWMXVW
KHUHYHU\ERG\LQWKHIDPLO\VWX
10

IYN26 version9.indd 10 17/03/2015 18:41:18


GHQWVSXSLOVSHRSOHUDQJLQJIURPVLPSOHKRXVHKROGV WKHVRLORYHUWKHFRIÀQ´,WKRXJKWVKHZDVLPPRU
WRUR\DOIDPLOLHVWRDOOWKRVHWKDWKHOGKLVKHDUW\RJD WDOµ,WLVWKHVDPHVWRU\DERXW*XUXML
SUDFWLWLRQHUVIURPDOORYHUWKHZRUOG«WKLVLVQHZV
WKDWZLOOSOXQJHWKHPDOOLQWRVRUURZ 7KHUHZDVFHUWDLQO\DPDUNLQP\PLQGDVWRKRZ
VDG,ZLOOEHLI*XUXMLLQGHHGSDVVHGDZD\+RZHYHU
***** P\GHVSRQGHQF\LVLQDIDUJUHDWHUPHDVXUHWKDQ
2QHHWHUQDOWUXWKDERXWWKLVERG\WKDWLVERUQLV P\H[SHFWDWLRQ:KHQ,UHDOLVHGWKLVRQLQWURVSHF
WKDWGHDWKLVFHUWDLQ,WLVVSRNHQDERXWDVLIRQHKDV WLRQWKHTXHVWLRQWKDWOLQJHUHGRQLV´:K\VR"µ,
FRPSOHWHO\XQGHUVWRRGWKDW+RZHYHURQHFDQQRW KDGDQLGHDRIDOOSRVVLELOLWLHV,KDGDVVHVVHGWKH
SUHGLFWZKDWLWLVIRUDPDQWRGLHZKDWLVGHDWK VLWXDWLRQZHOO%XWZK\LVWKLVVR"0\HJRKDGEHHQ
WKLVFRQXQGUXPUHPDLQV'HDWKLVWKHGLVDSSHDUDQFH VWXQJ
RIWKHOLIHIRUFH(YHQ :K\DUHZHVRXQD
LIZHGHÀQHVRZKHUH ZDUHDERXWWKHH[
KDYHZHKDGDQH[SHUL LVWHQFHRIDSHUVRQ
HQFHRIWKLVOLIHIRUFH" ZKRKDVWRXFKHG
%HLQJDOLYHGRHVQRW ¶OLIH·LWVHOIDQGLV
DPRXQWWRH[SHULHQFLQJ ZLWKLQXV"2ULVLW
WKLVOLIHIRUFH,WLVRQO\ VRREYLRXVO\WDNHQ
LWVPDQLIHVWHGHIIHFW IRUJUDQWHGWKDWZH
KDYHORVWWRXFKRI
:KDWZHFRQVWUXHDV WKDW"7KLVLVZKDW
WLPHLVDFWXDOO\DFRQ VHHPVWREHWKH
JUHJDWLRQRIPRPHQWV FDVH*XUXML·VGHPLVH
:LWKRXWORVLQJWKH feels so personal like
OLQNEHWZHHQWKHPR ZHKDYHORVWDOLPE
PHQWDQGVXFFHVVLYH RUDSDUWRIRXURZQ
PRPHQWVLIWKH\RJL VHOYHVDQG*XUXML·V
RQO\PDLQWDLQVDWWHQWLRQRQWKHFRQWLQXRXVÁRZRI SDVVLQJIHHOVOLNHRXUSDUWLDOG\LQJWKHWUDXPDRI
PRPHQWVKHIUHHVKLPVHOIIURPWKHOLPLWDWLRQRIWLH LWLVLPPHDVXUDEOH+HQFHDOORXUHVWLPDWLRQVKDYH
SODFHRUVSDFHDQGDFTXLUHVH[DOWHGZLVGRP JRQHZURQJDWWKDWYHU\SRLQW/LNH:RGHKRXVH
ZHDUHDOVRIHHOLQJ´%XWKHZDVLPPRUWDOµ
7KHPDQZKRKDVZULWWHQVRLQKLVFRPPHQWDU\RQ
3DWDQMDOLOHIWWKHSODQHRIVSDFHDQGWLPHRQ$XJXVW ,DPVXUHWKLVLVQRWMXVWP\VWRU\EXWWKHVWRU\RI
WRQHYHUHYHUUHWXUQ WKHPLOOLRQVRI\RJDVWXGHQWVDURXQGWKHZRUOG

7KHWUXWKLV*XUXML·VGHPLVHLVQRWXQWLPHO\,WLVQRW ******
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

XQH[SHFWHG ,UHDFKHGWKHLQVWLWXWH*XUXML·VERG\ZDVNHSW
LQWKHVDPHURRPWKDWKHZRXOGVLWLQ+LVERG\
7KHERG\WKDWKDVHQGXUHGVHYHUHKDUGVKLSIRU ORRNHGIDUSXUHUWKDQ,KDGH[SHFWHG´,I\RXEDO
\HDUVLVJRLQJWRJHWJULHYHG7KHKRSHWKDWQRWKLQJ DQFHLQWKHSUHVHQW\RXDUHOLYLQJLQ(WHUQLW\µ
VKRXOGKDSSHQZDVRIFRXUVHWKHUHEXWWKHUHLVDQ :KHQ,VDZKLPIRUWKDWÀQDOWLPH*XUXML·VVWDWH
XQGHUO\LQJLQNOLQJWKDWVRPHWKLQJLVDERXWWRKDSSHQ PHQWFDPHEDFNWRPH
7KRXJKRQRQHKDQGWKHLQWHOOHFWJUDVSVDOOWKLVWKH
HPRWLRQVRIWKHKHDUWVSHDNVDGLIIHUHQWODQJXDJH ,ZDVGLVFHUQLQJWKHVXEWOHGLIIHUHQFHDPRQJVWWKH
IROORZLQJ*XUXMLLQSavasanaLQWKHSUDFWLFHKDOO
7KHIDPRXVZULWHU3*:RGHKRXVHVDZWKHGHDWKRI WKHSKRWRJUDSKVRIKLPLQSavasanaWKHSURSVWKDW
KLVGDXJKWHU'XULQJWKHEXULDOKHVDLGZKLOHOD\LQJ KHGHVLJQHGIRUSavasanaDQGWKHÀQDOVXUUHQGHU
11

IYN26 version9.indd 11 17/03/2015 18:41:19


RIKLVERG\LQWKHODSRI0RWKHU ZHQWDERXWWKHWKLQJVLQDYHU\ U\ERG\ZDVSOXQJHGLQWRDKHDY\
(DUWK)RUDPRPHQW,TXLYHUHG VLPSOHPDQQHU VDGVWDWHDQGQRQHPRYHG/LNH
´7KLVLVDGHDGERG\QRWWKH ELUGVLQWKHUDLQVWKH\VDWVFDW
DVDQDGHGLFDWHGWRWKHGHDG $IHZGD\VDIWHU*XUXML·VGHPLVH WHUHG
ERG\7KHDZDUHQHVVRIZLWQHVV ,KDGWRJRWRWKHKRVSLWDOZKHUH
LQJRIRQHVHOIE\RQHVHOILVQRW KHKDGEHHQ$BohriODG\FDPH $IULHQG·VWH[WIURP0XPEDL
WKHUHKHUH7KHSHDFHIXOVWDWH XSWRPH+HUUHODWLYHKDGEHHQ ´9HU\VRUU\*XUXML·VQHZVLV
RIWKHLQGLYLGXDOLVHGIRUPRIWKH DSDWLHQWWKHUHIRUVRPHWLPHVR ÁDVKLQJDVEUHDNLQJQHZVRQ79
8QLYHUVDOIRUFHDQGWKHDEVHQFH ZHKDGEHJXQWRUHFRJQLVHHDFK $ELJPDQKDVJRQHP\IULHQGµ
RIWKHIRUFHLWVHOILVWKHGLIIHU RWKHUZKHQ*XUXMLZDVLQWKH ,WZDVQRZRXWWKHUH3HRSOHKDG
HQFHEHWZHHQWKRVHWZR7KH KRVSLWDO EHJXQWRJDWKHU$TXHXHZDVEH
8QLYHUVDOIRUFHZKLFKJLYHVOLIH LQJIRUPHG
WRWKHERG\KDVOHIWIRUHWHUQLW\ 6KHWROGPHZLWKDVDGH[SUHV
7KLVLVMXVWWKHYHVWPHQWRIWKH VLRQ´<RXUSDWLHQWEDGHK, ******
ERG\WKDWKDVGLJHVWHG\HDUV KHDUGYHU\VDG,DPVRUU\µ,
WKDWKDVORVWOLIHIURPZKDWZDV QRGGHG6KHDVNHGPHFRPSDV :K\GR,VRVWURQJO\IHHOUHFXU
DOLYHWKDWKDVFURVVHGRYHUIURP VLRQDWHO\´+HZDV\RXUJUDQG ULQJO\WKDW*XUXMLVKRXOGKDYH
WKDWFRQWDFWµ IDWKHU"µ´,QGHHGµ,VDLG´EXW VWD\HGRQ"
PRUHLPSRUWDQWO\KHZDV*X
7KHQHZVZDVVWLOOQRWRXWLQWKH UXML\RJD·V*XUXMLµ ,IHHOVREHFDXVH,WKLQNPHQOLNH
ZRUOG ´$K$QRWKHU<RJDFKDU\DDOVR KLPZKRZHUHIXOORIOLIHFRP
H[SLUHGDFRXSOHRIGD\VDJR, SOHWHDQGYLEUDQWLQEHLQJDQG
7KHUHZDVRQO\IDPLO\DQGD VDZLQWKHSDSHUVVDZRQWKH LQHYHU\WKLQJWKH\GLGDUHYHU\
KDQGIXORIRWKHUV7KHIDPLO\ZDV WHOHYLVLRQWRRµ IHZFDQEHFRXQWHGZLWKRQH·V
RIFRXUVHVKDNHQWKDWWKH\ORVW ,UHDOLVHGWKLVODG\GLGQ·WUHDOLVH ÀQJHUV7KHSDVVLQJDZD\RIVXFK
WKHOLRQDPRQJVWWKHPWKDWZDV LW´+HZDVWKHVDPHPDQµ,VDLG SHRSOHLVQRWDERXWWKHLUDJHEXW
WKHLURZQEORRG<HWEH\RQGDOO 6KHZDVDVWRQLVKHG´:KDWGR MXVWWKHLUSUHVHQFHMXVWE\EHLQJ
WKLVQRQHZDVGLVFRQQHFWHGIURP \RXPHDQ"µ VHHQRQHJHWVFRPIRUWHGWKH
WKHIDFWWKDWWKH\ZHUHDSDUW ´0DGDPLQWKHURRPQH[WWR IDLWKLQOLIHVWD\VRQ+HQFH,IHHO
RIWKHÀQDOMRXUQH\RIDJUHDW \RXUSDWLHQWZDVWKHVDPHPDQ KHVKRXOGKDYHEHHQWKHUH7KH
\RJLRIWKLVHUD(YHU\ERG\QRZ <RJDFKDU\D%.6,\HQJDUµ WUXWKLVLWLVP\VHOÀVKQHVVZKLFK
XQGHUVWRRGWKDWHYHUVLQFHWKH 6KHZDVVKRFNHG´'RQ·WWHOOPH \HDUQVIRUKLP
IDWKHUWKHJUDQGIDWKHUZHQWWR 7KDWJUDQGIDWKHU+HZDV<R
WKHKRVSLWDOKHZDVQHDULQJKLV JDFKDU\D"+HZDVVRVLPSOH+LV $WVXFKDWLPHWKHSDVVLQJDZD\
ODVWGD\VWKHUHZDVQRFKRLFHIRU IDPLO\DOVR%XW<RJDFKDU\DZDV RIDUDUHPDQOLNH*XUXMLZKR
KLVERG\EXWWRPRYHWRZDUGV VRIDPRXV'RHVQ·WKHKDYHVR JRLQJEH\RQGKLPVHOIWRXFKHG
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WKDWFRQGLWLRQIURPZKHUHLW PDQ\IROORZHUV"µ7KDWODG\FRXOG WKHOLYHVRIVRPDQ\SHRSOHZKR


FRXOGJRWRGHDWK,DPDZLWQHVV QRWGLJHVWWKDWQH[WWRKHUKDG WRRNRWKHUSHRSOHLQWRKLVOLIH
WRWKHIDFWWKDWHDFKRQHWKHUH EHHQ<RJDFKDU\D,\HQJDUKLPVHOI DQGZKRODLGKLVOLIHIRUWKHEHQ
WRRNXWPRVWFDUHWKDWQRWKLQJ ´2K<RXVKRXOGKDYHDWOHDVW HÀWRIRWKHUVPDNHVPHUHDOLVH
DZNZDUGVKRXOGKDSSHQIURP WROGPH,ZRXOGKDYHDWOHDVWKDG KRZPXFKKLVURRWVKDYHGLI
WKHPLQWKDWVLWXDWLRQ-XVWDVLJ his darshana6XFKDJUHDWPDQ IXVHGLQWRRXURZQVHOYHV:KDW
QDODQGWKHUHFRXOGKDYHEHHQDQ DQGVRVLPSOHµVKHNHSWPXU DZLGHUDQJHRISHRSOHKDYHEHHQ
DVVHPEODJHRIODNKVRISHRSOHLQ PXULQJ EHUHDYHG
DOOWKHLUFDSDFLW\%XWKHUHZDVD
IDPLO\WKDWRQWKDWGD\SXWXQGHU $KHDY\VKDGRZRIVRUURZ (YHU\RQHRIXVIHHOVWKLVORVVVR
FRYHU*XUXML·VVSHFLDOQHVVDQG ORRPHGRYHUWKHLQVWLWXWH(YH SHUVRQDOO\DVWKRXJKKHZHUHD
12

IYN26 version9.indd 12 17/03/2015 18:41:19


SDUWRIXV,WLVXQEHDUDEOHWRLPDJLQHOLYLQJZLWKRXWKLP

,UHDGWKLVDJDLQDQGDJDLQDQG,IHHO,VKRXOGEULQJWKLVRQSDSHU

7RZULWHDQDUWLFOH,UDLVHP\KDQGWRW\SH2QWKHVFUHHQDSSHDUV¶*XUXML·<HWDJDLQ,VLWVWDULQJDWLW,
IHHOWKLVZLOOEHDSXEOLFPRXUQLQJRIDYHU\SHUVRQDOORVV,QHHGVRPHWKLQJZKLFKLVDWWKHVKDUSFRUH,
GHOHWHWKDWZRUGDQGZULWH¶\RJDVWKDRQHZKRLVÀUPO\DQGFRPSOHWHO\HVWDEOLVKHGLQ\RJD·

7KLVLVP\PHQWDOLPDJHRI*XUXML+HZDVSUROLÀFDQGDWWKHVDPHWLPHVWHDG\LQKLVDZDUHQHVVWKLVLV
WKHFKDUDFWHULVWLFRIDPDQZKRLQVSLWHRIUHDFKLQJJUHDWKHLJKWVUHPDLQHGVLPSOH

Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015


,\HQJDU\RJD1HZV1R6SULQJ

13

IYN26 version9.indd 13 17/03/2015 18:41:19


B.K.S. on Yoga Therapy
An lnterview with Guruji Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar

Interviewed by Rajvi H. Mehta


Article reprinted from Yoga Rahasya vol 9.2, 2002

*XUXML+RZZRXOG\RXGHÀQH RXUSK\VLFDOHPRWLRQDODQG RIOLYLQJ,VLWQRWWKHUDS\"<HV


WKHUDSHXWLF\RJD" LQWHOOHFWXDODFWLRQVDQGUHDFWLRQV 7KHQKRZFDQSHRSOHFRPSDUH
RFFXUULQJZLWKLQRXUVHOIDQGLQ \RJDWKHUDS\DQGSK\VLRWKHUDS\"
7KHUDS\LVDVXEMHFWZKLFKGHDOV UHVSRQVHWRWKHRXWVLGHZRUOG 7KHVHZRUGVDUHMXVWDQ
ZLWKWKHYLHZRIWKHERG\PLQG ,WLVQRWVRHDV\WRUHPDLQLQD H\HZDVKWRIRROWKHSHRSOH
DVZHOODVVHOI7KHUDS\IRUPH UK\WKPLFEDODQFHGVWDWHWKRXJK 7KHOLIHIRUFHQHHGVWREH
LVKRZZHFDQIRUPDPHWKRG WKDWLVWKHDLPRI\RJD<RJD FXOWXUHG$QLURQJHWVUXVWHGLILW
RORJ\WRNHHSWKLVERG\PLQG WKHUDS\LVDvedanticWKHUDS\EXW LVQRWXVHG6RDOVR\RXUSK\VL
DQGLQWHOOLJHQFHWRIXQFWLRQLQD QRWVRPHSK\VLFDOWKHUDS\DV RORJLFDOHPRWLRQDOLQWHOOHFWXDO
UK\WKPLFZD\FRRUGLQDWLQJZLWK FRPPRQO\XQGHUVWRRG7KHUDS\ PHQWDOERG\JHWVUXVWHG/LIH
WKHYDULRXVVWUXFWXUDOIXQFWLRQV PHDQVUHHQWHUWKHFRUHRIWKH EHFRPHVQHJDWLYHZKHQLWJHWV
RIWKHERG\<RJDSOD\VDPDMRU FDXVHRIWKHSDLQVDQGLPEDO UXVWHGEHFDXVHWKHOLIHIRUFH
UROHLQHGXFDWLQJPDQIURPWKH DQFHVWKDWFUHDWHWKHSDLQWRXFK GRHVQRWPRYHLQWKHHQWLUH
SHULSKHUDODUHDWRUHDFKWKH LWDQGFUHDWHWKDWUK\WKP,WLVD V\VWHPWRJHQHUDWHWKHOLIH
LQQHUPRVWSDUWRIWKHKXPDQ SKLORVRSKLFDOWKHUDS\DQGQRWD LQJUHGLHQWVLQLW
EHLQJZKLFK\RXPD\FDOOPHRU SK\VLFDOWKHUDS\
,RUWKHGLYLQHVHOI ,GRQRWFRQVLGHUWKDWDQ\SDUW
$OOSUREOHPVDULVHIURPWKLV,RU /LNH\RXMXVWVDLG*XUXMLSHRSOH RI\RJDOLNHasanapranayama
PH7RGD\WKHFRPPRQPDQ VWLOOWHQGWRPLVLQWHUSUHWWKDW and dhyanaLVWKHUDS\7KH\
GRHVQRWXQGHUVWDQGWKHvedanta \RJDWKHUDS\LVDQH[WHQVLRQRI EULQJDERXWWKHFXOWXUDOJURZWK
RI\RJDVedantaRI\RJDLVWR SK\VLRWKHUDS\VLQFHZHZRUNRQ IRUDQLQGLYLGXDOWRUHDFKWKHLU
XQLWHRUWREXLOGWKHERG\PLQG WKHERG\WKURXJKDVDQDVGR\RX OHYHORIXQLVRQLQOLIH+HDOWKLV
DQGLQWHOOLJHQFHZLWKWKHVXSSRUW ZDQWWRFOHDUWKDWPLVFRQFHS G\QDPLFDV,KDYHVDLGVHYHUDO
RIWKHFRQVFLRXVQHVVVRWKDW WLRQ" WLPHV+HDOWKLVDOLYLQJIRUFH
WKH\DOOEHFRPHDVLQJOHIDFHWRI +HDOWKLVQRWVWDWLF<RXQHHG
PDQ8QLW\WDNHVSODFHZLWKRXW ,IPRGHUQVFLHQFHQDPHVWKH QRWZRUNDWDOOLIKHDOWKLVVWDWLF
DQ\GLYHUJHQFHRUGHYLDWLRQV SHUIRUPLQJRIFHUWDLQPRYH +HDOWKLVPRWLRQ$VKHDOWKLVD
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

7KHERG\VD\VRQHWKLQJ PHQWVDVSK\VLRWKHUDS\LWGRHV PRWLRQPLQGLVDOVRDPRWLRQ


WKHPLQGVD\VRQHWKLQJWKH QRWPHDQWKDW\RXDOVRKDYH DVPLQGLVPRYLQJLQQHUFHOOXODU
HPRWLRQVVD\RQHWKLQJWKH WRQDPHDVXEMHFWOLNH\RJDDV V\VWHPRIWKHERG\DOVRPRYHV
LQWHOOHFWVD\VRQHWKLQJ6RWKHVH \RJDWKHUDS\,WKDVEHFRPHD 6RWKHUHLVQRWKLQJEXWPRYH
GLYHUVLRQVZKLFKDUHFRPPRQ KDELWWRGD\IRUSHRSOHWRHQFDVK PHQWLQWKHERG\ZKHWKHULWLV
WRRQHDQGDOOGLVWXUEWKH RQZRUGVFRLQHGE\WKHLQWHO LQVLGHRURXWVLGH\RXUPLQG,I
KDUPRQ\RIWKHOLIHIRUFHZKLFK OHFWXDOV7KHUDS\EHJLQVWKH WKHPRYHPHQWLVYLEUDQWDQG
ZHFRPPRQO\FDOODVKHDOWK,I PRPHQW\RXWDNHELUWK,I\RX G\QDPLFWKHQOLIHMXVWPRYHV
WKHUHLVDGLVWXUEDQFHLQWKHOLIH DUHOHDGLQJDQLPPRUDOOLIHWKHQ KHDOWKMXVWPRYHVZLWKWKHSRVL
IRUFHWKHQZHFDOOLWLOOKHDOWK \RXKDYHWRPRYHWRZDUGVD WLYHOLIHIRUFHDGGHGWRLW6R
7KLVOLIHIRUFHLVLQÁXHQFHGE\ PRUDOOLIHLQWRDQHWKLFDOFRGH KHDOWKFDQQRWEHUHVWULFWHGWR


IYN26 version9.indd 14 17/03/2015 18:41:19


EHLQJIUHHIURPGLVHDVHV+HDOWK WRU\V\VWHPDQGWKHFLUFXOD FRQVLGHUWKDW\RJDLVDVFLHQFH
LVQRWMXVWSV\FKRVRPDWLF7KH WRU\V\VWHP7KH\DOOH[LVWEXW WKDWPDNHVWKHprana sakti and
OLIHIRUFHLVWKHFUHDWLRQRI*RG \RJDKHOSVWRXVHWKHPWRWKH visva caitanya sakti WRZRUN
,WKDVQRPLQGLWKDVQRERG\ PD[LPXPOHYHOWRJHWDQRSWLPDO WRJHWKHUZLWKFRRUGLQDWLRQ
,WPRYHVDQGWKDWLVZK\LWLV HIIHFWDQG\RXIHHOWKHKHDOWKLQ 7KHVHDUHH[LVWLQJEXWWKH\KDYH
FDOOHGYLEUDQW WKHERG\PLQGDQGWKHVHOI,DP WREHDFWLYDWHG,I\RXDFWLYDWH
$VKHDOWKLVYLEUDQWZHKDYHWR XVLQJWKHVPDOOVHOIZKLFKLVWKH WKHQLWLVOLNHWKHULYHU*DQJDLI
NHHSRQZRUNLQJDWLWVRWKDW HJRRU,RUPH,DPQRWWDONLQJ QRWWKHQLWLVOLNHDORFDOULYHU
ZHGRQRWJHWUXVWHGLQRXUZD\ DERXWWKHatman,FRQVLGHUWKDW ZKLFKKDVZDWHUZKHQLWUDLQV
RIWKLQNLQJDQGLQRXUZD\RI \RJDLVDVFLHQFHWKDWDFWLYDWHV DQGGULHVXSRWKHUZLVH7KH
DFWLRQ:HKDYHWRFKDQQHOLVH WKHELRHQHUJ\ prana sakti DQG V\VWHPRI\RJDLVJLYHQVRWKDW
WKHHQHUJ\'LVHDVHVHWVLQZKHQ visva caitanya sakti XQLYHUVDO WKLVGU\LQJV\VWHPGRHVQRWWDNH
HQHUJ\GRHVQRWPRYH7KHUH FRVPLFIRUFH 6RWKDWLVZK\, SODFH
IRUH,GRQRWIHHOWKDWLWLVIDLU
WRFDOOWKLVZKROHVFLHQFHRI
\RJDZKLFKWHOOVXVKRZWRXVH
WKLVHQHUJ\WKURXJKWKHLQWHO
OHFWXDOSRZHUWREHFDOOHGDV
WKHUDS\
,IHHOLWLVDZURQJZRUGWKDW
KDVFRPHLQWRH[LVWHQFHDQG
LWLVDELJSUREOHPRQKRZ
WRH[SODLQWKLVWRWKHSHRSOH
6XSSRVH\RXDUHTXLHWDQG
\RXUERG\DQGPLQGGRHVQRW
IXQFWLRQLVQ·WVRPHWKLQJVWLOO
PRYLQJLQ\RXUERG\"7KLVLV
ZKDWQHHGVWREHEURXJKWWR
WKHVXUIDFH7KLVZRUNVDVD
SURWHFWLYHSRZHUZKLFKNHHSV
WKHLQQHUPDQWKH,RUWKHVHOI
LQDKDSS\VWDWHHYHQDIWHUWKH
HPRWLRQDODQGHQYLURQPHQWDO
XSKHDYDOVLQOLIH
3DWDQMDOLVD\V´3UHYHQWLRQLV
EHWWHUWKDQFXUHµ,I\RXFDQ
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

SUHYHQWWKHDJJUHVVLYHHOHPHQWV
IURPHQWHULQJ\RXUERG\
ZLWK\RJDWKHQKRZFDQ\RX
FDOOLWDPHUHWKHUDS\ZKLFK
FXUHVGLVHDVHV"2QHKDVWREH
IUHHIURPGLVKDUPRQ\LQWKH
ERG\WKHEORRGFLUFXODWLRQ
WKHEUHDWKPRYHPHQWDQGWKH
FLUFXODWLRQRIWKHHQHUJ\:H
KDYHWKHGLIIHUHQWV\VWHPVWKH
QHXURORJLFDOERG\WKHUHVSLUD
15

IYN26 version9.indd 15 17/03/2015 18:41:22


:LWKWKHDGYDQFHPHQWRIWHFK FXULW\LVWKHEXLOGHURIOLIHIRUFH QRWULFKQHVVEXWSRYHUW\\RX
QRORJ\PDQ·VPDWHULDOLVWLFOLIH 7KLVLVSRVLWLYHOLIH,QVHFXULW\LV KDYHQRWKLQJWRH[SUHVVDQGVR
LVEHFRPLQJPRUHDQGPRUH DSLOODUIRUWKHHYROXWLRQRIHDFK \RXVD\,KDYHVRPXFKPRQH\
FRPIRUWDEOHSHRSOHDUHDOZD\V LQGLYLGXDO 2QHZKRLVIXOOLQVLGHH[SUHVVHV
ORRNLQJIRUVRPHWKLQJPRUHDQG :KDWDUHWKHPRGHUQFRPIRUWV ZKDWKHLV<RJDLVDOVRDQLQWHO
WKHUHIRUHH[SUHVVLRQVVXFKDV OHDGLQJWR":DQWRIPRYHPHQW OHFWXDOWKHUDS\LIRQHVWLOOZDQWV
KROLVWLFKHDOWKVSLULWXDOOLYLQJ OD]LQHVVKHHGOHVVQHVVDQGFDUH WREUDQG\RJDDVWKHUDS\,W
DQGHQOLJKWHQPHQWDUHEHFRPLQJ OHVVQHVV3DWDQMDOLKDVDOUHDG\ FKDQJHVPDQHPRWLRQDOO\LQWHO
VRFRPPRQ,WLVHDV\WRXVH VDLGWKLVPRUHWKDQ\HDUV OHFWXDOO\DQGSV\FKRORJLFDOO\
VXFKH[SUHVVLRQVEXWKRZGR DJR<RJDWHDFKHVXVWREH DQGGHYHORSVVWDELOLW\$QGIURP
\RXPDQDJHWRFRQYHUWWKHVH ULFKQRWRQO\RXWVLGHEXWDOVR WKDWVWDELOLW\GHYHORSVG\QD
H[SUHVVLRQVWRH[SHULHQFHV",WLV LQVLGH0DWHULDOFRPIRUWLVDQ PLVP6WDELOLW\LVQRWWKHHQGRI
SKLORVRSKLFDOO\VDLG´VHFXULW\LV REMHFWLYHULFKQHVVEXWRQHLV OLIH6WDELOLW\LVWREHSRVLWLYHO\
LQVHFXULW\DQGLQVHFXULW\LVVHFX FRPSOHWHO\HPSW\LQVLGH7KH G\QDPLFWRPRYHIXUWKHUOLNH
ULW\µ+DYH\RXVHHQKRZSHRSOH \RJLFVFLHQFHVD\V´'RQRWVHOO DULYHUZKLFKLVIXOORIHQHUJ\
ZKRDUHFRPSOHWHO\VHFXUHOLYH" WKHULFKQHVVRIWKHVRXOIRUWKH IRUFHIURPWKHVWDUWWRWKHHQG
7KH\JHWVWDJQDWHGWKHUHLVQR ULFKQHVVRIWKHZHDOWKµ7KH OI\RXZLVKWRKHOSRWKHUV
OLIHIRUFHLQWKHPWRZRUN:KDW PRGHUQJDGJHWVDUHPDNLQJ WKURXJKWKHKHDOLQJSRZHURI
GR\RXGRLI\RXDUHLQVHFXUH" \RXREMHFWLYHO\ZHDOWK\EXWD \RJD\RXKDYHWRSXW\RXUVHOI
<RXZRUN<RXGRHYHU\WKLQJ SDXSHULQVLGH7KDW·VDOO\RJD DWWKHVHUYLFHRIWKHDUWDQG
EHFDXVH\RXDUHLQVHFXUH,QVH WHDFKHV<RJDKHOSV\RXEXLOG WKURXJKH[SHULHQFHJDLQXQGHU
FXULW\LVDSLOODUIRUDGYDQFHPHQW XSDQGDFTXLUHVXFKDQH[DOWHG VWDQGLQJ
DQGJURZWK'RQRWWDNHDQHJD TXDOLW\RIULFKQHVVLQERG\PLQG %.6O\HQJDU
WLYHPHDQLQJRILW6HFXULW\LVD DQGLQWHOOLJHQFH+DYLQJDEDQN
NLOOHURIWKHOLIHIRUFHZKLOHLQVH DFFRXQWRIPLOOLRQVRIUXSHHVLV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

16

IYN26 version9.indd 16 17/03/2015 18:41:22


Sensitiveness: The Key to a
Successful Yoga Therapist
A. S. Subramanium

,RYHUKHDUGWKHZRUGVHQVLWLYHQHVVEHLQJ :KDWLVVRJUHDWDERXWEHLQJ
VHQVLWLYH
":KR
XWWHUHGE\*HHWDMLZKHQVKHZDVWU\LQJWRFUHDWH VKRXOGEHVHQVLWLYHWKHSDWLHQWRUWKHUDSLVW",Q
DZDUHQHVVLQD\RXQJDVVLVWDQWKHOSLQJPHLQRQH *HHWDML
VZRUGV¶LWLVWKHWKHUDSLVWZKRVKRXOG
RIWKHPHGLFDOFODVVHV7KLVZRUGUHPLQGHGPH EHVHQVLWLYHWRWKHDFWLRQVDQGUHDFWLRQVRIWKH
RIVRPHRIP\H[SHULHQFHVDQGSURPSWHGPH SDWLHQW·3URYLGLQJSDVVLYHSRVWXUHVRUUHVWLQJ
WRZULWHDQGVKDUHWKHP,WPD\EHVWUDQJHWKDW SRVWXUHVPD\KHOSWKHSDWLHQWJDLQWKHHQHUJ\EXW
LQVWHDGRI*HHWDMLRU*XUXML7+(H[SRQHQWVRI WKHWKHUDSLVWVKRXOGVORZO\LQFUHDVHWKHLQWHQVLW\
\RJDWKHUDS\WKLVDUWLFOHLVZULWWHQE\PHD RIWKHDVDQDWRHQDEOHWKHSDWLHQWWRVWDUWKLVRZQ
SDWLHQW KHDOLQJDQGUHFRYHU\SURFHVV7KLVLVWKHVHQVL
%HLQJDWWKHUHFHLYLQJHQG,ÀUPO\EHOLHYHWKDW WLYHQHVVDFRQWUROOHGLQFUHDVHRILQWHQVLW\WKDWLV
WKHSDWLHQWZKRGLOLJHQWO\IROORZVWKHLQVWUXF SUHFLVHO\H[SHFWHGE\*HHWDML
WLRQVRIWKHWKHUDSLVWFDQJDXJHKLVRZQSURJUHVV 7KLVXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWKHSDWLHQWWKHH[WHQWRI
GXHWR\RJDDQGKHQFHWKHDELOLW\RIWKHWKHUD KLVLOOQHVVWKHDELOLW\RIWKHSDWLHQWWRUHVSRQGDQG
SLVW7KHUHDUHH[FHSWLRQVRISDWLHQWVZKRGR ZLWKVWDQGVWUHVVWKHOLPLWDWLRQVLQUHFRYHU\QHJD
QRWSHUIRUPWKHDVDQDSURSHUO\DQGEODPH
\RJD WLYHHIIHFWVRIFHUWDLQDVDQDVIRUFHUWDLQLOOQHVVDOO
RUWKHWKHUDSLVW·IRUQRVORZUHFRYHU\,WLVP\ SXWLQDQXWVKHOOLVWHUPHGDV6(16,7,9(1(66
WUXHH[SHULHQFH DVDKHDUWSDWLHQW ZKLFK,ZLVK 2)7+(7+(5$3,67
WRVKDUHZLWKSURVSHFWLYH\RJDWKHUDSLVWVVRWKDW :HPXVWUHPHPEHUWKDWLWLVQRWVXIÀFLHQWWKDW
WKH\VXFFHHGLQSURSDJDWLQJWKH·,\HQJDUZD\RI WKHSDWLHQWVD\VWKDW¶KHIHOWQLFHDIWHUWKH\RJD
\RJDWKHUDS\
 FODVV
KHVKRXOGDOVRVD\WKDWKHLVUHFRYHULQJ
:HDOONQRZWKHROGTXRWH
WKHUHLVQRSOHDVXUH IDVWHU
RUJDLQZLWKRXWSDLQ
3DWLHQWVDOVRQHHGWRVWUHVV YogasanasDUHG\QDPLFDQGQRWVWDWLF)RU
DQGVWUDLQDOLWWOHLQRUGHUWRUHFRYHUIDVWHU VRPHRQHZKRKDVQHYHUGRQHSarvangasanaMXVW
UDWKHUWKDQUHVWLQJDQGUHOD[LQJDOOWKHWLPH<RX SHUIRUPLQJWKHSRVWXUHPD\EHYHU\EHQHÀFLDO
FDQVHHWKLVKDSSHQLQJLQRXUPHGLFDOFODVVHVD $VRQHDGYDQFHVLQRQH
VSUDFWLFHWKHPD[LPXP
VLJKWZKLFKPD\QRWEHVHHQLQDQ\RWKHU\RJD EHQHÀWRIWKHDVDQDFDQEHDFKLHYHGZKHQD
FHQWUH7KLVQHFHVVLWDWHVWKHWHDFKHURUWKH\RJD SDWLHQWFDQVWD\LQWKHSRVWXUHIRUDORQJHUGXUD
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WKHUDSLVWWREHDJLOHDQGVHQVLWLYHWRLPSDUWWKH WLRQDQGHQMR\LW7KLVLVSDUWLFXODUO\WUXHIRUEDFN
DGGLWLRQDOGRVDJHRIVWUHVVDQGVWUDLQWRWKH ZDUGEHQGLQJDVDQDV
SDWLHQW*XUXMLRU*HHWDMLDUHQRWLQWHUHVWHGLQ 6HQVLWLYHQHVVFRXOGEHUHDOLVHGE\WKHWKHUDSLVW
WKHLUSDWLHQWVGRLQJsukhasanaRQO\WKH\ZDQW ZKHQDVVLVWLQJDSDWLHQWIURPWKHIHHORIWKH
WKHPWRGRsthirasukhasana WKHUDSLVWZKRVKRXOGEHDEOHWRH[SRVHWKH
*XUXMLVD\V
7KHUHLVQRLQWHOOLJHQFHDSSOLHGLI SDWLHQWWRWKHULJKWDPRXQWRIVWUHVV7KHWKHUD
WKHUHLVQRSDLQ·0\H[SHULHQFHVPDNHPHLQWHU SLVWVKRXOGDOVREHVHQVLWLYHWRWKHH[SUHVVLRQVRI
SUHWWKLVVWDWHPHQWLQPLOOLRQVRIZD\V$SSOLFD WKHSDWLHQWDOWKRXJKPRVWRIWHQWKHH[SUHVVLRQLV
WLRQRILQWHOOLJHQFHWKHSODFHRIDSSOLFDWLRQWKH WKDWRIDJRQ\
WLPHDQGGXUDWLRQRIDSSO\LQJWKHLQWHOOLJHQFH *XUXMLKDVPDGHPHSHUIRUPWKHVDPHDVDQD
FDXWLRQWREHH[HUFLVHGHWF LQGLIIHUHQWZD\VIURPWKHLQLWLDOUHVWLQJWRWKH
17

IYN26 version9.indd 17 17/03/2015 18:41:22


UHFRYHULQJWUDLQLQJDQGKHDOLQJRIWKHKHDUW+H WKHVLGHVRUWKHKRUL]RQWDOEDUDWWKHERWWRPRI
LVVHQVLWLYHWRNQRZKRZPXFKWRLQFUHDVHWKH WKHVWRRO
LQWHQVLW\RIWKHDVDQDVIRUWKHSDWLHQW .HHSLQJWKHWRSRIWKHNQHHV¶ORFNHG·DJDLQVWWKH
$QREVHUYHUPD\WKLQNWKDWEDFNZDUGEHQGLQJ ZDOODQGWKHQH[WHQGLQJWKHDUPV8VLQJDEORFNRI
DVDQDVFRXOGEHWRRPXFKVWUDLQIRUDKHDUW ZRRGRQWKHVWRROWRLQFUHDVHWKHLQWHQVLW\RIWKH
SDWLHQW+RZHYHULWLVLPSRVVLEOHIRUXVWRXQGHU FXUYDWXUHRQWKHGRUVDODQGOXPEDUVSLQH
VWDQGWKHLQJHQLRXVZD\VDQGPHDQV*XUXMLXVHV 8VLQJDVODQWLQJSODQNWRVXSSRUWWKHOXPEDUZLWK
WRLQFUHDVHWKHLQWHQVLW\VD\IRUH[DPSOHLQ DWKHUDSLVWDVVLVWLQJWKHSDWLHQWWRH[WHQGWKH
Viparita DandasanaE\ arms
)LUVWLQLWLDWLQJDFXUYDWXUHRIWKHGRUVDOVSLQHRQ 'RLQJWKHasanaZLWKRXWWKHVXSSRUWRIWKHVWRRO
WKHWUHVWOHU IRUWKHEDFN3ODFLQJWKHKDQGVRQDViparitakarani
,QFUHDVLQJWKHLQWHQVLW\RIWKHFXUYDWXUHE\ ER[WRLQFUHDVHWKHLQWHQVLW\RIWKHHIIHFWRQWKH
KRRNLQJWKHKDQGVRQWKHWUHVWOHUDQGWKHQ KHDUW
IXUWKHUH[WHQGLQJWKHDUPV /LIWLQJWKHVWHUQXPE\UHVLVWLQJWKHIRUHKHDGRQ
&XUYLQJIURPWKHWRSRIWKHFKDLUZLWKDIROGHG WKHZDOO
VWLFN\PDWEHKLQGWKHKHDUW 7KLVOLVWFDQEHHQGOHVVEXWDQLQWHOOLJHQWWKHUD
&XUYLQJRQWKHFKDLUZLWKDÁDWSODQNEHORZWKH SLVWVKRXOGDSSO\WKHVHGHSHQGLQJXSRQWKHQHHG
GRUVDOVSLQH DQGFDSDFLW\RIWKHSDWLHQW7KHSDWLHQWKDVWREH
3HUIRUPLQJIURPWKHÁRRUQHDUWKHZDOOZLWKWKH PDGHWRZRUNPRUHEXWVKRXOGQHYHUEHRYHU
KHDGUHVWLQJRQWKHIRDPSDG VWUHVVHG
3ODFLQJDIRDPSDGQHDUWKHVWHUQXPDQGWKHQ 6LPLODUO\IRUHYHU\DVDQDWKHUHDUHGLIIHUHQW
UHVLVWLQJLWDQGOLIWLQJLWXS PHDQVWRJUDGXDOO\LQFUHDVHWKHLQWHQVLW\RIWKH
8VLQJDVODQWLQJSODQNDVDKRRNIRUWRHPRXQWV DVDQDIRUWKHSDWLHQWVRWKDWKHUHFRYHUVIDVWHU
7KHUDSLVWRIIHULQJUHVLVWDQFHWRWKHPHWDWDUVDOV /HWXVVKDUHDQGSURSDJDWHWKLV
,\HQJDUZD\RI
7KHUDSLVWRIIHULQJUHVLVWDQFHDWWKHNQHHV \RJDWKHUDS\

7KHUDSLVWDVVLVWLQJWKHSDWLHQWWREULQJWKHNQHHV <RJD5DVKDV\D9RO
FORVHUDQGWKHQSXVKLQJWKHPLQRUGHUWROLIWWKH
VWHUQXPXS
$QGVRRQDQGRQ7KLVLVXQHQGLQJDQGHYHQ
WRGD\WKHUHLVDQHZOHYHOWRSHUIRUP,WLVD
PDUYHORI*XUXML
VUHVHDUFK,GRQRWNQRZKRZ
PDQ\RI\RXKDGWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WRVWXG\WKH
HIIHFWRIWKLVVXEWOHDQGJUDGXDOLQFUHDVHLQWKH
LQWHQVLW\RIDQDVDQDE\WKHVHGLIIHUHQWYDULD
WLRQV*XUXMLH[FHOVLQKLVWHDFKLQJVEHFDXVHRI
WKHUHVHDUFKRQKLVRZQERG\+HWKHQWHDFKHV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WKHVHPHWKRGVWRWKHSDWLHQWVDVZHOODVWKH
WHDFKHUV,WLVKLVJORULRXVJLIWWR<RJDWRXSKROG
LWVVXSUHPDF\
+HUHLVDQRWKHUH[DPSOHRIKRZKHLQFUHDVHG
WKHLQWHQVLW\RISHUIRUPLQJUrdhva Dhanurasana
2QWDOOVWRROZLWKDUROOHGVWLFN\PDWEHKLQG
WKHKHDUW
8VLQJDEHOWDURXQGWKHHOERZVDQGUHVLVWLQJWKH
EHOW
,QWHQVLI\LQJWKHFXUYDWXUHRQWKHVWRROE\KROGLQJ



IYN26 version9.indd 18 17/03/2015 18:41:22


The Role of the
Therapy Committee
Therapy Committee January 2015

7KH7KHUDS\&RPPLWWHH 7&  FODVVZKHUHWKH\FDQEHJLYHQ How to know whether you


LVDIDLUO\QHZFRPPLWWHHZLWKLQ RQHWRRQHKHOSIURPDVXLWDEO\ DUHTXDOLÀHGWRWHDFKFHUWDLQ
WKHVWUXFWXUHRIWKH,< 8. ,W TXDOLÀHGDQGWUDLQHGWHDFKHUZLWK medical conditions
ZDVHVWDEOLVKHGLQDIWHU H[SHULHQFHRIWKHWKHUDSHXWLF
*XUXMLLQWURGXFHGQHZUXOHV DSSOLFDWLRQRIWKH\RJDDVDQDV ,I\RXDUHXQVXUHZKHWKHU\RX
DERXWWHDFKLQJ\RJDWKHUDSHXWL 6WXGHQWVZLWKVLPSOHPHGLFDO DUHTXDOLÀHGWRWHDFKDVWXGHQW
FDOO\DSSOLFDEOHWRDOO$VVRFLD FRQGLWLRQVHJEDFNDFKH+%3 ZLWKDSDUWLFXODUSUREOHPÀUVW
WLRQVZRUOGZLGH,WZDVIRUPHG FDQEHWDXJKWZLWKLQDJHQHUDO UHIHUWRWKH,< 8. *XLGHOLQHV
WRPDNHVXUHWKDWWKHVHUXOHVDUH \RJDFODVVDVORQJDVWKHWHDFKHU IRU7HDFKHUV<RJD7KHUDS\
DGKHUHGWRWRVHWXSDVXSSRUW LVDEOHWRDFFRPPRGDWHWKH ZKLFK\RXZLOOÀQGRQWKH
QHWZRUNIRUWKHUDS\WHDFKHUV VWXGHQWE\PRGLI\LQJSRVHVXVLQJ ,< 8. /WGZHEVLWHLQWKH
WRJLYHKHOSDQGDGYLFHWRDOO DOWHUQDWLYHPHWKRGVRUXVLQJ 7HDFKHUV+DQGERRN DFFHVVHG
WHDFKHUVDQGWRFRRUGLQDWH SURSV YLDWKH'DVKERDUG RQSDJH
VKDULQJRILQIRUPDWLRQRQ\RJD ,I\RXDUHVWLOOXQVXUHDVNWKH
WKHUDS\ How to get advice about a 7&
medical problem
Yoga and yoga therapy Reference material
7HDFKHUVLI\RXGRQHHGWR
0DQ\VLPSOHDLOPHQWVLPSURYH VHHNDGYLFHDERXWDVWXGHQW 7KHUHLVDZHDOWKRILQIRUPDWLRQ
ZLWKDZHOOEDODQFHG,\HQJDU\RJD WKHÀUVWVWHSLVWRDVND6HQLRU LQWKHPDQ\ERRNVZULWWHQE\WKH
SUDFWLFH$V*XUXMLVD\VLQWKH WHDFKHUZKRKDVVRPHNQRZO ,\HQJDUVRUE\SHRSOHWUDLQHGE\
DUWLFOH\RJDLVQRWSK\VLRWKHUDS\ HGJHDERXWWKHUDS\,IWKH\ WKHP,ILWLVDVLPSOHSUREOHP
\RJDLVQRWDWKHUDS\EXWLWLV FDQQRWDQVZHU\RXUTXHU\WKHQ UHVHDUFKLW
WKHUDSHXWLF7KHDVDQDVKDYHD WKH\PD\NQRZVRPHRQHZKR ,I\RXRUDVHQLRUWHDFKHUFDQQRW
ZHOOGRFXPHQWHGSRVLWLYHHIIHFW FDQRUWKH\FDQFRQWDFWWKH ÀQGWKHDQVZHUWR\RXUTXHU\
RQWKHKHDOWKRIWKHVWUXFWXUDO 7&RQ\RXUEHKDOI<RXFDQRI WKHQDVNWKH7&
PXVFXODURUJDQLFJODQGXODU FRXUVHFRQWDFWWKH7&\RXUVHOI
FHOOXODUDQGPHQWDOERG\DQG Resource of Therapeutic
YLDWKH0DLQ2IÀFHNDWLH#L\HQ Programmes
DUHWKHUHIRUHDSRZHUIXOWRROWR JDU\RJDRUJXNRUE\HPDLOLQJD
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

SURPRWHKHDOWKDQGZHOOEHLQJ 7&PHPEHUGLUHFWO\3OHDVHGR 7KH7&LVEXLOGLQJXSDFROOHF


)RUWKLVUHDVRQPDQ\SHRSOH QRWFRQWDFW5,0<,RUZULWHWR WLRQRIWKHUDSHXWLFSURJUDPPHV
ZLWKDLOPHQWVDQGVLPSOHPHGLFDO *HHWDML7KHUHDUHPDQ\SHRSOH JLYHQWRLQGLYLGXDOSHRSOHGLUHFWO\
SUREOHPVFDQEHQHÀWIURP\RJD LQWKLVFRXQWU\ZLWKH[SHUWLVH E\*XUXMLRU*HHWDML,I\RXKDYH
SUDFWLFH)RUVRPHPRUHVHULRXV DQGNQRZOHGJHZKRFDQJLYH HYHUEHHQJLYHQDGYLFHIRUD
SUREOHPVVSHFLÀFSURJUDPPHV VRXQGDGYLFHDQGJXLGDQFH VSHFLÀFSUREOHPSOHDVHVKDUH
DUHUHTXLUHGZKLFKDUHWDLORUHG 7KH7&KDVDOUHDG\JLYHQDGYLFH LWZLWKWKH7&VRWKDWLWFDQ
WRWKHVSHFLÀFQHHGVRIWKH WRWHDFKHUVDQGZKHQWKDW EHFRPHSDUWRIWKLV7KHUDS\
LQGLYLGXDO,QWKLVVLWXDWLRQWKH KDSSHQVLVJUDWHIXOWRKHDUKRZ 5HVRXUFHIRUWKHEHQHÀWRIDOO
VWXGHQWFDQQRWEHDFFRPPR WKLQJVZHQW'LGWKHSURJUDPPH
GDWHGLQDJHQHUDO\RJDFODVVEXW DGYLFHKHOSWKH´SDWLHQWµ"$Q\
KDVWRDWWHQGDPHGLFDOWKHUDS\ XVHIXOIHHGEDFNLVZHOFRPHG 19

IYN26 version9.indd 19 17/03/2015 18:41:22


Yoga and Muscular Dystrophy
Elaine Keating

‘For he who wishes to be taught, $V,SURJUHVVHGLQWRDGXOWKRRGWKHSUHVVXUHZDV


a teacher will be found’ RIIRQWKHVSRUWVIURQWDQG,QHYHUXQGHUWRRNDQ\
VSRUWLQJHQGHDYRXUV7KHIHHWDQGEDODQFHZHUH
,QP\FDVHZKHQLWFRPHVWR,\HQJDU\RJDQHYHU VWLOOUXEELVKEXWDSDUWIURPVRPHDZIXOFKRLFHV
DWUXHUZRUGKDVEHHQVSRNHQ,IHHO,DPD LQLQDSSURSULDWHIRRWZHDU,FRSHGTXLWHZHOO
OLYLQJH[DPSOHRIWKLVROGVD\LQJZKLFK,VDZDQG +RZHYHUDIWHUPRYLQJWR/LYHUSRROLQ,
UHPHPEHUHGPDQ\\HDUVDJREXWRIZKLFK,KDYH FDPHDFURVVVRPHLQIRUPDWLRQRQQLJKWFODVVHV
EHHQXQDEOHWRWUDFHWKHRULJLQV LQP\DUHDDQGIRUVRPHUHDVRQWKH\RJDFODVV
DSSHDOHGWRPHSUREDEO\EHFDXVH,ZDVZRUNLQJ
7RH[SODLQP\EHOLHILQWKLVSHDUORIZLVGRP, YHU\KDUGDQG,LPDJLQHGKDYLQJDQLFHUHVWDIWHUD
QHHGWRWDNH\RXEDFNLQWRWKHPLVWVRIWLPH ORQJDQGWLULQJGD\%R\ZDV,PLVWDNHQDOWKRXJK
\HV,DPWKDWROG 6RSOHDVHFRPHZLWKPHRQ ,GLGIDOOVRXQGDVOHHSGXULQJ6DYDVDQDDWWKHHQG
ORRNLQJEDFNRQP\MRXUQH\DQGWKH RIRQHVHVVLRQ7KLVZDV
SDWKWKDWOHGPHWRWKHGLVFRYHU\RI QRW,\HQJDU\RJDEXWWKH
,\HQJDU\RJDRUVKRXOG,VD\KRZ ‘my balance is not WHDFKHUZKRZDVLQKLV
,\HQJDU\RJDIRXQGDQGUHVFXHGPH very good and a VHYHQWLHVZDVVLPSO\D
ZRQGHUIXOSHUVRQ+HJDYH
swimming teacher XVDQH[HUFLVHSURJUDPPH
$VDFKLOG,ZDVERUQZLWKIXQQ\
VKDSHGIHHWSUHGRPLQDQWO\ZLWK once called me a ZLQGLQJGRZQZLWK
YHU\KLJKDUFKHVDQGIDOOHQLQVWHSV, ‘human brick’.’ PLQXWHVRQKLVSKLORVRSK\RI
ZDVQRWDEOHWRZHDUFRQYHQWLRQDO OLIHFRYHULQJKRZWRNHHS
VKRHVDQGP\SRRUPRWKHUKDGWR KHDOWK\LQJHQHUDOGLHWDQG
VFRXUVKRSVWRÀQGVKRHVWRDFFRPPRGDWHWKLV VWUHVVPDQDJHPHQWDQGÀQDOO\VRPHUHOD[DWLRQ
QRLQWHUQHWRUJRRJOHLQWKRVHGD\V DQGWRKHU $ORWRIWKLVKDVVWD\HGZLWKPHDQGKHOSHGVKDSH
FUHGLWVKHGLG7KLVFRQGLWLRQPHDQWWKDW,WULSSHG P\RZQSKLORVRSK\RIOLIHHYHQRGG\HDUVODWHU
DQGIHOORYHUDORWUHVXOWLQJLQVNLQWNQHHVDQG :KLOVWWKHVHFODVVHVODVWHGRQO\RQHWHUPDQG
WZLVWHGDQNOHVEHLQJDUHJXODURFFXUUHQFHZLWK DOWKRXJK,GLGQ·WSUDFWLFH\RJDDJDLQXQWLO,FDPH
WKHFU\RI´0XP,IHOOµEHLQJDIUHTXHQWFDOOVKH WR,\HQJDU\RJD,DPVXUHWKHVHHGVZHUHVRZQ
VKRXOGKDYHERXJKWVKDUHVLQ(ODVWRSODVW&RQVH WKHQIRUDSRVLWLYHDSSURDFKWRHPEUDFLQJ\RJDDV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

TXHQWO\,ZDVQHYHUYHU\¶VSRUW\·DQGVKLHGDZD\ DQDQVZHUWRP\QHHGV\HDUVODWHU,VLPSO\FKRVH
IURPDQ\LQYROYHPHQWLQWKRVHSXUVXLWVÀQGLQJ WRDSSO\VHOHFWLYHPHPRU\WRWKHWLPHV,IHOORYHU
HYHUPRUHLQYHQWLYHDQGGHYLRXVZD\VWRDYRLG LQWKHVWDQGLQJSRVHV
3(VSRUWVGD\VDQGDQ\WKLQJZLWKHYHQWKHIDLQW
ZKLIIRIVSRUWLQWKHQDPH,QHYHUHYHQKDGWKH ,QWKHODWH·V,VWDUWHGWRH[SHULHQFHPXVFXODU
FRQÀGHQFHWRWDFNOHVZLPPLQJRUF\FOLQJZKLFK, SUREOHPVLQP\KDQGVDUPVIHHWDQGOHJV0\
SRVVLEO\FRXOGKDYHPDVWHUHGZLWKVRPHVXSSRUW KDQGVZRXOG¶ORFN·DWXQH[SHFWHGPRPHQWVDQG
HYHQWKRXJKP\EDODQFHLVQRWYHU\JRRGDQGD RQHRIP\ÀQJHUVORFNHGSHUPDQHQWO\ZKLFK
VZLPPLQJWHDFKHURQFHFDOOHGPHD¶KXPDQEULFN· UHVXOWHGLQUHIHUUDOWRD5KHXPDWRORJLVWDQG
FRUWLVRQHLQMHFWLRQVIROORZHGE\SUHVFULSWLRQVIRU
YDULRXV16$,'VQRQHRIZKLFKZRUNHG GXHWR
20

IYN26 version9.indd 20 17/03/2015 18:41:23


P\QRWKDYLQJDUWKULWLVRUUKHXPDWLFVPRUHRI :KDWZDVWKHVROXWLRQ"%HLQJDSUREOHPVROYHU
WKLVODWHU  E\QDWXUH,VHWDERXWIRFXVLQJRQP\KHDOWKOHW·V
IDFHLWQRRQHHOVHZDV,QLWLDOO\,IRXQGD&KLQHVH
5RXQGDERXWWKLVWLPH,ZDVH[SHULHQFLQJVXGGHQ GRFWRUZKRKHOSHGPHGHWR[DQGUHPRYHDOO
ORVVRISRZHULQP\OHJVPRVWO\P\ULJKWRQHDQG WUDFHVRIWKHRIIHQGLQJGUXJVWKHQSXWPHRQD
,FRXOGQ·WULVNUXQQLQJDFURVVDURDGDVWKLVZDV FRXUVHRI&KLQHVHKHUEVWRLPSURYHP\JHQHUDO
ZKHQLWZRXOGKDSSHQPRVW3UHYLRXVUHIHUUDOWR KHDOWK)URPDKROLVWLFSRLQWRIYLHZWKHVHVKH
WKH5KHXPDWRORJLVWPHDQW,VWDUWHGWREHDVVHVVHG VDLGZRXOGKHOSEULQJP\ERG\EDFNLQWR¶EDODQFH·
LQPRUHGHWDLOIRUUKHXPDWRLGDQGRURVWHR 6HFRQGO\DQGE\SXUHFKDQFH " ,ZDVZDONLQJ
DUWKULWLV$IWHUDOHQJWK\SURFHVV'U0VDLGKH WKURXJK&DYHUQ:DONVLQ/LYHUSRRODQGLQVWHDGRI
ZDVSOHDVHGWRWHOOPHWKDW,GLGQ·WKDYHHLWKHU ZDONLQJ¶H\HVGRZQ·WRDYRLGWULSSLQJXS,ORRNHG
KRZHYHUKLVLQYHVWLJDWLRQVKDGOHGKLPWREHOLHYH XSDQGVDZDVLJQ LQPRUHZD\VWKDQRQH IRU
,PD\KDYHDQHXURSDWK\DQGKHZLVKHGWRUHIHU WKH,\HQJDU\RJDVWXGLR,GRQ·WNQRZZK\EXW
PHWRKLVFROOHDJXH'U:DW:DOWRQ1HXURORJ VRPHWKLQJPDGHPHSLFNXSDOHDÁHW$IROORZ
LFDO&HQWUH XSSKRQHFDOODQG,ZDVERRNHGLQIRUD6DWXUGD\
FODVV
,PXVWKDYHEHHQVRQDwYHLQWKRVHGD\VDV,GLGQ·W
KDYHDFOXHZKDWWKH\VXVSHFWHG,XQGHUZHQW 6LQFHWKDWÀUVWVHVVLRQ,KDYHIHOWQRWKLQJEXW
DORQJVHULHVRIWHVWVLQFOXGLQJQHUYHFRQGXF VXSSRUWERWKSK\VLFDOO\DQGPHQWDOO\DQGKDYH
WLRQOXPEHUSXQFWXUHDQG05,VFDQFXOPLQDWLQJ EHHQSURJUHVVLQJVORZO\EXWVWHDGLO\IRUDOPRVW
LQD'1$SURÀOH:KDW,RQO\IRXQGRXWODWHU \HDUV$SDUWIURPJHQHUDOFODVVHV,DWWHQGHG
ZDVWKDWWKH\VXVSHFWHGSRVVLEOH0XOWLSOH6FOH DVHULHVRIVSHFLDOFODVVHVIRFXVVLQJRQEDFNSDLQ
URVLVDWÀUVWEXW¶IRUWXQDWHO\· WKHLUZRUGVQRW ZKLFKZDVLQYDOXDEOH$3RODURLGWDNHQDWWKH
PLQH ,ZDVGLDJQRVHGZLWKDIRUPRI0XVFXODU VWDUWVKRZHGDFXUYHLQP\VSLQHOXPEHUFDXVHG
'\VWURSK\NQRZQDV&07 &KDUFRW0DULH E\P\ERG\WU\LQJWRFRPSHQVDWHIRUSRRU
7RRWK RU+061 +HUHGLWDU\0RWRU6HQVRU\ EDODQFHZHDNOLPEVDQGIRRWGURS,DPSOHDVHG
1HXURSDWK\ PDLQO\HIIHFWLQJORZHUH[WUHPLWLHV WRVD\LWLVQRORQJHUWKHUH
:KLOVWQRWOLIHWKUHDW
HQLQJLWZDVGHÀQLWHO\ <RJDIRUPHDQGPDQ\RWKHUV,DPVXUHLVVWLOO
OLIHFKDQJLQJ,ZDV ‘For he who DVFKDOOHQJLQJWRGD\DVLWZDVDOOWKRVH\HDUVDJR
WROGLWWKDWDVLWZDVD wishes to +RZHYHUWKHORQJODVWLQJHIIHFWRIUHJXODU\RJD
G\VWURSK\WKDWPHDQW SUDFWLFHVXVWDLQVPHPHQWDOO\WRNHHSJRLQJSK\VL
WKDWP\PXVFOHVZRXOG
be taught, a FDOO\2XWVWDQGLQJDPRQJVWPDQ\KDSS\PHPRULHV
DWURSK\LHGHJHQ teacher will IRUWKHUHDUHDORW LVDZHHNVSHQWLQ3RUWXJDO
HUDWHDQGWKHUHZDV be found’ SUDFWLVLQJ\RJDWZLFHGDLO\$V,ZDVVWLOOIDLUO\
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

QRWUHDWPHQWDYDLO QHZWR,\HQJDU\RJD,UHDOO\KDGWR¶GLJGHHS·
DEOHH[FHSWYHU\ EXWVLQFHWKHQ,DPRIWHQWUDQVSRUWHGEDFNWKHUH
VWURQJGUXJVVRPHRIZKLFKZHUHSUHVFULEHGIRU ZKHQGRLQJ6DYDVDQDRQDVXQQ\GD\LQWKH/LYHU
HSLOHSV\:KLOVW,LQLWLDOO\WULHGWKHPDV\RXGR SRROVWXGLR
ZKHQ\RXWUXVWWKHKHDOWKFDUHSURIHVVLRQDOVRQH
DIWHUDQRWKHU,KDGWRVWRSWDNLQJWKHPDVWKH 0\RQFHDZHHNSUDFWLFHDQGRFFDVLRQDOKRPH
VLGHHIIHFWVZHUHKRUUHQGRXVDQG,NQHZWKDWLI SUDFWLFHVDZRYHUWLPHDVWDELOLVDWLRQRIP\
,FRQWLQXHG,ZRXOGD EHFRPHD]RPELHEDUHO\ FRQGLWLRQZLWKVRPHLPSURYHPHQWVLQKDQGIXQF
DEOHWRIXQFWLRQDQGE QRWEHDQ\PRUHPRELOHLQ WLRQDQGIRRWGURS+RZHYHUXSRQUHWLULQJLQ
WKHIXWXUH DV,QRORQJHUZLVKHGWRFRSHZLWKDKLJKO\
VWUHVVIXOMRE,VWHSSHGXSSUDFWLFHWRWZLFH
ZHHNO\DQGDOVRFRQYHUWHGDURRPWREHWWHU
21

IYN26 version9.indd 21 17/03/2015 18:41:23


DFFRPPRGDWHKRPHSUDFWLFH7KLVIRFXVKDV
PHDQWWKDW,KDYHVHHQDFKDQJHIURP¶VWDELOLVD
WLRQ·WRDPXFKLPSURYHGVWDWHDQGWKHPRUH
LPSURYHPHQWV,VHHDQGIHHORXWZDUGO\WKHQWKH
PRUHSRVLWLYH,IHHOLQZDUGO\,IHHOPXFKVWURQJHU
ERWKSK\VLFDOO\DQGPHQWDOO\DQGZKLOVWDORWRI
WKHFODVVHVOHDYHP\PXVFOHVFU\LQJRXWLQSURWHVW
E\WKHHQG,NQRZWKHORQJWHUPEHQHÀWVIDU
RXWZHLJKDQ\RIWKLV

,QDOORIWKLVLQZDUGUHÁHFWLRQLWLVLPSRUWDQWQRW
WRORVHVLJKWRIDOOWKHZRQGHUIXOWHDFKHUVIRU
WKH\QHYHUORVHVLJKWRI\RX7KHVXSSRUWDQG
HQFRXUDJHPHQWRI-XGL-XQHDQG-DQHKDVEHHQ
RXWVWDQGLQJDQGWKH\KDYHQHYHUJLYHQXSRQ
PHHYHQZKHQ,FRXOGSRVVLEO\KDYHJLYHQXS
RQP\VHOILQWKHHDUO\GD\V,FRXOGSRVVLEO\EH
LQDZKHHOFKDLUE\QRZLQVWHDGRIZKLFK,KDYH
UHFHQWO\EHHQGLVFKDUJHGE\:DOWRQ1HXURORJLFDO
+RVSLWDO7KH\VD\WKH\FDQGRQRPRUHIRUPH
EXWLQDJRRGZD\DVGXHWRWKHLPSURYHPHQWV
VHHQP\·SURJUDPPH·DVWKH\FDOOLWLVIDUEHWWHU
WKDQDQ\WKLQJWKH\FDQRIIHU,VWLOOQHHGWRZHDU
D·IRRWXS·WRSUHYHQWIRRWGURSZKHQP\PXVFOHV
JHWWLUHGZKHQZDONLQJDQGGULYLQJDQG,DOVRXVH
DZDONLQJVWLFNWRKHOSZLWKEDODQFHHVSHFLDOO\RQ
ORQJHUGLVWDQFHVDQGDLUSRUWVIRUH[DPSOHEXW
WKLVLVDVPDOOSULFHWRSD\IRUWKHTXDOLW\RIOLIH,
QRZKDYH

,QFRQFOXVLRQZKLOHWKLVKDVLQVRPHZD\VEHHQ
DGLIÀFXOWDUWLFOHWRZULWHDV,KDYHKDGWRUHYLVLW
DQGUHH[DPLQHVRPHSDLQIXODUHDVRIP\SDVWDV
PHPRU\LVQ·WVHOHFWLYHLWKDVEHHQEHQHÀFLDOWR
UHPLQGP\VHOIMXVWKRZLPSRUWDQWDSDUW\RJDLV
LQP\OLIHDQGKRZPXFK,QRZRUJDQLVHP\OLIH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

DURXQGP\\RJDSUDFWLFH:KLOVWQRQHRIXVFDQ
NQRZZKDWWKHIXWXUHKROGVRIRQHWKLQJ,DP
FHUWDLQDQGWKDWLVWKDW,\HQJDU\RJDZLOODOZD\V
EHDSDUWRIP\IXWXUHDQGIRUWKDW,FDQORRN
IRUZDUGDQGDPHWHUQDOO\JUDWHIXO

7KDQN\RX0U,\HQJDUIRU\RXUZRQGHUIXOWHDFK
LQJVDQGWHDFKHUVDQGIRUÀQGLQJPH,ZLOOQHYHU
EHORVWDJDLQ

22

IYN26 version9.indd 22 17/03/2015 18:41:23


B.K.S. Iyengar’s
Ingenious Use of Props
$Q,QWHUYLHZZLWK0DQRXVR0DQRV
%HH2WWLQJHULQWHUYLHZHG0DQRXVR0DQRVRQ2FWREHUDWWKH%.6,\HQJDU,QVWLWXWHLQ/RV
$QJHOHV

0DQRXVR0DQRVLVD6HQLRU,\HQJDU\RJDWHDFKHU+HKROGVRQHRIRQO\WZR$GYDQFHG6HQLRUFHUWLÀFDWHV
granted worldwide by B.K.S/Iyengar. He began his studies with Sri B.K.S. Iyengar in 1976, and served as chair-
person for the First International Iyengar yoga Convention in 1984. He has made numerous trips to Pune, India,
during nearly 4 decades of personal practice.

Bee: When reading the articles DERXWWKHQZHNQRZWKDWKH WKLVIRUPHPDNHLWH[DFWO\OLNH


from around the world about Mr. NHSWPLQLQJDQGORRNLQJDQGKH WKLV·+HNQHZKLVRZQERG\
Iyengar after he passed, we were ZDVUHPDUNDEO\LQYHQWLYH7KH GLPHQVLRQVDQGKHNQHZKLV
struck by how often the props and RULJLQDOEDFNEHQGHUWKHDwipada RZQIHHOLQJVDQGWKHZD\WKH
the relationship to safety were Viparita DandasanaEHQFKDV SRVHVVKRXOGJRDQGWRWU\WR
mentioned. I’d love for you to WKH\FDOOLWLQ3XQHZDVDFWX EULQJWKDWVHQVDWLRQLQWRVRPH
expound on that. DOO\RULJLQDOO\DEDUUHO+HWROG RWKHULQGLYLGXDO7KHQKHZRXOG
PHWKDWKHIRXQGDEDUUHODQG LQWURGXFHWKHSURSVIRUWKHP
0DQRXVR<RXFDQQRWSUHWHQG WKDWKHXVHGWRVWUHWFKSHRSOH $UHPDUNDEO\FUHDWLYHPDQ,
IRUDPRPHQWWKDWKHLQYHQWHG RYHULW7KHUHDVRQZK\VRPH PHDQDOPRVWEH\RQGEHOLHI$QG
WKHSURSV+HQHYHUHYHQ RIXVROGWLPHUVFDOOWKHEORFNV WRFRQWLQXHZLWKWKDWFUHDWLYLW\
VDLGWKDWKHGLG%XW,WKLQN EULFNV«WKH\ZHUHEULFNV,I LQWRODWHULQKLVOLIHLVXQKHDUG
KHSHUIHFWHGWKHPRUDWOHDVW \RXJRLQWKHROGURDGEHWZHHQ RI0RVWSHRSOHKDYHWKHLUEXUVW
WRRNWKHPWRWKHQH[WOHYHO 0XPEDLDQG3XQHWKHUHDUH ZKHQWKH\·UHUHDOO\TXLWH\RXQJ
7KHOHDUQLQJZLOOJRRQ6WDUWLQJ EULFNPDNHUV6RLWZDVQRW WHHQVDQGHDUO\WZHQWLHV%XW
ZLWKWKHSULQFLSOHVWKDWKHJDYH H[SHQVLYHIRUKLPWRJHWKLV FDQ\RXLPDJLQHVWLOOKDYLQJWKDW
XVWKRVHSURSVFDQEHPRYHG KDQGVRQEULFNVDQGXWLOLVHWKHP PLQGIXOQHVVDQGWKDWLQYHQWLYH
LQZD\VWKDWWKHQH[WJHQHUD IRUWKHXVHRI\RJD(YHQWXDOO\ QHVVLQKLV·VZKLFKLVZKDWKH
WLRQFDQVHHDQGWKHQWKHQH[W WKH\VWDUWHGWREULQJEORFNVLQ ZDVGRLQJULJKWXQWLOWKHHQG"
JHQHUDWLRQ%XWLWUHDOO\FDPH DQGWKHQH[WWKLQJ\RXNQRZ
RXWRIKLP+HZDVDOZD\VYHU\ ZHKDYHWKLVZKROHQHZJHQHUD Bee: As well as his awareness
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

FOHDUEHFDXVHSHRSOHXVHGWR WLRQ,ZDVDOZD\VVXUSULVHG of our modern life and how that


FDOOKLPWKH¶SURS\RJL·$QG EHFDXVH,ZDVLQ,QGLDDOPRVW changes the mind and the body.
KHZRXOGODXJKDQGVD\RND\ \HDUVLQDURZ(YHU\WLPH,
WHDFKDUDZEHJLQQHUKRZWR ZRXOGJREDFNWKHUHZRXOGEH 0DQRXVR+HKDGQRTXHVWLRQV
GRIXOODUPEDODQFHZLWKRXWD DQHZSURS,·GORRNDURXQGDQG DERXWWKDW+HZDVUHDOO\TXLWH
SURSNQRZLQJIXOOZHOOWKDWWKH DVNZKDWLVWKLVZKDWLVWKDW FOHDUZLWKSHRSOHWKDWWKHZD\
ZDOORUWKDWHYHQWKHWHDFKHU·V ZKHUHGLGWKDWSURSFRPHIURP" WRJHWLQWRWKHPRGHUQOLIHDQG
KDQGLVDSURS:KHWKHU\RX 7KHDQVZHULVWKDWLWFDPH VWLOOWROHUDWHLWDQGJHWGRQH
WRRNKLV*XUX·VZRUNZLWKWKH IURPKLVRZQKHDG+HKDGD ZKDW\RXQHHGWRGRZRXOGEH
URSHVRUGDQJOLQJOLNHSXSSHWV IXUQLWXUHEXLOGHUFRPHLQRUD WKURXJK\RJD+LVERRN/LJKW
WKDW\RJDkuruntaWKH\WDONHG JRRGFUDIWVPDQ+H·GVD\¶EXLOG RQ/LIHZDVZULWWHQDOLWWOH
23

IYN26 version9.indd 23 17/03/2015 18:41:23


GLIIHUHQWO\WKDQDOOWKHRWKHUV ,WDNHWRP\RZQKHDUWDOORIXV :H·UHDJLQJ7KHUDYDJHVRI
DQG,·PZHOODZDUHRIWKDW+H VKRXOG WKDWDJHZLOOWDNHWKHLUWROORQ
WULHGWRWDONDERXWWKHFRPSOH[L XV<RXXQGHUVWDQGWKDW\RX
WLHVRIZKDWLW·VOLNHWROLYHLQD Bee: A lot of our readers don’t ÀJKWIRU\RXURZQKHDOWKDQG
PRGHUQGD\VRFLHW\HYHQLILW know a lot about Abhijata and WKDW\RXGRQRWOHWWKHLQMXU\
IHHOVOLNHZH·UHJRLQJEDFNZDUGV we hope in the coming issues to RUWKHDJJUDYDWLRQRUWKHDFFL
LQPRGHUQGD\VRFLHW\:KDW·V introduce her to them. Those of us GHQWSUHYHQW\RXIURPWU\LQJ
LWOLNHWRPDNHDGHFLVLRQDVWR who’ve seen her, and talked with WROHDGWKHIXOOHVWOLIHWKDW\RX
ZKHWKHU\RX·UHJRLQJWRHDWD her, understand there’s a lovely SRVVLEO\FDQ:HGRQ·WSUHWHQG
SLHFHRISL]]DRUKDYHLFHFUHDP" spirit coming to us. IRUDPRPHQWWKDWZHFDQFXUH
&DQ\RXLPDJLQHWKDWWKHUH·V HYHU\WKLQJ%XWZHGRVXJJHVWWR
D\RJDERRNWKDWWDONVDERXW SHRSOHWKDWZHKDYHWRROVWKDW
WKDW"7KDW·VH[DFWO\ZKDWWKDW PLJKWDOORZWKHPWRVWDUWWRGR
ERRNGLG,WGRHVQ·WVRXQGOLNH VRPHRIWKHWKLQJVWKDWPLJKW
LW·VPXFKRID\RJDGHFLVLRQEXW ÀUVWVHHPWREHTXLWHOLPLWLQJ
WKHIDFWLVWKDWLWLV7KHUH·VDQ 1RZWKDWWKHPDQKDVSDVVHG
DZDUHQHVVRIOLIHWKDWKHZDV KHVWLOOVWDQGVDVDEHDFRQIRU
WU\LQJWREULQJIRUZDUGWU\LQJWR VRPHRIXVDVDQLQVSLUDWLRQ
DOORZSHRSOHWRVWDUWWRVHHWKDW IRUVRPHRIXVWRVHHLIZH
WKHDQVZHUVZHUHLQ\RXUSUDF FDQVWDUWWRGRVRPHWKLQJZLWK
WLFHV7KHDQVZHUVZHUHDFWXDOO\ RXUOLYHVUDWKHUWKDQIHHOLQJOLNH
OHIWRYHUIURPWKHROG<RX·YH ZHDUHDYLFWLPRILW:H·UH
JRWWRVWDUWWREULQJWKHPXS DOOYLFWLPLVHGE\VRFLHW\ZH·UH
WRPDNHWKHPPDNHVHQVHLQ YLFWLPL]HGE\RXURZQOLIHZH·UH
\RXUOLIH7KHDQVZHULVH[DFWO\ YLFWLPL]HGE\RXUJHQHV%XWFDQ
WKHRSSRVLWH<RX·YHJRWWKHVH \RXGRWKHEHVW\RXFDQZLWK
VWUHVVHV7KHUH·VDQDQVZHU ZKDW\RX·YHEHHQJLYHQ"&DQ
JLYHQWR\RXE\WKHDQFLHQWV,W·V \RXÀQG\RXUZD\LQWKLVOLIH
WLPHIRU\RXWRORRN LQWRVRPHVWDWHZKHUH\RXVWDUW
WRIHHOOLNH\RX·UHQRWDOZD\V
Bee: It’s like what Guruji said to his 0DQRXVR6KHJUHZXSHOERZWR EHLQJRSSUHVVHGEXWLQIDFW
granddaughter Abhijata during the HOERZZLWKKHUJUDQGIDWKHU+H \RX·UHUHDFKLQJLQWRWU\WRWDNH
last week of his life… WRRNDJUHDWGHDORIWLPHDQG FKDUJHDJDLQRIVRPHWKLQJWKDW
UHDOO\WULHGWRWUDLQKHUHGXFDWH PRVWRIXVGRQ·WWKLQNZHKDYH
0DQRXVR´,KDYHVKRZQ\RXDOO KHULQWRWKHQH[WJHQHUDWLRQ DQ\FRQWURORIDWDOO"7KDWZDV
WKHVHWKLQJV1RZUHDOLVHWKHP 7KDQNJRRGQHVVWKDWKHGLG RQHRIKLVPHVVDJHVIRUGHFDGHV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

IRU\RXUVHOIµ1RZLW·VWLPHIRU
\RX,JDYH\RXZKDWWKHUHLV Bee: What about the concern Bee: There is balance in a pose,
1RZ\RXKDYHWRÀJXUHRXW about people with limitations, yet when we have limitations and
PDNHLW\RXUZLVGRPDQGQRW whether it’s an injury or age or injuries, it’s hard to achieve balance
P\NQRZOHGJHDQGDOORZ\RXU whatever, and how Mr. Iyengar and it seems like the props help us.
VHOIWRÀQG\RXUZD\LQWRWKDW helped them experience the full
GHSWK7KRVHZRUGVDUHIRUDOO EHQHÀWRIWKHSRVH" 0DQRXVR<HV,DJUHHZLWK
RIXV+HSXWKHUWKURXJKDORW WKDW,GRQ·WPHDQWRFRUUHFW
LQWKHODVWIHZ\HDUV$QGKH 0DQRXVR:HOOQRQHRIXVLV \RXEXW,ZDQW\RXWRVWDUWWR
UHDOO\WULHGWRWUDLQKHUDQGKH FRQIXVHGDERXWWKHIDFWWKDW QRWLFH7KHUH·VDWHQGHQF\IRU
WUDLQHGKHUZHOO%XWKLVZRUGV ZH·UHDOOLQDVWDWHRIGHFD\ SHRSOHWRWKLQNWKDWWKHSURSV


IYN26 version9.indd 24 17/03/2015 18:41:24


RQO\PDNHWKHSRVHHDVLHU,Q ZH·UHORRNLQJIRU DQGVKRXOGHUVDQGDOORZVP\
IDFWPDQ\WLPHVWKHSURSVZLOO QHFNUDWKHUWKDQMDPPLQJP\
GULYHWKHSRVHWRWKHDUHD\RX %HH&DQ\RXEHVSHFLÀFDERXWWKH QHFNDOOWKHWLPHSetubandha
DUHDYRLGLQJ7RDZDNHQLWWR XVHVRIVRPHRIWKHSURSV" SarvangasanaLVDQXQEHOLHYDEOH
VWUHQJWKHQLWWRHODVWLFLVHLW SRVH%XWKRZPDQ\RIXVFDQ
7RÀQGZKDWHYHULWPD\EHWR 0DQRXVR6RPHWKLQJDVVLPSOH KROGWKHSRVHRQRXUDUPVDVKH
DOORZ\RXUVHOIWRSLHUFHLQZDUG DVXVLQJWKHKRUVHWKH3XQH VKRZVLQ/LJKWRQ<RJDVRWKDWLW
$QGWKDWZDVKLVEULOOLDQFHDERXW SRQ\ZKDWHYHU\RXPD\ZDQW FDQFKDQJHWKHKRUPRQHVLQWKH
WKHSURSV)URPWKHRXWVLGH WRFDOOLW7KDWWKLQJZRUNV ERG\DZDNHQWKHNLGQH\VDQG
ORRNLQJLQLWPDNHVWKHSRVH ZRQGHUVIRUFHUWDLQNLQGVRI WKHOLYHULQWRDVWDWHRIDZDUH
ORRNHDVLHU,I\RXZDWFKWKH EDFNLVVXHVRUIRUSHRSOHZKR QHVV"0RVWRIXVGRQ·WKDYHWKDW
ZD\KHZDVXVLQJVRPHRIKLV KDYHORVWWKHDELOLW\WRVWDQG NLQGRIVWUHQJWK,I,SXWP\VHOI
RZQSURSV\RXZRXOGVHHWKDW·V XSULJKWZKHUHWKH\FDQQRZ in Setubandha SarvangasanaRYHU
H[DFWO\ZKDWKHZDVGRLQJ+H XVHWKHLUKDQGVDQGOHJVDWWKH WKHEULFNRUSetubandha Sarvan-
ZDVQRWDOORZLQJKLPVHOIWRWDNH VDPHWLPH«WRWU\WKHLUZD\ gasana RQWKHEHQFK«WKHQDOO
WKHVXSSRUWRIWKHSURSVRKH LQWRVRPHRIWKHVHSRVHV:LWK RIDVXGGHQ,FDQWROHUDWHLWDQG
GLGQ·WKDYHWRZRUN+HZDV DVHYHUHQHFNLQMXU\³QRRQH·V UHDOO\UHPDLQWKHUH,FDQWDNHLW
DVNLQJWKHSURSWRJHWKLPWR FRQIXVHGZKHQ\RXÀUVWJHWD OLNHDIXOOGRVHRIPHGLFLQHDQG
GRPRUHZRUNRUWRGHPDQG VHYHUHQHFNLQMXU\\RXKDYHQR WU\WRKHOSDQGEULQJWKDWDZDUH
PRUHZRUNRXWRIKLP+H EXVLQHVVVWDQGLQJRQ\RXUKHDG QHVVWRP\ERG\
ZRXOGGRWKLVZLWKPDQ\RIXV 7KHQZLWKURSHSirsasanaOHW
ZKHQKHZRXOGVHWXSWKRVH WKHZHLJKWRIP\KHDGDFWOLNH Bee: Another part of Iyengar yoga
SURSV7KLVLVRQHRIWKHUHDVRQV DKHDY\ZHLJKWDQGDOORZWKDW is holding poses…and how it works
ZK\KHKDGWKDWPDJLFFXUDWLYH WRJLYHPHVRPHURRPDJDLQ on different levels.
SURSHUW\RISXWWLQJSHRSOHLQ DQGWKHQPD\EH,FDQÀQGP\
0DQRXVR<HVXVHRIWKH
WLPHSLHFHFRUUHFW+HPDGH
PHQWLRQWRRWKDWKLVWLPHSLHFH
FDPHODWHU7KDWLQIDFWLQKLV
HDUO\GD\VKHZDVQ·WLQWHUHVWHG
LQMXVWIRUWLPHKHZDVLQWHU
HVWHGLQWKHSRVHV7KLVFDPH
RXWEHFDXVHRIDKLVWRU\RXWRI
DEDFNJURXQGRIGHPRQVWUDWLQJ
SRVHV%HOLHYHPH,VWDUHGDW
KLPGRLQJKDOIKRXUKHDGVWDQGV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

DQGZDVLQDZH.QRZLQJWKDW
WKDWZDVWKHFDVHKHZDV
EULQJLQJXSWKHGHPRQVWUDWHG
DUWWREULQJ\RJDWRWKHSRSX
ODFH+HZDVWU\LQJWRJHWWKH
SRVHV+HZRXOGWDNHWKHSRVH ZD\EDFNWRVLUVDVDQD7KHXVH SRSXODFHLQWHUHVWHGLQDVXEMHFW
XQWLO\RXFRXOGQ·WKLGHIURPWKH RIWKHFKDLUIRUVDUYDQJDVDQD WKDWKHZDVFRQYLQFHGDQG,ZDV
DUHDZKHUHLWZDVQHHGHGDQG 6RPHZD\VZHXVHLWPDNHVWKH FRQYLQFHGZDVG\LQJ7REULQJ
DZDNHQWKDWDUHDDQGGULYHLW SRVHHDVLHU6RPHZD\VZHXVH LWLQWRWKHPRGHUQHUDLQVRPH
WRZDUGWKDWVWDWHKRSHIXOO\D LWWKDWFKDLUDFWXDOO\IHHOVOLNHLW ZD\VNLFNLQJDQGVFUHDPLQJDQG
VWDWHRIIUHHGRPZKLFKLVZKDW GHPDQGVPRUHRXWRIP\QHFN FKDQJLQJLWWRPDNHLWDYDLODEOH
25

IYN26 version9.indd 25 17/03/2015 18:41:24


WRWKHFRPPRQPDQLQHYHU\ man. Aren’t we lucky that he lived HYHQDWWKRVHDJHVZHUH
SDUWRIWKHZRUOGZDVUHDOO\KLV VRORQJWRH[DPLQHHDFKGHFDGH" EH\RQGEHOLHI7KHFRPSDULVRQ
OLIH·VZRUN ,KDYHDQG,GRQ·WKDYHDJRRG
0DQRXVR,GRQ·WZDQWWRFKDQJH RQHLVOLNHZDONLQJRQLFH,I\RX
Bee: And then he takes the subject WKHVXEMHFWEXW,JLYHVXFK DQG,VHHDODNHWKDWLVFRYHUHG
to China in his 90’s. FUHGLWWR*HHWDWRWUDFHKDYLQJ RYHULQLFHDQGWKHQLI,ZDON
D\RJDSUDFWLFHLQHYHU\VWDJHRI RXWRQWKHLFHDQGLI\RXZDON
0DQRXVR<HVLQKLV·V7DNHV DZRPDQ·VOLIHGHVSLWHKHUQRW EHKLQGPH\RX·UHDOLWWOHVDIHU
LWWRDELOOLRQSHRSOHMXVWDVKH KDYLQJEHHQSUHJQDQW«EXWKHU EHFDXVHWKHLFHWROHUDWHGPH
KDGWDNHQLWWRPLOOLRQVEHIRUH VHQVLWLYLW\ZDVVRJUHDWWRDOORZ +LVERG\WROHUDWHGLWDQGWKHQ
WKDW+HZDVWUDYHOLQJDVD KHUWRIROORZDQGWHDFKSUHJQDQW KHFRXOGNHHSPRYLQJ:KHQ,
GLSORPDWERWKIURPKLVFRXQWU\ ZRPHQ$QGZDWFKLQJKLPJRLQJ VHHWKDWDPDQRIWKDWDJHFRXOG
DQGIRUKLVVXEMHFW IURPDER\WRD\RXQJPDQLQWR VWLOOVWDQGRQKLVKHDGFRXOG
DPLGGOHDJHGPDQLQWRDKRXVH VWLOOGRIXOODUPEDODQFHFRXOG
Bee: Mr. Iyengar working as a KROGHULQWRDZLGRZHUDQG VWLOOGRSXVKXSEDFNEHQGVWKHQ
diplomat for world peace. WKHQKDYLQJWKDWPDQ\\HDUVRI ,VD\¶<RXNQRZZKDWWKHUH·V
VWUHWFKRIXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIKRZ QRLOOHIIHFWIRUPH,ZDWFKHG
00%HFDXVHWKDWERUGHU WKHKXPDQERG\ZRUNV7KDQN WKHJX\,NQRZKH·VDOLYH1RZ
EHWZHHQ,QGLDDQG&KLQDLV JRRGQHVVKHOLYHGVRORQJ$QG ,KDYHWRSURFHHGZLWKFDXWLRQ
WHQVH%RWKVLGHVDGPLWWRWKDW KHZDVRQQHZJURXQG2OG NQRZLQJIXOOZHOOWKDWVRPHRQH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

DQGDUHLQVRPHZD\VWU\LQJWR \RJLVZHUHWROGWRVWRSGRLQJ KDVWHVWHGWKDWJURXQG·


EULQJWKDWWHQVLRQGRZQ%XW DVDQDVDWWKHDJHRI+HVDLG
QRERG\ZDQWVWRVHHDRQH WKDWKHWULHGLWDQGWKDWLWDOPRVW Bee: I was privileged to stand next
ELOOLRQDUP\DJDLQVWDRQHELOOLRQ NLOOHGKLP7KRVHZHUHKLV to him during the Light on Life
DUP\7KHUH·VQRRQHRQWKH ZRUGVQRWPLQH+HWROGPH tour as a photographer. I’d like to
IDFHRIWKHHDUWKZKRZDQWVWR ´7KLVLVQRWIRUPH,UHMHFWWKDW bring that awareness of him as a
VHHWKDWULJKW" ,KDYHWRSLFNP\SUDFWLFHXS man to the community because it
DJDLQ·,I\RXORRNDWWKHSKRWRV changes things to see him and to
Bee: You said that he didn’t hold RIKLPLQKLV·VDQG·VZKDW realize he did this. Now he’s miles
poses because of his demonstra- DQLQVSLUDWLRQ+LVEDFNEHQGVKLV ahead of me, but he’s still a human
tions, but he also was a young IRUZDUGEHQGVKLVDUPEDODQFHV being. You know, I could probably
26

IYN26 version9.indd 26 17/03/2015 18:41:24


do a little more than I think. And ÀQGWKDWLQP\VHOIQRWEHFDXVH DQGWKH\ZLOOUHYROXWLRQL]HLW
for you, being so close with him, it ,ZDVVWXFNEHLQJERUQLQWRD +HKDGQRTXHVWLRQDERXWZKR
must have been a constant inspira- IDPLO\RILPPLJUDQWVRUEHFDXVH KHZDV:KHWKHU\RXEHOLHYHLQ
tion. ZHGLGQ·WKDYHDQ\PRQH\"<RX UHLQFDUQDWLRQLVLQFRQVHTXHQWLDO
GXVW\RXUVHOIRIIOHWPHVHHLI, +LVELUWKLQSDUWLFXODUFKDQJHGD
0DQRXVR<RXNQRZWKDWKH·V FDQJRIXUWKHU7KDWLQVSLUDWLRQ VXEMHFWDQGEURXJKWLWLQWRWKH
P\PHQWRUKH·VP\WHDFKHU FRPHVGLUHFWO\IURPKLPDVZHOO PRGHUQHUD7KHUHPLJKWEH
KH·VP\JXUX%XWZHDOVRKDYH DQRWKHUSHUVRQLQRU
WRSURWHFWEHFDXVHSHRSOH Bee: People may not know what a \HDUVWKDWLW·VQHFHVVDU\WRGXVW
ZKRORRNLQIURPWKHRXWVLGH true revolutionary he was. LWRIIFKDQJHLWEDFNRUFKDQJH
FRQVLGHUXVPD\EHWREHDFXOW LWIRUZDUGDQGWRKHOSSHRSOH
%XWWKHIDFWLVWKDW,GRQRW 0DQRXVR+HZLOOQHYHUEHJLYHQ IRUWKHQH[WFRXSOHRIJHQHUD
FRQVLGHUKLPWREHDQ\WKLQJ WKHFUHGLWWKDWKHWUXO\GHVHUYHV WLRQVDIWHUWKDW
H[FHSWWKHJUHDWHVWPDQ,HYHU IRUFKDQJLQJWKHHDUWK+HZDV
PHW$QGWKDWNLQGRILQVSLUD WKHRQHZKRDJDLQFKDQJHGDQG Bee: The changes he made, were
WLRQKRZGR,ZUDSP\KHDG PRUSKHGLWHQRXJKVRWKDWLW the things that allowed the purity
DURXQGWKDWLQIRUPDWLRQ"&DQ, ZDVQ·WMXVWSDODWDEOHEXWH[FLWLQJ of it continue.
EHFRPHDEHWWHUKXPDQEHLQJ IRUWKHWKDQGVWFHQWXU\«
EHFDXVH,ZLWQHVVHGDUHDOO\ WRKDYHVRPHERG\GRLQJWKDW, 0DQRXVR,FRQVLGHUKLPWREH
JRRGKXPDQEHLQJ"&DQ,ORRN QHYHUKHDUGWKLVVWRU\XQWLODIWHU D\HDU\RJL,QRWKHUZRUGV
DWWKDWPDQKHFRPHVIURP KHKDGSDVVHG6RPHRQHWROGPH \RXJHWRQHRIWKRVHSHRSOH
DFRPPRQXSEULQJLQJ+LV WKDWWKH\KDGDVNHGKLPZKDW ZKR·VVXFKDZKLUOZLQGWKDWWKH\
EURWKHUVDQGVLVWHUVPD\KDYH ZRXOGKDSSHQWR\RJDDIWHUKH WDNHWKHVXEMHFWDQGEULQJLW
EHHQUHDOO\JRRGSHRSOHEXW ZDVJRQHDQGKHVDLGLWZRXOG EDFNWRUHDOLW\DJDLQ
WKH\GLGQRWKDYHWKDWZRUOG JRRQ7KHQWKH\DVNHGZHOO
VKDNLQJWKLQJWKDWZHQWRQZLWK ZKDWKDSSHQVDIWHULWIDOOV"+H
WKDWLQGLYLGXDO&DQ,VWDUWWR VDLGWKHQVRPHRQHZLOOEHERUQ

Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

27

IYN26 version9.indd 27 17/03/2015 18:41:25


5HÁHFWLRQVRQ<RJDQXVDVDQDP
Kirsten Agar Ward

'HFHPEHU ZRUGVIURPWKHKHDUW$V*HHWDMLVDLG´:HDUHDOO
VXSSRVHGWRFDUU\WKHPHVVDJHFRPLQJDVFORVHDV
,WZDVDSULYLOHJHWRDWWHQG<RJDQXVDVDQDPODVW SRVVLEOHWR*XUXML:HDUHQRZRQWKHWKUHVKROG
'HFHPEHUWKHFRQYHQWLRQRIRYHU,\HQJDU *XUXMLZRQ·WEHKHUHWRVHHZLWKKLVQDNHGH\HV
\RJDSUDFWLWLRQHUVIURPFRXQWULHVRQWKHRFFD ZKDWZHDUHGRLQJEXWIURPWKDWZRUOGKHZLOOEH
VLRQRI*HHWDML·VVHYHQWLHWKELUWKGD\ GHÀQLWHO\ORRNLQJ/HWXVQRWEULQJWKDWSDLQWRKLV
KHDUWµ
,KDGQ·WEHHQWR3XQHVLQFH*XUXML·VGHDWKDQG,
DGPLWWRVRPHDSSUHKHQVLRQDQGPL[HGIHHOLQJV 7KURXJKRXWWKHHYHQWZHZHUHEOHVVHGZLWKKHU
EHIRUH,ZHQWEXWWKHVHZHUHKDSSLO\ODLGWRUHVW JHQHURXVWHDFKLQJ*HHWDMLWRRNPXFKWLPHDQG
FDUHWRH[SODLQDQGVKRZPDQ\WKLQJVWRXV6KH
*HHWDMLEHJDQ´$ELJSLOODUDOLYHSLOODUZKRZDV HYHQJDYHXVDQH[FHOOHQW4 $VHVVLRQDQGWKLV
HQOLYHQLQJXVLVQRPRUHZLWKXV7KDWJUHDW DIWHUDZKROHPRUQLQJ LQGHHGDSUHYLRXVZHHN 
VKRFN«KDVPDGHXVWREHMXVWDORQH:HKDYH WHDFKLQJRYHUDWKRXVDQGSHRSOHDQGKDYLQJEHHQ
EHHQOHIWORQHO\LVWKHIDFW<HWWKHPHPRU\LV XQZHOO,ZDVOHIWZRQGHULQJKRZGRHVVKHJLYH
VXFKDJLIWIRUXVZHKDYHWRDSSO\WKDWPHPRU\ VRPXFKVRJHQHURXVO\IRUVRPDQ\\HDUV"7KDW
WKHVPUWL«LQRXUKHDUWEUDLQEUHDWKERG\ VSLULWRIJHQHURVLW\FRQVFLHQWLRXVQHVVGXW\DQG
*XUXMLZLOOEHH[LVWLQJIRUHYHUXQWLOZHDUHLQWKLV VLPSO\JLYLQJLVZKDWPRVWVWD\VZLWKPHDOLYLQJ
HDUWKµ*HHWDMLH[SODLQHGWRXVIURPWKHRXWVHW FRQWLQXDWLRQRIWKDWWKUHDGIURP*XUXML*HHWDML
KRZLWZDV*XUXML·VZLVKWKDWWKHHYHQWVKRXOGJR H[SUHVVHGYHU\HORTXHQWO\DERXWFRQWLQXLQJWKH
DKHDGLQKLVZRUGV´QRFDQFHOODWLRQDQGJRDKHDG WKUHDG´/HWXVUHPDLQKRQHVWWRKLVWHDFKLQJ
SURFHHGµ,WFOHDUHGDQ\GRXEWVDQGZDVYHU\ ZKDWHYHUZHNQRZZKDWHYHUZHFDQGRZH
KHOSIXOIRUXVDOOWRKHDUWKHVHVLPSOHDQGWUXWKIXO VKRXOGFDUU\WKLVIDFWWKDWZKDWHYHU*XUXMLKDV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 28 17/03/2015 18:41:25


WDXJKWZLWKDOOWKHKRQHVW\DQGWKHMXVWLFHWR KDYLQJDQ\NLQGRIMHDORXV\PDOLFHRUDQ\NLQGRI
WKHVXEMHFWZHVKRXOGFDUU\RQ+XPDQQDWXUH kleshaZLWKLQXV:LWKWKHSXULW\RIPLQGZHZLOO
LVVXFKWKDWLQDEVHQFHRI*XUXZKHQSK\VLFDOO\ FDUU\RQWKHNQRZOHGJHZLWKRXUWHDFKLQJSURFHVV
ZHGRQ·WVHHKLPZHPD\GLYHUWRXUDWWHQWLRQ DQGWKDWLVKRZHYHQLIZHDUHOLYLQJRQWKLVHDUWK
VXGGHQO\0DQ\DWLPHSHRSOHIHHOWKDWVLQFHSK\VL DWGLIIHUHQWDUHDVZHKDYHWRKDYHWKDWIHHOLQJWKDW
FDOO\KHLVQRWDYDLODEOHERGLO\KHLVQRWH[LVWLQJ ZHDUHDOZD\VWRJHWKHUµ
OHWXVÀQGVRPHERG\HOVHZKRLVERGLO\H[LVWLQJ
DQGWKDWZLOOEHLQMXVWLFH2QFHZHKDYHGHFLGHG :KDWPRVWVWUXFNPHZDVWKHKHDUWLQWKHHYHQW
WRIROORZWKHSDWKVKRZQE\*XUXMLZHVKRXOG ,ZDVWRXFKHGE\WKHRSHQQHVVZLWKZKLFKWKH
QRWJLYHXSZHVKRXOGQRWOHDYHLW,W·VQRWRQO\ ,\HQJDUVVSRNHRI*XUXMLKLVOLYLQJDQGKLVSDVVLQJ
PHUHO\WKHUHVSRQVLELOLW\EXWLQKLVRZQZRUGV¶LW·V ,WZDVYHU\KHOSIXOWRPHDQG,DPVXUHWRPDQ\
WKHKRQHVW\IURPLQVLGH·$QGWKHUHIRUHEHFDXVH 0DQ\WHDUVZHUHVKHGZKLFK,IHHOQHHGHGWR
,FDQQRWGRDQ\WKLQJHOVHH[FHSWUHTXHVWLQJDQG EHVKHG%XWWKHUHZDVDOVRVRPXFKMR\DQG
SUD\LQJWKH/RUGWRJLYHXVWKDWVWUHQJWKVRWKDW ORYHLQWKDWJDWKHULQJ,WZDVXSOLIWLQJDQG,IHHO
ZHUHPDLQRQWKLVSDWKVKRZQE\KLPWKHGLYLQH LWEURXJKWRXWWKHEHVWLQPH$VZHOODVVKDULQJ
SDWKVKRZQE\KLP$QGWKDW·VZK\ZHFKRVHWKH WKRXJKWVDQGIHHOLQJVZHUHVKDUHGDERXWRXUORVV
QDPH\RJDQVXVDVDQDPEHFDXVHWKHGLVFLSOLQHKDV EXWDOVRDERXWRXUOHJDF\WKHJHQHURXVEHTXHVW
EHHQJLYHQE\*XUXMLWRXVDQGLW·VRXUGXW\WR *XUXMLJDYHXVDOODQGLQVSLUDWLRQIRUKRZWKLVZLOO
FDUU\LQDVLPLODUPDQQHUZLWKWKHVDPHLQWHQVLW\ FRQWLQXHDQGJRIURPVWUHQJWKWRVWUHQJWK$V
ZLWKWKHVDPHGHSWKRIXQGHUVWDQGLQJVRZHZLOO *HHWDMLVDLG´6RPHZKHUHGHHSLQVLGHWKHKHDUWKH
EHDEOHWRSDVVRQWKHNQRZOHGJHWRWKHQH[W KDVOHIWD\RJDsamskaraIRUZKLFKZHKDYHWREH
JHQHUDWLRQZKRZLOOEHPLVVLQJWRVHHKLPµ JUDWHIXOIRUHYHUµ7KDQN\RX

$VLIWKDWZDVQ·WHQRXJKZHZHUHJLYHQDQH[FHO
OHQWDQGYDULHGDIWHUQRRQSURJUDPPHZLWKPDQ\ Om
JHPVZKLFKVWLUUHGWKHKHDUWWDONVIURP$EKL
MDWDFKDQWLQJZLWK6XQLWDML%LUMRRUHDGLQJ6DPHHU Saha Naavavatu
.XONDQL·VSLHFHZULWWHQDIWHU*XUXML·VGHDWKDVZHOO Saha Nau Bhunaktu
DVLQVWUXFWLRQDOWDONV:HZHUHVKRZHUHGZLWK Tejasvi Naavadheeta-
VRPDQ\EHDXWLIXOJLIWVGDQFHPXVLFKHDUWIHOW mastu
WDONVEHDXWLIXOVHULHVRISKRWRJUDSKVRI*XUXMLWKH Maa Vidvisshaavahai
IXQQ\WLPHODSVHÀOPDWWKHHQGWKHWRXFKLQJÀOP
RI*XUXM)RUVXUH*XUXMLZDVWKHUHLQVSLULW+H Om Shaantih Shaantih
KDGHYHQFKRVHQWKHPHQXIRURXUOXQFKRQWKH Shaantih!
ODVWGD\JLYHQWRXVE\WKH,\HQJDUIDPLO\,WZDV
RIFRXUVHSHUIHFW 0D\WKH/RUGSURWHFWXV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WRJHWKHU
<RJDQXVDVDQDPZDVDWUXHH[DPSOHRIFRPPX 0D\KHQRXULVKXVWRJHWKHU
QLW\FXOWXUH1RWRQO\WKHZKROH,\HQJDUIDPLO\ 0D\ZHZRUNWRJHWKHUXQLWLQJRXUVWUHQJWKIRU
LQFOXGLQJ3UDVKDQWML·VKDQGDWZRUNEHKLQGWKH WKHJRRGRIKXPDQLW\
VFHQHVLQPDNLQJLWKDSSHQEXWDOVRWKHGHYR 0D\RXUOHDUQLQJEHOXPLQRXVDQGSXUSRVHIXO
WLRQRIDOOWKHPDQ\YROXQWHHUVZRUNLQJWRPDNH 0D\ZHQHYHUKDWHRQHDQRWKHU
LWKDSSHQZLWKVXFKDPD]LQJHIÀFLHQF\DQGJRRG 0D\WKHUHEHSHDFHSHDFHDQGSHUIHFWSHDFH
QDWXUH$JDLQ*HHWDML·VZRUGV´:HZLOOFDUU\
IRUZDUGDOZD\VUHPDLQLQJWRJHWKHUWKHPDQWUD Taittiriya Upanishad,
>shantiPDQWUD@VD\VZHZLOOHDWWRJHWKHUZHZLOO Bramavalli & Bhruguvalli
EHWRJHWKHUDQGFDUU\RQWKLVNQRZOHGJHZLWKRXW Shanti mantra

29

IYN26 version9.indd 29 17/03/2015 18:41:25


Establishing and Structuring
Self-Practice - Part I
Eyal Shifroni

The articles by Faeq Biria and Rajvi Mehta addressing the theme of self-practice in the Spring 2014 issue of
Iyengar yoga News expressed ideas that many readers found both illuminating and encouraging.

The theoretical insights given by Faeq Biria and the experiential responses to questions by Rajvi Mehta
SURPSWHGDUHTXHVWIURPUHDGHUV²FDQZHKDYHDSUDFWLFDOJXLGHWRVHOISUDFWLFH":HDUHUHVSRQGLQJWRWKLV
by publishing a guide to self-practice by Eyal Shifroni. His article is divided into two parts: how to start self-
practice at home and advice for students who already practice at home and wish to deepen their practice. Part
2 will appear in the next issue of IYN.

How to Start your Self-Practice Note:


at Home 1RWDOORIWKHLGHDVSUHVHQWHGLQWKLVJXLGHPD\
6HOISUDFWLFHLVDQLQGLVSHQVDEOHFRPSRQHQWRI EHUHOHYDQWWRDOOVWXGHQWV3OHDVHFKRRVHWKRVH
RXUSadhana5HFHLYLQJLQVWUXFWLRQVIURPWHDFKHUV WKDWDUHUHOHYDQWDQGEHQHÀFLDOIRU\RXUFDSD
DQGDWWHQGLQJFODVVHVUHJXODUO\EXLOGVWKHIRXQ ELOLWLHVH[SHULHQFHDQGOLPLWDWLRQV,ILQGRXEW
GDWLRQEXWVHOISUDFWLFHLVZKHUHRQHFDQWUXO\ FRQVXOW\RXUWHDFKHURUZULWHWRPHDW
GHYHORSDQGLQFRUSRUDWH\RJDLQWRRQH·VOLIH$V H\DO#WKHL\HQJDU\RJDFRP
DWHDFKHU,RIWHQQRWLFHKRZWKHSURJUHVVRI
VWXGHQWVLVDFFHOHUDWHGZKHQWKH\EHJLQWRSUDF 0D\WKHVHLGHDVDQGWLSVHQFRXUDJH\RXWRFUHDWH
WLFHRQWKHLURZQ+RZHYHUIRUPRVWVWXGHQWV DQGHQULFK\RXUVHOISUDFWLFH
VWDUWLQJVHOISUDFWLFHSUHVHQWVDPDMRUGLIÀFXOW\
HYHQWKRXJKWKH\UHFRJQL]HWKHLPSRUWDQFHRI Starting Self-Practice at Home
VHOISUDFWLFHDQGDWWHQGFODVVHVUHJXODUO\RQO\ 6RPHRIXV «W\SLFDOO\DWWKHEHJLQQLQJRIDQHZ
DPLQRULW\VXFFHHGVLQPDNLQJLWSDUWRIWKHLU \HDU WHQGWRPDNHGUDPDWLFUHVROXWLRQVDERXW
GDLO\URXWLQH6RPHRIWKHREVWDFOHVRQWKHURDG LPSURYLQJRXUOLYHV2IWHQWLPHVQHZFRPHUVWR
WRVHOISUDFWLFHZHUHQRWHGWKRXVDQGVRI\HDUV \RJDDUHHDJHUWRSUDFWLFHDQGGHFLGHWKH\ZLOO
DJRE\3DWDQMDOLLQRQHRIKLVIDPRXV\RJDVXWUDV GHYRWHDQKRXUDGD\RUHYHQPRUHIRUSUDFWLFH
, ZKLOHRWKHUREVWDFOHVDUHPRUHSHUWLQHQW 7KHSUREOHPZLWKWKHVHGHFLVLRQVKRZHYHULV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WRRXUPRGHUQHUD WKDWWKH\DUHRIWHQQRWIHDVLEOHLQWKHFRQWH[WRI
WKHLUFXUUHQWOLIHVW\OHDQGREOLJDWLRQV7KHSUHV
2YHUWKH\HDUV,ZDVDVNHGE\PDQ\VWXGHQWV VXUHVRIOLIHPDNHSHUVLVWHQFHLQSUDFWLFHGLIÀFXOW
IRUDGYLFHRQKRZWRFURVVWKHEDUULHUWRVHOI WRPDLQWDLQ,QVXFKFLUFXPVWDQFHVSHRSOHÀQGLW
SUDFWLFH7KLVDUWLFOHFROOHFWVWKHLGHDVZKLFKKDYH LPSRVVLEOHWROLYHXSWRWKHLUUHVROXWLRQZKLFK
EHHQWKHPRVWKHOSIXOIRUWKHP,WLVDUUDQJHG ²LQWXUQ²OHDGVWRIUXVWUDWLRQDQGHYHQWXDOO\
LQWZRSDUWV3DUWLVFDWHUHGWRVWXGHQWVZKR PD\OHDGWRGURSSLQJ\RJDIURPWKHLUOLIHDOWR
ZLVKWRVWDUWSUDFWLFLQJDWKRPHSDUWSURYLGHV JHWKHU7KLVLVSUREDEO\ZKDW3DWDQMDOLUHIHUVWR
DGYLFHIRUVWXGHQWVZKRDOUHDG\SUDFWLFHDWKRPH as AnavasthitatvaWKHLQDELOLW\WRSHUVLVWLQJUDGXDO
DQGZLVKWRH[SDQGDQGGHHSHQWKHLUSUDFWLFH SURJUHVV

30

IYN26 version9.indd 30 17/03/2015 18:41:25


6RP\ÀUVWSLHFHRIDGYLFHLV

Set Realistic Goals And Build Your Practice


Gradually
3URJUHVVLQ\RJDLVQRWFUHDWHGE\UHYROXWLRQV
EXWUDWKHUE\DVORZDQGJUDGXDOHYROXWLRQ,
DOZD\VWHOOP\VWXGHQWV¶SUDFWLFHHYHQPLQXWHV
DGD\WKHGXUDWLRQLVQRWLPSRUWDQWEXWWKHUHJX
ODULW\·6HWDWLPHIUDPHWKDW\RXFDQUHSHDWGDLO\
ZLWKRXWPDNLQJGUDPDWLFFKDQJHVLQ\RXUOLIHDQG
VWLFNWRLW,I\RXPLVVHGWKHSUDFWLFHVORWSODQQHG
IRUWKHPRUQLQJPDNHVXUH\RXPDNHXSIRULWLQ
WKHHYHQLQJ

,I\RXDUHQRWXVHGWRVHOISUDFWLFHVFKHGXOLQJD
IXOOKRXURILWHDFKGD\PD\EHMXVWWRRGHPDQGLQJ
IRU\RX$VKRUWHULQWHUYDOLVPXFKHDVLHUWRDOOR
FDWHE\VLPSO\UHGXFLQJWKHWLPHRIZDWFKLQJ79
VXUÀQJWKH,QWHUQHWDQGRUFKDWWLQJRQWKHSKRQH

Fix a Place in Your Home for Yoga Practice


)LQGDVXLWDEOHSODFHLQ\RXUKRPHIRUSUDFWLFH
DQGNHHS\RXUPDWDOZD\VRSHQRQWKHÁRRULQ
WKDWSODFHUHDG\IRUSUDFWLFH7KLVZLOOORZHUWKH
EDUULHUWRVWDUWLQJ\RXUSUDFWLFHDQGZLOOUHPLQG
\RXWRGRLWLQFDVH\RXIDLOWRUHPHPEHU

,GHDOO\WKHSODFHVKRXOGKDYHDZLQGRZIRU
QDWXUDOOLJKWDQGDLU,W·VQLFHWRKDYHVRPHDUHDRI
H[SRVHGZDOODQGVXIÀFLHQWURRPIRUVWRULQJ\RXU
SURSVVXFKDVEODQNHWVEORFNVEROVWHUHWF

Hang a Practice Sequence on the Wall


$FRPPRQUHTXHVW,JHWIURPP\VWXGHQWVJRHV
OLNHWKLV´,ZDQWWRSUDFWLFHDWKRPHEXW,GRQ·W
NQRZZKDWDVDQDVWRGR&DQ\RXJLYHPHDJRRG
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

VHTXHQFHIRUVHOISUDFWLFH"µ

0\EHVWDGYLFH*HWDUHFRPPHQGHGOLVWRIasanas
IURP\RXUWHDFKHUDQGVWLFNLWRQWKHZDOOLQIURQW
RI\RXUPDW

Overcome Laziness
7KHKDUGHVWSDUWLVWREHJLQSUDFWLFLQJ,\HQJDU
LVNQRZQWRVD\WKDWWKHPRVWGLIÀFXOWDVDQDLV
XQIROGLQJWKHPDWDQGLW·VWUXH2QFH\RXVWDUW
WKRXJKSUDFWLFHXVXDOO\ÁRZVVPRRWKO\DQGLWLV
31

IYN26 version9.indd 31 17/03/2015 18:41:27


Props are a unique
aspect of the Iyengar
Method. Regardless of
your physical limita-
tions, props can be
used to investigate
and deepen your
experience of the
asanas. They enable
you to explore the
effect of the asanas,
to spread your aware-
ness to unexplored
bodily regions.
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

32

IYN26 version9.indd 32 17/03/2015 18:41:30


RIWHQGLIÀFXOWWRVWRSWKDWÁRZ 6RWKHWLPH\RXLQYHVWLQWKH VRPHWLPHIRU\RXUVHOIRU
SUDFWLFHZLOOPRUHWKDQSD\ GHYRWHDOO\RXUWLPHDQGHQHUJ\
3DWDQMDOLPHQWLRQVWZRUHODWHG RIIDV\RX·OOEHPRUHHIIHFWLYH WRRWKHUSHRSOHDQGSURMHFWV"
REVWDFOHV6W\DQDZKLFK,\HQJDU LQSHUIRUPLQJ\RXUWDVNV<RX 0D\EHDQKRXURISUDFWLFHZLOO
WUDQVODWHVDVODFNRISHUVHYHU ZLOOEHFRPHPRUHUHOD[HGDQG JLYH\RXPRUHWLPHWRFRQWHP
DQFHODFNRILQWHUHVWVOXJJLVK TXLHWDQGZLOOZDVWHOHVVWLPH SODWHRQWKHVHTXHVWLRQVDQGWR
QHVVPHQWDOOD]LQHVVDQGAlasya DQGHQHUJ\<RX·OOPDNHEHWWHU FKDQJH\RXUSULRULWLHV
²LGOHQHVVSK\VLFDOOD]LQHVV GHFLVLRQVDQGSULRULWL]H\RXU
/D]LQHVVLVQRWDYHU\VWURQJ WDVNVEHWWHU,QDGGLWLRQWKH 2IWHQHYHQEHIRUHJHWWLQJRXW
KLQGUDQFHLQP\RZQFDVHEXW, MR\SHDFHDQGKDUPRQ\WKDW RIEHGLQWKHPRUQLQJP\PLQG
VWLOOIDFHLWHYHU\QRZDQGWKHQ \RX·OOH[SHULHQFHZLOOVKLQH LVDOUHDG\EXV\PDNLQJWKHGDLO\
,KDYHGHYHORSHGWZRVWUDWHJLHV RXWZDUGV\RX·OOEHKDSSLHUDQG ¶WRGR·OLVW,QYHU\EXV\WLPHV,
WRWDFNOHLW WKLVZLOOLPSURYH\RXULQWHUDF PD\KHDUDQLQQHUYRLFHVD\LQJ
WLRQVZLWKSHRSOHDQGSRVVLEO\ ´KH\PD\EH\RXVKRXOGMXVW
2QHLVWRLPDJLQHWKHMR\DW WUDQVPLWVRPHRI\RXUMR\DQG VNLSSUDFWLFHIRUWKHGD\"µ
WKHHQGRIWKHSUDFWLFH*RRG VHUHQLW\RQWRWKHPDVZHOO ,OHDUQHGWRUHFRJQL]HWKLV
\RJDSUDFWLFHZLOODOZD\VPDNH YRLFHDQGODEHOLW´2KWKLV
\RXIHHOIUHVKUHOD[HGDQG 'XULQJP\RZQSUDFWLFH, LVP\¶GRGLVHDVH·VSHDNLQJµ
FRQWHQW6LPSO\LPDJLQLQJWKH RIWHQUHDOL]HWKDWVRPHRIWKH ,KHDUWKHYRLFHEXWDQVZHU
SHDFHIXOVWDWHRIPLQGWREH WKLQJVWKDW,FRQVLGHUHGWREH ´0\GHDU¶GRGLVHDVH·DOWKRXJK
H[SHULHQFHGLQRQHKRXULVDQ VRLPSRUWDQWDQGXUJHQWDUH \RXDUHVSHDNLQJWRPH,FDQ·W
H[FHOOHQWPRWLYDWLRQWRVWDUWLW DFWXDOO\QRWWKDWLPSRUWDQWDQG OLVWHQWR\RXULJKWQRZEHFDXVH
,FDQGURSWKHPRUSRVWSRQH ,QHHGWRSUDFWLFH\RJD²,·OO
7KHRWKHUPHWKRGZKLFK, WKHPIRUVRPHRWKHUWLPH DWWHQGWRDOOWKHWDVNV\RX
RIWHQRIIHUDVDGYLFHWRP\ PHQWLRQZKHQ,ÀQLVKQRZ,
EHJLQQLQJVWXGHQWVLVWRVD\ 2QHRIP\VWXGHQWVXVHGWR DPEXV\GRLQJVRPHWKLQJPRUH
´2ND\OHW·VJLYHLWPLQXWHV VD\WKDW\RJDLVWKHEHVWLQYHVW LPSRUWDQWSOHDVHH[FXVH\RXU
DQGVHHKRZ,IHHOµ5HJDUGOHVV PHQWRQHFDQPDNHEHFDXVHLW VHOIIURPP\EUDLQµ
RIWKHPRRGLQZKLFK\RXVWDUW VDYHVRQELOOVIRUWKHGRFWRU
WKHSUDFWLFH\RXZLOORIWHQ WKHSV\FKLDWULVWDQGRWKHU Practice According to
ÀQG\RXUVHOISUDFWLFLQJZHOO NLQGVRIWKHUDSLVWV,QYHVWLQJ Proven Sequences
SDVWWKRVHLQLWLDOPLQXWHVRU DOLWWOHELWLQ\RJDLVVWLOOPXFK 7KHWDVNRIUHPHPEHULQJWKH
DWOHDVWZLVKLQJWRKDYHSODQQHG FKHDSHUWKDQKDYLQJWRSD\IRU DVDQDVDQGGHFLGLQJLQZKLFK
PRUHWLPHIRULW WKHUDS\,WHQGWRDJUHHZLWK RUGHUWRSUDFWLFHWKHPLV
WKLVVWXGHQW GLIÀFXOWIRUEHJLQQHUV3UH
Prioritise Yoga According GHÀQHGVHTXHQFHVDUUDQJHG
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

to its True Value for Your 7KHUHLVDZHOONQRZQVD\LQJ E\TXDOLÀHGWHDFKHUVVWUXFWXUH


Life ´<RXVKRXOGVLWLQPHGLWD WKHSUDFWLFHDQGJXLGHXVLQWR
<RXPD\KDYHPDQ\WDVNVRU WLRQIRUPLQXWHVHYHU\GD\ JUDGXDODQGVDIHSURJUHVV
SURMHFWVWRFRPSOHWHWRGD\ XQOHVV\RX·UHWRREXV\WKHQ
EXWWKHWLPH\RXLQYHVWLQ\RXU \RXVKRXOGVLWIRUDQKRXU«µ %DVHGRQWKHH[DPSOHRI)DHT
SUDFWLFHKDVWKHSRWHQWLDORI $QGLQGHHGLI\RXDUHVR %LULDRQHRI*XUXML·VVHQLRU
LPSURYLQJWKHTXDOLW\RI\RXU EXV\WKDW\RXFDQ·WGHYRWH WHDFKHUVWKHÀUVW\HDURIP\
HQWLUHGD\$IWHUWKHSUDFWLFH PLQXWHVDGD\IRUSUDFWLFH WHDFKHUVWUDLQLQJFRXUVHVLV
\RXUPLQGZLOOEHFOHDUHU PD\EH\RXVKRXOGUHWKLQNWKH GHYRWHGWRHVWDEOLVKLQJVHOI
\RXULQWHOOLJHQFHVKDUSHUDQG ZD\\RXPDQDJH\RXUOLIH:K\ SUDFWLFH,JLYHWKHVWXGHQWV
\RXUHPRWLRQVPRUHEDODQFHG DUH\RXVREXV\"'R\RXVSDUH DVHWRIÀYHVHTXHQFHV²RQH
33

IYN26 version9.indd 33 17/03/2015 18:41:30


IRUHDFKGD\RIWKHZHHN WKH\DOVRKDYHWRJR and SarvangasanaFDQQRWEHRYHUHPSKDVL]HG
WRDIRUPDOFODVVRUWZRGXULQJWKHZHHN :KHQ 3UDFWLWLRQHUVRILQYHUWHGSRVWXUHVH[SHULHQFHWKH
WKH\VWDUWWRIROORZWKHVHVHTXHQFHV,RIWHQVHHD HIIHFWVGDLO\,IFLUFXPVWDQFHVVKRUWHQSUDFWLFH
GUDPDWLFSURJUHVVLQWKHLUSUDFWLFH7KHVWXGHQWV WLPHWKH\NQRZWRGRSirsasana and Sarvangasana
UHSRUWWKDWWKHVHTXHQFHVDUHHVVHQWLDOIRU DVWKHLUEHQHÀWVZRXOGEHPLVVHGµ
EXLOGLQJXSWKHLUGLVFLSOLQHDQGFRQVLVWHQF\
6WDQGLQJSRVHVDQGLQYHUVLRQVDUHVRYHU\LPSRU
:KHQ,VWDUWHGP\RZQ\RJLFMRXUQH\LQ WDQWWKDWWKH\VKRXOGEHDSDUWRI\RXUGDLO\
WKHUHZDVPXFKOHVVLQIRUPDWLRQDYDLODEOH URXWLQH H[FHSWRIFRXUVHZKHQRWKHUZLVHLQGL
DERXW\RJDWKDQZHKDYHWRGD\DQGQRWPDQ\ FDWHGOLNHGXULQJPHQVWUXDWLRQ ,QEXLOGLQJ\RXU
UHDG\PDGHVHTXHQFHV6RPHWLPHV,IROORZHG SUDFWLFHVHTXHQFHIROORZWKHJXLGDQFHJLYHQE\
WKHVHTXHQFHVJLYHQLQ/LJKWRQ<RJD7KHVH *HHWDLQWKH<RJDLQ$FWLRQERRNOHWVHVSHFLDOO\
VHTXHQFHVDUHLQVSLULQJ²EXWWKH\ UHDGWKH,QWURGXFWLRQSDJH
PD\EHWRRFKDOOHQJLQJIRUWKH “An auspicious and DQGSDJHVRIWKH
DYHUDJHSUDFWLWLRQHU good beginning leads one 3UHOLPLQDU\&RXUVHDQGWKH
VHFWLRQ´0HWKRGRI3UDFWLFHµ
/XFNLO\WRGD\ZHKDYHH[FHOOHQW
towards the Ultimate end. RQSDJHVRIWKH,QWHU
VHTXHQFHVWKDWFDQEHXVHGE\ Slow and steady wins PHGLDWH&RXUVH,
EHJLQQHUVOHDGLQJWKHPJUDGX the race. Our duty as a
DOO\WRPRUHDGYDQFHGasanas)RU beginner is to keep on $GYDQFHGSUDFWLWLRQHUVZKR
H[DPSOH KDYHJDLQHGSUDFWLFHPDWXULW\
practicing with a steady GRQ·WQHHGH[WHUQDOVHTXHQFHV
6WDUWE\IROORZLQJWKHZHHN DQGÀUPPLQGµ*HHWD ,GRQ·WXVHDQ\À[HGVHTXHQFHV
FRXUVHJLYHQE\*HHWD,\HQJDULQ Iyengar LQP\SUDFWLFHDQ\PRUH
&KDSWHU;RI<RJDLQ$FWLRQ² LQVWHDG,OLVWHQWRZKDWP\
3UHOLPLQDU\&RXUVH ERG\WHOOVPH,XVXDOO\KDYHVRPHLGHDRIZKDWLV
)ROORZWKHVHTXHQFHVJLYHQLQFKDSWHU9RI JRLQJWREHWKHIRFXVRIWKHVHVVLRQEXWWKLVPD\
%DVLF*XLGHOLQHVIRU7HDFKHUVRI<RJDE\%.6DQG FKDQJHLQWKHFRXUVHRIWKHSUDFWLFH,QGHHGHDFK
*HHWD,\HQJDU SRVHOHDGVQDWXUDOO\WRWKHIROORZLQJRQHDQGWKH
SUDFWLFHÁRZVZLWKRXWDQ\À[HGSODQ %XW,GR
7KHFLWHGVHTXHQFHVZHUHFDUHIXOO\GHVLJQHG SUDFWLFHDVDQDVIURPDOOWKHPDMRUJURXSVRYHU
IRUXVE\RXU*XUXVWKH,\HQJDUVDQGZHPXVW WKHFRXUVHRIWKHZHHN 
IROORZWKHPXQWLOZHJHWPDWXUHHQRXJKWRWDLORU
RXURZQVHTXHQFHV7KH\FRQVLVWRIDVDQDVIURP 7KLVUHTXLUHVLQWLPDWHNQRZOHGJHRIWKHDVDQDV
DOOWKHEDVLFJURXSVLQFOXGLQJVWDQGLQJVLWWLQJ DQGWKHLUHIIHFWVVRLQWKHEHJLQQLQJ DQGWKLVFDQ
IRUZDUGDQGEDFNZDUGH[WHQVLRQVLQYHUVLRQVDQG ODVWVHYHUDO\HDUV LW·VEHVWWRIROORZVHTXHQFHV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

ODWHUDOWZLVWV JLYHQE\WHDFKHUVZLWKJUHDWNQRZOHGJHDQG
H[SHULHQFH
2QHFKDUDFWHULVWLFRIWKHVHVHTXHQFHVLVWKDW
DOORIWKHPFRQWDLQVWDQGLQJasanasDQGLQYHUWHG Make Sure Your Practice is Interesting and
asanas,Q<RJDLQ$FWLRQ,QWHUPHGLDWH&RXUVH, Enjoyable
*HHWDVD\V ,Q<RJDLQ$FWLRQ²3UHOLPLQDU\&RXUVH*HHWD
´7KHVWDQGLQJasanasDUHWKHEDVHRUIRXQGDWLRQ ,\HQJDUJLYHVWKHIROORZLQJDGYLFH
WKHUHIRUHRQHKDVWRVWDUWWKHUHLQRUGHUWR ´'RQRWEXUGHQ\RXUPLQGZLWKWKHLGHDRIGRLQJ
VWUHQJWKHQWKHVSLQHµ WRRPDQ\DVDQDV'RQRWIHHOWKHSUHVVXUHRQWKH
,Q:RPDQ·V<RJD3UDFWLFH*HHWD,\HQJDUDQG PLQGWKDWLWLVDWLPHFRQVXPLQJSUDFWLFH6WDUW
/RLV6WHLQEHUJZULWH´7KHEHQHÀWVRISirsasana WKHSUDFWLFHZLWKWKHIUHHGRPRIWKHPLQGµ


IYN26 version9.indd 34 17/03/2015 18:41:30


<RXUSUDFWLFHVKRXOGEHLQWHUHVWLQJDQGHQMR\
DEOH<HVLQRUGHUWRPDNHSURJUHVV\RXQHHGWR
EHIRFXVHGDQGGHWHUPLQHG%XWLI\RXIHHOWKDW
\RXUSUDFWLFHLVDEXUGHQVWRSDQGDVN\RXUVHOI
KRQHVWO\ZKDWWKHFDXVHRIWKDWIHHOLQJPD\EH

,Q7KH7UHHRI<RJD%.6,\HQJDUZULWHV´<RX
DUHDEHJLQQHULQ\RJD,WRRDPDEHJLQQHUIURP
ZKHUH,OHIWP\SUDFWLFH\HVWHUGD\,GRQ·WEULQJ
\HVWHUGD\·VSRVHVWRWRGD\·VSUDFWLFH,NQRZ
\HVWHUGD\·VSRVHVEXWZKHQ,SUDFWLFHWRGD\
,EHFRPHDEHJLQQHU,GRQ·WZDQW\HVWHUGD\·V
H[SHULHQFH,ZDQWWRVHHZKDWQHZXQGHU
VWDQGLQJPD\FRPHLQDGGLWLRQWRZKDW,KDGIHOW
XSWRQRZµ VHH7KH)UXLWFKDSWHU 

,I\RXUSUDFWLFHLVVKDOORZDQGPHFKDQLFDOLWZLOO
EHFRPHERULQJ\RXZLOOQRWIHHOHQJDJHGZLWKLW
(DFKVHVVLRQVKRXOGEULQJZLWKLWDIUHVKVHQVD
WLRQVRPHQHZOHDUQLQJDFFHVVWRDQHZLQWHUQDO
WHUULWRU\LQZKLFK\RXKDYHQHYHUYLVLWHG7KLV
ZD\WKHSUDFWLFHZLOOQHYHUEHERULQJDQG\RX
ZRQ·WHYHUFRQVLGHULWDEXUGHQ

$JRRGWHDFKHUHQFRXUDJHVXVWRH[SORUHGHHSHU
OD\HUVLQRXUVHOYHVWKURXJKFDUHIXOLQVWUXFWLRQDQG
LQVLJKWIXOTXHVWLRQLQJEXWKRZFDQZHGRLWZKHQ
ZHSUDFWLFHRQRXURZQDWKRPH"

7KHNH\LVWRDGRSWDQLQTXLVLWLYHFXULRXVPLQG
)RUH[DPSOHORRNIRUDFWLRQVWKDWUHSHDWWKHP
VHOYHVLQGLIIHUHQWSRVHVRUH[SORUHKRZGLIIHUHQW
SRVHVDIIHFW\RXUEUHDWKLQJRUWU\SHUIRUPLQJWKH
VDPHSRVHZLWKGLIIHUHQWSURSV
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015
,\HQJDU\RJD1HZV1R6SULQJ

3URSVDUHDXQLTXHDVSHFWRIWKH,\HQJDU0HWKRG
5HJDUGOHVVRI\RXUSK\VLFDOOLPLWDWLRQVSURSVFDQ
EHXVHGWRLQYHVWLJDWHDQGGHHSHQ\RXUH[SHUL
HQFHRIWKHDVDQDV7KH\HQDEOH\RXWRH[SORUH
WKHHIIHFWRIWKHDVDQDVWRVSUHDG\RXUDZDUH
QHVVWRXQH[SORUHGERGLO\UHJLRQV,Q*ORULRXV
\HDUVRI<RJDFKDU\D%.6,\HQJDUVD\V

´7KHVWXGHQWXQGHUVWDQGVDQGOHDUQVasanaIDVWHU
RQSURSVDVWKHEUDLQUHPDLQVSDVVLYH7KURXJK
SDVVLYHEUDLQRQHOHDUQVWREHDOHUWLQERG\DQG
35

IYN26 version9.indd 35 17/03/2015 18:41:32


PLQG3URSVDUHJXLGHVWRVHOI WRFRQFHQWUDWHRQSUHFLVLRQ DQGEHVDWLVÀHGZLWKVORZEXW
OHDUQLQJ7KH\KHOSDFFXUDWHO\ DQGUHGXFLQJWKHHIIRUWLQWKH VWHDG\SURJUHVV3UHSDUHWKH
ZLWKRXWPLVWDNHVµ 3DJH  SRVHUDWKHUWKDQRQZRUU\LQJ ERG\ZHOOZLWKWKHEDVLFSRVHV
$VDQH[DPSOHKHUHDUHVRPH DERXWWKHWLPH,QDGGLWLRQ PDLQO\VWDQGLQJSRVHV EHIRUH
YDULDWLRQVLQZKLFKSURSVDUH ZKHQ\RXSHUIRUPDF\FOHRI DWWHPSWLQJPRUHDGYDQFHG
XVHGWRGLUHFWDZDUHQHVVWR DVDQDV\RXFDQDGGLQWHUPH SRVHV/LVWHQWR\RXUERG\DQG
DERGLO\UHJLRQ LPDJHRQH  GLDWHEHHSVWRVLJQDO\RXWR UHPHPEHUWKHVHFRQFOXGLQJ
WRKHOSPRYLQJWLJKWPXVFOHV PRYHWRWKHQH[WYDULDWLRQLQ ZRUGVRI*HHWD,\HQJDULQ<RJD
LPDJHWZR WRFKHFNWKHDOLJQ WKHF\FOH LQ$FWLRQ²3UHOLPLQDU\&RXUVH
PHQWRIWKHERG\ LPDJHVDQG ´$QDXVSLFLRXVDQGJRRG
 WRDFWLYDWHWKHOHJV LPDJH  %HFDUHIXOKRZHYHUQRWWR EHJLQQLQJOHDGVRQHWRZDUGV
DQGWRDOORZIRUDUHVWIXOVWD\ GHYHORSGHSHQGHQF\RQ WKH8OWLPDWHHQG6ORZDQG
LQDFKDOOHQJLQJDVDQD LPDJH  H[WHUQDOJDGJHWV8OWLPDWHO\ VWHDG\ZLQVWKHUDFH2XUGXW\
\RXVKRXOGGHYHORSDQLQWHUQDO DVDEHJLQQHULVWRNHHSRQ
Use a Timer to Develop ¶IHHO·IRUKRZORQJLWLVEHQHÀ SUDFWLFLQJZLWKDVWHDG\DQG
Your Endurance FLDOIRU\RXWRVWD\LQDJLYHQ ÀUPPLQGµ
$VDQDVDUHSV\FKRSK\VLFDO DVDQDRQDSDUWLFXODUGD\<RXU
VWDWHVWKDWKDYHWREHPDLQ RZQLQWHUQDOWLPHUVKRXOGKDYH Listen to Your Pain
WDLQHGIRUDFHUWDLQOHQJWKRI SK\VLRORJLFDODQGSV\FKRORJLFDO ,I\RXKDYHDSHUVLVWHQWSDLQ
WLPH6WD\LQJLQWKHSRVHLV GLPHQVLRQVQRWPHUHO\FKURQ \RXPXVWLQYHVWLJDWHDQG
DWWKHKHDUWRIWKHSUDFWLFH RORJLFDO ÀQGLWVFDXVH,\HQJDUVD\V
,UHPHPEHUWKDWLQWKHHDUO\ ´3DLQFRPHVWRJXLGH\RX
GD\VZKLOHGRLQJKHDGVWDQG Be Prudent: Make Slow and SDLQLV\RXU*XUXµ/HDUQWR
,IRXQGP\VHOIFRPLQJRXWRI Steady Progress GLVFULPLQDWHEHWZHHQD´JRRG
WKHSRVHXQLQWHQWLRQDOO\LQD +LJKO\PRWLYDWHGVWXGHQWV SDLQµZKLFKLQGLFDWHVKHDOWK\
ODSVHRIFRQFHQWUDWLRQ7KLV VRPHWLPHVVWDUWWRSUDFWLFHDW SURJUHVVZLWKLQWKHSRWHQWLDO
SURPSWHGPHWRVWDUWXVLQJ KRPHDQGDIWHUDIHZZHHNV RI\RXUPXVFOHVDQGMRLQWVDQG
DWLPHUZKHQZRUNLQJRQ FRPSODLQDERXWSDLQVEODPLQJ ´EDGSDLQµZKLFKLQGLFDWHWKDW
SURORQJLQJP\VWD\,XVHGWR WKHLQWHQVHSUDFWLFHIRUWKHLU \RXKDYHYLRODWHGWKRVHOLPLWV
VHWWKHWLPHUWRPLQXWHV LQMXULHV,QWKHWUDQVLWLRQIURPD 1HYHULJQRUHDSDLQEXWDOVR
DQGZDVGHWHUPLQHGWRVWD\ ZHHNO\FODVVWRDGDLO\SUDFWLFH GRQRWSDQLF/LVWHQFDUHIXOO\
XQWLOWKHEHHS7KLVKHOSHGPH hidden problems and imbal WRZKDWWKLV*XUX WKHSDLQ 
WREXLOGVWDPLQDDQGGHWHUPLQD DQFHVDUHWULJJHUHGDQGPD\ WHOOV\RXFRQVXOW\RXUWHDFKHU
WLRQ PDQLIHVWWKURXJKQHZVHQVD IRUDVVLVWDQFHDQGLIQHHGHG
WLRQVDQGSDLQ FKDQJH\RXUSUDFWLFHWRDYRLG
7RGD\LW·VHDV\WRLQVWDOOVRSKLV :KHQVWDUWLQJDVHOISUDFWLFH XQKHDOWK\SDLQV,IWKHVDPH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015
,\HQJDU\RJD1HZV1R6SULQJ

WLFDWHGWLPHUVDGDSWHGWR\RJD LW·VYHU\LPSRUWDQWWREH SDLQSHUVLVWVZLWKRXWH[SOD


SUDFWLFHRQDQ\FRPSXWHU SUXGHQWDQGSURJUHVVJUDGX QDWLRQFRQVXOW\RXUPHGLFDO
RUFHOOSKRQH6WD\LQJIRURQH DOO\,DOZD\VWHOOP\VWXGHQWV GRFWRU
PLQXWHLQDEDODQFLQJSRVH WKDWWKHUHLVQR¶LQVWDQW\RJD·
(like Virabhadra III RU \RJDLVDOLIHWLPHSURMHFW Do Not Discriminate
PLQXWHVLQDIRUZDUGH[WHQ SRVVLEO\VHYHUDOOLIHWLPHV Between Types of Asana
sion (like Paschimottanasana  SURMHFW 7KHUHLVUHDOO\QR <RXKDYHWRSUDFWLFHDOOWKH
RUPLQXWHVLQDQLQYHUWHG SRLQWLQDWWHPSWLQJWRPRYH asanasWKDWDUHVXLWDEOHWR\RXU
pose (like Sirsasana UHTXLUHV IDVWHUWKDQ\RXUQDWXUDODELOLW\ OHYHO,WLVQDWXUDOWRKDYHRXU
ZLOOSRZHUDQGGHWHUPLQDWLRQ %HKRQHVWDQGDFFHSW\RXU OLNHVDQGGLVOLNHVDPRQJWKH
8VLQJDWLPHUIUHHV\RXUPLQG OLPLWDWLRQ'HYHORSSDWLHQFH DVDQDV+RZHYHUWKHUHLVVLJQLI
36

IYN26 version9.indd 36 17/03/2015 18:41:33


LFDQWOHDUQLQJYDOXHLQGRLQJWKHasanasZKLFKDUH H[KDXVWHGDIWHUDORQJZRUNLQJGD\GRDUHVWRUD
PRUHGLIÀFXOWIRU\RX WLYHSUDFWLFH:RPHQPXVWDOVRWDNHLQWRDFFRXQW
WKHFKDQJHVWKDWRFFXUGXULQJWKHPHQVWUXDO
7KH%KDJDYDG*LWD ,, VD\VWKDW\RJDLV F\FOH
Samatvam HTXDOPLQGHGHTXDQLPLW\ PHDQLQJ
WKDWD\RJLWUHDWVHYHU\WKLQJDQGHYHU\RQHZLWK Take Support from Family and Friends
WKHVDPHGLJQLW\DQGUHVSHFW6RRXUSUDFWLFH When Needed
VKRXOGOHDGXVWRZDUGWKLVLGHDO(DFKasana has 6XSSRUWLYHIDPLO\PHPEHUVRUIULHQGVFDQKHOS
LWVRZQXQLTXHEHQHÀW5HPHPEHUWKDWWKHXOWL \RXSHUVLVWLQ\RXUVHOISUDFWLFH2QFH\RX
PDWHJRDORIasanaSUDFWLFHLVPHQWDOZDWFK\RXU KDYHGHFLGHGWRSUDFWLFHRQDGDLO\EDVLVPDNH
FRQVFLRXVQHVVZKLOHSHUIRUPLQJ\RXUOHVVOLNHG WKLVGHFLVLRQNQRZQWR\RXUIDPLO\PHPEHUV
asanasOHDUQIURPLWDV\RXGHYHORSHQGXUDQFH DQGIULHQGVDQGDVNWKHPWRVXSSRUW\RX)RU
DQGHTXDQLPLW\ H[DPSOH\RXUSDUWQHUFDQHQFRXUDJH\RXWR
SUDFWLFHRQDGD\LQZKLFK\RXDUHQRWIHHOLQJXS
Adapt the Practice to Your Current WRSUDFWLFHDQGUHPLQG\RXRI\RXUGHFLVLRQ RI
Condition FRXUVHWKH\PXVWGRLWWKRXJKWIXOO\DQGEHVHQVL
2XUSUDFWLFHVKRXOGQHYHUEHFRPHDEOLQG WLYHHQRXJKWRWKHFLUFXPVWDQFHV 
URXWLQH:HQHHGWRGHYHORSVHQVLWLYLW\DQG
DZDUHQHVVWRRXUSK\VLFDOSK\VLRORJLFDODQG ,I\RXKDYHDIULHQGRUDFROOHDJXHWKDW\RXFDQ
PHQWDOFRQGLWLRQ7KHSUDFWLFHVKRXOGFKDQJH SUDFWLFHZLWK²LWPD\KHOS\RXWRFRPPLWWRWKH
IURPGD\WRGD\DFFRUGLQJWRIDFWRUVOLNHRXU SUDFWLFH6RPHSHRSOHÀQGLWPXFKHDVLHUWR
FXUUHQWKHDOWKFRQGLWLRQDQGOHYHORIHQHUJ\DQG SUDFWLFHZLWKDIULHQGRULQDVPDOOJURXS%XWVHH
EHDGDSWHGDFFRUGLQJWRIDFWRUVOLNHRXUDJHWKH WKDWWKHSUDFWLFHGRHVQ·WWXUQLQWRD
ZHDWKHUWKH VRFLDOHYHQW
WLPHRIGD\DQG ZLWKWRRPXFK
PDQ\RWKHU FKLWFKDWWLQJ«
IDFWRUV 3HUVRQDOO\,
SUHIHUWRSUDF
:KHQ\RXEHJLQ WLFHLQVROLWXGH
\RXUSUDFWLFH EXWWKHUHZHUH
DVVHVV\RXU WLPHVZKHQ
FRQGLWLRQDQG SUDFWLFHZLWK
VHOHFWWKHNLQG FROOHDJXHVGLG
RISUDFWLFHWKDW help me
LVPRVWVXLWDEOH VLJQLÀFDQWO\
IRUWKHGD\)RU
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015
,\HQJDU\RJD1HZV1R6SULQJ

H[DPSOHLI\RX Consider
DUHIHHOLQJORZ Using
RQDSDUWLFXODU Recorded
GD\LW·VEHWWHU Guidance
WRVHOHFWHQHU 7KHUHDUHSOHQW\
JHWLFDVDQDVLQRUGHUWRVWLPXODWHWKHEUHDWK RIUHFRUGHGDXGLRDQGYLGHRFODVVHVRQWKH
DQGWKHFLUFXODWLRQDQGWRRSHQWKHFKHVW EDFN ,QWHUQHWDVZHOODVLQ&'IRUPDW7KHVHFDQKHOS
EHQGVDUHLGHDOIRUWKDW RQWKHRWKHUKDQGLI \RXWRHVWDEOLVK\RXURZQSUDFWLFHEXWNHHSWKH
\RXVXIIHUIURPKHDGDFKHDJLWDWLRQRUKLJKEORRG IROORZLQJLQPLQG
SUHVVXUHFKRRVHDUHOD[HGVHTXHQFHZLWKORQJ )LUVWUHFRUGHGOHVVRQVFDQQRWVXEVWLWXWHIRUD
VWD\VLQVXSSRUWHGIRUZDUGEHQGV:KHQ\RXDUH WHDFKHU7KHUROHRIWKHWHDFKHULVWRREVHUYHWKH
37

IYN26 version9.indd 37 17/03/2015 18:41:34


VWXGHQWVDQGFRUUHFWWKHLUPLVWDNHV7KLVFDQQRW DQGLQWHUQDOLQYHVWLJDWLRQ3UDFWLFHLVRXURSSRU
EHGRQHLQUHPRWHFRQWURO%H\RQGWKHWHFK WXQLW\WREHZLWKRXUVHOYHVDQGREVHUYHRXUPLQG
QLFDODVSHFWDWHDFKHULVDOVRDUROHPRGHODQGD DQGLWVÁXFWXDWLRQVLQRUGHUWROHDUQKRZWR
VRXUFHRILQVSLUDWLRQ7KHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQ UHVWUDLQLW7KDWLVWKHJUHDWHVWJLIWRI\RJDDQGLW
WKHWHDFKHUDQGWKHVWXGHQWLVYHU\VLJQLÀFDQW PD\HVFDSH\RXZKHQ\RXXVHUHFRUGHGOHVVRQV
ZKLOHSURJUHVVLQJRQWKHSDWKRI\RJD UHJXODUO\

6HFRQGO\UHFRUGHGOHVVRQVUHSHDWWKHPVHOYHV 6RLI\RXGHFLGHWRXVHUHFRUGHGOHVVRQVEDODQFH
QDWXUDOO\ DQGODFNWKHHOHPHQWRIREVHUYDWLRQ LWZLWKDQXQJXLGHGVHOISUDFWLFHVRDVWRQRW
,\HQJDU\RJD1HZV1R6SULQJ
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 38 17/03/2015 18:41:35


GHYHORSGHSHQGHQF\RQH[WHUQDOJXLGDQFH gar’s books into Hebrew (The Tree of Yoga & Light
on Pranayama). Please visit Eyal’s website for a full
Eyal Shifroni has been an Iyengar yoga teacher since version of his article on self-practice:
1985, and is Director of the “Iyengar yoga Center of www.eyalshifroni.com
Zichron-Ya’akov”. Eyal is author of: A Chair for Yoga
- A complete guide to Iyengar yoga practice with a
chair, and is currently working on a follow-up book:
Props for Yoga - A guide to Iyengar yoga practice
with props. He has translated two of B.K.S. Iyen-

Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015


,\HQJDU\RJD1HZV1R6SULQJ

39

IYN26 version9.indd 39 17/03/2015 18:41:36


Exploring Paths to Iyengar Yoga –
Results of Initial Survey
Dr Laura Potts
laurapotts@phonecoop.coop

,KDYHORQJEHHQLQWULJXHGE\ZKDWEULQJVSHRSOHWRWKHSUDFWLFHDQGKDYHHQMR\HGOLVWHQLQJWRVWRULHV
IURPWHDFKHUVDQGORQJWHUPVWXGHQWV,NQRZ6RZLWKWKHDJUHHPHQWRIWKH(WKLFV&RPPLWWHH,
SUHSDUHGDVLPSOHTXHVWLRQQDLUHIRUWKH8.&RQYHQWLRQLQ+DUURJDWH7KHUHVXOWVSUHVHQWHGKHUH
DUHIURPWKHUHVSRQGHQWV ZHUHGLVWULEXWHGDUHVSRQVHUDWH WKHFRQYHQWLRQWHQGVWREH
DWWHQGHGE\PRUHH[SHULHQFHGVWXGHQWVDQGWHDFKHUVDQGVRWKHUHLVQRVHQVHLQZKLFKWKHVHÀQGLQJV
DUHUHSUHVHQWDWLYHEXWWKH\GRRIIHUDYLYLGSLFWXUHRIVRPHRIRXUSDWKVWR,\HQJDU\RJD
0DQ\WKDQNVWR(PPD5DWWHQEXU\DQG&DURO\Q8VKHUIRUVPDUWHQLQJXSP\LQLWLDOSUHVHQWDWLRQRI
UHVXOWV

:KHQGLG\RXÀUVWFRPHWR,\HQJDU\RJD"

)LJXUH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 40 17/03/2015 18:41:36


How people found out about Iyengar yoga classes:

)LJXUHVKRZVWKHUHVSRQVHVWRWKHTXHVWLRQ+RZGLG\RXHQFRXQWHU\RXUÀUVWFODVV
([SHULHQFHRIWKHÀUVWFODVV

7KHUHVSRQVHVJLYHQXQGHUWKH
¶RWKHUFDWHJRU\·LQFOXGH

‡ $QHHGWRUHEDODQFHOLIH
‡ $VLDQPXVLFFHQWUH
‡ *3
‡ .QHZDQGOLNHGWHDFKHU
‡ /RFDO,<FHQWUH
‡ 0\PRWKHUZHQWWRFODVVHV
‡ 3UHJQDQF\
‡ 6HQWE\SK\VLRWKHUDSLVW
‡ 8QLYHUVLW\\RJDVRFLHW\

5HVSRQGHQWVZHUHDVNHGWRJLYHWKUHHDGMHFWLYHVWRGHVFULEHWKHFODVV5HVSRQVHVWRWKHVHDUHVKRZQ
LQWKHZRUGFORXGLQ)LJXUHZKHUHWKRVHZRUGVXVHGPRVWRIWHQDUHODUJHVW

)LJXUH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 41 17/03/2015 18:41:36


5HVSRQGHQWVZHUHDOVRDVNHGWRJLYHWKUHHZRUGVWRGHVFULEHWKHLUIHHOLQJVDERXWWKHLUÀUVWFODVV
7KHVHDUHVKRZQLQ)LJXUHLQDVLPLODUIRUPDW

)LJXUH

7KHUHDVRQVIRUWKHSDWKWR,\HQJDU\RJD

)LQDOO\UHVSRQGHQWVZHUHDVNHGWRWLFNDYDULHW\RIUHDVRQVIRUWKHLUSDWKWR,\HQJDU\RJD7KHUHVXOWV
DUHVKRZQLQ)LJXUHEHORZ

)LJXUH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 42 17/03/2015 18:41:37


7KH¶RWKHU·UHDVRQVJLYHQZHUH

‡ $QDIÀQLW\
‡ %HWWHUWKDQSUHYLRXVFODVV
‡ &KDQFH
‡ )RUPHQWDOKHDOWK
‡ ,QWHUHVWLQPLQGERG\ZRUN
‡ /LJKWRQ<RJD
‡ /RFDOIULHQGVLQWKHFODVV
‡ /RRNLQJIRUDVSLULWXDOGLVFLSOLQH
‡ /RYHGWKHVSLULWRI\RJD
‡ 0DJLF
‡ 0LQGERG\VSLULWFRQQHFWLRQ
‡ 1HHGIRUEDODQFHLQOLIH
‡ 6WUHVVRIH[DPV

Next steps
7RWDNHWKLVUHVHDUFKRQWRWKHQH[WVWDJH,KDYHGHFLGHGWRDVNIRUZULWWHQVWRULHVRQZKDW\RX
SHUFHLYHWREHWKHEDFNJURXQGWR\RXUWDNLQJXS,\HQJDU\RJD6HYHUDOSHRSOHZURWHYHU\LQWHUHVWLQJ
DFFRXQWVRQWKHEDFNRIWKHTXHVWLRQQDLUHDQGWKLVPHWKRGRORJ\VHHPVWRDOORZPRUHIUHHGRPWRWHOO
\RXURZQVWRU\LQ\RXURZQZD\WKDQLVOLNHO\WREHSRVVLEOHLQLQWHUYLHZV$QGRIFRXUVHLW·VHDVLHU
WKDQPDNLQJDUUDQJHPHQWVIRULQWHUYLHZVDOWKRXJKLI\RXZRXOGOLNHWRWHOO\RXUVWRU\UDWKHUWKDQ
ZULWHGRJHWLQWRXFKDQGZHFDQÀQGVRPHRWKHUPHDQV,I\RXZRXOGOLNHWRZULWHDERXW\RXUSDWK
WR,<WKHQSOHDVHZULWHXSWRZRUGVE\WKHHQGRI2FWREHU

Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 43 17/03/2015 18:41:37


Modern Yoga Practice from the Perspective of
the Embodied Self: A Study of the Lived
Experiences of Iyengar Yoga Practitioners
By Barbara Ayala

The starting point 7KXVWKHLGHDRIPRYLQJWR/RQGRQZDVERUQDQG


7KHH[SDQVLRQRI\RJDSUDFWLFHLQWKHZHVWHUQ ,VWDUWHGVWXG\LQJD0$LQ$QWKURSRORJ\RI+HDOWK
ZRUOGGXULQJWKHODVWGHFDGHVLVDQXQGHQLDEOH DQGWKH%RG\DW*ROGVPLWKV8QLYHUVLW\RI/RQGRQ
SKHQRPHQRQ<RJDFHQWUHVVW\OHVDQGSUDFWL
WLRQHUVKDYHKDGDQH[SRQHQWLDOJURZWKLQWKH The research process
ODVWWHQ\HDUVLQP\FRXQWU\RIRULJLQ&KLOH%HLQJ ,QWKHEHJLQQLQJRIP\0$VWXGLHV,GHGLFDWHG
FRQVFLRXVRIWKDWDQGEHLQJP\VHOIDUHJXODU PXFKWLPHWRUHYLHZLQJWKHFRQWHPSRUDU\OLWHUD
,\HQJDU\RJDSUDFWLWLRQHUZKRKDVH[SHULHQFHG WXUHRQ\RJD,UHDOLVHGWZRWKLQJVÀUVWWKDWPRVW
WKHHIIHFWVRIWKHSUDFWLFHGXULQJWKHODVW\HDUV, RILWIURPWKHSHUVSHFWLYHRIWKHFODVVLFWH[WVDQG
EHFDPHLQWHUHVWHGLQVWXG\LQJWKLVSUDFWLFHIURP LWVSKLORVRSKLFDQGUHOLJLRXVFRQWH[WOHDYLQJDVLGH
DQDFDGHPLFSRLQWRIYLHZ,GHFLGHGWRFRPSOH LWVSUDFWLFDODVSHFW6HFRQGO\WKDWWKHPRGHUQ
PHQWP\WUDLQLQJLQSV\FKRORJ\ZLWKVWXGLHVLQ SRSXODULVDWLRQRI\RJDKDVSURPSWHGDJURZLQJ
DQWKURSRORJ\DLPLQJWREHDEOHWRDQDO\VHWKH LQWHUHVWLQWKHSUDFWLFHRI\RJDLWVHOIJHQHUDWLQJ
HIIHFWVRI\RJDSUDFWLFHIURPDSHUVSHFWLYHWKDW DQLQFUHDVLQJQXPEHURIELRPHGLFDOVWXGLHVWKDW
LQWHUUHODWHVLWVVXEMHFWLYHDQGFXOWXUDOGLPHQVLRQV IRFXVRQWKHHIIHFWVSURGXFHGE\WKHSUDFWLFHRQ
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 44 17/03/2015 18:41:37


WKDWDOORZHGPHWRFROOHFWHPSLULFDOGDWDWKDW
FRXOGKRQRXUWKHVHQVLEOHDQGOLYHGGLPHQVLRQRI
“There is something about the practice WKHHPERGLHGKXPDQEHLQJ8VLQJDTXDOLWDWLYH
that marvels and challenges me. That DSSURDFK,H[SORUHGWKHH[SHULHQFHRIDJURXS
is the fact that one has to perform RI,\HQJDU\RJDSUDFWLWLRQHUVLQ&KLOHWKURXJK
LQGHSWKLQWHUYLHZV,FRPELQHGWKLVH[SORUDWLRQ
poses and try to do them the best way ZLWKP\RZQSDUWLFLSDWLRQLQWKH&KLOHDQ,\HQJDU
possible. I feel that is something worth FRPPXQLW\DVD\RJDSUDFWLWLRQHULQFODVVHVZRUN
applying to other dimensions of my VKRSVDQGWHDFKHUWUDLQLQJVHVVLRQVGUDZLQJRQ
P\HPERGLHGH[SHULHQFHDVDZD\WRXQGHUVWDQG
life” (Jacinta, 45 years old). WKHZD\VE\ZKLFKFXOWXUDONQRZOHGJHZDVVKDUHG
WKURXJKERGLHVYLD\RJDSUDFWLFHDQGWRJDLQPRUH
WKHELRORJLFDOERG\7KLVSUHOLPLQDU\DSSURDFKWR DZDUHQHVVDERXWWKHUROHRIWKHERG\LQWKH
WKHUHVHDUFKRQ\RJDZDVHQRXJKWRUHDIÀUPP\ SURFHVVHVRIVHOIWUDQVIRUPDWLRQ
PRWLYDWLRQWRVWXG\LWIURPDGLIIHUHQWSHUVSHF
WLYH8QOLNHWKHELRPHGLFDOVFLHQFHV,GLGQRW
ZDQWWRREMHFWLI\P\REMHFWRIVWXG\E\PHDVXULQJ “Throughout the process I progres-
WKHFKDQJHVSURGXFHGLQSDUWLFXODUSK\VLRORJLFDO sively understood each single action.
YDULDEOHVEXWUDWKHUWRXVHP\WUDLQLQJLQWKH
VRFLDOVFLHQFHVWRH[SORUHDQGWKLQNDERXWWKH All those words slowly gained a clear
VXEMHFWLYHDQGLQWHUVXEMHFWLYHFKDQJHVWKDWZHUH shape: initially these were actions that
PRELOLVHGE\WKHSUDFWLFHRI\RJD,ZDQWHGWR I quite did not understand, or when I
JURXQGP\UHVHDUFKDQGUHÁHFWLRQIURPWKHSRLQW
RIYLHZRIWKHSUDFWLWLRQHU·VH[SHULHQFHDQGQRW was able to understand them, I did not
WKHELJJHUSLFWXUHRIVRFLDOFRQWH[WVDQGFXOWXUDO know how to put them into practice.
GLVFRXUVHVWKDWVKDSHWKHKLVWRU\DQGSUDFWLFHRI Eventually I was able to put the words
\RJD0\IRFXVZDVIURPWKHEHJLQQLQJWKHERG\
LWVHOIFRQFHSWXDOLVHGQRWRQO\DVDQREMHFWEXW into practice, but never all of them at
SULPDULO\DVWKHIXQGDPHQWDOGLPHQVLRQRIKXPDQ the same time. During practice, it often
H[LVWHQFHLHDVWKHPDLQLQVWUXPHQWDQGPHDQV KDSSHQHGWKDW,ZRXOGÀQDOO\XQGHU-
E\ZKLFKKXPDQEHLQJVUHODWHZLWKWKHZRUOG
RWKHUVDQGZLWKWKHPVHOYHV stand the command as well as the
'UDZLQJRQWKHRULHVRIHPERGLPHQWDQG muscle I had to move and the way to
SKHQRPHQRORJ\,IRXQGWKHWKHRUHWLFDOHOHPHQWV do it. I would then immediately notice
WRVWDUWUHVHDUFKLQJ\RJDSUDFWLFHIURPWKLV
SHUVSHFWLYHEULQJLQJWKHERG\WRWKHIRUHJURXQG my body performing those actions.
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

E\ORRNLQJDWWKHHPERGLHGH[SHULHQFHRIWKH Consciousness over my body became


SUDFWLWLRQHUV6RPHRIP\FRQFHUQVZHUHUHODWHG increasingly stronger. That includes
ZLWKWKHSUREOHPRIKRZWRDFFHVVWKHOLYHG
DQGHPERGLHGH[SHULHQFHRIWKHSUDFWLWLRQHUV the actions that I am not able to fully
E\XVLQJWUDGLWLRQDOPHWKRGRORJLHVZKLFKWHQG perform with the required precision or
WRHPSKDVL]HGLVFRXUVHXVXDOO\LQDGLVHPERGLHG intensity. Now I understand why I can't
ZD\7KXV,WULHGQRWRQO\WRKLJKOLJKWWKHOLYHG
ERG\RIWKHSUDFWLWLRQHUVWKDW,ZDQWHGWRVWXG\ perform these movements as well as
EXWDOVRWRIRUHJURXQGWKHHPERGLHGH[SHUL the sort of strength and stretching that
HQFHLQWKHSURFHVVRIUHVHDUFKLWVHOI,QWKLV are missing" (Marie, 68 years old).
VHQVH,DWWHPSWHGWRFUHDWHDPHWKRGRORJ\


IYN26 version9.indd 45 17/03/2015 18:41:37


LQUHODWLRQWRWKLV,WDOORZHG
PHWRGHYHORSQHZPHWKRGR
ORJLFDOVWUDWHJLHVRIFRPPXQL
FDWLRQDQGH[FKDQJHZLWKWKH
LQWHUYLHZHHVWKDWZHUHXVHIXO
WRWKHPIRUWKH\HQULFKHG
WKHLUDFFRXQWVE\RIIHULQJD
ULFKHUODQJXDJHDQGSRVVLEOH
FRQQHFWLRQVWRPDNHVHQVH
RIWKHLUH[SHULHQFHVLQUHOD
WLRQWRWKHLU\RJDSUDFWLFH,Q
VKRUWP\DWWHPSWWRGHYHORS
DQGDSSO\DQHPERGLHG
UHVHDUFKPHWKRGRORJ\
DOORZHGPHWRKLJKOLJKWWKH
H[SHULHQFHRIP\RZQERG\
EXWDOVRWKDWRIWKHSHRSOH,
$QLQWHUHVWLQJWKLQJWKDW,GLVFRYHUHGLQWKH LQWHUYLHZHGRSHQLQJPRUH
SURFHVVRILQWHUYLHZLQJWKHSUDFWLWLRQHUVZDVWKHLU SRVVLELOLWLHVIRUWKHH[SORUDWLRQRIWKHVHQVLEOHDQG
GLIÀFXOW\WRSXWLQWRZRUGVWKHLUOLYHGH[SHULHQFHV HPERGLHGGLPHQVLRQLQYROYHGLQ\RJDSUDFWLFH
UHJDUGLQJ\RJDSUDFWLFH7KH\GLGPHQWLRQWKH
ERG\UHJDUGLQJWKHEHQHÀWVRIWKHSUDFWLFHEXW Some points of arrival -
LWZDVLQDZD\WKDWSODFHGWKHERG\DVDQREMHFW potentialities of the lived body
XSRQZKLFKRQHDFWVOHDYLQJDVLGHLWVSRWHQWL ,QWKHVDPHZD\WKDWWKHUHVHDUFKSURFHVV
DOLWLHVLQWHUPVRIWKHVRXUFHRIVXEMHFWLYHDQG HQULFKHGWKHZD\WKHLQWHUYLHZHHVWKRXJKWDQG
LQWHUVXEMHFWLYHOLIH,QRWKHUZRUGVWKHLUDFFRXQWV WDONHGDERXWWKHLURZQ\RJDSUDFWLFHLWKDGD
ZHUHTXLWHGLVHPERGLHG0\RZQHQJDJHPHQWLQ SRVLWLYHLPSDFWRQPHDQGP\SUDFWLFH,WRSHQHG
WKHVWXG\DVD\RJDSUDFWLWLRQHUZDVYHU\KHOSIXO WKHSRVVLELOLW\RIDQHZUHODWLRQZLWKP\SUDF
WLFHRI\RJDRQHFKDUDFWHULVHGE\PRUH
DZDUHQHVVDQGREVHUYDWLRQRIWKHLQWHUQDO
“Asana practice is something totally alive. It SURFHVVHVDQGWKHERG\PLQGFRQQHFWLRQV
is even more alive as I practice more. When WKDWDUHSURGXFHGDIIHFWHGDQGXQIROGHG
I practice, there is generally a sensation that WKURXJKWKHSUDFWLFH8VLQJP\RZQERG\
DVDODERUDWRU\IRUWKHH[SORUDWLRQRI
I want to reach something else, go deeper, \RJDSUDFWLFHPDGHPHDZDUHRIWKHPRUH
penetrating even more with the intelligence VXEWOHDQGVHQVLEOHH[SHULHQFHVDQGJDLQ
of my body. It does not always feel good.
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

DEHWWHUXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIKRZWKRXJKWV
ZRUGVDQGFXOWXUDOGLVFRXUVHVVKDSHRXU
When I have a lesion I am very frustrated, ERGLHVLQDQRQOLQHDUZD\DIIHFWLQJWKH
especially when I don’t understand what’s H[SHULHQFHVRIRXURZQERGLHVEXWDOVR
happening to me, and that brings the EHLQJDIIHFWHGE\WKHP7KLVZDVSRVVLEOH
EHFDXVHZKDWZDVSUHYLRXVO\IDPLOLDU
worse out of me. Then, when I understand EHFDPHDQH[SOLFLWIRFXVRIREVHUYDWLRQ
my mistakes, the sensation is more one of DQGUHÁHFWLRQLHP\OLYHGH[SHULHQFH
tenderness and love toward the injured part DVD\RJDSUDFWLWLRQHU7KXV,PDGHP\
\RJDSUDFWLFHVRPHWKLQJDOLHQXQNQRZQLQ
of me” (Ana, 26 years old). RUGHUWREHDEOHWRSHUFHLYHDQGUHFRJQLVH


IYN26 version9.indd 46 17/03/2015 18:41:37


HOHPHQWVRIWKLVH[SHULHQFHWKDWZHUHDOUHDG\ WRSHUFHLYHPDNHVHQVHDQGOHDUQIURPWKHLU
DVVXPHGDQGWDNHQIRUJUDQWHG,PDGHP\VHOIDQ ERGLHVDVVRXUFHVRINQRZOHGJHDERXWWKHZRUOG
RSHQERG\XVHGDVDUHVHDUFKWRROWRJDLQQHZ WKHPVHOYHVDQGWKHUHODWLRQVKLSEHWZHHQERWK
LQVLJKWVDERXW WKHSUDFWLFHDQGLWVVXEMHFWLYHDQG7KXVWKHERG\EHFDPHDVSDFHRIVHOIGLVFRYHU\
FXOWXUDOPHDQLQJV DQGGHYHORS
PHQWDOPRVWDVD
+RZHYHUWKLV “I visualise it [her body], from bones and muscles, SV\FKRWKHUDSHXWLF
SURFHVVRI
GLVFRYHULQJQHZ
to skin and organs. I connect with a range of SURFHVVDQG
VPDOODQGELJJHU
PHDQLQJVDQG sensations produced by the asana. I see it as FKDQJHVLQWKH
XQGHUVWDQGLQJV a different journey every day. Even if I repeat SUDFWLWLRQHUV·OLYHV
DERXWWKHSUDFWLFH
RI\RJDGLGQRW
exactly the same sequence, the challenges are ZHUHSURPSWHG
E\WKLVPLQGERG\
RQO\KDSSHQWR DOZD\VGLIIHUHQW2FFDVLRQDOO\QHZOD\HUVRIGLIÀ- LQWHUUHODWLRQ
PHEXWDOVRWR culty are added, perhaps due to tensions that
WKHLQWHUYLHZHHV
ZKRVHDFFRXQWV
were not there the day before. There are also ,QWHUHVWLQJO\DOO
WKHWUDQVIRUPD
VSRNHDERXWWKHLU days in which either mind or body intercept one’s WLRQVWKDWZHUH
RZQSURFHVVHVRI pursuit. Other days, when things seem to be H[SHULHQFHGLQ
ERGLO\DQGVHOI
WUDQVIRUPDWLRQ
on one’s side, the body frees itself, the mind no UHODWLRQWRWKH

2QHRIWKH ORQJHUÁRDWVDQGRQHLVDEOHWRHQWHUDZRQGHUIXO SUDFWLFHRI\RJD


ZHUHFRQQHFWHG
PDLQWKLQJVWKDW interconnection state” (Sandra, 40 years old). WRLWVERGLO\
WKH\GLVFRYHUHG GLPHQVLRQ,Q
WKURXJKWKHLU RWKHUZRUGV
SUDFWLFHZDVWKDWWKH\KDGD ERWKFRQFUHWHFKDQJHV²
ERG\DQGJRLQJEH\RQGWKDW VXFKDVH[WHQGLQJDPXVFOH
WKH\ZHUHDERG\7KURXJK FUHDWLQJLQQHUERGLO\VSDFH
WKHLUSUDFWLFHRI\RJDVDQDDQG DQGUHOHDVLQJDSDUWLFXODU
SUDQD\DPDWKH\JDLQHGDQ SK\VLFDOWHQVLRQRUSDLQ
HPERGLHGH[SHULHQFHWKDWWKH\ DQGEURDGHURUPRUH
FRXOGDFWXSRQDQGZLWKWKHLU DEVWUDFWRQHV²VXFKDV
ERGLHVLQFRPSOHWHO\QHZZD\V H[SHULHQFLQJLQWHJUDWLRQ
7KH\FRXOGIRUH[DPSOHDFW EDODQFHDQGIUHHGRPFRXOG
XSRQWKHLUERGLHVLQRUGHUWR EHFRQQHFWHGWRWKHERG\
PDNHEURDGHUFKDQJHVDERXW ZRUNWKDWZDVGRQHWKURXJK
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WKHPVHOYHVVXFKDVLPSURYH \RJLFSRVWXUHVDQGWKH
WKHLUHQHUJ\RUDFKLHYHPHQWDO WHFKQLTXHVRIWKH,\HQJDU
TXLHWQHVVDQGVWDELOLW\%XWLQ PHWKRG1RQHWKHOHVVLW
WKHSURFHVVRISUDFWLVLQJ\RJD ZDVDFOHDUWKDWWKHVHZHUH
WKH\IRXQGWKDWWKH\ZHUH WKHHIIHFWVRIDSDUWLFXODU
RSHQHGWRDQHZGLPHQVLRQRI PLQGIXOERGLO\SUDFWLFHDQG
WKHLUERGLHVZKHUHWKHVHZHUH WKHUHIRUHQRWQHFHVVDULO\
QRWRQO\REMHFWVPDQLSXODWHG WKHUHVXOWVRIDQ\SUDFWLFHWKDWMXVWLQYROYHVWKH
E\FRQVFLRXVQHVVDQGZLOOEXWDOVRDVRXUFHRI ERG\)RUDVZHVDZWKHERG\ZDVQRWDPHUH
QHZNQRZOHGJHDQGH[SHULHQFH7KHLQFUHDVHG REMHFWEXWDOVRSHUFHLYHGDVWKHSULPDU\GLPHQ
ERGLO\DZDUHQHVVGHYHORSHGWKURXJKWKHSUDF VLRQRIVXEMHFWLYHDQGLQWHUVXEMHFWLYHOLIH
WLFHOHGWKHPWREHRSHQHGDQGWKHUHIRUHDEOH


IYN26 version9.indd 47 17/03/2015 18:41:37


“[the practice] requires a disposition to open oneself physically and inter-
nally, when you open your hip, it is not only that... the word space comes to
my mind, in the sense that one explores different spaces every time according
to the physical opening that one has created... to surrender is essential, and
that begins in the physical, release tension... it has to do with breathing espe-
FLDOO\ZKHUHLVGLIÀFXOWDQGZLWKHDFKH[KDODWLRQPRYHIRUZDUGDQGÀQGVSDFH
instead of retaining the breath and becoming smaller... using the breath to open
the range of physical sensations at the beginning which then are transformed
into internal spaces” (Ana, 26 years old).

,FRQVLGHUWKDWP\UHVHDUFKZDVVXFFHVVIXOVLQFH SUDFWLFH0\ÀQGLQJVHQULFKHGDQGFRPSOHPHQW
,FRXOGH[SORUHWKHOLYHGDQGHPERGLHGH[SHUL WKRVHVWXGLHVLQWHUPVRIVKRZLQJWKDWWKHH[SHUL
HQFHVRIWKHSUDFWLWLRQHUVDQGWKHUHIRUHJDLQDQ HQFHRIWKHSUDFWLWLRQHUVFRXOGQRWEHH[SODLQHG
XQGHUVWDQGLQJDERXWWKHVXEMHFWLYHDQGLQWHU MXVWE\SRVLWLYLVWDSSURDFKHVWKDWORRNDWWKHERG\
VXEMHFWLYHHIIHFWVRIWKHSUDFWLFHWKDWZDVQRW DQGVHOIDVZHOOERXQGHGDQGFOHDUO\VHSDUDWHG
DOUHDG\WKHUHLQWKHVFLHQWLÀFELRPHGLFDOVWXGLHV IURPRWKHUEHLQJV KXPDQDQGQRQKXPDQ RUE\
WKHFODVVLFSKLORVRSKLFDO\RJLFWH[WVRUWKH VRFLDODSSURDFKHVWKDWZDQWWRJLYHDQVZHUVRI
FRQWHPSRUDU\VRFLDODQGFXOWXUDODQDO\VHVRIWKLV \RJDDVDFRQVXPHULVPSKHQRPHQRQWKDWFXOWL
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 48 17/03/2015 18:41:38


YDWHVQDUFLVVLVPDQG
LQGLYLGXDOLVP,QWKLV “[Savasana is] a total surrender of the body to vacuum,
VHQVHUDWKHUWKDQ vacuum that is also fullness... Sometimes it feels as being
ZDQWLQJWRDGGUHVV
WKHTXHVWLRQRIWKH part of the whole, as energy, the body disappears, it feels
LQFUHDVHGSRSXODULVD as if the body had no limits” (Ana, 26 years old).
WLRQRI\RJDSUDFWLFH
E\H[SODLQLQJWKHSK\VL “I feel like I was disappearing, as if there was no body or the
RORJLFDOFKDQJHV EHQH ERG\ZDVSDUWRIWKHÁRRU,IHHOP\FRQVFLRXVEUHDWKLQJ
ÀWV WKDWLWSURGXFHV what is happening and the disconnection of language... it
LQWKHERG\EUDLQRU
E\VD\LQJWKDWLWLVD is like a connection with the nothing, but without anxiety...
QHZIRUPRISRZHU I feel that Savasana has the mark of humility, of being
RUGLVFLSOLQDU\SUDFWLFH nothing” (Daniel, 28 years old).
DOLJQHGWRFRQVXPHU
FDSLWDOLVPDQGRU
UHODWHZLWKWKHLURZQHPERGLHGVHOYHVDQGHYHQ
QHROLEHUDOSROLWLFV,WULHGWRVKRZWKDWWKHUHDUH
PRELOLVLQJFKDQJHVUHJDUGLQJWKHLUKXPDQDQGQRQ
DOWHUQDWLYHZD\VWRXQGHUVWDQGWKHH[SDQVLRQRI
KXPDQVXUURXQGLQJZRUOG7KHLUDFFRXQWVWDONHG
PRGHUQ\RJD0\WKHRUHWLFDODQGPHWKRGRORJLFDO
DERXWWUDQVIRUPDWLRQVWKDWZHUHIHOWDVSRVLWLYHDV
DSSURDFKDOORZHGPHWRVKRZWKDW\RJDSUDFWLFH
DQH[SDQVLRQRINQRZOHGJHFRQÀGHQFHDQGVNLOOV
ZDVH[SHULHQFHGDVVRPHWKLQJOLEHUDWLQJIRUWKH
SUDFWLWLRQHUVRSHQLQJQRYHOZD\VIRUWKHPWR

Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 49 17/03/2015 18:41:38


Starting Out as a Teacher
(PPD+DUULVRQ

Emma Harrison lives and teaches in West Bridgford, Nottingham. She used to work in PR. Her website is www.
HPPD\RJDFRXN<RXFDQÀQGKHURQWZLWWHUDV#HPPD\RJDQRWWVDQGRQ)DFHERRNDV´HPPD\RJDQRWWVµ

,QWHDFKHUWUDLQLQJDOORIRXUIRFXVLVRQNQRZLQJ ÀQGDVXLWDEOHYHQXH
WKHNH\LQVWUXFWLRQVIRUWKHSRVHVLPSURYLQJRXU 5HVHDUFK\RXUORFDODUHD$VN\RXUIULHQGVZKHUH
SUDFWLFHDQGJHWWLQJVRPHWHDFKLQJSUDFWLFH:H WKH\JRWRFODVVHV DOONLQGVRIFODVVHV 7KHUHDUH
FDQQRWVHHEH\RQGWKHORRPLQJDVVHVVPHQW PDQ\FKXUFKFRPPXQLW\RUYLOODJHKDOOVWRKLUH
%XWZKDWKDSSHQVDIWHU\RXSDVVWKHDVVHVV )LQGRXWKRZPXFKWKH\FKDUJHXQWLO\RXJDLQDQ
PHQWZKHQ\RXDUHDIXOO\TXDOLÀHG,QWURGXFWRU\ LGHDRIWKHJRLQJUDWH
,\HQJDU\RJDWHDFKHU"7KLVDUWLFOHVHWVRXWVRPH 7KLVLVWKHURXWH,FKRVH,IRXQGP\YHQXHD
RIWKHWKLQJV,ZLVK,·GNQRZQEHIRUH,VWDUWHG VFRXWKDOOEHKLQGDFKXUFKFRXUWHV\RIDIULHQG
WHDFKLQJDVZHOODVVHWWLQJRXWVRPHRIWKHWKLQJV ZKRVHVRQZHQWWRFXEVWKHUH
WKDWZHQWZHOO $IWHUWKDW\RXQHHGWRUHFUXLWHQRXJKVWXGHQWV
VR\RXGRQ·WPDNHDORVVRQWKHYHQXHKLUH
Beginnings
,KDGEHHQSUDFWLVLQJ,\HQJDU\RJDIRU\HDUV Set up a Website
EHIRUH,VWDUWHGWHDFKHUWUDLQLQJ,ORYHGKRZ ,UHDOLVHGWKDWKDYLQJDSUHVHQFHRQWKHLQWHUQHW
WUDLQLQJGHHSHQHGP\SUDFWLFHDQGP\NQRZOHGJH ZDVFUXFLDOWRHQDEOHSRWHQWLDOVWXGHQWVWRÀQG
RIERWKWKHSRVHVDQGRI\RJD PH,DVNHGDSKRWRJUDSKHUIULHQGWRWDNHVRPH
,FRPSOHWHGP\WZR\HDUV·WUDLQLQJDWWKH,\HQJDU SLFWXUHVWRLQFOXGHRQWKHZHEVLWH+HDOVR
\RJD,QVWLWXWH0DLGD9DOHDQGTXDOLÀHGLQ KHOSHGPHGHYHORSDVLPSOH:RUGSUHVVZHEVLWH
2FWREHU :RUGSUHVVRIIHUV´RIIWKHSHJµZHEVLWH
'HOLEHUDWHO\,PDGHQRWHDFKLQJSODQVSULRUWR WHPSODWHV,WKDVORWVRIGLIIHUHQWVW\OHVRIZHEVLWH
WKHDVVHVVPHQW:KHQ,SDVVHG,DZDUGHGP\VHOI DYDLODEOHWRGRZQORDGPDQ\RIWKHPIUHH,Q
VRPHWLPHRIIXQWLO&KULVWPDVHQMR\LQJP\SUDF WKHRU\\RXFDQGHYHORSWKHLUVLWHV\RXUVHOI
WLFHZLWKRXWDQ\SUHVVXUH,FRQWLQXHGWRWHDFK HVSHFLDOO\LI\RXDUHQLIW\ZLWKFRPSXWHUVRU
WKHFODVVZKLFKZDVP\WHDFKLQJSUDFWLFHFODVV WHFKQLFDOO\DVWXWH8QIRUWXQDWHO\,DPQRWYHU\
EHIRUH,TXDOLÀHG JRRGDW,7,I\RXDUHOLNHPH\RXPD\QHHG
$V&KULVWPDVDSSURDFKHG,VWDUWHGWRPDNHSODQV WRDVNDURXQGDPRQJVWIULHQGVDQGIDPLO\WR
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WRVWDUWDQHZEHJLQQHUV·FODVVDQGSURPRWHP\ ÀQGVRPHRQHDEOHWRKHOS\RXRUÀQGDGHYHO
H[LVWLQJFODVV RSHUDEOHWRKHOS,W·VZRUWKVSHQGLQJDELWRI
\RXUEXGJHWRQWKLVDVWKHZHELVZKHUHPDQ\
Choosing a venue VWXGHQWVZLOOÀQG\RX
)RUDOXFN\IHZWKHUHLVDGHGLFDWHG,\HQJDU ,QDGGLWLRQWR:RUGSUHVVWKHUHDUHRWKHU
\RJDFHQWUHZKHUHWKH\OLYHZKHUHWKH\PD\EH FRPSDQLHVZKLFKVXSSO\VLPLODU´RIIWKHSHJµ
LQYLWHGWRWHDFK ZHEVLWHVXVHWKHLQWHUQHWWRVHDUFKIRUZKDW
$OWHUQDWLYHO\\RXFRXOGFRQVLGHUWHDFKLQJLQD RSWLRQVDUHDYDLODEOH%HFDXVHWKHVHZHEVLWHVDUH
J\POHLVXUHFHQWUHRURWKHUH[LVWLQJFOXE7KLV QRWEHVSRNHWKHFRVWRIWKHGHYHORSHU·VWLPHLV
KDVWKHDGYDQWDJHRIDUHDG\VXSSO\RIVWXGHQWV OLNHO\WREHPXFKORZHUWKDQWKHFRVWRIGHYHO
,I\RXVHWXSFODVVHVLQGHSHQGHQWO\\RXQHHGWR RSLQJDQLQGLYLGXDOZHEVLWH
50

IYN26 version9.indd 50 17/03/2015 18:41:38


DQ\RQH DQGXVH,\HQJDU
\RJDKDVKWDJV7KLVZD\RWKHU
\RJLVDQGSRWHQWLDOVWXGHQWV
ZLOOÀQG\RX,I\RXSODQWR
XVHWZLWWHUGRUHDGXSYLDWKH
LQWHUQHWRQWKHEHVWZD\VWR
XVHLWWKHUHDUHVRPHJUHDW
DUWLFOHVRQOLQHDERXWKRZWR
PDNHWKHPRVWRILW,WKDVLWV
RZQSDUWLFXODUVW\OHVXFKDV
WKHFKDUDFWHUOLPLW2QFH
\RX·YHJRWWKHKDQJRILWLWFDQ
EHDJRRGWRRO
,KDYHQRWIRXQGLWDPDMRU
SHUVRQDOSDJHVKDYHPRUHÁH[
UHFUXLWLQJJURXQGIRUVWXGHQWV
Build up your online LELOLW\WKDQWKHEXVLQHVVSDJHV
EXW,KDYHPHWDQRWKHU
presence )RUH[DPSOHIURPDEXVL
WHDFKHUYLDWZLWWHUZKRKDV
5HJLVWHU\RXUFODVVGHWDLOVRQ QHVVSDJH\RXFDQQRWLQLWLDWH
UHFUXLWHGVWXGHQWVWKURXJKLW
\RJDZHEVLWHV7KHUHDUHPDQ\ FRQWDFWZLWKSHRSOHZKRKDYH
<RXQJHUSHRSOHXVHLWDORWDQG
ZKHUH\RXFDQUHJLVWHU\RXU ´OLNHGµWKHSDJH6RWKH\FDQ
VRPHPD\XVHLWWRVHDUFKIRU
GHWDLOVIUHHRIFKDUJH)RU VHHZKDW\RXSRVWRQWKHSDJH
FODVVHV
VRPH\RXQHHGWRSD\<RX EXW\RXFDQQRWFRQWDFWWKHP
:KDWLWKDVSURYLGHGPHZLWK
PD\ZLVKWRSD\WRUHJLVWHULI %XWIURPDSHUVRQDOSDJH\RX
LVDJUHDWRQOLQHQHWZRUNRI
\RXNQRZWKDWWKHZHEVLWHLV FDQFRQWDFWWKRVHZLWKZKRP
IHOORZ,\HQJDU\RJLVIURPWKH
ZHOOYLVLWHGDQGOLNHO\WREULQJ \RXDUH´IULHQGVµ
8.DQGDEURDG,WLVDJRRG
\RXHQTXLULHV0DNHVXUH\RX ,DOVRWULHGDSDLGIRU)DFH
ZD\WRVKDUHLQIRUPDWLRQDQG
XSGDWHWKHGHWDLOVRI\RXU ERRNDGYHUWLVHPHQWIRUD
WRDFFHVVWKHODUJHURQOLQH
FODVVHVRQWKH,\HQJDU\RJD8. ZHHN)RUPHWKLVZDVQRW
,\HQJDUFRPPXQLW\
ZHEVLWH HIIHFWLYH,KDYHFODVVHVDW
,W·VDOVRDJRRGZD\WRNHHS
%HRQVRFLDOPHGLD,ZDV VSHFLÀFWLPHVLQDSDUWLFXODU
P\ZHEVLWHDFWLYH,OLQNP\
DOUHDG\DXVHURI)DFHERRNDQG DUHDRI1RWWLQJKDP0RVWRI
WZLWWHUIHHGWRP\ZHEVLWHVR
WZLWWHU%RWKFDQEHKHOSIXOLQ WKHSHRSOHZKRPWKHDGYHUW
P\WZLWWHUXSGDWHVDSSHDURQ
VSUHDGLQJWKHZRUGDERXW\RXU UHDFKHGZRXOGQRWKDYHEHHQ
P\VLWH
FODVVHV DYDLODEOHDWWKHULJKWWLPHRU
ZRXOGKDYHEHHQWRRIDUDZD\
Real-life marketing
On Facebook,VHWXSD )RFXVLQJRQWKHLPPHGLDWH
<RXQHHGWROHWSHRSOHLQWKH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

VSHFLDOSDJHIRUP\\RJDEXVL DUHDZKHUH\RXZLOOEHWHDFKLQJ
ORFDODUHDNQRZDERXW\RXU
QHVVZZZIDFHERRNFRP LVEHWWHU
FODVVHV
HPPD\RJDQRWWVPDLQO\EHFDXVH
,RUGHUHGVRPH$ÁLHUVYLDD
,ZDQWHGWRFRQWLQXHWRVHSD I had been on twitterEXWKDG
ZHEVLWHVR,FRXOGKDYHVRPH
UDWHP\SHUVRQDOOLIHIURP EHFRPHLQDFWLYH6R,UHYLYHG
WKLQJWRJLYHWRSHRSOHDQGWR
P\SURIHVVLRQDORQH,I\RX P\DFFRXQWDQGFKDQJHG
SXWXSDVVPDOOSRVWHUV2QHRU
DUHQRWDOUHDG\RQ)DFHERRN P\XVHUQDPHWRVRPHWKLQJ
WZRRIP\ORFDOVKRSNHHSHUV
KRZHYHUDQGZDQWWRXVHLW UHOHYDQWWRP\\RJD#HPPD\
ZHUHZLOOLQJWRGLVSOD\SRVWHUV
SXUHO\WRSURPRWH\RXU\RJD RJDQRWWV
IRUPHEHFDXVH,ZDVDUHJXODU
EXVLQHVVWKHQ\RXFRXOGVHWXS 7RJHWWKHPRVWRXWRIWZLWWHU
FXVWRPHU,SDLGWRGLVSOD\P\
DSHUVRQDOSDJHZKLFK\RXXVH \RXQHHGWROHDYH\RXUSURÀOH
SRVWHULQRQHRUWZRRWKHU
RQO\WRSRVWDERXW\RJD7KH SXEOLF LHLWFDQEHVHHQE\
51

IYN26 version9.indd 51 17/03/2015 18:41:38


VKRSV%HLPDJLQDWLYH$IWHU,·G IURPWKHYLOODJHZKHUHVKHOLYHV RUIRXUHQTXLULHVIRUHYHU\
KDGP\KDLUFXW,DVNHGWKH 2QFH\RXVWDUWWHDFKLQJ\RXZLOO DFWXDOSHUVRQZKRWXUQVXSWR
KDLUGUHVVHULI,FRXOGOHDYHVRPH DOVRJDLQVWXGHQWVIURP\RXU FODVV$WÀUVWLWVXUSULVHGPH
ÁLHUVIRUFODVVHVZLWKKHU H[LVWLQJVWXGHQWVUHFRPPHQGLQJ WKDWVRPHSHRSOHZKRVHHPHG
,ZRXOGDGYLVHKRZHYHUWKDW \RXUFODVVHVWRWKHLUIULHQGV YHU\NHHQRQWKHSKRQHRUE\
\RXWDNHFDUHRYHUWKHGHVLJQRI HPDLOZKRGHFODUHGWKH\ZRXOG
\RXUÁLHU0\ÀUVWRQHZDVQRW Don’t panic….! GHÀQLWHO\EHFRPLQJWRWKHFODVV
YHU\JRRGWRRPDQ\ZRUGVLQ 7ZRZHHNVEHIRUHP\QHZ GLGQRWLQIDFWFRPH1RZ,DP
WRRVPDOODIRQW7KHQH[WWLPH EHJLQQHUV·FODVVZDVGXHWR XVHGWRLW
,ZHQWIRUVRPH (YHQWKRVHWKDW
WKLQJPRUHYLVX FRPHWRDFODVV
DOO\HIIHFWLYHZLWK PD\QRWUHWXUQ
ODUJHUZRUGLQJ 6RPHVWXGHQWV
,KDGEHWWHUOXFN FRPHIRUMXVWRQH
ZLWKP\EXVLQHVV session and realise
FDUGV$ORFDO WKDW,\HQJDU\RJD
SULQWEXVLQHVVZDV LVQRWIRUWKHP
UHFRPPHQGHGWR 6RPHWLPHVWKH\
PHZKLFKFDPH KDYHGRQHD
XSZLWKDFOHDU milder form of
VLPSOHGHVLJQ \RJDDQGÀQG
:RUNRXWZKR ,\HQJDU\RJD
\RXUWDUJHWPDUNHW GHPDQGVWRR
DUH,QLWLDOO\,ZDV PXFKRIWKHP
WHDFKLQJRQO\GD\WLPHFODVVHV VWDUW,·GKDGRQO\WZRHQTXLULHV /XFNLO\VRPHORYHLWDQGFRPH
VR,WKRXJKWVRPHSRWHQWLDO ,ZDVDIUDLGP\QHZFODVVPLJKW EDFN
VWXGHQWVFRXOGEHSDUWWLPHRU QRWJHWRIIWKHJURXQG,HQJDJHG ,ORVWVRPHVWXGHQWVDIWHUWKH
ÁH[LEO\ZRUNLQJSDUHQWVZKRVH LQDODVWPLQXWHÁXUU\RIH[WUD ÀUVWKDOIWHUPZKHQ,DVNHG
FKLOGUHQZHUHLQVFKRRO7ROHW SURPRWLRQDODFWLYLW\EXWLQ WKHPWREX\HTXLSPHQW
WKHPNQRZDERXWWKHFODVVHV, IDFW,MXVWQHHGHGWREHPRUH 1RZ,GRQ·WH[SHFWVWXGHQWV
DVNHGWRSXWQRWHVLQWKHERRN SDWLHQW0\LQLWLDOPDUNHWLQJ WREX\HTXLSPHQWWRRHDUO\,
EDJVDWP\FKLOGUHQ·VVFKRROV DFWLYLW\GLGEHJLQWRSD\RII, WHOOWKHPZKHQ,DPJRLQJWREH
DQGDWQHLJKERXULQJVFKRROV JRWPRUHHQTXLULHV-XVWEHIRUH SODFLQJDQRUGHUDQGLQYLWHWKHP
YLDIULHQGV2WKHUVWXGHQWVLQ WKHQHZFODVVVWDUWHG,·GKDG WROHWPHNQRZLIWKH\ZDQW
P\GD\WLPHFODVVHVDUHVHOI HQTXLULHVIURPSHRSOH,ZDV DQ\WKLQJ:DLWDZKLOHEHIRUH
HPSOR\HGVKLIWZRUNHUVRU WKHQFRQFHUQHG,·GQRWKDYH PHQWLRQLQJWRVWXGHQWVDERXW
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

UHWLUHG7KHVHKDYHPDLQO\IRXQG HQRXJKHTXLSPHQWIRUDOORI EX\LQJHTXLSPHQWDQGOHDYH


PHYLDWKHLQWHUQHW WKHVHVWXGHQWV%XW,QHHGQ·W WKHPWKHRSWLRQRIQRWGRLQJVR
7KLQNDERXWKRZ\RXDUH KDYHZRUULHG0\HQTXLUHUV XQWLOWKH\DUHUHDG\7KLVPHDQV
DOUHDG\FRQQHFWHGLQ\RXU UHVXOWHGLQVHYHQVWXGHQWV WKDW\RXKDYHWRSURYLGHHTXLS
FRPPXQLW\DQGOHWSHRSOH FRPLQJWRWKHÀUVWFODVV PHQW\RXUVHOIIRUDWLPH
NQRZ\RXDUHWHDFKLQJ\RJD ,KDYHUHDOLVHGWKDWLWLVWKH
6HYHUDOVWXGHQWVRIP\VWXGHQWV Students QDWXUHRIFODVVHVWKDWWKH
NQRZPHWKURXJKP\FKLOGUHQ·V ,KDYHOHDUQWGXULQJWKLV QXPEHUVÁXFWXDWH,KDYHDJRRG
VFKRROV$IHOORZWUDLQHHKDVD SURFHVVQRWWREHH[FLWHG FRKRUWRIUHJXODUVWXGHQWV,
ZKROHFODVVHQWLUHO\PDGHXSRI DERXWHQTXLULHVIURPSRWHQWLDO KDYHDOVRKDGWKHSOHDVXUHRI
IULHQGVDQGSHRSOHVKHNQRZV VWXGHQWV,SUREDEO\JHWWKUHH VWXGHQWVUHWXUQLQJDIWHURWKHU
52

IYN26 version9.indd 52 17/03/2015 18:41:39


FRPPLWPHQWVWRRNWKHPDZD\IURPFODVVHVIRUD 7HDFKLQJLVWLULQJDQGSK\VLFDOO\FKDOOHQJLQJ
ZKLOH %HSUHSDUHGWRIHHOPRUHWLUHGIURPWHDFKLQJ
%HFDXVH,ZDVZULWLQJWKLVDUWLFOH,HPDLOHGP\ WKDQ\RXGRIURPDWWHQGLQJDFODVVDVDVWXGHQW
VWXGHQWVWRDVNKRZWKH\IRXQGRXWDERXWP\ $WÀUVW,QHHGHGWRSUDFWLVHUHFXSHUDWLYHSRVHV
FODVVHV$SDUWIURPWKRVHWKDWNQHZPHWKH DIWHUWHDFKLQJ1RZ,·PÀQHDIWHUWHDFKLQJRQH
PRVWSRSXODUPHDQVRIÀQGLQJP\FODVVHVZDVYLD FODVVEXWFDQIHHOH[KDXVWHGRQ)ULGD\VZKHQ,
WKHLQWHUQHW6RLWLVUHDOO\LPSRUWDQWWRKDYHD KDYHWZRFRQVHFXWLYHFODVVHV
JRRGLQWHUQHWSUHVHQFH7KHRWKHUPHWKRGVWKDW 7DNHFDUHRILQMXULHVRUSUREOHPDUHDV\RXKDYH
VHHPWRKDYHZRUNHGLQURXJKO\HTXDOPHDVXUH LQ\RXURZQERG\,KDYHIRXQGWKDWYXOQHU
ZHUHÁLHUVLQFKLOGUHQ·VERRNEDJVSRVWHUVLQ DEOHDUHDVLQP\RZQERG\FDQEHDIIHFWHGDIWHU
ORFDOVKRSZLQGRZVDQGZRUGRIPRXWK2WKHU WHDFKLQJ%HDULQPLQGWKDWZKHQ\RXDUHGHPRQ
PHWKRGVWKDWHDUQHGPHRQHRUWZRVWXGHQWV VWUDWLQJSRVHVDQGWHDFKLQJ\RXPD\GRPRUHRQ
ZHUHDQDGYHUWDUWLFOHLQWKHFRPPXQLW\QHZV RQHVLGHRI\RXUERG\WKDQWKHRWKHUDQGJHWLQ
SDSHUDQGWZLWWHU DQGRXWRISRVHVTXLFNO\0DNHWLPHWRSUDFWLFH
$VVHVVKRZ\RXUVWXGHQWVIRXQG\RXUFODVVE\ DIWHU\RXUWHDFKLQJVRWKDW\RXFDQXQGRDQ\
DVNLQJWKHPDQGNHHSDUHFRUG7KLVZLOOKHOS VWUDLQ
\RXIRFXV\RXUIXWXUHPDUNHWLQJDFWLYLW\ZKHUHLV
PRVWHIIHFWLYH Final thoughts
<RXZLOOOHDUQDORWIURP\RXUVWXGHQWV7KHLU $OORIWKLVPDUNHWLQJDFWLYLW\FRXOGEHJLQWRWDNH
HQWKXVLDVPLVLQIHFWLRXVWKHLUFRPPHQWV RYHU'RQ·WOHWLW5HPHPEHUZK\\RXZDQWHG
LQVLJKWIXOWKHLUSRVWXUHVVKRZ\RXZKDW\RXVWLOO WRWHDFKDQGHQMR\WHDFKLQJ\RXUFODVVHV7KHUH
QHHGWRWHDFKWKHP3RVHVRUPRYHPHQWVWKH\ LVDÁXUU\RIDFWLYLW\DURXQGWKHVWDUWLQJRIDQHZ
ÀQGGLIÀFXOWRIIHU\RXWKHFKDOOHQJHRIÀQGLQJD FODVV$IWHUWKDW\RXFDQIRFXVRQWKHDFWXDO
ZD\WRKHOS7KH\ZLOOLQVSLUH\RX WHDFKLQJ
,ORYHWHDFKLQJ,\HQJDU\RJD,·PSOHDVHGZKHQ
,VHHP\VWXGHQWV´JHWµVRPHWKLQJ,·YHWDXJKW
,ORYHVHHLQJP\VWXGHQWVGHYHORSLQWKHLUDELOL
WLHVDQGWKHLUNQRZOHGJH:KHQ,ORRNDWP\
EHJLQQHUV·FODVVHVQRZFRPSDUHGWRZKHQWKH\
VWDUWHG,VHHKRZPXFKWKH\KDYHOHDUQW7KLVLV
PRVWFOHDUO\LOOXVWUDWHGZKHQ,VHHKRZZHOOP\
UHJXODUVWXGHQWVGRWKHSRVHVLQFRPSDULVRQWR
QHZFRPHUV
,IHHOLQGHEWHGWRP\WHDFKHUVP\WHDFKHU
WUDLQHUVDQGWR0U,\HQJDUKLPVHOIIRUDOOWKH\
KDYHWDXJKWPH$VDWHDFKHU,DVSLUHWROLYHXS
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WR0U,\HQJDU·VZRUGV´&RQÀGHQFHFODULW\DQG
FRPSDVVLRQDUHHVVHQWLDOTXDOLWLHVRIDWHDFKHUµ
)LQDOO\NHHSSUDFWLVLQJ*HWWKHEDODQFHULJKW
EHWZHHQ\RXUWHDFKLQJ\RXURZQSUDFWLFHDQG
DWWHQGLQJFODVVHVZLWKPRUHVHQLRUWHDFKHUV,
VWLOOSUDFWLVHDORWPRUHWKDQ,WHDFK<RXFDQQRW
WHDFKZHOOLI\RXKDYHQRWH[SORUHGWKHSRVHVLQ
\RXURZQSUDFWLFH,OHDUQIURPP\SUDFWLFHDOO
WKHWLPH$VDPRUHVHQLRUWHDFKHUVDLGWRPH
ZKHQ,TXDOLÀHG´1RZWKHOHDUQLQJUHDOO\VWDUWVµ

53

IYN26 version9.indd 53 17/03/2015 18:41:40


Iyengar Yoga at Oak Lodge School
.RULQQD3LODÀGLV:LOOLDPV

7KH,<')JHQHURXVO\FRQWLQXHV WKHQHZWHDFKHUDQGOHVVRQ 6LPSOHEDODQFLQJSRVHVOLNH


WRVXSSRUWRQHRILWVÀUVW 6ORZO\WKH\FDPHIRUZDUGDQG VrksasanaZHUHLPSRVVLEOHIRU
SURMHFWVDW2DN/RGJHVFKRRO ZLWKWKHKHOSRIWKHWHDFKLQJ VRPHRIWKHVWXGHQWV1RZ
DVSHFLDOLVWFRJQLWLRQDQG DVVLVWDQWVWKH\IROORZHGPRVW WKH\KDYHOHDUQWWKHSRVHDQG
OHDUQLQJFROOHJHLQ1RUWK SRVHVDQGZHUHYHU\SURXG VWUDWHJLHVWRVWD\XSE\KROGLQJ
/RQGRQ$IWHUVHYHQ\HDUVRI ZKHQWKH\FRXOGPDVWHUWKHP RQWRDWHDFKHURUDSLHFHRI
\RJDWXLWLRQKHUHWKHVFKRRO ,QJHQHUDOWKH\EHFDPHPXFK IXUQLWXUH
KDVUHDOLVHGWKHLPSRUWDQFH PRUHÁH[LEOHQRWMXVWLQWKH
RI\RJDDQGLVQRZDEOHWR \RJDFODVVEXWDOVRLQHYHU\GD\ 7KHLUVWDPLQDDQGFRQFHQWUD
FRYHUKDOIRIWKHFRVWZLWKWKH WDVNVOLNHSXWWLQJVRFNVDQG WLRQKDVLQFUHDVHGFRQVLGHUDEO\
VXSSRUWRIWKHLURZQFKDULW\ VKRHVRQ DVWKH\FRXOGRQO\IROORZWKH
+HDUWRI2DNV FODVVIRUPLQXWHVLQWKH
EHJLQQLQJEXWQRZFDQ
7KLV\HDU,WDXJKWWKUHH ODVWWRXSWRPLQXWHV
GLIIHUHQWWXWRUJURXSVRQH
SHUWHUP7KHLPSDFWRI $JUHDWWHFKQLTXHXVHG
WKHFODVVHVRQWKHVWXGHQWV E\WKHWHDFKHULVWRDVN
LVGHVFULEHGEHORZE\WKHLU RQHRIWKHVWXGHQWVWR
WHDFKHUVDQGDVVLVWDQWV FRPHIRUZDUGWROHDG
7KHÀUVWJURXSFRQVLVWHG WKHFODVV7KH¶WHDFKHU·
RI\HDUROGVZLWK VWDQGVDWWKHIURQWDQG
'RZQ·V6\QGURPH$XWLVP WHDFKHVDVDQDVOLNHUrdhva
DQG*OREDO'HYHORS HastasanaLQWRUttana-
PHQWDO'HOD\ *''D sanaXVLQJWHPSRDQG
FKLOGPD\EHGHVFULEHGDV UHSHWLWLRQ,WIRFXVHVWKH
KDYLQJ*''LIWKH\KDYH UHPDLQLQJVWXGHQWVDQG
QRWUHDFKHGWZRRUPRUH WKHVWXGHQWWHDFKHULVIXOO
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

PLOHVWRQHVLQDOODUHDVRIGHYHO $WWKHEHJLQQLQJWKHFKLOGUHQ RIFRQÀGHQFHZKHQHYHU\RQH


RSPHQW 7HDFKLQJDVVLVWDQW ZHUHQ·WIDFLQJWKHWHDFKHU FODSVDIWHUZDUGV
(FKRH0F1DEZURWHGRZQKHU DQGGLGQRWZDQWWRIROORZ
REVHUYDWLRQV WKHFODVVLQXQLVRQ1RZWKH\ ,QFRQFOXVLRQWKHVWXGHQWV
DUHIRFXVVHGRQWKHWHDFKHU ORRNIRUZDUGWRWKHFODVVLQ
3K\VLFDOO\LPSDLUHGFKLOGUHQ ZKRXVHVFRXQWLQJDQGVLPSOH ZKLFKWKHUHLVDORWRIODXJKWHU
ZHUHLQLWLDOO\VFDUHGWRSDUWDNH SURPSWVOLNH´XSDQGGRZQµ HVSHFLDOO\DIWHUSimhasanaZKHQ
LQWKH\RJDFODVVHVVLQFHWKH\ ZKLFKKHOSWKHPWRIROORZ WKH\VWLFNWKHLUWRQJXHVRXW
GLGQRWNQRZZKHWKHUWKH\ LQVWUXFWLRQV7KHFRQFHQWUDWLRQ DQGURDUOLNHOLRQV%HWWHU
FRXOGSHUIRUPWKHasanas DQGEHKDYLRXULQOHVVRQVDIWHU VWLOOLVWKDWHYHQWKRVHZLWKRXW
2WKHUVZHUHPLVWUXVWLQJRI \RJDKDVPDUNHGO\LPSURYHG YHUEDOFRPPXQLFDWLRQFDQ


IYN26 version9.indd 54 17/03/2015 18:41:40


H[SUHVVWKHPVHOYHVWKURXJKWKH\RJDasanas VHQVRU\LQSXWWKDWWKH\QHHGLQRUGHUWRVWD\RQ
7KH\KDYHPRUHFRQWURODQGFRQÀGHQFHLQWKHLU WDVN
ERGLHVDQGWKHLUKXJHVPLOHVUHYHDOKRZPXFK
WKH\HQMR\LW .RULQQDKDVEHHQYHU\HIIHFWLYHLQKHUVWUDWHJLHV
IRUZRUNLQJZLWKWKHFODVV7KH\DOODUHDOOYHU\
7KHVHFRQGJURXSSURYHGWREHRQHRIWKH DXWLVWLFDQGVRPHDUHQRQYHUEDOEXWE\VORZO\
JUHDWHVWFKDOOHQJHVLQP\PDQ\\HDUVDWWKH ZRUNLQJWKURXJKDURXWLQHWKH\KDYHDOOEHHQ
VFKRRO7KH\ZHUH DEOHWRSDUWLFLSDWH
PDGHXSRI\HDU WRVRPHGHJUHH7KH
ROGVZLWKVHYHUH UDQJHRISRVHVKDV
$XWLVPYHU\OLWWOH EHHQLQFUHDVHGRYHU
YHUEDOFRPPXQLFDWLRQ WKHWLPHWKDWVKHKDV
DQGVHULRXVEHKDYLRXUDO ZRUNHGZLWKWKHPDQG
LVVXHV7KHLUWHDFKHU LWKDVLQFUHDVHGWKH
IXOO\HPEUDFHGWKH UDQJHRIPRYHPHQW
OHVVRQV+HMRLQHGLQ IRUVRPHVWXGHQWV
ZLWKWKHJURXSDQG DQGKHOSHGWKHPWR
ZDVDVKLQLQJH[DPSOH GHYHORSWKHLUFRUH
DQGUROHPRGHOWRWKH VWDELOLW\
JURXS'DYLG%D[WHU
ZURWH 7KLVKDVEHHQDUHDOO\
ZRUWKZKLOHSURJUDP
7KHFODVVKDVEHQH IRUWKHVWXGHQWVLQWKLV
ÀWWHGIURP\RJD FODVVDQGWKHOHYHO
VHVVLRQVRYHUWKHODVW RISDUWLFLSDWLRQKDV
WKUHHPRQWKV0RVW EHHQLPSUHVVLYHJLYHQ
VWXGHQWVZHUHDEOHWR WKHVHYHULW\RIWKHLU
SDUWLFLSDWHLQVRPHRI $XWLVP
WKHVHVVLRQDQGDIHZ
FRXOGSDUWLFLSDWHLQD 7KHÀQDOJURXSZDV
IXOOVHVVLRQDFWLQJDV PDGHXSRIVL[WK
¶7HDFKHU·WRWKHUHVW IRUPHUVRIYDULDEOH
RIWKHJURXS7KHFODVV DELOLW\-DQLFHRQHRI
DOOKDYHDXWLVPDQG WKHWHDFKLQJDVVLVWDQWV
JHQHUDOO\ÀQGLWKDUG QRWLFHG´DELJGLIIHU
WRSDUWLFLSDWHLQJURXSDFWLYLWLHV<RJDKDVKHOSHG HQFHLQWKHSXSLOV·FRUHVWDELOLW\PRWRUSODQ
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

VWXGHQWVZLWKWKHLUMRLQWDWWHQWLRQDQGWXUQWDNLQJ QLQJDQGEDODQFHHVSHFLDOO\ZLWKWKHSXSLOVZLWK
ZKLFKDUHHVVHQWLDOVNLOOVIRUFRPPXQLFDWLRQ 'RZQ·V6\QGURPHµ
7KRVHVWXGHQWVWKDWZHUHDEOHWRSDUWLFLSDWHIRU
DIXOOVHVVLRQDOVRVHHPHGWREHPRUHHPRWLRQDOO\ 0DQ\RIWKHSXSLOVLQWKLVJURXSKDGEHHQWDXJKW
UHJXODWHGDIWHUWKH\RJDVHVVLRQIRUWKHUHVWRI E\PHLQHDUOLHU\HDUVVRZKHQJLYHQWKHRSWLRQ
WKHGD\ WRUHVXPH\RJDWKH\ZHUHKDSS\WRUHWXUQ,W
ZDVOLNHPHHWLQJXSZLWKDQROGIULHQG\RJD
6RPHVWXGHQWVLQWKHFODVVÀQGLWKDUGWRVLWVWLOO -XGJLQJIURPWKHLUSHDFHIXOIDFHVLQSavasanaLWLV
DQGFRQFHQWUDWHIRUDQ\OHQJWKRIWLPHEXWWKLV VRPHWKLQJWKDWZLOOVWD\ZLWKWKHPIRUOLIH,KRSH
DFWLYLW\KDVEHHQYHU\HQJDJLQJIRUWKHPDQGKDV WKHVHHGKDVEHHQVRZQDQGWKH\FDQJREDFNWR
H[WHQGHGWKHLUFRQFHQWUDWLRQDQGJLYHQWKHPWKH LWZKHQHYHUWKH\ZLVKLQWKHIXWXUHORQJDIWHU
55

IYN26 version9.indd 55 17/03/2015 18:41:40


Fundraising Event
Elaine Rees
Iyengar yoga teacher
Dorset, UK

\HDUV«

95 poses…

PLQXWHV«

$WSPRQ6DWXUGD\'HFHPEHUMXVWRQHGD\EHIRUH*XUXML·VELUWKGDWH,VHWRIIRQP\PLVVLRQ
WRWHDFKSRVHVLQPLQXWHVWR«ZHOO«DOPRVWSHRSOH:K\"6LQFHKHOHIWXVLQ$XJXVW,KDG
ZDQWHGWRPDUNKLVOHJDF\E\EULQJLQJP\ORFDO\RJDFRPPXQLW\WRJHWKHUDQGKHOSWKHZRUNRI7KH
%HOOXU7UXVW6R,GHFLGHGWRKDYHVRPHIXQIXQGUDLVHDQGKDYHDIHVWLYHFHOHEUDWLRQRIWKRVHH[WUDRU
GLQDU\\HDUV

3ODQQLQJWKHSRVHVZDVDFKDOOHQJH,ZDQWHGDQHYHQWZKHUHHYHU\RQHFRXOGWDNHSDUWIRUHQHUJ\
OHYHOVWRUHPDLQKLJKDQGWLPHWRUHOD[DWWKHHQG:HKDGOLPLWHGVSDFHORWVRIERGLHVDQGGLIIHUHQW
DELOLWLHV²IURPWHDFKHUVWREHJLQQHUV+RZFRXOGZHPLQLPLVHHTXLSPHQWUHGXFHGLUHFWLRQDOFKDQJHV
DQGVWLOOGRHYHU\WKLQJJUDFHIXOO\",·PWKHUHIRUHYHU\JUDWHIXOWRP\IULHQGDQGIHOORZWHDFKHU=RHIRU
KHUKHOSLQFKRRVLQJWKHSRVHVDQGRUGHULQJWKHPDQGWRP\GHDUVLVWHU DQGVWXGHQW -DQHIRUOHWWLQJ
PHSUDFWLFHRQKHU

,DOVRZDQWHGSHRSOHWRUHPHPEHUZK\ZHKDGFRPHWRJHWKHU6RZHZRUNHGKDUGWRGLVSOD\
WKHEHDXWLIXOSKRWRVWKDWWKH,< 8. KDGOHQWPHRI*XUXMLRQDEDFNJURXQGRIEULJKWUHGSDSHU
VXUURXQGHGE\H[TXLVLWHSDLQWHGOHDYHVGLUHFWIURP3XQH$VWDWXHRI3DWDQMDOLDQGIUDPHGSKRWRVRI
*XUXMLSRVLWLYHO\EHDPHGGRZQDWXVDQGZHKRSHGWKH\DSSURYHGRXUKXPEOHHIIRUWV

:HLQWHUVSHUVHGRXUFODVVZLWKTXRWHVE\*XUXMLDQGH[FHUSWVIURPKLVOLIHWDNHQIURPWKHODVW,<1
PDJD]LQH,·PGHOLJKWHGWRVD\HQWKXVLDVWLF\RJLVFDPHDORQJDQGHYHU\RQHGLGLQGHHGFRPSOHWH
SRVHVLQPLQXWHV:HHQGHGRXUFODVVZLWKWKHLQYRFDWLRQWKHURRPOLWMXVWZLWKFDQGOHVDQG
*HHWDML·VZRUGVIURPKLVIXQHUDO,WZDVVRTXLHWHYHU\RQHZDVPRYHGDQGZHDOOIHOWLWZDVDÀWWLQJ
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WULEXWHWRDQDPD]LQJOLIH

:HKDGDOOZRUQUHGWKDWGD\WRDGGDIHVWLYH;PDVIHHODQGHYHU\RQHKDGEHHQJLYHQDVSDUNOLQJELQGL
WRDGGDWRXFKRI,QGLD,WZDVZRQGHUIXOWRORRNRXWDWWKLVUHGJORZDWVRPDQ\VPLOLQJIDFHVDQG
UHÁHFWRQWKHJLIWZHKDYHEHHQJLYHQ$QGWRUHYLYHXV«WKUHH¶VDQWDV·VHUYHGXSDZDUPVSLF\SXQFK
PLQFHSLHVDQGD[PDVVPLOH

,PSRUWDQWO\WKURXJKWKRVHZKRFDPHRQWKHGD\DQGIURPPDQ\RWKHUJHQHURXVGRQDWLRQVZHUDLVHG
DQDPD]LQJ…IRU%HOOXU

56

IYN26 version9.indd 56 17/03/2015 18:41:40


Featured Iyengar Yoga
$IÀOLDWHG&HQWUH
iYoga Centre in Manchester

%DVHGLQ'LGVEXU\RQWKH DQH[FHOOHQWÁRRUORWVRIZDOO LWMXVWDV,ZRXOGZDQWP\RZQ


RXWVNLUWVRI0DQFKHVWHU&DURO\Q VSDFHDQGJRRGKHDWLQJDQG \RJDSUDFWLFHDUHDµ6KH·V
)HUJXVRQGHFLGHGWRRSHQKHU YHQWLODWLRQ$GMRLQLQJURRPV SURYLGHGDOOWKHXVXDO,\HQJDU
RZQ,\HQJDU\RJDFHQWUHDVVKH ZRXOGPDNHLGHDOFKDQJLQJ HTXLSPHQWZLWKEOLQGVRQWKH
IHOWWKDWVKHZDQWHGWRRIIHUKHU DUHDVDQGDOOQHFHVVDU\IDFLOLWLHV ZLQGRZVWRDLGUHOD[DWLRQ´,
VWXGHQWVPRUHWKDQMXVWDELWRI LQFOXGLQJRQVLWHFDUSDUNLQJ ZDQWHGLWWREHDVZHOFRPLQJD
ÁRRURQZKLFKWRSUDFWLVHWKHLU ZHUHSURYLGHG7KHEXLOGLQJ SODFHDVSRVVLEOHVR,·YHLQVWDOOHG
\RJD ZDVQHDUWKHHQWUDQFHWRWKH UHIUHVKPHQWIDFLOLWLHVDQDUHD
&DURO\QLVTXDOLÀHGDW,QWHU HVWDWHHDV\WRÀQGDQGWKH IRUVWXGHQWVWRVLWDQGFKDWDQG
PHGLDWH-XQLRUOHYHODQGD VXUURXQGLQJVZHUHSOHDVDQWDQG DOLEUDU\RI\RJDERRNVWROHQG
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

PHPEHURIWKH0DQFKHVWHU  ZHOOOLWSDUWLFXODUO\LPSRUWDQW RXWµ


'LVWULFW,\HQJDU\RJD$VVRFLD IRUHYHQLQJFODVVHVLQZLQWHU,Q 7KHL<RJD&HQWUHZDVRSHQHG
WLRQZKHUHVKHDWWHQGVZHHNO\ IDFWLWGLGQ·WORRNOLNHDQLQGXV RIÀFLDOO\LQ$XJXVWZLWK
FODVVHVDQGZRUNVKRSV)LQGLQJ WULDOHVWDWHDWDOO DQ2SHQ'D\WKDWSURYHG
DVXLWDEOHVSDFHZDVQ·WHDV\ 6RUWLQJRXWWKHOHDVHWRRNVRPH LPPHQVHO\SRSXODUZLWKKHU
EXWHYHQWXDOO\VKHKHDUGDERXW WLPHEXWWKHQFDPHWKHH[FLWLQJ H[LVWLQJVWXGHQWVDQGDOVR
DJURXQGÁRRUXQLWRQDQ SDUW´7KLVZDVWKHÀUVWWLPH DWWUDFWHGDODUJHQXPEHURI
LQGXVWULDOHVWDWH5DWKHUGXEL ,·GKDGDVWXGLRRIP\RZQµ QHZVWXGHQWV&DURO\QUDQIUHH
RXVO\VKHZHQWWRYLHZLWEXW VDLG&DURO\Q´DQGLWZDVDUHDO ¶WDVWHUVHVVLRQV·GXULQJWKHGD\
ZDVGHOLJKWHGWRÀQGDODUJH GHOLJKWFKRRVLQJWKHGHFRUDWLRQ WRJLYHYLVLWRUVDEULHILQVLJKW
DLU\VHOIFRQWDLQHGURRPZLWK DQGWKHIXUQLVKLQJVDQGJHWWLQJ LQWRWKHEHQHÀWVRI,\HQJDU
57

IYN26 version9.indd 57 17/03/2015 18:41:41


\RJDDQGPDQ\RIZKRPVLJQHGXSIRUDVHULHVRI
OHVVRQV,QDGGLWLRQWRFODVVHVIRUEHJLQQHUVDQG
LQWHUPHGLDWHVWXGHQWV&DURO\QLQYLWHVVHQLRUJXHVW
<RXU
WHDFKHUVWRUXQZRUNVKRSVRQFHDPRQWKIRU
VWXGHQWVZKRZDQWPRUHLQGHSWKSUDFWLFH&DUR
O\Q·VVWXGHQWERG\LVLQFUHDVLQJVWHDGLO\DQGVKH·V
5HSUHVHQWDWLYH
WKULOOHGWKDWWKH&HQWUHKDVUHFHQWO\EHHQJUDQWHG
DIÀOLDWHVWDWXV6KH·VDEVROXWHO\FRQYLQFHGVKH
PDGHWKHULJKWGHFLVLRQWRVHWXSKHURZQFHQWUH
RQWKH([HFXWLYH
´:H·UHLGHDOO\ORFDWHGDQGE\PDNLQJLWHDV\IRU
VWXGHQWVWRJHWWRFODVVZH·UHDEOHWRVSUHDGWKH
ZRUGDERXW,\HQJDU\RJDPRUHZLGHO\µ
&RXQFLO
2QHRI&DURO\Q·VVWXGHQWV7HUHVDVDLG
´&DURO\Q·VL<RJD&HQWUHLVDORYHO\ 7KH,< 8. LVGHPRFUDWLFDOO\UXQE\DQHOHFWHG
KDYHQWKRXJKWIXOO\DSSRLQWHGZLWKDOOWKDWDQ\ FRPPLWWHHFDOOHGWKH([HFXWLYH&RXQFLO (; 
,\HQJDUSUDFWLWLRQHUFRXOGZLVKIRU7KHPRUQLQJ 7KLVLVPDGHXSRIUHSUHVHQWDWLYHVHOHFWHGE\
VHVVLRQV,DWWHQGDUHDMR\:KLOVWZHZRUN 0HPEHU,QVWLWXWHVDQGLQGLYLGXDOUHSUHVHQWD
KDUGRQRXUSRVWXUHVGLVFRYHULQJDQGWU\LQJWR WLYHVHOHFWHGE\,< 8. PHPEHUVZKRDUHQRW
FRPPDQGSDUWVRIRXUERGLHVZKLFKKDYHDPLQG PHPEHUVRID0HPEHU,QVWLWXWH
RIWKHLURZQZHDOVRHQMR\PRPHQWVRIKXPRXU
,OHDYHWKHFODVVIHHOLQJUHOD[HGLQYLJRUDWHGDQG ,< 8. LVPDGHXSRILWV0HPEHU3UDFWLWLRQHUV,W
UHDG\WRIDFHWKHGD\·VFKDOOHQJHV0\UHFHQW LVWKURXJKWKHQHWZRUNRIORFDO0HPEHU,QVWLWXWHV
EHUHDYHPHQWOHIWPHLQORZVSLULWVEXWUHWXUQLQJ DQG$IÀOLDWHG&HQWUHVWKDWLQIRUPDWLRQDERXW\RJD
WRWKHL<RJD&HQWUHKDVJLYHQPHWKHVWUHQJWK DQG\RJDHYHQWVLVGLVWULEXWHGWRLWVPHPEHUV
DQGZLOOWRWDNHRQQHZSURMHFWVµ
Role of the Representative
)RUPRUHGHWDLOVRIFODVVHVDQGIRUWKFRPLQJ
ZRUNVKRSVSOHDVHYLVLWWKHL<RJD&HQWUH·VZHEVLWH Before a meeting
ZZZL\RJDRUJXN
([HFXWLYH&RXQFLO (; 0HHWLQJVDUHKHOGWKUHH
WLPHVD\HDULQ-DQXDU\6HSWHPEHUDQG0D\
%HIRUHHDFKWKH5HSVHQGVLQDEULHIUHSRUW
DERXWWKHLULQVWLWXWH RULQWKHFDVHRI,QGLYLGXDO
5HSUHVHQWDWLYHVRXWOLQLQJDQ\DFWLYLW\XQGHUWDNHQ
ZLWKRURQEHKDOIRILQGLYLGXDOPHPEHUV 7KHVH
UHSRUWVDUHFLUFXODWHGWRWKHZKROH(;EHIRUHWKH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

PHHWLQJ

0HPEHUVPD\FRPHWRWKH5HSZLWKDQLVVXHRU
FRQFHUQWKH\ZLVKWRUDLVHZLWKWKH(;,QVXFKD
FDVHWKHUHDUHWZRPDLQFRXUVHVRIDFWLRQ
7KH5HSPD\DSSURDFKWKHUHOHYDQWVXE
FRPPLWWHHYLDLWV&KDLUDQGDVNWKHPWR
FRPPHQWGLVFXVVRUDFW

7KH5HSPD\DSSURDFKWKH(;&KDLUDQGDVN
WKHPWRFRPPHQWRUDFW7KHLWHPPD\EHDGGHG
WRWKHDJHQGDIRUWKHQH[W(;0HHWLQJRULILW


IYN26 version9.indd 58 17/03/2015 18:41:42


LVPRUHXUJHQWLWPD\EHFRPPXQLFDWHGWRWKH
UHVWRIWKH(;RUUHOHYDQWSHRSOHRQWKH(;IRU
FRPPHQWVGLVFXVVLRQVRUDFWLRQVYLDHPDLO
IY(UK) Reports
CHAIR – EMMA PINCHIN
After a meeting
Administration Update
$IWHUVHYHQ\HDUVVXSSRUWLQJ,< 8. -R'XIÀQ
$IWHUDWWHQGLQJDQ(;0HHWLQJWKH5HSVKRXOG
$VVHVVPHQWV2UJDQLVHULVOHDYLQJDWWKHHQGRI
UHSRUWEDFNWRWKHORFDOLQVWLWXWHRUPHPEHUVRQ
)HEUXDU\+RZHYHULWLVIRUWKHEHVWSRVVLEOH
WKHNH\SRLQWVUDLVHG
UHDVRQVDVVKHIRFXVHVRQKHUWHDFKLQJFDUHHU
:HZLVKKHUHYHU\VXFFHVVDQGRIIHURXUWKDQNV
7KHPLQXWHVIURPWKH(;PHHWLQJPD\EHXVHGDV
IRUDOOKHUKDUGZRUNRYHUWKH\HDUVVKHZLOO
WKHVHDUHDFFXUDWHDQGSURPSWO\FLUFXODWHG
EHPLVVHG,QUHVSRQVHWR-R·VUHVLJQDWLRQWKH
7KH5HSZLOOIRFXVRQDUHDVRIFRQFHUQRU
%RDUGRI,< 8. ZRUNLQJZLWKWKH$VVHVVLQJ
LQWHUHVWWRWKHLUPHPEHUV,IWKHUHLVVRPHWKLQJ
DQG7HDFKHU7UDLQLQJ&RPPLWWHHGHFLGHGWKDW
WKDWDIIHFWVPHPEHUVWKH\PLJKWDVNWKHLURZQ
LGHDOO\ZHZRXOGOLNHWRFRPELQHWKHWZRDVVHVV
&KDLUWRGRDJURXSHPDLODOHUWLQJWKHPWRLPSRU
PHQWDGPLQLVWUDWRUUROHV+DSSLO\.DWH:RRG
WDQWLQIRUPDWLRQRUHYHQFDQYDVVLQJWKHPIRUWKHLU
FRFN FXUUHQW$VVHVVPHQWVDGPLQLVWUDWRU ZDV
RSLQLRQVRUH[SHULHQFHV
SUHSDUHGWRWDNHRQWKHFRPELQHGUROHZLWKD
VPDOOLQFUHDVHLQKRXUV6RDVRIWKHVW0DUFK
,QDGGLWLRQLWFDQEHKHOSIXORQFHD\HDUIRU5HSV
DOODVVHVVPHQWDGPLQLVWUDWLRQZLOOEH
WRUHPLQGPHPEHUVRINH\HYHQWV LVVXHVDWWKH
SURYLGHGE\.DWH
QDWLRQDOOHYHOLQWKHLU,QVWLWXWH·V1HZVOHWWHURU
&LUFXODU International Yoga Day and National
Iyengar yoga Day for the United Kingdom
2QWKHWK'HFHPEHUWKH8QLWHG1DWLRQV
*HQHUDO$VVHPEO\GHFODUHGWKHVW-XQH
DV,QWHUQDWLRQDO<RJD'D\7KLVGDWHIDOOVPLGZD\
WKURXJKRXUDQQXDOFRQYHQWLRQDQGVRRXU(YHQWV
&RPPLWWHHDUHORRNLQJLQWRZD\VWKRVHRIXV
DWWHQGLQJPLJKWPDUNWKHRFFDVLRQ7KH:RUNLQJ
*URXSVHWXSWRRUJDQLVHD1DWLRQDO,\HQJDU\RJD
'D\IRUWKH8.DUHDOVRORRNLQJLQWRKRZWKRVH
QRWDWWHQGLQJWKHFRQYHQWLRQPLJKWEHLQYROYHG
LQWKHGD\:HZLOOEHVXUHWRFRPPXQLFDWHLGHDV
ZLWK\RXLQGXHFRXUVH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

Vacancies on the EX
$QXPEHURIYDFDQFLHVUHPDLQRQRXU(;
&RPPLWWHHQDPHO\IRUD7UHDVXUHUDQGDQ,QGL
YLGXDO5HS:KLOVWZHDUHOXFN\WREHVXSSRUWHG
E\IRXU DWWKHWLPHRIZULWLQJ GHGLFDWHGDGPLQ
LVWUDWRUVWKHYDVWPDMRULW\RIWKHZRUNRIRXU
RUJDQLVDWLRQMXVWLVQ·WSRVVLEOHZLWKRXWWKHHQHUJ\
DQGHQWKXVLDVPRIYROXQWHHUVLQNH\UROHV6R
RQFHDJDLQ,DVNDQ\RQHZLWKVRPHIUHHWLPHWR
KDYHDWKLQNDERXWEHFRPLQJLQYROYHG

59

IYN26 version9.indd 59 17/03/2015 18:41:42


Assessments MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY –
,QHDUO\-DQXDU\FRPPXQLFDWLRQZDVUHFHLYHG
IURP3XQHDVNLQJDOODVVRFLDWLRQVDURXQGWKH ANITA PHILLIPS
ZRUOGWRSURYLGHLQIRUPDWLRQRQDVVHVVPHQWVDQG :H·YHKDGDEXV\IHZPRQWKV:HIRXQGRXWODVW
DVVHVVPHQWSURFHVVHV,WZLOOEHLQWHUHVWLQJWRVHH $XJXVWWKDWWKHSODWIRUPVXSSRUWLQJWKH,< 8. 
ZKHWKHUWKLVUHVXOWVLQDQ\FKDQJHVWRRXUFXUUHQW ZHEVLWHDQGGDWDEDVHLVVRRQWREHFRPHREVROHWH
DVVHVVPHQWSURFHVVHV:HZLOORIFRXUVHNHHS $QXPEHURI0HPEHUVKLSLVVXHVKDGSUHYLRXVO\
\RXLQIRUPHG FRPHXSZKLFKFRXOGQRWEHUHVROYHGVDWLVIDF
WRULO\VRWKHQHZVWKDWDQHZZHEVLWHZRXOGEH
Specialised Training EXLOWZDVZHOFRPH/HVVVRZDVWKHUHDOLVDWLRQ
2XU(WKLFVDQG$SSHDOV&RPPLWWHHKDYHQRWHG WKDWZH·GKDYHWRSURFHVVWKLV\HDU·VPHPEHUVKLS
WKDWWKHUHDUHDODUJHQXPEHURIWHDFKHUVXQDEOH UHQHZDOVZKLOHZH·UHEHWZHHQZHEVLWHV.DWLH
WRPHHWWKHUHTXLUHGQXPEHURIVSHFLDOLVHG DPD]LQJO\KDVGHYHORSHGDQGEXLOWDVHULHVRI
WUDLQLQJKRXUV$VDUHVXOWWKH($LVWRORRNLQWR RQOLQHUHQHZDOIRUPVOLQNHGWRDVHFXUHSD\PHQW
WKHZKROHLVVXHRI&RQWLQXLQJ3URIHVVLRQDO'HYHO V\VWHPZKLFKZLOOFRQVLGHUDEO\UHGXFHZKDW
RSPHQWDQGZKHWKHUWKHH[LVWLQJUHTXLUHPHQWV ZRXOGRWKHUZLVHKDYHEHHQDQRYHUZKHOPLQJ
DUHUHOHYDQWQRZ)RUWKHPRPHQWKRZHYHU PDQXDOWDVN7KHUHKDVEHHQPXFKGLVFXVVLRQ
WKHUHJXODWLRQRIDWOHDVWÀYHKRXUVRIVSHFLDO DQGFRUUHVSRQGHQFHZLWK0HPEHU,QVWLWXWHVDQG
LVHGWUDLQLQJHYHU\RWKHU\HDUUHPDLQVVRGR ZH·YHUHVSRQGHGWRYDULRXVFRQFHUQVUDLVHG7KH
UHPHPEHUWRERRNRQWRD3''D\LQJRRGWLPH HQGUHVXOWLVWKDWPRVW,< 8. PHPEHUVWKRVH
ZKRMRLQWKURXJKWKHLUORFDOPHPEHULQVWLWXWHDV
Website ZHOODVWKRVHZKRMRLQGLUHFWO\ZLOOEHDEOHWR
,DPYHU\PXFKORRNLQJIRUZDUGWRWKHODXQFK UHQHZWKHLUPHPEHUVKLSIRURQOLQHYLD
RIRXUQHZZHEVLWHLQWKHFRPLQJPRQWKV$V WKH,< 8. ZHEIRUPV,W·VQRZHYHQHDVLHUWR
\RXDUHDOODZDUHRXUFXUUHQWVLWHLVQRORQJHU MRLQ,< 8. YLDD0HPEHU,QVWLWXWHDQGWKHUH
VXVWDLQDEOHDQGVRWKH35DQG&RPPXQLFDWLRQV DUHPDQ\H[WUDEHQHÀWVXVXDOO\IRUDUHGXFHG
&RPPLWWHHKDYHEHHQZRUNLQJKDUGWRHQVXUHD PHPEHUVKLSVXEVFULSWLRQ7KHUHDUHDIHZLQVWL
VPRRWKWUDQVLWLRQ3DUWLFXODUWKDQNVJRWR3KLOLSSH WXWHVPDLQO\WKRVHZLWKPHPEHUVKLS\HDUVQRWLQ
+DUDUL 9LFH&KDLUDQG&KDLURI35 &RPPXQL OLQHZLWKWKHDVVRFLDWLRQ·VIRUZKLFKZH·OOQRWEH
FDWLRQV DQG.DWLH2ZHQV 2IÀFH0DQDJHU IRUDOO DEOHWRSURFHVVRQOLQHUHQHZDOVEXWIRUHYHU\RQH
RIWKHLUKDUGZRUN²ZHOLWHUDOO\ZRXOGQRWKDYH HOVHZHKRSHWKDW\RX·OOWDNHDGYDQWDJHRIWKLV
DQHZZHEVLWHZLWKRXWWKHP$OVRWR.DWLHDQG QHZIDFLOLW\DQGDWWKHVDPHWLPHKHOSUHGXFHWKH
-HVV:DOOZRUNIRUKDYLQJUHPDLQHGFDOPXQGHU 0HPEHUVKLSRIÀFHZRUNORDG:H·GOLNHWRWKDQN
KXJHDPRXQWVRISUHVVXUHDVWKH\GHDOZLWKWKH WKHPDQ\SHRSOHHVSHFLDOO\0HPEHU,QVWLWXWH
WHPSRUDU\ZHESDJHVZHKDYHKDGWRFRQVWUXFW 0HPEHUVKLS6HFUHWDULHVZKRKDYHKHOSHGXV
WRWDNHFRQYHQWLRQERRNLQJVDQGWRHQDEOH\RX WKURXJKWKLVSURFHVVDQGZH·UHHVSHFLDOO\JUDWHIXO
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

WRUHQHZ\RXUPHPEHUVKLSWKLV\HDU1H[W\HDU WRWKHÀYH0HPEHU,QVWLWXWHVZKR·YHUHDOLJQHG
ZHVLQFHUHO\KRSHLWZLOOEHDPXFKVPRRWKHU WKHLUPHPEHUVKLS\HDUVLQRUGHUWRKHOSXV
SURFHVVERWKIRU\RXRXUPHPEHUVDQGIRUXV WKURXJKWKLVSURFHVV
EHKLQGWKHVFHQHV
'6&6WUDQGKDVDJUHHGWRUDLVH DWQRH[WUDFRVW 
Convention WKHOLPLWRILQGHPQLW\IRUWHDFKHUV·LQVXUDQFHSROLFLHV
)LQDOO\,ORRNIRUZDUGWRVHHLQJDJRRGQXPEHURI WR…PLOOLRQ$FFRUGLQJO\DQ\WHDFKHUPHPEHUV
\RXLQ([HWHULQ-XQHDQGRQFHDJDLQZHOFRPLQJ ZKRDUUDQJHLQVXUDQFHHOVHZKHUHZLOOEHH[SHFWHG
%LUMRR0HKWDWRDQRWKHUVROGRXW,< 8.  WRFRPSO\ZLWKWKLVQHZOLPLWZKHQWKHLUSROLFLHVDUH
&RQYHQWLRQ QH[WUHQHZHG)ROORZLQJDGHFLVLRQE\WKH$VVHVVLQJ
DQG7HDFKHU7UDLQLQJ&RPPLWWHH'6&6WUDQGZLOO
60

IYN26 version9.indd 60 17/03/2015 18:41:42


QRORQJHULVVXHLQVXUDQFHSROLFLHVWRKROGHUVRI 7KLVWDEOHVKRZVWKHWRWDOPHPEHUVKLSQXPEHUV
,QWURGXFWRU\/HYHOFHUWLÀFDWHV IRUWKHSDVWÀYH\HDUV

9HU\VDGO\ZHELGIDUHZHOOWR6DUDK%HUHORZLW] Membership 7HDFKHUV 1RQ 7RWDO


,WKDVEHHQDSOHDVXUHWRJHWWRNQRZDQGZRUN \HDU WHDFKHUV
ZLWK6DUDKEXWVKH·VZHOFRPHGDQRWKHUGHOLJKWIXO
 1119 1395 
EDE\ER\WRKHUIDPLO\VLQFHMRLQLQJWKH0HPEHU
 1025 737 1762
VKLS7HDPDQGZLWKKHUPDWHUQLW\OHDYHHQGLQJDQG
UHWXUQWRZRUNORRPLQJIHOWWKDWLWPLJKWEHEHVW  1067  
WROHWVRPHRQHHOVHWDNHKHUSODFH  1071  
 1056  
&XUUHQWPHPEHUVKLSÀJXUHV)LJXUHVDUHLQFOXGHG
IRUWKHSDVWWKUHH\HDUVQRQWHDFKHUQXPEHUV 1%7KHQXPEHURIQRQWHDFKHUPHPEHUVIRU
ZHUHQ·WDFFXUDWHDWWKLVWLPHODVW\HDU1RQ LVQRWDFFXUDWHGXHWRWKHGDWDEDVHEHLQJ
WHDFKHUQXPEHUVFRQWLQXHWKHLUGHFOLQLQJWUHQG XSGDWHGODWHULQWKH\HDUWKDQXVXDO
7KLVLVPDLQO\GXHWRVXFFHVVIXODVVHVVPHQWSDVVHV
FRQJUDWXODWLRQVWRWKHVXFFHVVIXO,QWURGXF
WRU\/HYHOFDQGLGDWHVIURP2FWREHU2IWKHVH TREASURER – PAM MACKENZIE
KDGMRLQHGDVWHDFKHUPHPEHUVE\WKHHQGRI
7KHDQQXDODFFRXQWVIRUDUHFXUUHQWO\EHLQJ
'HFHPEHU:H·YHUHFHQWO\KDSSLO\ZHOFRPHGVRPH
SUHSDUHGIRUDSSURYDOE\WKH([HFXWLYHDQG%RDUG
QHZQRQWHDFKHUPHPEHUVZKR·YHMRLQHGLQRUGHU
DQGIRUPDODSSURYDODWWKH$*0LQ-XQH
WRERRNIRUWKHFRQYHQWLRQ
,FDQUHSRUWWKDWWKH,< 8. &RQYHQWLRQ
'HF 'HF 'HF ZDVRQFHDJDLQYHU\ZHOOVXSSRUWHGDQGDVXUSOXV
1RQWHDFKHUV RIDURXQG…LVH[SHFWHG,FDQDOVRUHSRUW
,QVWLWXWHV 1101 559 1160 WKDWGRQDWLRQVWRWKH%HOOXU7UXVWIRUDUH
,QGLYLGXDOV 236  259 OLNHO\WREHLQWKHUHJLRQRI…7KHIXQG
7RWDO 1395 737  UDLVLQJLQIRUWKH,\HQJDU\RJD'HYHORSPHQW
)XQGLVDURXQG…7KDQN\RXWRHYHU\RQH
7HDFKHUV ZKRFRQWULEXWHGVRJHQHURXVO\ZLWKWKHLUWLPH
DQGPRQH\RQERWKSURMHFWV
,QVWLWXWHV  755 769
,QGLYLGXDOV  270  ,KDYHOLVWHGWKHPHPEHUVKLSDQGDVVHVVPHQWIHHV
7RWDO 1119 1025 1067 IRUDVSUHYLRXVO\UHSRUWHGLQWKHDXWXPQ
,<1
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

'HF 'HF 'HF


1RQWHDFKHUV 7KH,< 8. IHHVIRU
8. 1295  1305       …
5R, 73  79 ,QVWLWXWH0HPEHUV    
,QGLYLGXDOPHPEHUV    
2YHUVHDV 27 20 35
7HDFKHUV6XSSOHPHQW   
7HDFKHUV6XSSOHPHQW&RQFHVVLRQDU\ 
7HDFKHUV 
8. 1013 933 970 2YHUVHDVVXSSOHPHQW   
5R,  70 71 /DWH5HQHZDO     
2YHUVHDV 19 22 26
61

IYN26 version9.indd 61 17/03/2015 18:41:42


7HDFKHU7UDLQHH5HJLVWUDWLRQ  

,QWURGXFWRU\$VVHVVPHQW    Do you want to become an


,QWHUPHGLDWH-XQLRU$VVHVVPHQW  
,QWHUPHGLDWH6HQLRU$VVHVVPHQW   ,\HQJDU\RJDWHDFKHU"
%HIRUHEHLQJDFFHSWHGRQWRDQ
$IÀOLDWHGFHQWUHV    
,QWURGXFWRU\7HDFKHU7UDLQLQJ&RXUVH
7KH&HUWLÀFDWLRQ0DUNIHHIRULVEDVHG DVWXGHQWPXVWKDYHFRPSOHWHGD
RQ86,WZLOOEHXSGDWHGRQ1RYHPEHU PLQLPXPRIWKUHH\HDUV·UHJXODUVWXG\
WRUHÁHFWWKHH[FKDQJHUDWHWKDWLVLQSODFH ZLWKDQDSSURYHG,\HQJDU\RJDWHDFKHU
RQWKDWGDWH $OHWWHURIUHFRPPHQGDWLRQIURP
WKHVWXGHQW·VUHJXODUWHDFKHULVDOVR
UHTXLUHG)RUIXOOGHWDLOVRIKRZWR
SECRETARY REPORT – DSSO\WRVWDUWWUDLQLQJSOHDVHYLVLWWKH
CHARLOTTE EVERITT ,< 8. ZHEVLWH<RXFDQDOVRVHDUFK
6LQFHWKHODVWLVVXHZHKDYHVHHQDQXPEHURI IRUWHDFKHUWUDLQHUVQHDUWRZKHUH\RX
FKDQJHV([FLWLQJO\ZHKDYHDFTXLUHGDQHZ OLYHDQGWKHUHDUHGHWDLOVRIVSHFLÀF
0HPEHU,QVWLWXWH²WKH)R\OH,QVWLWXWHRI,\HQJDU WHDFKHUWUDLQLQJFRXUVHVDURXQGWKH
\RJDWKHÀUVWLQ1RUWKHUQ,UHODQG:HKDYH FRXQWU\
ZHOFRPHGDQXPEHURIQHZPHPEHUVWRWKH(;
LQFOXGLQJWKUHHQHZ,QGLYLGXDO5HSUHVHQWDWLYHV 6RPHWHDFKHUVFRQWLQXHWUDLQLQJ
²5LFKDUG$JDU:DUG9DQHVVD$OOHQDQG,VDEHO EH\RQGWKHLU,QWURGXFWRU\FHUWLÀ
-RQHV)LHOGLQJPHDQZKLOHZHVD\JRRGE\HWR*DHO FDWHDQGJRRQWR,QWHUPHGLDWH-XQLRU
+HQU\DQGKHOORWR-HDQQLH$GDPVDV1(,,<UHS
DQGWR$QQH%HDWW\ZKRKDVMRLQHGDVWKHUHSIRU
,QWHUPHGLDWH6HQLRUDQGXOWLPDWHO\
0&,<, ,QWHUPHGLDWH$GYDQFHGFHUWLÀFDWHV
7KHFRQWDFWGHWDLOVRIDOORXUUHSVDUHRQWKH 7RSURJUHVVWRWHDFKPRUHDGYDQFHG
ZHEVLWHDQGLQWKLVPDJD]LQHVRGRIHHOIUHH SRVWXUHVLWLVXSWRWKHLQGLYLGXDOWR
WRFRQWDFW\RXUUHSLI\RXZDQWWRNQRZPRUH DWWHQGFODVVHVZLWK,QWHUPHGLDWH6HQLRU
DERXWZKDWZHGR:HKDYHRQHIXUWKHUYDFDQF\ RU$GYDQFHGWHDFKHUV7KHVHPRUH
IRUDQ,QGLYLGXDO5HSUHSUHVHQWLQJWKH,QGLYLGXDO
0HPEHUVRI,< 8. DQGWKRVH0HPEHU,QVWLWXWHV
DGYDQFHGFHUWLÀFDWHVGHPDQGPRUH
WRRVPDOOWRKDYHWKHLURZQUHSDQGE\WKHWLPH RIWHDFKHUVERWKLQWKHQXPEHUDQG
\RXUHDGWKLV\RXVKRXOGKDYHVHHQDQHPDLO GLIÀFXOW\RIDVDQDVSUDFWLFHGDQGLQWKH
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

LQYLWLQJ\RXWRJHWLQWRXFKLI\RXDUHLQWHUHVWHGLQ VXEWOHW\RIWKHLUXQGHUVWDQGLQJRI
MRLQLQJWKH(; WKHWKHRU\DQGSUDFWLFHRI\RJD)RU
,GHDVIRUD1DWLRQDO,\HQJDU\RJD'D\DUHEHLQJ PRUHLQIRUPDWLRQDQGWRERRNDQ
GLVFXVVHGE\WKHZRUNLQJJURXSOHGE\0LNH
3HQQ\ZKRKDYHRIIHUHGWRJHWLQYROYHGDQGWDNH
DVVHVVPHQWRQOLQHSOHDVHYLVLWZZZ
WKLVLGHDIRUZDUG0HDQZKLOHGLVFXVVLRQVDURXQG L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN
KRZWRPDUNWKH81·VLQDXJXUDO,QWHUQDWLRQDO
<RJD'D\ZKLFKFRQYHQLHQWO\IDOOVLQWKHPLGGOH
RIRXUFRQYHQWLRQRQ6XQGD\VW-XQH

62

IYN26 version9.indd 62 17/03/2015 18:41:42


Assessment
Passes
Congratulations to all those who gained success in BOOK YOUR
their assessments
ASSESSMENT
Introductory ONLINE
Level 2 Passes: &KULVWRSKHU1RUULV
7HDFKHUVDQGWUDLQHHVFDQQRZ
(IUDW$UDG 6RQMD3HUUHWHQ
6LDQ$WNLQVRQ $QLWD3KLOOLSV GRZQORDGV\OODEXVHVDQGERRNDQG
$GULHQQH%DJQDOO (OPLHQ3LFNHULQJ SD\IRUDVVHVVPHQWVRQOLQH
/LVD%DUWOHWW $QQD3URFKRQ 3OHDVHYLVLWWKH,< 8. ZHEVLWHDW
*HHQD%DVVUD -DQH5REHUWVRQ ZZZL\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN
%HDWULFH%HQQHWW -RDQQH5RJHUV
(OL]D%LVKRS &KDUORWWH5RVVHU
Assessment deadlines
/HVOH\%ODNH\ 5KRQGD5R\FURIW
+HDWKHU%UHQQDQ 6XVDQ6DYDJH
$QQHPDULH&DUDFFLROR 0RUULV6FDUOHWW $SSOLFDWLRQVZLOOEHDYDLODEOH
6DUD&DUULJDQ (OL]DEHWK6KDZ RQOLQHDVIROORZV
6DUDK&R[RQ 'HLUGUH6KHHKDQ
1LFROD&XUUDQ 'DQXWD6WDQF]\N &RPELQHG,QWURGXFWRU\/HYHO
6DUDK'DYLGVRQ 5HQDWH6WDUN
VWVW0D\
/DXUHQ'HDQ$UPLVWHDG &DUULH6WUHWFK
6DUDK'HZVEHU\ (PLOLH6\HG
5LWD'L7DQR /DXUD7XJJH\ ,QWHUPHGLDWH-XQLRU/HYHOV 
0DULD-HVXV'LD] +HLGL7XUQHU VWWK6HSWHPEHU
&DUROLQH(DUO $QQH:HQGW
-R(OOLV ,QWHUPHGLDWH6HQLRU/HYHOV 
0DHYH)ODQDJDQ Senior Assessment
VWWK-XQH
$OLVRQ)RUUHVW Passes:
/RXLVH*DPEOH Senior Level 1:
6XNLH*ODGVWRQH %DUEDUD4XHLUROR
0DWWKHZ*UHHQ +HOHQD.XEU\FKWRYD
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

'LDQD*UHHQ (ULND5HSDVV\
1LQD+D\GHQ /LQ&UDGGRFN
.DW\+LQFKOLIIH -LOO-RKQVRQ
5XWK-RKQVRQ &ULVWLQD1HZWRQ
'DQLHOOH.HHQDQ $UPHQGDUL]
:HQG\.HQQDQ &DUROLQH6PLWK
$QQD.KD\EUDNKPDQRYD :HQG\6\NHV
&DUULH.LUVWHQ
Theresa Mellor Senior Level 3:
7DWLDQD1HZWRQ (LOHHQ&DPHURQ
/DXUD1REOH 6RSKLH&DUULQJWRQ
(ZD1RUPDQ
63

IYN26 version9.indd 63 17/03/2015 18:41:42


IY (UK) Professional
Development Days 2015
3OHDVHQRWH3'GD\VQRZUXQZLWKWKHFDOHQGDU\HDUIURP-DQXDU\WR'HFHPEHU

South West
SWIYI3HQU\Q&RUQZDOO²6HSWHPEHUZLWK-XGLWK-RQHV
2UJDQLVHU*LOOLDQ.DPDOL²JLOOLDQNDPDOL#KRWPDLOFRP

West & South Wales


AIYI/RQJ$VKWRQQHDU%ULVWRO²6HSWHPEHUZLWK'DYH%URZQH
2UJDQLVHU.LUVWHQ$JDU:DUG²NLUVWHQ#EDWKL\HQJDU\RJDFRP

Greater London & South East


NELIYI ²1RUWK(DVW/RQGRQ²1RYHPEHUZLWK6KHLOD+DVZHOO
2UJDQLVHU1DQF\&ODUNHQDQF\FODUNH#EWLQWHUQHWFRP

IIYS²6XVVH[²1RYHPEHUZLWK%UHQGD%RRWK
2UJDQLVHUV-HQQ\'HDGPDQ²MHQQ\#MFPFRXNDQG
&DWK\5RJHUV(YDQV²FDWK\#\RJDVRXWKFRP

IYIMV²1RUWK:HVW/RQGRQ²)HEUXDU\ZLWK7ULFLD%RRWK
6HSWHPEHUZLWK0DU\+HDWK
&RQWDFW,<,09
2UJDQLVHU.DWH5DWKRG²NDWH\RJDMXGG#KRWPDLOFRP

SWLSIYI²6RXWK:HVW/RQGRQ 6XUUH\²-XO\ZLWK-XOLH%URZQ
2UJDQLVHU$QLWD3KLOOLSVVZOVL\L#JPDLOFRP

IYISL²6RXWK/RQGRQ²2FWREHUZLWK6XVDQ/RQJ
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

2UJDQLVHU*OHQ\V6KHSKHUG²L\LVO#EWFOLFNFRP

Kent IYI ².HQW²-XQHZLWK-D\QH2UWRQ


2UJDQLVHU%UHQGD%RRWK²EUHQGDERRWKNHQW#DROFRP

North West
MDIIY LIYI0DQFKHVWHU²0D\ZLWK(ODLQH3LJHRQ
1RYHPEHUZLWK'LDQH&RDWV
2UJDQLVHU-DQLFH<DWHV²MDQLFH\DWHV#VN\FRP



IYN26 version9.indd 64 17/03/2015 18:41:42


East Central & North
SADIYA BDIYI6KHIÀHOGDQG%UDGIRUG²6HSWHPEHUZLWK0DULRQ.LOEXUQ
2UJDQLVHU(PPD5DWWHQEXU\²HPPDUDWWHQEXU\#EOXH\RQGHUFRXN

North East & Cumbria


NEIYI6XQGHUODQG²2FWREHUZLWK0DUJDUHW$XVWLQ
2UJDQLVHU'DZQ+RGJVRQ²GDZQOHVOH\KRGJVRQ#EWLQWHUQHWFRP

West Central
MCIYI%LUPLQJKDP²0D\ZLWK-XGL6ZHHWLQJ
2UJDQLVHU-DQH2UWRQ²MD\QH#L\HQJDU\RJDXNFRP

East
CIYI&DPEULGJH²2FWREHUZLWK5LFKDUG$JDU:DUG
2UJDQLVHU6DVKD3HUU\PDQ²VDVKDSHUU\PDQ#\DKRRFRXN

South Central
ORIYI+LJK:\FRPEH²0D\ZLWK6DVKD3HUU\PDQ
2UJDQLVHU(ODLQH0DUWLQ²L\DNHPEOHSGGD\#JPDLOFRP

DHIYI%RXUQHPRXWK²2FWREHUZLWK6DOOLH6XOOLYDQ
2UJDQLVHU.LP7URZHOO²NLPWURZHOO\RJD#JPDLOFRP

Scotland
(GLQEXUJK²-XQHZLWK3HQQ\&KDSOLQ
2UJDQLVHU.DWLH5XWKHUIRUG²NDWLHUXWKHUIRUG#EOXH\RQGHUFRXN

*ODVJRZ²1RYHPEHUZLWK0HJ/DLQJ
2UJDQLVHU9DOHULH0LOOHU²YMPLOOHU#JPDLOFRP
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

Ireland
&UXPOLQ'XEOLQ²$SULOZLWK(LOHHQ&DPHURQ
2UJDQLVHU$LVOLQJ*XLUNH²DLVOLQJBJXLUNH#KRWPDLOFRP

3KLEVERUR'XEOLQ²6HSWHPEHUZLWK$LVOLQJ*XLUNH
2UJDQLVHU0DUJDUHW&DVKPDQ²LQIR#L\RJDLH

'HQRWHV6HQLRU7HDFKHU

65

IYN26 version9.indd 65 17/03/2015 18:41:42


IY (UK) Executive Council
2IÀFHU 5HS 1DPH (PDLO 7HOHSKRQH
&KDLUSHUVRQ  (PPD3LQFKLQ FKDLU#L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN 
$FWLQJ7UHDVXUHU  3DP0DFNHQ]LH SDPPDFNHQ]LH#OLYHFRXN 
6HFUHWDU\  &KDUORWWH(YHULWW VHFUHWDU\#L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN 
0HPEHUVKLS6HF  $QLWD3KLOOLSV DQLWDSKLOOLSV#EWLQWHUQHWFRP 
9LFH&KDLUSHUVRQ 3KLOLSSH+DUDUL SKLOLSSHKDUDUL#UXQER[FRP 
($5HS&RQVWLWXWLRQ2IÀFHU -LOO-RKQVRQ MM\RJD#PDFFRP 
&KDLURI$7  -XG\/\QQ MXGLWKO\QQ#EWLQWHUQHWFRP
&KDLURI7KHUDS\ -XGL6ZHHWLQJ WKHUDS\#L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN
&KDLURI(WKLFVDQG$SSHDOV 6DVKD3HUU\PDQ VDVKDSHUU\PDQ#\DKRRFRXN
$,<,  .LUVWHQ$JDU:DUG NLUVWHQDJDUZDUG#LFORXGFRP
%',<,  0LFKHOOH0DQJHROOHV PPDQJHROOHV#\DKRRFRXN 
&,<,  9DFDQF\
'+,<,  9DFDQF\   
',<,  0DUWLQD'XUQLQ PDUWLQDGXUQLQ#\DKRRFRXN
(6,<,  $JQHV0DWWKHZV FPWSDUWQHU#DROFRP
L<RJD*ODVJRZ  %ULDQ6WHZDUW EULDQV#FKHPJODDFXN 
,,<6  &DWK\5RJHUV(YDQV FDWK\URJHUVHYDQV#JPDLOFRP
.,<,  &DUULH7XUFN FDUULHW#FDUHIUHHQHW 
/,<,  -XGL6RIID MXGLVRIID#DROFRXN 
0&,<,  $QQLH%HDWW\ \RJD#DQQLHEHDWW\FRP
0',,<  &KDUORWWH(YHULWW FBDBHYHULWW#\DKRRFRXN
0',,<  -RDQ$EUDPV MRDQDEUDPV#KRWPDLOFRP
1(,,<  -HDQQLH$GDPV MHDQQLHDGDPV#JPDLOFRP  
1(/,<,  /DULVVD0DF*ROGULFN ODULPFJROGULFN#\DKRRFRP
25,<,  &ODUH%LQJKDP ELQJKDPBF#KRWPDLOFRP 
6$',<$  &DUROLQH$QVFKXW] DQVFKXW]BNQRZOHV#EWLQWHUQHWFRP
6:,<,  -XGLWK+LJJLQV MVSRULN#KRWPDLOFRP
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

6:/6,<,  'LDQH'UDLQ GLDQHGUDLQ#EWLQWHUQHWFRP


5R,5HS  3DXO7D\ORU SDXOWD\ORU#KRWPDLOFRP 
+RQ0HP  (ODLQH3LGJHRQ HODLQHSLGJHRQ#YLUJLQQHW 
,QGLYLGXDO  $QQD0DFHGR DQQDPDFHGR#FODUDFRXN 
,QGLYLGXDO  -LOO-RKQVRQ MM\RJD#PDFFRP 
,QGLYLGXDO  5LFKDUG$JDU:DUG ULFKDUGKDJDUZDUG#\DKRRFRP
,QGLYLGXDO  9DQHVVD$OOHQ YPFQDXJKW#KRWPDLOFRP
,QGLYLGXDO  ,VDEHO-RQHV)LHOGLQJ HYHQWV#L\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN 

66

IYN26 version9.indd 66 17/03/2015 18:41:43


IY (UK) Committee Members
Board Moderators
3KLOLSSH+DUDUL-XG\/\QQ-LOO-RKQVRQ3DP 5LFKDUG$JDU:DUG0DUJDUHW$XVWLQ%UHQGD
0DFNHQ]LHEmma Pinchin6DVKD3HUU\PDQ %RRWK7ULFLD%RRWK-XOLH%URZQ'DYH%URZQH
$QLWD3KLOOLSV&KDUORWWH(YHULWW 3HQQ\&KDSOLQ6KHLOD+DVZHOO-XGLWK-RQHV0DULDQ
.LOEXUQ0HJ/DLQJ6XVDQ/RQJ-D\QH2UWRQ
Ethics & Appeals 6DVKD3HUU\PDQ(ODLQH3LGJHRQ6DOOLH6XOOLYDQ-XGL
Gerry Chambers-LOO-RKQVRQ 5HSRQ([ /DULVVD 6ZHHWLQJ
0F*ROGULFN Sasha PerrymanAmparo Rodriguez

Assessment & Teacher Training &RPPLWWHHFKDLUVDUHLQEROG&RRSWHG


Margaret Austin (Deputy Chair)Debbie Bartholomew LHQRQ([HFXWLYH&RXQFLO PHPEHUVDUHLQ
Penny Chaplin Diane CoatsSheila Green (Junior LWDOLFV
Intermediate Adviser), Lydia Holmes (Professional
Development Days Co-ordinator) Judy LynnSallie
Sullivan (Introductory Timetable Adviser),.LUVWHQ
$JDU:DUG

Communications & Public


Relations
-RDQ$EUDPVJohn Cotgreave ,<1 Philippe
Harari-XGL6RIID ,<1 Lucy Dowd 35 
(PPD3LQFKLQSigute Barniskyte-Kidd ,<1 Tehira
Taylor ,<1

Finance & Membership


Kate Woodcock,)LRQD&RQZD\Pam Mackenzie
Anita Phillips-HVV:DOOZRUN.DWLH2ZHQV

Archives/Research
Suzanne Newcombe, Brian Stewart,
Janice Yates, *DHO+HQU\.LUVWHQ$JDU:DUG,
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

Lara Speroni Randall Evans

Conventions/Events
3KLOLSSH+DUDULIsabel Jones Fielding
Vanessa McNaughtCharlotte CarsonJess Wallwork

Therapy Committee
Penny Chaplin, Judith Jones, Susan Long,
Lynda PurvisJudi SweetingTig Whattler

67

IYN26 version9.indd 67 17/03/2015 18:41:43


Member Institutes
3OHDVHFRQWDFW\RXUORFDO,QVWLWXWHIRUGHWDLOVRIHYHQWVDQGFODVVHV,I\RXDUHDPHPEHURI,< 8. DQG
\RXKDYHDQ\TXHULHVRULVVXHVDERXWSROLFLHVRUSUDFWLFHVRIWKH,< 8. SOHDVHFRQWDFW\RXU0HPEHU
,QVWLWXWH5HSRURQHRIWKH,QGLYLGXDO5HSV
Avon (AIYI) Kent (KIYI)
ZZZDL\LRUJXN $QQLH'LFNPDQQ
.LUVWHQ$JDU:DUG GLFNPDQDQQLH#JPDLOFRP
NLUVWHQ#EDWKL\HQJDU\RJDFRP 
ZZZNHQW\RJDRUJXN

Bradford and District Liverpool (LIYI)


(BDIYI) -XGL6RIID
$ODQ%URZQ LQIR#\RJDVWXGLRFRXN
HYHQWV#%',<,RUJXN 
01535 637359 ZZZ\RJDVWXGLRFRXN
ZZZEGL\LRUJXN

Cambridge (CIYI) Manchester and District


6DVKD3HUU\PDQ
(MDIIY)
-DQLFH<DWHV
VDVKDSHUU\PDQ#\DKRRFRXN
MDQLFH\DWHV#VN\FRP
01223 515929

ZZZFDPEULGJH\RJDFRXN
ZZZPGLL\RUJXN

Dorset and Hampshire Midland Counties (MCIYI)


(DHIYI) 3UDEKDNDUD
.LP7URZHOO SUDEKDNDUD#IUHHXNFRP
 
ZZZGKL\LFRXN ZZZPFL\LFRXN

Dublin (DIYI) Munster (MIYI)


%HFF\&DPHURQ 'RURWK\:DOVKHGRURWK\ZDOVKH#
 WH[WRQO\ JPDLOFRP
ZZZL\HQJDU\RJDLQVWLWXWHFRP ZZZPL\RJDRUJ

East of Scotland (ESIYI) North East (NEIIY)


Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

*DHO+HQU\
ZZZHDVWVFRWODQG\RJDRUJ

LQIR#L\HQJDU\RJDQRUWKHDVWFRXN
ZZZL\HQJDU\RJDQRUWKHDVWFRXN

iYoga Glasgow North East London


9DOHULH0LOOHU (NELIYI)
YMPLOOHU#JPDLOFRP 6HY.DQD\
 VHYQHOL\L#\DKRRFRP
L\RJDJODVJRZFRXN 07951 059962
ZZZQHOL\LRUJXN



IYN26 version9.indd 68 17/03/2015 18:41:44


Oxford and Region Foyle Institute of Iyengar Yoga Northern
(ORIYI) Ireland
0DU\)LW]SDWULFN HYHO\Q\RJD#KRWPDLOFRP
PDU\ÀW]SDWULFN#QWOZRUOGFRP (YHO\Q'RQQHOO\
ZZZRUL\LRUJXN 
O.R.I.Y.I.

6KHIÀHOGDQG'LVWULFW Iyengar Yoga Institute of Birmingham


ZZZL\HQJDU\RJDXNFRP
(SADIYA)
/RUUDLQH%RQHWH -D\QH2UWRQ
ORUUDLQHERQHWH#JPDLOFRP
 Iyengar Yoga Institute Maida Vale
ZZZ\RJDVKHIÀHOGRUJ ZZZL\LRUJXN
$ODQ5H\QROGV
South West (SWIYI) iYoga Centre
-DQH/DQH
ZZZL\HQJDU\RJDPDQFKHVWHUFRXN
MDQHODQH\RJD#EWLQWHUQHWFRP
&DURO\Q)HUJXVRQ

FDURO\Q#L\RJDRUJXN
ZZZVZL\HQJDU\RJDRUJXN
iYOGA Dublin / Iyengar yoga Centre
South West London & of North Dublin
Surrey (SWLSIYI) ZZZL\HQJDU\RJDFHQWUHFRP
-DQH+RZDUG 5RLVLQ2·6KHD

VZOVL\L#JPDLOFRP Knutsford Iyengar Yoga Centre
ZZZNQXWVIRUG\RJDFRXN
Sussex (IIYS) 0DUJDUHW&DUWHU
&DWK\5RJHUV(YDQV
FDWK\URJHUVHYDQV#JPDLOFRP Maidstone Yoga Centre
ZZZLL\VRUJXN ZZZL\HQJDU\RJDFRXN
/LQ&UDGGRFN

AFFILIATED CENTRES Putney Iyengar Yoga Centre


MXOLH\RJDSXWQH\#JPDLOFRP
Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre -XOLH+RGJHV
ZZZEDWKL\HQJDU\RJDFRP
.LUVWHQ 5LFKDUG$JDU:DUG 6KHIÀHOG<RJD&HQWUH
ZZZVKHIÀHOG\RJDFHQWUHFRXN
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

Congleton Iyengar Yoga Centre )UDQFHV+RPHZRRG


ZZZFRQJOHWRQ\RJDFHQWUHFRP
&KULVWLQD1LHZROD The Iyengar Yoga Studio East Finchley
 ZZZWKHL\HQJDU\RJDVWXGLRFRXN
*HQHYLHYH'LFNHU3DWV\6SDUNVPDQ:HQG\6\NHV
Cotswold Iyengar Yoga Centre 
ZZZFRWVZROGL\HQJDUFRXN
-XGL6ZHHWLQJ7LJ:KDWWOHU West Suffolk Iyengar Yoga Centre
ZZZL\HQJDU\RJDVXIIRONFRXN
Edinburgh Iyengar Yoga Centre -DQH3HUU\PDQ
ZZZ\RJDHGLQEXUJKFRP 
(ODLQH3LGJHRQ

69

IYN26 version9.indd 69 17/03/2015 18:41:44


  $ %  ! " ! $ " % 
 !     " %  !    % #   
"
$$%! $
"%##% %# "% 

YogaSupplies
from Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre

“genuinely useful”

Specialists in books by Guruji, Geetaji & Prashantji & Pune props

Complete range of book titles from Pune


Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

Pune belts - 5 sizes


bolsters & pranayama pillows
ropes
slanting planks & knee wedges
blankets
eye bandages
Pune shorts

We also sell, t-shirts, incense, mats, bricks

Wholesale rates available for multiple purchases



   ##% #
   $$! $
$

70

IYN26 version9.indd 70 17/03/2015 18:41:45


Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

71

IYN26 version9.indd 71 17/03/2015 18:41:47


Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

72

IYN26 version9.indd 72 17/03/2015 18:41:47


Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

yogamatters

73

IYN26 version9.indd 73 17/03/2015 18:41:47


Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015



IYN26 version9.indd 74 17/03/2015 18:41:47


Advertising in the Iyengar Yoga News
:HRQO\SULQWTXDUWHUSDJHDGYHUWV PPZLGHE\PPKLJK RUKDOISDJH
DGYHUWV PPZLGHE\PPKLJK \RXFDQHLWKHUVHQGWKHFRPSOHWHGDUWZRUN
DVD¶SUHVVTXDOLW\·3')DKLJKUHVROXWLRQ-3(*RUDQ$GREH,Q'HVLJQGRFXPHQW 
25\RXFDQVHQGWKHLPDJHV DVKLJKUHV-3(*V DQGZRUGLQJDQGZHZLOOPDNHWKH
DGYHUWXSIRU\RX3OHDVHQRWH

· $GYHUWLVHPHQWVIRU\RJDFODVVHVHYHQWVKROLGD\VHWF²ZLOORQO\EHDFFHSWHGIURP
FHUWLÀFDWHG,\HQJDU\RJDWHDFKHUV
· $GYHUWLVHPHQWVIRU<RJD&HQWUHVZLOORQO\EHDFFHSWHGIURPRIÀFLDO,\HQJDU\RJD
RUJDQLVDWLRQV
· :KHUH\RJDHTXLSPHQWLVLWHPLVHGLQDQDGYHUWWKLVZLOORQO\EHDFFHSWHGIRU
HTXLSPHQWZKLFKLVXVHGZLWKLQWKH,\HQJDUPHWKRG7KHQDPH¶,\HQJDU·PXVWQRW
EHXVHGDVDQDGMHFWLYHDWWDFKHGWRVSHFLÀFLWHPVRIHTXLSPHQWHJXVH¶EORFNVIRU
,\HQJDUSUDFWLFH·UDWKHUWKDQ¶,\HQJDUEORFNV·HWF
· *RRGVRUVHUYLFHVZKLFKDUHQRWXVHGLQ\RJDDQGRUZKLFKDUHQRWDFFHSWDEOH
ZLWKLQWKH,\HQJDUPHWKRGZLOOQRWEHDGYHUWLVHGLQ,<1
· $GYHUWLVHPHQWVIRURWKHUJRRGV HJ%RRNV&'5206YLGHRV ZLOORQO\EH
SXEOLVKHGLIWKH\FRQFHUQWKH,\HQJDUPHWKRGRUKDYHRWKHUZLVHEHHQDSSURYHGE\
WKH(WKLFV &HUWLÀFDWLRQ&RPPLWWHHRIWKH,< 8.

,I\RXZLVKWRDGYHUWLVHLQWKHQH[WLVVXHRI
Iyengar yoga NewsSOHDVHVHQGDOOWH[WSKRWR
JUDSKVRUDUWZRUNE\WKHQH[WLVVXH dead-
line of 1 July 2015WR
FRWJUHDYHM#JPDLOFRP
Advertising rates
Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

&LUFXODWLRQ4XDUWHUSDJH…+DOI
SDJH…6PDOODGVSSHUZRUGNB. the
Editorial Board reserves the right to refuse to
accept advertisements or parts of advertisements
that are deemed to be at variance with the
stated aims of the Iyengar yoga (UK). IY (UK)
does not necessarily endorse any products etc.
advertised in this magazine.

75

IYN26 version9.indd 75 17/03/2015 18:41:48


Iyengar Yoga News No. 26 - Spring 2015

76

IYN26 version9.indd 76 17/03/2015 18:41:48

S-ar putea să vă placă și