Iynaus1027 ys fall winter partial

VOL. 17 NO. 2

mmer SFall 2013/Winter 2014

EXPANDING OUR COMMUNITY

BIRJOO AND MANOUSO FILMING GURUJI INSPIRING NEW STUDENTS HELP FOR HEADACHES

CONTENTS

YOGA SAMACHAR’S MISSION

Letter From the President – Janet Lilly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Yoga Samachar, the magazine of the Iyengar Yoga community in the United States and beyond, is published twice a year by the Communications Committee of the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States (IYNAUS). The word samachar means “news” in Sanskrit. Along with the website, www.iynaus.org, Yoga Samachar is designed to provide interesting and useful information to IYNAUS members to:

News From the Regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Expanding Our Community – John Schumacher . . . . . . . . . 8 An Intimate Glimpse of Guruji – Richard Jonas. . . . . . . . . . 13 Community, Consciousness, and Skillful Action – Manouso Manos talks with Birjoo Mehta. . . . . . . . . . . . 16

•

Promote the dissemination of the art, science, and philosophy of yoga as taught by B.K.S. Iyengar, Geeta Iyengar, and Prashant Iyengar

•

Communicate information regarding the standards and training of certified teachers

Musings: Longevity and Good Health Guaranteed!

– Yoon Cho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

•

Report on studies regarding the practice of Iyengar Yoga

•

Provide information on products that IYNAUS imports from India

Ask the Yogi : Help for Headaches – Chris Saudek . . . . . . . . 30

•

Review and present recent articles and books written by the Iyengars

•

Report on recent events regarding Iyengar Yoga in Pune and worldwide

•

Be a platform for the expression of experiences and thoughts from members, both students and teachers, about how the practice of yoga affects their lives

•

Present ideas to stimulate every aspect of the reader’s practice

How to Inspire New Iyengar Yoga Students – Heather Haxo Phillips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Reflections on Karin O’Bannon – Christine Stein . . . . . . . . . 25 Lighting the Way Award – Tori Milner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

IYNAUS Store News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Treasurer’s Report – David Carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Back Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

CORRECTIONS TO THE SPRING/SUMMER 2013 ISSUE The photo of Guruji in the library at RIMYI on page 17 was taken by Jake Clennell not Tori Milner.

Rachel Feinberg passed her Introductory I assessment in 2012 and was not included on the list on page 33.

The editorial staff of Yoga Samachar offers sincere apologizes for these oversights.

IYNAUS Board Member Contact List Winter 2013/Spring 2014 David Carpenter dcarpenter@sidley.com

Eric Small ericsmall@yogams.com

Alex Cleveland clevelandalex@yahoo.com

Nancy Watson nancyatiyanus@aol.com

Rebecca Lerner rlerner108@comcast.net

Denise Weeks denise.iynaus@gmail.com

Janet Lilly lilly.janet@gmail.com

Sharon Cowdery (General Manager) generalmanager@iynaus.org

Michael Lucey 1michael.lucey@gmail.com Tori Milner torimilner@yahoo.com Mary Reilly maryreilly36@gmail.com Phyllis Rollins phyllis204@bellsouth.net

Contact IYNAUS: P.O. Box 538 Seattle WA 98111 206.623.3562 www.iynaus.org

Kathy Simon kathyraesimon@gmail.com

YOGA SAMACHAR IS PRODUCED BY THE IYNAUS PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Committee Chair: Tori Milner Editor: Michelle D. Williams Copy Editor: Denise Weeks Design: Don Gura Advertising: Rachel Frazee Members can submit an article or a practice sequence for consideration for inclusion in future issues. Articles should be well-written and submitted electronically. The Yoga Samachar staff reserves the right to edit accepted submissions to conform to the rules of spelling and grammar, as well as to the Yoga Samachar house style guidelines.

Submissions must include the author’s full name and biographical information related to Iyengar Yoga, along with email contact and phone number.

Submission deadline for the Spring/Summer issue is March 1.

Submission deadline for the Fall/Winter issue is Sept. 1.

Please send queries to yogasamachar@iynaus.org one month prior to these deadlines.

Advertising Yoga Samachar is now accepting paid advertising. Full-page, half-page and quarter-page ads are available for placement throughout the magazine, and a classified advertising section is available for smaller ads. All advertising is subject to IYNAUS board approval. For more information, including rates, artwork specifications, and deadlines, please contact Rachel Frazee at rhazuga@gmail.com or 608-780-6774.

Cover: Shoes outside of class at RIMYI. (Photo by Chere Thomas)

Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

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IYNAUS Officers and Standing Committees

Letter

FROM THE PRESIDENT

President: Janet Lilly Vice President: Michael Lucey Secretary: Denise Weeks Treasurer: David Carpenter

Dear Fellow IYNAUS Members,

Archives Committee

So often we hear about (well, at least I do as a university professor) the importance

Eric Small, Chair

Kim Kolibri, Director of Archives Lindsey Clennell, Elaine Hall, Linda Nishio, Deborah Wallach

Certification Committee Mary Reilly, Chair

Marla Apt, Linda DiCarlo, James Murphy, Lois Steinberg

of training students to become lifelong learners. Our study of Iyengar Yoga exhorts us to bring a learner’s mind to our daily practice. As Dr. Geeta Iyengar has noted, we chant the Invocation to Patanjali at the beginning of class “with the feeling of surrendering oneself, because nothing can be learned in this world unless you have humility to learn.”

Elections Committee

Alex Cleveland, Chair Chris Beach, Patrina Dobish

Ethics Committee

Rebecca Lerner, Chair Joan White, Sue Salaniuk, Michael Lucey

Events Committee

Nancy Watson, Chair Patrina Dobish, Gloria Goldberg, Diana Martinez, Phyllis Rollins

Finance Committee

David Carpenter, Chair Kevin Hainley, Janet Lilly

Governance Committee Janet Lilly, Chair

David Carpenter, David Larsen

For the IYNAUS board, the ongoing strategic planning process provides us with many lifelong learning opportunities. One of the most interesting aspects of my job these days as the president of the IYNAUS board of directors is leading the strategic planning process. We are finishing up the fourth and final stage of questionnaires in preparation for the November board meeting in Chicago. What strikes me each time I open up my e-mail inbox to find more member responses is how much IYNAUS members value the Iyengar Yoga community. For example, Lisa Was, echoing many respondents, felt “connected to community” and that Iyengar Yoga is “a passion for me, and I like to know there is a larger group that I can tap into for classes and support, etc…”

Membership Committee Phyllis Rollins, Chair

IMIYA – Leslie Bradley IYAGNY – Oliver Luisi IYAMN – Elizabeth Cowan IYAMW – Becky Meline IYANC – Risa Blumlien IYANE – Kathleen Swanson IYANW – Margrit von Braun IYASC-LA – Kat Lee Shull IYASC-SD – Lynn Patton IYASCUS – Michelle Mock IYASE – Diana Martinez IYASW – Lisa Henrich

Publications Committee Tori Milner, Chair

Carole Del Mul, Don Gura, Richard Jonas, Pat Musburger, Phyllis Rollins, Denise Weeks, Michelle D. Williams

Public Relations and Marketing Committee Tori Milner, Chair

David Carpenter, Michael Lucey, Cynthia Bates, Heather Haxo Phillips

Regional Support Committee Alex Cleveland, Chair

IMIYA – Melody Madonna IYAGNY – Oliver Luisi IYAMN – Katy Olson IYAMW – Jennie Williford IYANC – Heather Haxo Phillips IYANE – Jarvis Chen IYANW – Anne Geil IYASC-LA – Kat Lee Shull IYASC-SD – Lynn Patton IYASCUS – Anne Marie Schultz IYASE – Alex Cleveland IYASW – Lisa Henrich and Josephine Lazarus

Scholarship and Awards Committee Denise Weeks, Chair

Other respondents have appreciated the opportunity to get involved in their regional associations. At our upcoming board meeting, we have asked for each region to submit a regional report that gives us a snapshot of highlights and challenges in their region.

Building on the these ideas of how we come together as a community, I would like to start a column in future issues of Yoga Samachar that features interviews with longtime Iyengar Yoga students. After all, don’t we all love a good story of how someone came to Iyengar Yoga and the continued benefits of their practice? Please let me know if there is someone in your community that you think would be a perfect candidate for the legacy practitioner column. Another aspect of the strategic planning process is for us to identify priorities for our community. Many of you have commented on how glad you are to see that we are investing resources (human and monetary) in developing effective PR strategies for Iyengar Yoga. We also have identified the importance of preserving the extensive archives that Eddie Marks initiated and that Kim Kolibri, Chris Beach, Eric Small, and many others have championed. To help with these efforts, please consider making a charitable contribution to IYNAUS as part of your annual year-end giving. This could be an “unrestricted” donation that would support a range of initiatives, or a targeted donation to support the archives project. Either way, we appreciate your generosity.

I look forward to your comments and contributions!

Janet Lilly, President Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States

Chris Beach, Leslie Freyberg, Richard Jonas, Lisa Jo Landsberg, Pat Musburger, John Schumacher

Service Mark & Certification Mark Committee Gloria Goldberg, Attorney in Fact for B.K.S. Iyengar Rebecca Lerner, Board Liaison

Systems & Technology Committee Ed Horneij, William Mckee, David Weiner

Yoga Research Committee Kathy Simon, Chair

Jerry Chiprin, Jean Durel, Alicia Rowe, Kimberly Williams

IYNAUS Senior Council Chris Saudek, John Schumacher, Patricia Walden 2

Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014

News

FROM THE REGIONS

IMIYA The Intermountain Iyengar Yoga Association (IMIYA) held its 2nd Annual Yoga Day on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013. IMIYA board members—Kelly Moore, Jonathan Dickstein, Susan Abernethy, Lisa Longton, Angie Woyar, and Melody Madonna—worked tirelessly to promote the event through advertising in local publications, with brochures and posters distributed to Iyengar studios and local businesses, and with a banner and sandwich board positioned outside of the Iyengar Yoga Center of Denver where the event was held.

The event started at noon with introductions and an overview of the mission of IMIYA by Kelly Moore, followed by chanting three aums and the Invocation to Pantanjali led by Jonathan Dickstein. After the introductions and invocation, everyone

The Iyengar Yoga Center of Denver hosted the second annual Yoga Day on Oct. 5, 2013. (Photo by Melody Madonna)

went off to their classes. We had access to all three studios at

Students had 15 minutes between classes to grab snacks and

the center. Students could sign up for individual classes for $15

drinks of water or cups of chai donated by Leslie Bradley

each or buy an all-day pass and take up to four classes ($25 for

(Intermediate Junior III and incoming IYNAUS Certification

members and $35 for nonmembers). All proceeds supported

Chair, starting in 2014). The event concluded with a vegetarian

IMIYA’s professional education and outreach efforts.

potluck for staff and students.

The following classes were offered:

The IMIYA board would like to thank all of the teachers and

– Using Your Arms and Legs to Lengthen Your Spine

volunteers for their time and effort that made our 2nd Annual

with Gail Ackerman – Atma Darsana: Reflection of the Soul, B.K.S. Iyengar (video screening)

Yoga Day a success! We couldn’t have done it without you.

IYAGNY

– Opening the Hips to Grow a Lotus with Leslie Bradley

The tree of Iyengar Yoga is now growing in Brooklyn as

– Yoga for Healthy Knees with Melody Madonna

envisioned years ago by Mary Dunn. This summer IYAGNY

– What Exactly Is ‘Classical’ Yoga? with Jonathan Dickstein

finally opened the doors to a new Brooklyn Institute, and in

– How to Practice Yoga with Gary Reitze

September, we had our official grand opening event. The day of

– Backward Extensions with Emma Addison

free classes began with director James Murphy and one of our

– Sanskrit Chanting of the Yoga Sutras with Angelique DeSilva

original association teachers, Kevin Gardiner, who now lives in

– Forward Extensions and Twisting Poses with Angie Woyar

Budapest. After the asana classes, students filled a pranayama

– Pranayama and Chakra Meditation with Kevin Durkin

class led by a special guest teacher from Mumbai, Firooza Razvi. After the class, she gave a talk on yoga philosophy, enlightening us with her simple and clear perspective inspired by years of study and a Ph.D. Razvi also shared stories about herself and her study with the Iyengars. She said she was very happy to teach a free class because she began her studies by taking free classes with Father Joe Peirera when she was an 18-year-old struggling college student. She became a regular, and Father Joe asked her to take over teaching the class when he had to move. She then began studies with B.K.S. Iyengar, who used to teach in Mumbai on the weekends. We were the lucky recipients of her expert teaching and her generous spirit. Many thanks to all of the donors, board members, faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, and students who are making sure our new

Students work on standing poses at the second annual IMIYA Yoga Day. (Photo by Melody Madonna)

Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

Brooklyn Institute thrives.

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News

FROM THE REGIONS

IYAMN

throughout the five-state region and is unique in that it

The Iyengar Yoga Association of Minnesota (IYAMN) hosted

features top senior and talented intermediate junior teachers

several events in 2013. We celebrated guru purnima day with a

in a workshop setting with small classes of about 20

free asana class for members of the association, followed by

students. It is a true retreat in the sense that everyone is able

brunch and time for socializing. Michael Moore donated his

to put aside their daily concerns, relax, and open their hearts

teaching for this event, which brought students and teachers

to the subject of Iyengar Yoga and their fellow travelers on

together, mostly from the Twin Cities area. Earlier in the year,

the journey of self-learning.

the association organized a popcorn movie night—all part of its mission to build community and educate students in the area

Maumee Bay offered not only comfortable accommodation and

about the Iyengar method. Both of these events were well

lovely views but also a nature preserve with trails and

attended and enjoyed by all.

migrating fall birds. Senior Teacher Mary Reilly and Intermediate Junior II Teacher Karen Allgire provided excellent

In September, IYAMN was privileged to host Senior Teacher

classes based on the theme of Guruda and Kurma: the Wisdom

Laurie Blakeney. About 35 people attended the workshop, which

of the Eagle and the Stability of the Turtle. The group also had

drew students from as far away as Iowa and Wisconsin.

an evening outdoor fireside talk by well-known herpetologist Dave Mifsud, who gave some fascinating facts about turtles and

The workshop was held at the West Side Yoga Studio, newly

their lore. Next year’s event will be held at Starved Rock State

opened in Saint Paul and dedicated to the teaching of Iyengar

Park in Utica, Ill. (near Chicago)—dates to be confirmed.

Yoga. Laurie began on Friday with a pranayama class, the first of

Contact info@iyamw.org for more information.

three such sessions held over the course of the weekend. Her teaching of the asanas gave us insight into the subtleties of the poses, but everyone really appreciated the opportunity to explore the practice of pranayama under her expert guidance throughout the weekend. Most who attended the workshop also appreciated Laurie’s question-and-answer sessions, and everyone enjoyed listening to the stories she integrated into her teaching, drawn from her experiences in Pune. The association looks forward to planning more workshops in 2014.

IYAMW The Iyengar Yoga Association of The Midwest (IYAMW) held its second annual Fall Retreat the weekend of Sept. 27–29, 2013, at the beautiful Maumee Bay State Park in

The IYAMW Fall Retreat provided a great opportunity for students in the region to build community. (Photo by Sue Salaniuk)

Oregon, Ohio. It was a great success, providing attendees

IYANC

with nine hours of top-

As we head into our 40th year, we are excited to announce that

quality asana and

we are moving. We have secured a larger, more modern space

pranayama instruction,

for the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco and have begun

time to relax in a

renovations. The new location is in the Lower Pacific Heights

restful and lovely

neighborhood, centrally located to more people and businesses

venue, and the

and blocks away from three of the city’s major medical

opportunity to get to

facilities. This move is part of the larger strategic vision we have

know other yogis and

to expand our reach to include the entire region, serve more

spend time with good

people, and enhance our programming. By current projections,

friends. This event is

we will physically move in December 2013 and open with an

held each year in a

expanded schedule of classes in January 2014.

different location Students work on Kurmasana at Maumee Bay. (Photo by Sue Salaniuk)

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Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014

To make this move happen, we have launched a capital

magical evening, which included community members who

campaign to raise $325,000. We are using this as an opportunity

represented more than 20 years of history with Karin.

to bring our community together around a common goal. We have many teachers across the region who are hosting benefit

The institute glowed with marigold garlands and roses. Pictures,

workshops and events as well as volunteers coming in to help

candles, and soft tabla music greeted everyone as tributes were

with everything from mailings and phone calls to working on

read by Diane Gysberg, Lisa Walford, Aida Amirkhanian, Robyn

the actual build-out of the new studio space. For more

Harrison on behalf of Eric Small, Lani Daniels, Anna Delury,

information on the move, go to www.iyisf.org/wearemoving or

Julie Adler, and Manouso Manos. Scott Hobbs, Nancy Sander,

contact us at info@iyisf.org to get involved.

Donna Mungen, Larry Heliker, Tulsi Laher, and Kishor Stein

IYANE

shared memories, while Linda Nishio and Jennifer Edwards read several of Karin’s poems. Lisa explained that Chris Stein had

The end of 2013 marks the completion of the Iyengar Yoga

taken Karin’s ashes to be disbursed in Mayapur, a quiet place of

Association of New England’s fourth year as an association.

refuge along the river in India. Jamie Kostura played tabla and

Since 2010, IYANE membership has grown from 97 members to

sang, and Liliya Jandov danced Bharat Natyan.

more than 160. As part of a membership drive, certified teachers in New England continue to offer free workshops to

Karin’s spirit infused the evening as tears, laughter, song, and

association members.

silent moments held everyone enthralled. The evening ended traditionally, with the requisite chocolate cake and generous

Benefits of membership include discounted pricing for

food contributions. Many many thanks to Jennifer Edwards

association workshops, regular email news including

for enabling this community celebration of the life of a very

information on Iyengar Yoga workshops in New England, and

special teacher.

two hard copies per year of The Beacon, the IYANE newsletter.

We are fortunate to have many local teachers and students

Marla Apt Earns Leadership Award

contributing to this publication.

On Sept. 28, the B.K.S. Iyengar Institute of Los Angeles was ablaze with color, music, garlands, and joy as the community

In 2013, the association’s scholarship program awarded Dahlia

gathered to celebrate and honor Senior Teacher Marla Apt

Domian its yearly $1,000 grant for study at RIMYI. The

with the Manouso Manos Leadership Award. More than 150

association also provided funding to Colleen Duggan to teach

teachers, students, friends, volunteers, and supporters

developmentally disabled adults in Maine in 2012.

converged on the Institute to find colorful Indian tablecloths strewn on the floor picnic-style, bolsters and blankets to sit

In 2013 IYANE sponsored an anatomy workshop with Roger

on, and happy faces. After getting our boxed vegetarian

Cole as well as two Sanskrit workshops with Leslie Freyberg.

meals and sitting down to eat, we were treated to an

IYANE hopes to grow and increase the number of events,

outstanding program of entertainment and inspiration

programs, and services it offers to help bring the five-state

created and produced by Lisa Walford.

community together.

Manouso Manos was in attendance and opened the celebration The current board includes President Jarvis Chen, Vice President

with the garlanding of Patanjali, followed by the invocation led

Patricia Walden, Treasurer Karen Bump, Clerk/Secretary Mary

by Chris Stein. Lisa then led a group of three teachers—Allen

Wixted, and Membership Chair Kathleen Swanson. Our board

Mulch, Keri Lee, and Lori McIntosh—through a brilliantly

wishes to thank outgoing board members Greg Anton,

choreographed demonstration of Iyengar Yoga therapeutics.

president, and Lynnae Leblanc, treasurer, for their efforts and

Each selected posture was presented in three therapeutic

service to our community.

versions as demonstrated by the teachers using the vast range

IYASC-LA

Karin O’Bannon Memorial

of props available in the Institute studio. Lisa spoke about the three different versions and then the next pose was elegantly staged. It was like a beautiful dance of postures! Bravo to the teachers for their work!

The Iyengar Yoga Association of Southern California, Los Angeles, hosted a memorial in Karin O’Bannon’s honor on July

The next element of the evening was a staged reading of slokas

13. More than 70 people gathered for music, memories, and

from The Bhagavad Gita, featuring actor Mark Harelik as a very

readings of Karin’s poetry. Jennifer Edwards organized the

believable Lord Krishna, Garth McLean as the narrator, and

Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

5

three student-teachers—Laura Lenee, Mary Ann Kellogg, and

sponsor. The community really put on this event together, and

Dora Hasenbein—representing Arjunas’ Yoga of Wisdom, Yoga

the results are a fitting testament to its strength, generosity,

of Action, and Yoga of Devotion. Each one revealed her personal

and gratitude for our teachers. It was a great evening. Thanks to

search and question for Krishna, based on real-life situations. It

all who participated in any way!

was not only very moving to hear the true stories from each yogini, but it revealed The Bhagavad Gita as highly relevant to

IYASCUS

everyday life as we live it here and now. Bravo, Lisa, for this

Peggy Kelley (Intermediate Junior III) has been busy helping

fabulous way to bring the ancient wisdom into the current lives

with various assessments in the United States and in Mexico.

we lead!

Austin Yoga Institute has moved to a new location in South Austin. The local teacher-education program under Peggy’s

The third element of the evening was a lively version of Yoga

direction has started up for the year. Devon Dederich assists

Jeopardy, with teacher Larry Heliker as host, teacher Andrea

that program. Anne-Marie Schultz will be offering some yoga

Isco as demonstrator, and three other teachers—Vladimir

sutra study sessions in that group in the new year. Devon

Jandov, Koren Paalman, and Ed Horneij—as the contestants.

Dederich (Intermediate Junior II) often guest teaches in

Larry read a description of a pose from Light on Yoga, and

Midland. Clear Spring Studio will be hosting Laurie Blakeney

Andrea demonstrated behind the backs of the contestants. The

and Joan White next year. The Friday advanced practice

contestants then guessed which asana was being demonstrated

continues to be a highlight of the weekend of many Iyengar

just from the instructions. This was a lighthearted moment

yogis and yoginis.

that elicited lots of laughter from the guests. Koren Paalman was the winner amid much hooting and hollering!

Austin is pleased to welcome back Sheryl Abrams (Introductory II). Sheryl began her yoga teacher training here in Austin but

Attendees also were treated to musical intervals between

relocated to the Minneapolis area for several years. We are

elements. The first singer was Nadine Pita, a singer-songwriter

happy to have her back.

from New Zealand who presented her own work. Later, Beth Andersen, accompanied on the guitar by Bob Thiele and backed

Randy Just has been busy running teacher trainings in New

up by singer Billy Valentine, sang a song she created for and

Orleans, taking leadership in that group after the passing of

about Marla.

Karin O’Bannon. Randy also offers workshops throughout the Texas area, Midland and San Angelo. He even travels far

Finally, Manouso Manos, with very eloquent words of

beyond the confines of our region to Boise, Idaho. The B.K.S.

appreciation, presented Marla with the carved crystal award.

Iyengar Studio of Dallas continues to bring in senior teachers

Marla spoke simply and directly about her path to Iyengar Yoga

such as Mary Obendorfer and Eddy Marks, Lois Steinberg,

and shared her thoughts about being honored. Jennifer Diener,

and Manouso Manos.

event chairman, then presented Marla with a gift of a handblown glass vase from Correia Art Glass. Marla drew names for

The Houston Iyengar Center, also in a new location, recently

the raffle gifts, and finally Bob Thiele and Billy Valentine

hosted Laurie Blakeney, Rebecca Lerner, and Dean Lerner.

serenaded Marla and the whole room with a beautiful song

Alcove Yoga is offering an Advanced Asana Series with Pauline

written by Bob. It was a most beautiful ending to a very

Schloesser. The Iyengar community is growing in San Angelo

satisfying evening.

and Midland as well. The Boerne yoga community is alive and well, hosting George Purvis and Arun regularly.

Then the room had to be “struck” and returned to pristine class condition for Manouso’s workshop the next morning. With our

There are also exciting Iyengar Yoga offerings at Yoga Sol in

amazing volunteers and staff, the whole Institute was cleared

Columbia, Missouri. In St. Louis, Bruce Roger has an informative

and finished within an hour. The evening raised more than

blog about yoga, http://yogastlouisblog.wordpress.com. The

$40,000 (before costs), led by a $5,000 donation from Yoga

Yoga Center of Lawrence, Kan., continues to offer many Iyengar

Journal as the event sponsor. YogaWorks also was a high-level

Yoga classes and sponsor workshops.

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Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014

IYASW

Ross Temple teaches Bharadvajasana I during a mock assessment at Scottsdale Community College on August 20. Students left to right: Cynthia Gable, Jeannine Disken, Jean Saad, Lisa Henrich, and JoAnn Auger. (Photo by Marivic Worbel)

Karen Smith demonstrates setting up the belts with Jennifer Shonk while Raghavan Narayanan and Elizabeth Hitchcock look on. (Photo by Josephine Lazarus)

Karen Smith, certified teacher From Tucson, came to Archana Fond greetings and happy birthday to Guruji from all of us in

Yoga in Gilbert, Ariz., to give a workshop titled “Inspiration

the Southwest Chapter. We are grateful for his continuing

From San Diego, Sarvabhauma,” on June 29. This workshop was

guidance and nourishment.

co-sponsored by IYASW as the first chapter member appreciation event. Members of IYASW received a 50 percent

With 80 new members, the Southwest chapter of IYNAUS is

discount on the workshop. Karen shared with those in

growing by leaps and bounds! For many years, there were only

attendance her aha moments from the convention.

two certified teachers in Arizona. Thanks to the hard work of Katherine Maltz, the Tucson community has continued to grow

Significant to Karen was how Birjoo used the elements as they

through the sponsorship of workshops with Senior Teachers

manifest in nature to explain how to work within, through, and

Rita Manos and Dean Lerner. While Phoenix is sad to lose

without the confines of our bodies. He talked about finding

Jennifer Shonk (Intermediate Junior I) who spent the year in the

sameness in all asana and watching to see when—or if—

Phoenix area from the northwest, Tucson welcomes her as she

fluctuations manifest within the body and/or mind when doing

finishes her studies.

the poses. He taught how to not create so much movement that struggles ensue. Karen attempted to expand Birjoo’s teaching

Josephine Lazarus was the only certified teacher in the Phoenix

by incorporating ideas about steadiness in asana as explained

metro area until four years ago. Carlyn Sikes (Introductory II)

by Prashant Iyengar in his book Chittavijnana of Yogasanas.

has developed a yoga program at Scottsdale Community College based in Iyengar Yoga. This year, there are six candidates going up for assessment. Therese Ireland of Tucson completed her Introductory II assessment and rewarded herself with her first trip to Pune. Instrumental to this growth in the Phoenix area has been the support of Senior Teacher Carolyn Belko, who has been travelling to Scottsdale three or four times each year to give weekend workshops and to conduct teacher training intensives.

It is thrilling to be able to spread the Iyengar method more widely throughout the state. Candidates for assessment come from all over Arizona including Prescott, Tucson, and the Phoenix metro area.

Raghavan Narayanan does Parivrtta parsvakonasana. (Photo by Josephine Lazarus)

Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

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Expanding Our Community

F O C U S O N C O M M O N VA L U E S A C R O S S Y O G A T R A D I T I O N S S T R E N G T H E N S C O M M U N I T I E S A N D I N C R E A S E S AWA R E N E S S O F T H E I Y E N G A R M E T H O D .

By John Schumacher All photos taken by Daniel Guida at the 2013 IYNAUS Conference and Convention in San Diego.

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Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014

S

arvabhauma, which Guruji translates as “universal,” was the theme of our recent convention in San Diego. It was a wonderful gathering, in no small part because of the excellent

teaching of Guruji’s emissary, Birjoo Mehta, who

It seems like basic karma 101 to see that if we want respect and appreciation from others, we must be willing to offer the same to them.

demonstrated in his presentation the open-hearted spirit and true universality of yoga, the essence of sarvabhauma.

During the convention, many facets of the Iyengar community

methods that acknowledged and fostered this sense of

were on display—not only asana and pranayama classes, but

connection. That our numbers were fairly small back in those

lectures on therapeutic yoga research, films about Guruji’s

days no doubt added to the bonds we felt.

philanthropy and Geeta’s sadhana (practice, quest), Indian dance, and much more, all of which added to the richness of

To provide an avenue for exploring and strengthening those

the experience. Included in this tapestry of teachings and

bonds, in the early ’70s, a number of us from different

presentations was a panel about the business of yoga, in which

traditions created an eclectic organization, the Mid-Atlantic

I was invited to participate. We discussed a broad spectrum of

Yoga Association (MAYA). We deepened our understanding and

topics ranging from various business practices, such as

promoted the practice of yoga by holding workshops with guest

scheduling and teacher payment systems to mission

teachers and having meetings in which we discussed how we

statements and values. A very important part of the discussion

were teaching our classes and what we had learned most

revolved around the value of reaching out to the at-large

recently. MAYA was a community of people dedicated to

community as a way to build up a studio’s student population

propagating the study and practice of yoga across any

and spread the word about the benefits of Iyengar Yoga. The

boundaries of method or style.

regional conference that took place over the weekend preceding the convention had a similar purpose: to reach out to the non-

Several of us who were active in MAYA also became involved in

Iyengar yoga community and spread the teachings.

another eclectic organization, Unity In Yoga. Spearheaded by Rama Jyoti Vernon, Unity In Yoga had the same goal as MAYA:

With all this discussion of community, what do we actually

to create a vehicle for spreading the word about yoga. A major

mean by it? The word community comes from the Latin word

difference, however, lay in the scope of Unity In Yoga’s activities,

communitas meaning community or fellowship, which in turn

which were national and international in nature. We put on

comes from the word communis, meaning common. A

what I think were the first national yoga conferences with such

community, then, is a group whose members have something in

luminaries as Indra Devi, Vasant Lad, and Swami

common, something universal within the group.

Satchidananda; sent a group to the Soviet Union to teach yoga; got involved with the United Nations; and more. Unity In Yoga

Innumerable ways of describing and delineating community

eventually morphed, after a schism over the issue of national

suggest themselves. For the purposes of this discussion, we can

certification for yoga teachers, into Yoga Alliance.

think about community geographically: local, regional, national, and international communities. We can divide each of

My point in talking about these past events and groups is to

these geographical communities into yoga and nonyoga

provide an example of community on several different levels—

communities. And we can further divide each of the

local, national, and international as well as nondenominational,

geographical yoga communities into the Iyengar Yoga

if you will. And because this article is a personal take on the

community and the non-Iyengar yoga community.

issue of community, I wanted to give you a sense of where I’m coming from in my examination of that issue, especially as it

When I began to practice and later teach yoga some 40 years

relates to our own Iyengar Yoga community.

ago, part of the inspiration that guided me centered around the realization that we are all connected to one another in a

One of the reasons I was drawn to Iyengar Yoga early on was

profound and essential way. This truth is embedded in the word

because of the strong sense of community I felt when I was

yoga itself—yuj, union, yoke. Sharing the discoveries,

with other Iyengar Yoga practitioners. The bonds of large

difficulties, and joys of practice and teaching with fellow

eclectic organizations are rather like the bonds shared by

practitioners and teachers made me feel I was part of a

members of a city or state: They are tangible, important, and

community of people with common values who practiced

because of size, a bit diffuse. The bonds shared by our Iyengar

Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

9

outreach and public relations. Because these organizations do

Given this relative invisibility and misunderstanding, it seems clear that we need to find ways to get our name out there in accurate and favorable terms.

extensive advertising nationally, appearing at centers and conferences such as these puts Iyengar Yoga in the national eye and draws attention to the valuable things we have to offer.

In my own local area, I began to engage with yogis from outside the Iyengar community many years ago by having lunch every three months or so with several of the owners of large

Yoga community are tighter than that—explicit, more like a

established yoga centers in the area. We talk about myriad

tribe or even a large extended family, where everyone shares

things, but more important to me, we maintain open lines of

important and similar values: allegiance to Guruji and the

communication and create a sense of community on a local

Iyengars, adherence to the Iyengar method, a passion for

basis. When events come up that affect the yoga community,

practice, and an identification with the Iyengar Yoga

we find out about it quickly and are able to act having as much

community on some level. Of course, as with any tribe or

information on hand as possible.

family, differences, disagreements, and dissension exist, but we acknowledge and occasionally even celebrate our common

The local yoga community plans events such as D.C. Yoga Week,

purpose and practice, which I think most of us will agree

offering discount classes to the community at large and staging

supports us in our sadhana.

a free yoga class on the Washington Mall between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Because of my involvement with the

In some ways, the shared, explicit, strong sense of identity that

community, I was invited to be one of four teachers on the Mall

forms the foundation of our community also sows the seeds of

this year. It was a great opportunity to give people a taste of

some of the problems we have in attracting new adherents. I

Iyengar Yoga and let them experience some of what we find so

think that at times we draw the line between ourselves and the

valuable and compelling. All of these sorts of events, national

rest of the yoga world a little too sharply. Certainly we feel that

and local, are always advertised, so when people see the ads,

our method is the best. It is challenging, comprehensive,

the Iyengar name is imprinted in their minds. Since folks are

effective, and powerful. If we didn’t feel that way, then we’d be

going to create samskaras anyway, we might as well do what we

practicing some other method. But in extolling the virtues of

can to have them be favorable Iyengar Yoga samskaras.

our method, I think we should be careful to do so in a way that does not denigrate other approaches. It seems like basic karma

At Unity Woods, one way that we’re finding very helpful in

101 to see that if we want respect and appreciation from others,

attracting attention from the broader nonyoga community is to

we must be willing to offer the same to them.

offer specialty classes. Classes such as Yoga for Athletes, Yoga for Scoliosis, Yoga in Spanish, Teen Yoga, Back Care, and Seniors’ Yoga

Guruji provides a great example of this. He has always been

appeal to folks who might otherwise not be interested in a general

welcoming to yogis of other traditions and has shared

yoga class. Because Iyengar Yoga excels at working with special

platforms with religious leaders of all stripes in the name of

populations, this may be a rewarding road to explore to attract

spiritual awakening. Indeed, many of us are familiar with his

more attention to our name and skills.

response to the question “What is Iyengar Yoga?” “I myself do not know,” he replies. “I simply practice yoga and others have

In the panel discussion at the convention, participants offered a

taken to calling my practices as ‘Iyengar Yoga.’”

number of strategies for reaching beyond the boundaries of our own community: sending teachers into communities of people

In that vein, I think it would benefit our community to engage

of color, who don’t usually participate in yoga classes; putting

with yogis from other traditions and methods in an honest and

on events such as Yogathons; and hosting open studios. There

open exchange of ideas and experiences. One way of doing this

were a lot of good ideas for working on the local and regional

is for our more senior teachers to teach at conferences and

level. But we need to do more on the national level.

centers that include a variety of styles. I know from my own experiences teaching at Yoga Journal Conferences and centers

I received an email recently offering a $25 gift certificate to

such as Kripalu and Omega that dialogues with teachers from

Lululemon in return for filling out a brief survey. Thinking that

other kinds of yoga can be rich and can open important

my wife might find a gift certificate useful, I began to fill out

avenues to explore. And this can be true not only in terms of

the survey. The first page asked my name, address, and if I

yoga philosophy and practice but also in terms of community

practiced yoga. I answered yes and was asked what style.

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Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014

A thornier issue is the use of the Iyengar name, which has proprietary restrictions that limit its use and thus its exposure.

Many of us who teach know that there are teachers from other traditions who come to study with us and then take what they hear and use it in their own classes. They are not allowed to use the Iyengar name to describe what they do, so students in their classes are being exposed to Iyengar principles and information without it being attributed to Iyengar Yoga. I know that Guruji doesn’t want uncertified people who often are unseasoned, don’t really understand the method, and aren’t properly conveying it to run around claiming to teach Iyengar Yoga or Iyengar-influenced yoga. However, because our method of practice and teaching is so systematic and effective that people from other methods are borrowing from it more and more, we should try to find a way to get the credit due us without sullying the purity of the method and its application.

One way might be to really focus on the rigorousness of our A pull-down menu appeared listing Ashtanga, Flow, Vinyasa,

certification process and the high quality of teachers it

Baptiste, Bikram, and Other. I was shocked not to see Iyengar

produces. I know that some attempts have been made to

listed. Granted, it’s a Lululemon survey, and we Iyengaris are

highlight certification and the excellence of our certified

not usually too big on expensive spandex, but it seemed a huge

teachers, but I think the important distinction between what

oversight not to be listed individually as I consider Iyengar Yoga

we do and what our imitators do could be clarified by focusing

one of the largest and best-known yoga styles.

intensely and consistently on “certified” versus “uncertified” rather than focusing on the use of the Iyengar name. And with

In checking around, it turns out that lots of people, including

so much in the media about yoga injuries and dangerous

people who practice yoga regularly, haven’t heard of Iyengar

teachers, emphasizing the thoroughness of our training and

Yoga, and many who have heard of Iyengar Yoga really have no

certification procedures is another opportunity to distinguish

idea what it is. Props, good for old and injured people, slow,

ourselves in a favorable manner.

gentle, alignment-based, strict: These were the adjectives describing Iyengar Yoga that I encountered most often. They

These observations and suggestions are not meant to be

are, of course, accurate, but very incomplete and misleading as

conclusive or exhaustive, but rather to stimulate and add to the

a way of describing what we do. Given this relative invisibility

discussion of how to promote Iyengar Yoga and expand our

and misunderstanding, it seems clear that we need to find ways

community. No matter what policies we develop, what

to get our name out there in accurate and favorable terms.

marketing strategies we devise, what public relations campaigns we undertake, in the end, we will spread an

Another noteworthy event at the convention was Dr. Alyson Ross’s

appreciation of the value and joy of Iyengar Yoga communities

talk on the current state of research on the therapeutic

one person at a time, one class at a time, one workshop at a

applications of Iyengar Yoga. Her presentation illustrated how

time. And we will be persuasive in inviting others into our

cutting-edge we are in terms of treating a variety of ailments and,

community only to the extent that we do so from a celebration

I think, points toward one way to get our name out there. Disease

not only of our uniqueness but of our common humanity and

and illness (obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, to name a few) are

universal spirituality.

epidemic in our culture, so effective remedies—Iyengar Yoga being one of them—for the vast array of maladies from which we suffer are going to garner attention. At Unity Woods, we have found that

John Schumacher is the founder/director of Unity Woods Yoga Center,

listing on our website the positive results of studies that show the

which has served the Washington, D.C., area since 1979. He has been

benefits of Iyengar Yoga for common conditions such as back pain

a student of Guruji’s since 1981. John is dedicated to sharing the joys

and stress gets lots of favorable feedback. Perhaps there is a way

and challenges of Iyengar Yoga with as broad an audience as possible

that the national and regional associations can get this sort of

in the U.S. and worldwide.

information out to the public in more extensive and focused ways.

Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

11

YO G A C H A I R P R O P

Yoga Chair Prop was a proud sponsor of the 2013 IYNAUS Convention, and donated 325 yoga chairs for the teaching staff’s instruction.

YOGACHAIRPROP.COM

12

415-686-4547

Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014

An Intimate Glimpse of Guruji FILMMAKERS JAKE AND LINDSEY CLENNELL CAPTURE UNIQUE AND INSPIRING FOOTAGE OF B.K.S IYENGAR—AN ELECTRIFYING TEACHER IN HIS MID-90S—AND SHOW HIS INFLUENCE ON COMMUNITIES AROUND THE GLOBE.

Photo by Lindsey Clennell

By Richard Jonas

T

he movie Jake Clennell is editing is not the one

moved into full-time yoga teaching, the two often returned to

he started shooting. First, the project made a

their dream of making a film about Guruji. Finally they asked

180-degree turnaround from his original

his permission. Mr. Iyengar gave his wholehearted approval—

intention; later, the movie—taking on a life of its

while pointing them in a different direction. So much has been

own—circled around again, ending just where it began.

done about me, he said; why not focus on my students instead?

“It wasn’t what I wanted to hear,” Jake concedes, “but knowing

For years, Jake Clennell, director of Sadhaka: The Yoga of B. K. S.

enough about Guruji to pay extremely close attention to what

Iyengar, and his father Lindsey Clennell, senior teacher and the

he says, one did it. And it bore amazing fruit!”

film’s executive producer, contemplated a movie about their shared teacher and guru.

Jake recorded the stories of some of the students who had studied longest with Guruji, now longtime senior teachers

Now these two lives devoted to telling stories on film, two lives

themselves. Over three prolonged stays in India, Jake filmed

devoted to Iyengar Yoga—practice, study and, in Lindsey’s case,

Father Joe Pereira, the Roman Catholic priest, in his centers for

teaching—come together in Sadhaka. More than five years in

recovering addicts. He also visited the orphanage run by Miriam

production, a year in the shooting alone, crafted by two award-

“Mimi” Batliwala, where girls rescued from a Mumbai slum

winning documentary filmmakers, and drawing on

study Iyengar Yoga.

unparalleled access to the originating voices of the method, it is the most incisive, accurate, and comprehensive film view of

These stories highlight the 22-minute Sadhaka preview shown

Guruji and his method we’re likely to see.

at the IYNAUS convention and conference in San Diego last spring. Another 20,000 people have screened the trailer online

The story begins almost 40 years ago when Lindsey Clennell, a

at www.sadhakafilm.com. Initial funding for the film came

young filmmaker with music videos for the Rolling Stones and

from the Clennells and some of their students. Fifty-thousand

Elton John under his belt and a documentary about

dollars in donations to help complete the film have come in

Muhammad Ali in his future, made his first trip to the Iyengar

from 34 countries via an online funding campaign; donor

Yoga Institute in Pune. The following year, he and his wife

names are listed at the Sadhaka website. Another $120,000 is

Bobby returned to India, with five-year-old Jake and his brother

still needed for editing, post-production, and distribution. The

Miles, 10, making their debuts at RIMYI.

target release date is spring 2014.

Through the years, as Jake grew up and shaped a successful

But colorful and moving as it is, the early footage will only make

career as film director and cinematographer, and as Lindsey

up a small part of the completed feature-length documentary.

Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

13

Finally, thinking the shooting complete, Jake returned to Pune in March 2013. A group of Chinese students had gathered for the first international intensive in years. It was another aboutface for the filmmaker and for Sadhaka. “I brought a camera along just in case, and suddenly Guruji gave the nod. I was in!”

The heart of the completed film will be this footage, “a substantial historical document of him teaching in this incredibly vibrant way.” Jake shakes his head in wonder. “It was as though Iyengar was channeling a younger version of himself.

He gave 100 percent to these new students. The energy was amazing! He taught the medical class with the same power: Photo by Lindsey Clennell

holding people up, jumping from student to student, throwing people up into inversions. The whole place was on fire!

It was on his fourth filming trip to India, when he believed the movie was nearing completion, that everything changed.

“It’s extremely intimate footage,” Jake says. It is “not a how-to” of therapeutic applications. Instead, “my hope was to show the people and the moments, not try to explain why this rope was here or what this person’s ailment was. Looking at those medical classes, seeing those bodies—old and young, fat and

Jake, engaging and enthusiastic, is an old friend who shows

thin, healthy and broken, seeing the chaos and the spontaneous

you corners of Pune you never knew existed and talks

nature of the healing—I just wanted to capture this magical

esoteric yoga philosophy throughout a thali dinner.

moment.”

Cinematographer on dozens of commercials, music videos, and films, including the award-winning The Great Happiness

Letting the film change direction, then change again, letting it

Space, which he also directed, he has collaborated with his

find its own story and its own way to tell it was “sort of a

father on many documentaries filmed in Africa and the

meander,” Jake says. “Finally, it all came down to Guruji, to what

Middle East and on Addiction, Recovery and Yoga (filmed in the

he did. That’s what will separate this film from others. It’s not a

U.S.). Jake, 43, lives with his partner Tzu-li Liu in New York

biography of B.K.S. Iyengar; it’s a somewhat cinema verité look

City and upstate New York.

at him.”

It was on his fourth filming trip to India, when he believed the

To capture that meant “trying to be a little bit casual, to be a fly

movie was nearing completion, that everything changed.

on the wall to that experience of Pune. What is it like to be with him when he’s three feet away from you? I wanted to give a

For months, Jake had focused on the reflections of Guruji as

candid look at that.”

seen in his senior teachers and their students, and the students’ students. Suddenly he turned back to the original

In spite of the game-changing Chinese intensive when the

source of light, and “Guruji let us in close,” Jake says. He was

movie’s focus shifted to Guruji, segments filmed earlier remain

permitted to film the RIMYI medical classes. Geeta, Prashant,

precious to Jake. “It was a profound privilege to spend time with

and Abhijata Iyengar allowed themselves to be filmed talking

Father Joe and the people surrounding him—addicts in

and as they practiced. “These people who have the spiritual

recovery, people who had committed terrible crimes and found

underpinnings of decades of practice gave so graciously and

a path back. When you watch an alcoholic in Father Joe’s rehab

generously of their time,” Jake remembers. “And everything

clinic go through teachers’ training, then teach other alcoholics,

came together when I talked to Abhi, who has the freshness of

you realize how effective Guruji’s method is, down to the third

learning it all right now, and is at the very center of the Iyengar

generation.” Mimi Batliwala’s orphanage shelters girls rescued

world right now.”

from Darvi, the largest slum in Mumbai. “Life there, particularly for a girl, is utterly horrific,” Jakes says. But the orphanage is “an oasis within the madness of Bombay: calm, safe, sane.”

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Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014

In the film’s most shocking segments, a former alcoholic confesses to a brutal murder. In another, deeply emotional moment, a girl talks about feeling lost and hopeless at the death of her father. For both, yoga is their pathway back. “I was

“That kind of practice, continuously over a number decades, the commitment and the profundity of it, is awe-inspiring.” —Jake Clennell

overwhelmed by all the people who have been significantly changed by this practice,” Jake says. “They all felt this profound connection to Iyengar, even if they hadn’t met him.”

mammoth block of stone that Shri Padmanabachari and his assistants were sculpting.

The two segments are among the most moving and revealing in the film. “People don’t always let you in like that,” Jake says. But

Over time, the film found its own theme, through its circuitous

vouched for by Guruji, he “floated” through the months of

turns and doubling-backs, and “came to be about people’s struggle

shooting “on a cushion of goodwill.”

with afflictions. And that seemed much more interesting.”

This entry also led him to Shri Padmanabachari, the 86-year-old

Jake concedes the film was overshot “on a massive scale,”

patriarch of the Shilpi caste of sculptors, whom Guruji asked to

yielding much more footage than can be used. “The core of the

create the first icon of Patanjali in the modern era. “To be

movie will be that last trip, when you see Iyengar so dynamic,

embraced by someone like that, to have him say, ‘I will give you

so amazing and absolutely magnetic, so transformative of

my most sincere opinion about the correlations between asana

people and their lives. When he’s on screen, you don’t want to

and iconography’—that never could have happened without

watch anyone but him. If the film succeeds in contextualizing

Guruji’s intervention,” Jake says.

bits of him, if you can understand a bit of him, that’s a once-ina-thousand-years moment.”

Every day for a month, Jake made the six-hour trek from Bangalore to interview Guruji’s personal idol-maker and to film

As he often does, Jake screened some favorite footage on the

the majestic figure of Hanuman as it emerged from the

day we spoke. After months and years of unpaid work on the film, he’s returned to regular work; but he and

Photo by Jake Clennell

a small group of assistants continue to watch and edit the film, transcribe speeches and the like. In the segment he watched, Jake says, Guruji had just finished teaching the intensive.

“Then he did Savasana over a mountain of props in the middle of the asana hall. He didn’t do his usual practice; he just laid there. He did not flinch, did not move a muscle for the best part of an hour. It was so indicative of what he had put out.” And what Guruji gave to the Chinese students that day, Jake says, was—like what he gave to the film about him— “overwhelming.”

Richard Jonas (Introductory II) is on the faculty of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York. Richard is a former IYNAUS vice president, and he was a film reviewer and wrote TV commercials before becoming a fulltime Iyengar Yoga teacher in 2001.

To make a contribution to help complete Sadhaka: The Yoga of B.K.S. Iyengar, go to www.sadhakafilm.com. Another $120,000 is still need for editing, postproduction, and distribution. A target release date is spring 2014.

Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

15

Community, Consciousness, and Skillful Action IN MAY 2013, BIRJOO MEHTA TRAVELED FROM MUMBAI, INDIA, TO SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, TO TEACH AT THE NATIONAL IYENGAR YOGA TEACHERS’ CONVENTION AND REGIONAL CONFERENCE. MANOUSO MANOS HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH BIRJOO TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY, CONSCIOUSNESS, AND SKILLFUL ACTION. THIS IS PART I OF THEIR CONVERSATION. All photos taken by Daniel Guida at the 2013 IYNAUS Conference and Convention in San Diego.

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Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014

MANOUSO MANOS: They could’ve sent anyone to interview you, but I was thrilled when somebody asked me if I would do it because we are such old friends. They’ve asked us to talk specifically about community and what the yoga community looks like. There’s this joining together of people that we’ve seen over the years, and we’ve watched it come directly out of the kindness of the guru. What is your view of how these communities come together—the oneness maybe that you’ve seen—because your perspective is really quite unique for a lot of reasons.

arms—probably it’s because I’ve been with Guruji for so long, so I don’t have to really prove myself or anything, and people are more open. But I really find that wherever I’ve gone, people have welcomed me.

MM: Your comment makes me think of two very distinct questions. Number one: Do you think this is a direct outgrowth of Guruji and Geetaji and Prashant? In other words, that the politics have been pushed aside, and the businesslike atmosphere of competition is slightly downplayed because of the openness of those individuals?

Birjoo Mehta: Okay, let me attempt to just talk about it rather than answer the question.

BM: I am certain about it. There have been many communities… I won’t name any names, but you know,

MM: Yes.

normally they have a pyramidical structure. There is a person who is actually running the organization right at top, and he

BM: I have been interacting with various yoga practitioners

has his successors right at top and whatever they do has to be

across the globe—Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, South Africa,

followed. Now if you look at the way Guruji has worked things

Israel, Europe, and Canada, and of course, I’ve been to the U.S. a

out, there are two major things that he’s looking at in the

number of times—and what I’ve found about the Iyengar Yoga

structure of his organizations. All of the organizations are self-

community compared with others—and this is from my own

running structures. They don’t involve him at the top. If people

perspective—is that people everywhere are very welcoming.

do want him to be a chairman or something like that, he

You know in other communities, especially in work

accepts it but does not interfere with the working at all.

communities and environments like that, what I find is a lot of competition. People try to pull themselves up and pull others down so they can go up.

But what I’ve found [within the Iyengar Yoga community] is that… there is a sense of everybody trying to contribute for the subject to grow, and I find that very encouraging. I am happy to

These are the two founding pillars of the organizations that he has set up… what he has insisted on is ethical behavior and continuous improvement.

see that everybody is open to change and people want to work for growth. Just to give an example—when the tsunami hit, a number of people said they had lost something or the other,

But there are two foundations that affect the way he has

and they wanted to know if somebody could help. So an email

structured things. One is ethics. He is very strong on ethics, and

was sent out to the entire yoga community asking for help, and

I think all his associations have very clear norms on the ethical

within minutes, people started to come back with answers,

behavior of the students. I don’t only mean the Yamas and

connecting people and things like that.

Niyamas—obviously, it is the Yamas and Niyamas—but it’s a whole lot of other things in terms of the ethical behavior and

I’ve also seen that when somebody needs to go abroad or

practice. The second one is quality. These are the two founding

somebody is in a bit of trouble, they can just call the local yoga

pillars of the organizations that he has set up, and he has never

center up and say, “Hey, I’m from the Iyengar community. Can

said “What I do is right” or “You follow me,” but what he has

you help me out?” And people are ready to come help.

insisted on is ethical behavior and continuous improvement.

Obviously when you are in a very small community, there will be differences of opinion. Some people will believe this is the

You know, there’s constant innovation, constant growth. He has

right way to do things, and others will believe that is the right

never said, “This is the end, and there’s no further growth.” As a

way. But the good thing about the whole Iyengar system is that

matter fact, he encourages growth. To give you an example,

it allows you to have differences. But ultimately everybody’s

most of the time when people talk about the yoga sutras, they

looking for the same thing in terms of the growth of the

talk about the Vedic texts and they use antiquated examples,

community. In that sense, I am very much encouraged by the

such as the snake and the rope.

community at least from my personal perspective. I have found that wherever I have gone, I have been welcomed with open Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Yoga Samachar

17

Now that snake and rope thing may not make sense to a modern

So, please go on progressing like a river flowing but within the

man living in the city who probably has never encountered a

boundaries of ethics and quality—you know, progression or

snake. And it’s not likely that when he sees something in his

improvement.

house, he’s going to imagine it to be a snake and get that kind of fear that the Vedic people were trying to convey.

Once [Guruji] said to me, “Why don’t you start talking about consciousness in terms of modern analogies so that people can understand it?” Now coming from a computer background, and

MM: Guruji’s is maybe the only book that starts the translation of the yoga sutras calling yoga an “ethical subject.” I mean, he’s very clear about it right from the very beginning. And he lays out rather a different territory than many of the other scholars have done.

since I know that most people know about computers, I wrote an article—and I was a little hesitant because I was talking about consciousness in terms of computers. For example, the senses of perception being basically like the keyboard, where you enter [information], and the organs of action are similar to the display, and the operating system is your mind, and so on and so forth. So I wrote this whole article and showed it to Guruji, and he was very happy to see it. He said “Yeah, this is

The other thought that came to mind as you were talking about the modern world: in Light on Life, he begins by talking about the ethical dilemma of whether one should eat ice cream or not, and it becomes a fascinating modern day thing. Again, taking away from the snake and the rope comparison. What is my dilemma for this moment? How am I going to answer this?

And what is the proper methodology for me?

the kind of thing that I want you to do. What’s the point of talking about the old things? Talk about something new. Talk to

BM: True. That’s what is amazing about him. He has never laid

the people in their language, so that they can understand.”

down the rules in terms of a [specific] direction, and you are

There’s development.

free to choose the direction or not to choose the direction. But if you do decide that you want to choose that particular direction, he gives full freedom to go at your own pace and to experiment.

Once [Guruji] said to me, “Why don’t you start talking about consciousness in terms of modern analogies so that people can understand it?”

He has never said, “This is the only way to do.”

That’s not yoga. The way I look at yoga is—let me step back a bit. Normally when you do something repetitive, your subconscious actually takes over and you think subconsciously, which means you’re not fully involved. When you do something subconsciously—for example, drive a car—you are not as

Second, even in the practice of yoga, he’s one person who has

attentive as you would be when you are learning to drive a car.

never stagnated. You know, he’s always growing. Guruji is

When you are learning to drive a car, you are extremely

always growing, whereas we don’t grow. We are satisfied with

attentive, but over a period of time, because of the way humans

our progress, but we are not satisfied with what is ours. When I

are structured like a self-organizing system, this thing becomes

say “what is ours,” I mean our house, our wealth, our name, our

so routine that you don’t really have to apply yourself too

fame, etc. We are dissatisfied with what is ours but not with our

much. And if you’re not applying yourself too much, it is as if

progress. With Guruji, it’s different. He is satisfied with

only the mind is being invoked. When you come to something

everything that he has—what is his—but with his practice, he’s

new, the mind is not able to understand that, and so the mind

satisfied for the day, but next time around, he has to go a little

invokes the intelligence and says, “Hey, this is something new.

more. This is something I believe he calls “divine discontent.”

What do I need to do?”

He has divine discontent, whereas we have discontent not for

To give you another example—I use this example very often in

the divine but for what we have. So we have “mundane

class to explain the aspects of mind vis-a-vis the aspects of

discontent” rather. So I think he is constantly growing and

intelligence—say you work in a big company and have a

encouraging others to grow. He does not put guidelines around

secretary. I come and want to meet you, but they say I must see

this as long as you fall between artha (means of livelihood) and

the secretary. So the first time, I come and say to the secretary

kama (enjoyment of life). This is the river, and the artha and

that I want to meet Mr. Manos, the big man, and the secretary

kama should be bound between the banks of dharma and

says, “Let me check to see whether he is free.” So she goes and

moksha. So in that sense, what is “moksha”? I could use a

talks with you. You are the intelligence, right? So you say, “Look,

mundane word like “quality.” And dharma is basically “ethics.”

I don’t want to see him now.” This happens a second time and a

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Yoga Samachar Fall 2013/Winter 2014