VOL. 18 NO. 1
Spring/Summer 2014
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 Which Comes First: Restful Sleep or a Nourishing Yoga Practice? – Michelle D. Williams . . . . . . . . 8 The Long and Short of a Good Night’s Sleep – Roger Cole . . . . . 9 Ahimsa 101 – Suzie Muchnick, with Michael Spencer . . . . . . 13 Balancing With Chef Allison – Michelle D. Williams . . . . . . . 17 It’s All About the Questions: How to Balance Work and Practice – Willamarie Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The Teacher of Dharma: Geetaji Iyengar – Naghmeh Ahi . . . .
23
More on Community and Consciousness – Manouso Manos Talks With Birjoo Mehta . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Lifelong Practice: Eric Small – Janet Lilly . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
Musings: An Anomaly in Suburbia – Kim Peralta . . . . . . . . . 31 Letter From the Certification Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 2013 Iyengar Yoga Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
Treasurer’s Report – David Carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Back Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
IYNAUS Board Member Contact List Spring/Summer 2014 Leslie Bradley certification@iynaus.org
Eric Small ericsmall@yogams.com
David Carpenter dcarpenter@sidley.com
Nancy Watson nancyatiyanus@aol.com
Alex Cleveland clevelandalex@yahoo.com
Denise Weeks denise.iynaus@gmail.com
Rebecca Lerner rlerner108@comcast.net
Sharon Cowdery (general manager) generalmanager@iynaus.org
Janet Lilly lilly.janet@gmail.com Michael Lucey 1michael.lucey@gmail.com Tori Milner torimilner@yahoo.com Phyllis Rollins phyllis204@bellsouth.net Kathy Simon kathyraesimon@gmail.com
Contact IYNAUS: P.O. Box 538 Seattle WA 98111 206.623.3562 www.iynaus.org
• 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 • Report on studies regarding the practice of Iyengar Yoga • Provide information on products that IYNAUS imports from India • 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
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
Cover Illustration: Vy Boutdy-Tatun
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
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. Find the ad rates at iynaus.org/yoga-samachar. For more information, including artwork specifications and deadlines, please contact Rachel Frazee at rhazuga@gmail.com or 608-780-6774. 1
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
Steinberg at the B.K.S. Iyengar Institute of Champaign-Urbana. I was in such a jumble
Eric Small, Chair
Kim Kolibri, Director of Archives Lindsey Clennell, Elaine Hall, Linda Nishio, Deborah Wallach
Certification Committee
Leslie Bradley, Certification Chair Dean Lerner, James Murphy Nancy Stechert, Lois Steinberg
Elections Committee
Gloria Goldberg, Chair
I recently returned from a wonderful couple days of teacher training with Lois preparing for my visit—negotiating the polar vortex and cancelled school days—that I neglected to read the training syllabus. In addition to being embarrassed (particularly because I so often exhort my students at the university where I teach to read their course syllabi), I had an opportunity to reflect on the theme of this Yoga Samachar issue: How to balance the essential components of life—and what parts of life can interfere with our yoga practice?
Chris Beach
Ethics Committee
Rebecca Lerner, Chair Joan White, Sue Salaniuk, Michael Lucey
Events Committee
Nancy Watson, Chair Patrina Dobish, Gloria Goldberg, Colleen Gallagher, Phyllis Rollins
Finance Committee
David Carpenter, Chair Janet Lilly
Governance Committee Janet Lilly, Chair
Contributing to these personal reflections was Sutra IV.3, one that Lois returned to again and again over the course of several classes (as translated by Mr. Iyengar): Nature’s efficient cause does not impel its potentialities into action but helps to remove the obstacles to evolution, just as a farmer builds banks to irrigate his fields. This sutra provides such a beautiful frame for yoga practice and our relationship as practitioners to the Iyengars and the senior teachers who shape the riverbanks that help guide our practice.
David Carpenter, David Larsen
Membership Committee Phyllis Rollins, Chair
IMIYA – Melody Madonna 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, Rachel Frazee, Richard Jonas, Denise Weeks, Michelle D. Williams
Public Relations and Marketing Committee
In the last issue of Yoga Samachar, I mentioned that we were starting a new ongoing column, Lifelong Practice. I was delighted to hear back from so many members with suggestions for longtime practitioners to interview. It was an inspiration for me to interview Eric Small for the first column, and I hope that you enjoy his comments in this issue about his 50-plus years of studying Iyengar Yoga. In last year’s strategic planning process, many IYNAUS members expressed their desire to connect with more senior teachers. In response, IYNAUS Vice President Michael Lucey and Secretary Denise Weeks began a Senior Teaching Spotlight that will appear about four times a year in our regular “Updates from IYNAUS” e-blasts. The first spotlight featured Kristin Chirhart reflecting on her early days of study in Pune and memories of Guruji and the Iyengar family.
Janet Lilly, Chair
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 – Bee Ottinger & Paige Guthrie Hodges IYASC-SD – Lynn Patton IYASCUS – Anne Marie Schultz & Pauline Schloesser IYASE – Alex Cleveland IYASW – Lisa Henrich & Josephine Lazarus
Scholarship and Awards Committee Denise Weeks, Chair
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
Also as a result of member responses to strategic planning, one of our Systems and Technology committee members, Sharon Honeycutt, started an IYNAUS Facebook page (I know, many of you are saying, “At long last!”). One of her first posts was of Patricia Walden’s glorious backbend practice, and I was amazed to see how many “hits” the page received from members and nonmembers, with 182 new “likes” in one week alone, and a total weekly reach of 3,171 people! Finally, Gloria Goldberg has stepped in as the IYNAUS Elections Committee Chair. We are grateful for her generous contributions in this critical area of our association, and we look forward to welcoming incoming IYNAUS Board members this fall. Regional representation is just one of the ways that the IYNAUS Board connects to the membership, and all members are encouraged to contact their regional board or the national board with suggestions to improve communication or increase the visibility of Iyengar Yoga.
Janet Lilly, Chair
Sharon Cowdery, Shaaron Honeycutt, Ed Horneij, William McKee, David Weiner
Yoga Research Committee Kathy Simon, Chair
Jerry Chiprin, Jean Durel, Kimberly Williams
With many thanks,
Janet Lilly, President IYANUS Board of Directors
IYNAUS Senior Council Chris Saudek, John Schumacher, Patricia Walden
2
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
News
FROM THE REGIONS
IMIYA
IMIYA Develops One-, Three- and Five-Year Action Plans
Community Involvement IMIYA will sponsor its third annual Yoga Day on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. Yoga Day is a community-building event and an
The Intermountain Iyengar Yoga Association (IMIYA) is
opportunity for students to take classes with different certified
committed to four distinct goals:
Iyengar Yoga instructors in our region. Yoga Day is offered to IMIYA members at a discounted price, but everybody is welcome.
• Helping members deepen their individual yoga practice For the second year in a row, we’ll participate in Yoga Rocks the • Teaching the Iyengar method to new and continuing students
Park, a celebration of yoga, music, and community for the entire family in parks across the U.S. to spread the word about yoga. These monthly events begin Memorial Day weekend and
• Disseminating the values inherent in the art, science,
go through September in Denver. Check the website
and philosophy of yoga according to the teachings of
(www.yogarocksthepark.com) for events in your city. There will
B.K.S. Iyengar
be one or two IMIYA board members at each event in Denver, staffing a table to talk about the benefits of Iyengar Yoga.
• Promoting awareness of those teachings throughout our region (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming)
IYAGNY Since opening in July 2013, the Iyengar Yoga Institute of
To address these goals, the IMIYA Board has been working with
Brooklyn has enjoyed many successes. Nine Iyengar Yoga
an outside consultant—Aaron Cohen of 3PG Consulting—to
Association of Greater New York (IYAGNY) teachers have asked
help us align our member services and other activities with
to join the faculty, benefit workshops run almost every
these goals. We began with two half-day planning sessions in
Saturday, and classes continue to grow. The tree of Iyengar Yoga
March. Here are some of the items on our agenda:
is flourishing in Brooklyn.
• Create multiyear strategic goals with well-defined
The flagship Institute in Manhattan held its 10th annual
organizational alignment
Yogathon and Mary Dunn Celebration. Its biggest yearly gettogether, the event celebrates Senior Teacher Mary Dunn’s
• Generate one- and three-year plans based on the multiyear goals
ongoing contributions to the community, including the Spirit of Mary Dunn Class, in which teachers teach pose the way they remember Mary teaching it. Each year, participants present
• Develop a schedule for reviewing IMIYA’s progress and updating our plans as needed
poses for duration, repetition, or artistic merit, asking sponsors to pledge them. This year’s fundraising goal was $50,000, and attendants were asked to “Take It to the Next Level” at the
• Address board roles and responsibilities to ensure that our efforts have maximum impact • Develop goals and strategies for fundraising to make IMIYA’s budget reliable and sustainable
event. The Yogathon was the Institute’s last event held in its current home on the 11th floor of 150 West 22nd Street. Later this summer, the New York Institute will move to the second floor of the building into a reconfigured space with more room for classrooms and a library of Iyengar Yoga
During the two half-day sessions, we put together one-, three-,
resources that will be open to the community.
and five-year goals for the board. Our primary aim is to make the promise of yoga—the union of body, mind, and spirit—
The community also enjoyed the return of inspiring guest
easily accessible to all through a compassionate approach to
teacher, Matthew Sanford, author of Waking.
allow the true self to shine into the world.
The four-day June workshop included a writing workshop and a conversation with neuroscientist Barbara Ganzel at The Rubin
We set some fairly aggressive objectives, tasks, and actions;
Museum of Art.
measures of success; and accountability and follow-up for each board member. Of course, we’ll be looking for volunteers to help us succeed with all of our long-term goals. We also look forward to putting together comprehensive operational guidelines for all board members as they commence with their board activities. Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
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News
FROM THE REGIONS
IYALA
As always, many fabulous workshops and classes continue to
The former Iyengar Yoga Association of Southern California
be offered in our area. These include workshops by H.S. Arun, a
(IYASC) attempted to coordinate activities over a very large
close disciple of B.K.S. Iyengar, Prashant Iyengar, and Geeta S.
geographic area. What was formerly the San Diego chapter and
Iyengar; Carrie Owerko’s “Divine Play” workshop; and a seven-
the Los Angeles chapter agreed to separate and form two
week workshop with Gloria Goldberg called “Sundays with
distinct associations. The Iyengar Association of Los Angeles
Gloria.” Also, students of all levels can attend “A Lunch Date
(IYALA) includes communities from Santa Barbara to Palm
With Eric” on Fridays. This “date” includes a class with
Desert, Valencia to Costa Mesa, and Hawaii. We are now
Intermediate Senior II teacher Eric Small and a light lunch that
coordinating resources and activities to network these areas.
he serves immediately after class.
It is an exciting time! The IYALA Board would like to thank all of our teachers and In addition to this organizational change, we are proud to
members for a great start to 2014, and we look forward to the
announce our new up-to-date association website, which is
rest of the year.
dedicated to association membership and also will serve as a marketing platform for teachers, enabling members to get to
IYAMN
know them better. Articles about the teachers of IYALA and
On Dec.14, we gathered for an evening of celebration to honor
how they got into yoga, how it has changed them, and what
the life and teachings of Guruji on the occasion of his 95th
special expertise they have gained—whether it be prenatal,
birthday. We shared a meal together at the Saint Paul Yoga
therapeutic, or teaching the young or the old—will be featured.
Center and watched a short movie of his interview with Charlie
Starting off this new endeavor is a 12-part series by Jeff
Rose. The evening also served as the annual general
Perlman called “The Ayurvedic Chef.” Perlman will explain
membership meeting for the Iyengar Yoga Association of
ayurvedic principles and include recipes based on the
Minnesota (IYAMN), and we used the time to solicit ideas and
availability of fresh food at local farmers’ markets in the area.
suggestions from our members for future events. In 2014 the
Perlman is a professional member of the National Ayurvedic
board has been focusing on outreach to our members, and
Medical Association, certified Iyengar Yoga instructor, and a
Board Member Michael Moore is helping us design a more
holistic chef.
interactive website that, in conjunction with other social media sites such as Facebook, will further our goal of creating a
The new website also lists names of Iyengar Yoga teachers,
vibrant community of practitioners in our region.
studios where they teach, and upcoming workshops and retreats. Please check it out at www.iyengarla.org.
IYANC The Iyengar Yoga Association of Northern California (IYANC) is
We also are excited about expanding our quarterly newsletter
excited to announce that we successfully moved the Institute
to include articles and interviews to help members get to know
to our new location in San Francisco. We kicked off our grand
B.K.S. Iyengar and his teachings through the eyes of the
opening with a very special workshop taught by Stephanie
teachers in our association. We are fortunate that many of the
Quirk and a dedication celebration that included special
teachers in our area have long-standing relationships with
speaker Manouso Manos as well as guests from the Iyengar
B.K.S. Iyengar and his family. The experiences they share will
Yoga community old and new.
allow members to know our beloved teacher much better. IYANC also celebrates 40 years of service. It is a landmark that In birthday news, Beverly Graves, who is currently on the
we are using to honor all of those dedicated practitioners who
teaching staff at Ventura Yoga Studio, celebrated her 92nd
came before us, our legacy of community members who helped
birthday in March. Graves was the first Iyengar-certified teacher
bring the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar to us all. Our new studio
in Ventura County and is greatly beloved by the students there.
space has a welcoming lobby, which is going a long way in
She is a senior intermediate Iyengar Yoga instructor, was one of
attracting new practitioners! After 30 years without one, we are
Mr. Iyengar’s first students in the United States, and is certified
very grateful. We have nearly doubled the number of public
by him. She has been to India to study yoga nine times since
classes on our schedule and added 10 new teachers to our staff.
1975, most recently in February 1996. Beverly has taught all
While it will take some time to adjust to our new space and
over the United States and in Ventura for over 25 years.
schedule, we are seeing a steady influx of interest and new
Members from all over the IYALA region helped her celebrate
students in the first few weeks of being open.
by sending personal messages and posting comments on the Ventura Yoga Studio’s Facebook page. 4
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
We are also happy to
House now provides teaching opportunities for nine certified
announce that we are
teachers and has developed a lively and inviting community.
finally in a position to
Wang is relocating to Seattle from Cleveland, so the timing was
hire an executive director
perfect for Musburger, as she is ready to release the daily
to drive our vision of
responsibility of being a studio owner. She says that Wang is the
expanded programming
perfect fit to take over and feels blessed that Wang was
and increased visibility.
interested in taking charge of the studio. Musburger says, “She’ll
John Hayden, who
bring changes that will create new life and interest while at the
valiantly led this
same time continue the tradition of strong community and
transformation as the
Iyengar Yoga teaching that make Tree House a very special place.”
president of the board of directors, was officially
Musburger will continue to teach but looks forward to having
hired in April 2014. He
more time with her family, her yoga practice, and other interests.
will be working to expand our programming and IYANC’s new location in San Francisco
IYASCUS
increase access to Iyengar
Iyengar Yoga in Austin is a blog created by Anne-Marie Schultz
Yoga regionwide,
to provide information on yoga classes all over the Austin
particularly within the
area—in stand-alone studios and, as she puts it, all the other
medical community and to underserved populations.
“nooks and crannies” where Iyengar Yoga and Iyengar-inspired yoga is taught (iyengaryogainaustin.blogspot.com). After earning her Introductory II certification in 2006 and relocating to Austin in 2007, Schultz faced a problem. She was new in town and had left an established student base in Waco. In Austin, she had places to teach but no home studio and no website devoted to her teachings or class schedule. It was difficult for her to develop a student following. Schultz is a full-time, tenured professor of philosophy at Baylor University. She also manages to teach Iyengar Yoga in three places. After moving to Austin, she realized there were other certified Iyengar Yoga teachers in the same area with the same problem: How to let their students and the general public know
John Hayden, Manouso Manos, and Stephanie Quirk at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco’s grand opening celebration.
what, when, and where they were teaching. So Schultz created
IYANW
If you live in or are visiting the Austin area and need to find an
Changes are in the air at Tree House Iyengar Yoga in Shoreline,
Iyengar Yoga class, Iyengar Yoga in Austin is the most efficient way
Wash., a suburb of Seattle. In September, Shaw-Juin Wang
to see the whole spectrum of teachers and venues. Or if you live in
(Intermediate Junior II) will take over ownership of the studio.
the area and you want to take more classes with your teacher but
Iyengar Yoga in Austin as a remedy.
she only teaches at your gym once a week, you can check this Pat Musburger, a friend and colleague of Wang’s from Houston,
website to see if she may be holding classes elsewhere.
has owned the studio for the past decade. When Musburger (Intermediate Junior I) moved to Seattle in 2003, she purchased
Schultz writes primarily for an audience of devoted Iyengar
Tree House Yoga and received permission from Guruji to
practitioners and includes sequences that are usually taken
change the name to Tree House Iyengar Yoga. She then worked
from a recent workshop by a senior teacher, many from Patricia
diligently to promote Iyengar Yoga in the community and to
Walden. She posts sequences for practice, and then a group of
train and certify teachers. Over the years, she has helped
advanced students and teachers get together every Friday to
mentor and recommend numerous teachers for certification
practice together. Teachers learn from each other and get
and has held at least seven assessments at the studio. Tree
feedback on their teaching. These practice sessions provide a
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
5
News
FROM THE REGIONS
means to reinforce learning from workshops and share
states. Numerous studios volunteered to offer an extended two-
knowledge with those unable to attend. Schultz helps build
or three-hour class for new and renewing students. The drive
community in a more general way by providing a forum for
was a great success and seems to be key in keeping our
news and events in the area. So, if there’s a potluck, a
membership base strong. We are planning to continue our
fundraiser, workshop, or offering by a visiting teacher in Austin,
membership drive this coming year.
it will definitely be on the blog. In addition to hosting these events, we awarded two Finally, Iyengar Yoga in Austin is a marketing tool that would be
scholarships for continued study this past year and have
beneficial in any city where certified teachers are not all
implemented a number of improvements to our website and
teaching in one location. By providing useful information about
social media outreach. We awarded our annual scholarship for
Iyengar Yoga in her local area, Schultz is effectively marketing
study at RIMYI to Maribeth Sartain, and we awarded a
for the method rather than any particular studio. In business
scholarship to Kquvien Deweese for the Intermediate workshop
terms, this is our “brand”—we all benefit when the brand is
with Joan White in Nashville. We encourage students and
publicized. Further, Iyengar Yoga in Austin contains a blogroll
teachers from our region to view our website (www.iyase.org) to
on the side that lists other blogs related to Iyengar Yoga,
learn about scholarship opportunities. We also encourage
including those of Devon Diederich, Peggy Kelley, Yves Oberlin,
students and teachers in our region to check out our website
and Schultz’s other blog, Teaching Philosophy and Yoga. In this
and Facebook page.
age of Google rankings, sites with useful information that have a wide-reaching audience and link back to one’s own website or
IYASW
sense, I too started a blog: Iyengar Yoga in Houston. Schultz’s
Community-Based Seva in Arizona: Patchwork Lives Giving Circle
model is worthy of replication.
A giving circle is a group of people who share their time, talents
blog are a boon. Inspired by Schultz’s creativity and common
and resources for the benefit of others. The Patchwork Lives
IYASE
Giving Circle was started in 2006 by Kathy Shimpock. The
The Iyengar Yoga Association of the Southeast (IYASE) held a
mission is to improve and enhance the lives of women and
number of successful events this past year. Our region initiated
children living in Maricopa County, Arizona. Patchwork is
its first co-sponsored workshop uniting our regional support
incorporated as a nonprofit charitable corporation under the
behind a community studio. IYASE teamed with the Iyengar
laws of the state of Arizona.
Yoga Center of Nashville to host Joan White for a Junior Intermediate workshop that focused on observation and
Shimpock, a long-time Iyengar Yoga student, lawyer, and
adjustment. The Iyengar Center of Nashville organized the
spiritual counselor founded Patchwork as a seva. Her goal is to
workshop and shared profits with IYASE. The association in
provide direct aid to women and children in need in the
return helped promote and provide scholarship opportunities
community without the high overhead and salaries of large
for the event. The gift of this relationship was that it allowed
charitable organizations.
IYASE to help bring a senior teacher to our region and support a regional studio without having to take on the burden of hosting the workshop. The effort proved profitable for both IYASE and our regional studio. The turnout was excellent, and we hope this model will be one that regional studios and IYASE can benefit from in the future. We encourage any regional studios that are interested in co-sponsoring a workshop with IYASE to contact us! We also hosted an introductory teacher training at Stillwater Yoga Studio in Atlanta with Kathleen Pringle. Thanks to Kathleen, this workshop has become a staple in our region and has provided a great opportunity for students curious about teaching and beginner teachers to hone their teaching skills. In addition to regional workshops, we hosted a membership drive this past year with volunteer teachers and studios from many
6
Backpacks ready to distribute to Phoenix-area school children. Archana Yoga students contribute to this effort every July.
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
Archana Yoga, in Gilbert, Ariz., owned and operated by Josephine Lazarus, has been an active contributor to Patchwork Lives since its inception. Lazarus and Archana Yoga students along with a dozen other members have raised donations for school supplies for children, tote bags filled with personal necessities for homeless women, suitcases for women in transition living in shelters, and water distribution to the homeless in our blistering heat. Patchwork holds events for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and other holidays for shelter children and families. Please contact Kathy Shimpock at kathy@patchworklives.org or take a look at the Patchwork Lives Giving Circle website (www.patchworklives.org) to learn more about the service
Ben Thomas workshop, January 2014
opportunities.
Membership Workshop
levels had the opportunity to experience Thomas’ comprehensive approach to yoga.
IYASW hosted its inaugural membership workshop on Jan. 25, 2014, taught by Intermediate Senior I teacher Ben Thomas.
Thomas teaches with clarity, an evenness of spirit and inner joy
Thomas and his wife Tommi joined our SW community a few
that naturally guides his students toward inner stillness. He
years ago from the Bay Area. Thomas taught a comprehensive,
emphasizes the sacredness of each moment of the practice so
one-day workshop. Katherine Maltz donated the B.K.S. Iyengar
that we can explore, experience, become curious, and slow
Yoga Studio of Tucson for the event. Twenty-five students of all
down enough to realize the true art and science of yoga.
“IN SLEEP, THE SENSES OF PERCEPTION REST IN THE MIND, THE MIND IN THE CONSCIOUSNESS, AND THE CONSCIOUSNESS IN THE BEING. SLEEP IS OF THREE TYPES. IF ONE FEELS HEAVY AND DULL AFTER SLEEP, THAT SLEEP HAS BEEN TAMASIC. DISTURBED SLEEP IS RAJASIC. SLEEP THAT BRINGS LIGHTNESS, BRIG HTNESS, AND FRESHNESS IS SATTVIC.” — B . K . S. I YE N GA R, LI GHT O N T HE YO GA SU T RAS, SU T R A 1 . 1 0
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
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WH ICH C OM E S F IR ST : R E ST F U L S L E E P OR A NO U R ISH I NG YO GA P R AC T I C E ? By Michelle D. Williams
I
have this goal to get up early to do my yoga practice. I envision about 20 minutes of pranayama, followed by a half hour break for tea and kitty pets, then another 30–60 minutes of asana practice. It seems simple on paper,
If you don’t jump on the sleep train when it comes to your station, it will take off and leave you behind.
especially since I work at home for myself and have no kids to get out the door. to miss out on things. If friends are going out or having a dinner But I continually fail at this goal. And it’s often because I’d
party, I want to be there. If there’s an interesting performance
rather sleep a little longer. Sleep has been a lifelong issue for
to be seen or a few in one week, I’ll try to fit them all in. I take
me—falling asleep in particular. Even as a kid, I’d lie awake at
dance classes and poetry classes and join book groups and
night, first listening to the low murmurings of Johnny Carson
work on crafty projects in the basement.
coming from the living room, and then, after my mom went to bed, listening to the furnace shutting on and off, or the crickets
Other things can interfere with my ability to fall asleep, like
singing outside, or the trains coming and going in the distance.
having a huge dinner or drinking too much alcohol, working past my bedtime, or messing around with Facebook and email.
But sleep is just as important to our overall well-being as eating
Also, I slept in the same bed as my mother until I was seven
healthy foods and getting plenty of exercise. According to the
years old, which was wonderful in many ways. But I remember
Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School, sleep
that adjusting to sleeping in my own bed was a challenge, so on
plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory,
some very deep level, I think going to bed and falling asleep
learning, and other vital functions. Sleep gives the body an
strikes fear of being alone.
opportunity to repair and rejuvenate itself. New research shows that many of the major restorative functions in the body like
Over the years, as I became more proactive in taking care of my
muscle growth, tissue repair, growth hormone release, and
own well-being, I made positive changes to my diet, began to
protein synthesis occur mostly, or in some cases only, during
exercise more, and developed a yoga practice, but I still found it
sleep. Other rejuvenating aspects of sleep are specific to the
difficult to focus on my sleep habits. After all, sleep is a passive
brain and cognitive function. A recent study revealed a link
activity. Even though I knew I struggled with insomnia, I still
between sleep and brain plasticity, which is the brain’s ability to
thought I should be able to get into bed, close my eyes, and
change and restructure itself. The benefits list goes on.
sleep would just happen. Of course, when I was younger, I could get by on less sleep.
So why, then, do so many of us neglect our sleep? Many people get by on just five or six hours of sleep a night. We live such
But these days, a poor night’s sleep takes its toll. For me, that
busy, amped-up lives that it’s difficult to get to bed early. We
means not getting out of bed quite as early as I’d like to, so I’m
work long hours and then pack our evenings full of
groggy. My yoga practice gets cut short, or I’m late to start work.
extracurricular activities, meetings, projects, and chores. Or we
It can also mean that I’m fatigued throughout the day, or I don’t
sit on the couch watching episode after episode of our favorite
think as clearly and creatively as I’d like to, or I don’t have the
cable TV (or BBC—Downton!) shows late into the night.
energy to work on the more challenging asanas in my practice.
Once we do crawl under the covers, our minds are still active,
Does Poor Sleep Disturb My Practice?
going over interactions from the day and planning for
I decided to consider my difficulties in getting good sleep—or
tomorrow or next week—or next month even. So we end up
my resistance to working on my sleep habits—in the context of
with insomnia or just a very truncated sleep cycle.
the obstacles outlined in Sutra I:30. Patanjali’s obstacles get in
Sleep Interferes With Life
the way of attaining a calm mind, which has a huge impact on sleep. Mr. Iyengar groups the obstacles into four categories:
My own difficulties in going to sleep have stemmed from different issues at different times in my life. I’ve always had a
PHYSICAL
very active, analytical brain and a nervous system that does not
• Vyadhi (illness). When I’m sick, I often don’t sleep well.
quiet down easily. Also, I’m a person who definitely doesn’t like
8
Even if my physical being is just a little out of balance, I can
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
Illustration: Curtis Settino
be uncomfortable in bed and sleep poorly. Of course, getting good sleep is one ingredient for overall well-being and can
THE LONG AND SHORT OF A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP By Roger Cole
contribute to lack of disease. • Styana (sluggishness). Sometimes, I simply have no motivation to move my body—especially when I’m tired from not getting enough sleep! It’s a catch 22 because exercising the body during the day leads to more restful sleep at night, which in turn makes it easier to practice overall.
MENTAL • Samsaya (indecision or doubt). There may have been a part of me at one time that doubted whether eight hours of sleep was really that important, but now I’m certain that I need at least that much to feel refreshed. Depending on the day, I may still weigh my options in terms of getting more sleep or going out with a good friend. And I can be indecisive about
If you have a sleep problem or are sleepy during the day, first find out whether you have sleep apnea. If you snore loudly, there’s a good chance that you do (and some people have apnea without loud snoring). Ask someone to listen while you sleep or use a smartphone app that can record snoring. You can’t tell by yourself if you snore; a lot of champion snorers have no idea that they are doing it. If you do snore significantly, get checked for apnea at a sleep clinic (they may provide you with a takehome, medical-grade monitor). If you have apnea, get it treated! One effective treatment to consider is an oral appliance, which is essentially a prop that you wear in your mouth while you sleep. At present, there are no yoga sequences known to treat sleep apnea.
what steps to take on any given night when getting ready for bed. In a similar vein, when I’m struggling to fall asleep
If you have insomnia (especially if you fall asleep at first
or when I’m fatigued during the day, I can doubt my own
but wake up and have trouble falling back to sleep), here
efforts toward establishing good sleep habits and then
are two options. For each option, it may help to sleep with
spend a lot of time worrying about this.
an elastic bandage wrapped loosely around your head, covering your eyes.
• Pramada (carelessness or negligence). When I choose to do the things that keep me from getting a good night’s sleep—
Option 1: Short Time in Bed
like staying out late or watching movies past my
If you choose this option, start by shortening your total
bedtime—it’s a careless attitude. I’m flat out neglecting my
time in bed each night to approximately six hours—and do
overall health and ultimately affecting many other aspects
this night after night on a strict, fixed schedule. Don’t take
of my life, which can actually create a domino effect of
any naps or practice any restorative poses during the day
imbalance.
or evening (except three minutes or less of Savasana after an ordinary asana practice each day). Continue
• Alasya (idleness). I can have a sort of mental laziness when
your usual seated pranayama practice if you have one.
it’s time to practice relaxing, sleep-inducing yoga poses in
During the six-hour scheduled bedtime period, if you
the late evening. Part of it is that I get overwhelmed by all
don’t fall asleep within 15 minutes of getting into bed,
the steps I need to take in preparation for keeping myself in
or if you wake up and lie awake for 15 minutes, then get
balance. I end up wasting time in some idle way while I Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
Continued on next page 9
Roger Cole continued
consider what I need to do before bed. If I could spend that
out of bed and practice seated meditation or pranayama
time doing even just one or two sleep-benefitting activities,
(emphasizing exhalation) in the dark, wrapped in warm
I’d be in much better shape.
blankets, until you feel sleepy, then get back into bed to attempt sleep again.
• Avirati (overindulgence). Giving in to sense gratification and stimuli like TV or Facebook—or even being greedy for
After a few nights of sticking strictly to this schedule, you
more experiences or social activities—can certainly keep me
should be sleepy enough to sleep through most of the
from getting good sleep.
night with few interruptions and get at least five hours of sleep. When this happens, keep avoiding daytime and
INTELLECTUAL
evening naps, and set your time in bed to six hours and 15
• Bhrantidarsana (confusion or delusion). This is a good
minutes. Repeat the same procedure as above, with a
one—I can convince myself that I’m taking care of myself,
target of sleeping for at least 85 percent of that time.
when in fact, my yoga practice or bedtime routines are not
When you achieve this goal for two or three nights in a
quite on the mark. It can be a subtle thing to discern, but
row, increase your scheduled time in bed by an additional
when fatigue, depression, and ongoing restlessness
15 minutes.
continue, it’s a good bet that I’m not getting very good sleep. Maybe I’ve rushed my practice or skipped part of the
Over a few weeks, gradually increase your time in bed 15
bedtime routine or consumed something a little too
minutes at a time, but only do it if you have succeeded in
stimulating. Or maybe I’m just going through the motions.
sleeping for 85 percent of your previously scheduled time
Another way this obstacle can manifest is through lack of
for at least two or three nights in a row. When you reach a
confidence, or a false perception of my abilities. I convince
point where you can no longer increase your sleep to the
myself that I can’t do a certain asana or that I’m simply
85 percent mark, reduce your scheduled time in bed to the
wired in such a way that good, deep sleep is out of reach.
previous, successful level. Keep that as your new sleep
Obviously, this sort of attitude is self-defeatist and will
schedule indefinitely, seven days a week. And after
never get me where I want to go—and it can interfere with
reaching this stable sleep time, you can start practicing
decent sleep!
restorative poses again.
SPIRITUAL WARNING: During the weeks it takes to optimize sleep
• Alabdhabhumikatva (lack of perseverance, missing the
time, expect to be sleep deprived. Sleep deprivation
point). More and more, my life is centered around my
increases the risk of making errors and having lapses
practice—not just asana, though I do some asana every
of attention. This can be dangerous while driving or
day—but also around my philosophies and understandings
operating machinery, and can cause a number of
of what “my path” should be. When I fluctuate from this,
other problems.
losing track of that path, which invariably will happen, or I
Option 2: Long Time in Bed If you choose this option, turn the lights in your home
rush through my asana or pranayama practice, then I feel off balance emotionally as well as physically. And then sleep becomes more difficult.
down low or off at sunset and go to bed each night at least ten hours before you have to get up in the morning. Before
• Anavasthitatvani (backsliding or regression). No matter
going to bed, do whatever nondrug method it takes to help
how much I long for balance and despite my efforts in
you get to sleep—meditation, pranayama, restorative
fostering well-being, my mind remains restless and chatty, and
asanas, a warm bath, etc.—or simply get into bed, turn off
at bedtime, that is especially unhelpful. When I’ve been
the lights, and try to go to sleep. Don’t worry about how
thrown off balance because of my lack of perseverance, then I
long it takes you to fall asleep or whether you wake up in
can become restless and want to just do something to make
the night—you have plenty of time to rest or sleep before
myself feel good in the moment—eat something indulgent or
you get up in the morning.
stay up too late and then dive into bed without even trying to calm my mind and nervous system. This regression, sort of
You’re likely to wake up in the night, and if you do, then do
giving up on the routine in the moment, affects not only my
whatever peaceful activity you like, as long as you do it in
desire for good sleep, but my entire yoga practice.
very dim light or in the dark (no bright computer screens,
10
phones, TVs, etc.). A very good thing to do is to simply
And so it goes that poor sleep means I don’t practice as well.
remain lying down and let your mind wander in the dark,
When I don’t commit as much time and effort to my yoga
not being concerned about whether you are awake or
practice, my mind and body are more restless. And when my
asleep. Other things you might do are hold a conversation,
mind and body are restless, I don’t sleep as well.
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
So How to Break the Cycle? Ironically one remedy, outlined in Sutra I:38, for overcoming these nine obstacles is contemplation of dreamless or dreamfilled sleep, or the unconscious and subconscious mental
I find that if I respond to my body’s desire to sleep, I can fall asleep more quickly, sleep more soundly, and wake up feeling rested.
planes, respectively. This contemplation helps transform the different states of consciousness—sleeping, waking, meditating—into one, flowing and calm state. So perhaps I’m
Lately, I’m trying to keep the majority of my evenings open for
on the right track by focusing more on my sleep habits overall.
quiet, personal time. In addition, the biggest change I’ve made has probably been to just respond to my first feelings of
Over time, my health and well-being—including getting restful
sleepiness. If you don’t jump on the sleep train when it comes
sleep—has become the most important aspect of my life, and
to your station, it will take off and leave you behind. And this is
my yoga practice is at the heart of this. At 48, I’m officially in
science. Our bodies are programmed to shut down at a certain
perimenopause, and my body demands sleep. Overcoming
time every night. The hypothalamus is responsible for shutting
insomnia now has my full attention, and I have been trying a
down the brain’s arousal signals and causing the transition to
few different approaches. Experts say it’s important to establish
sleep. We have the ability to override the hypothalamus,
a consistent sleep schedule, so I’m making an effort to do that.
though, and some of us can easily ignore those signs of
I’m making fewer evening plans, especially on week nights. I’m
sleepiness. When we do this, the hypothalamus starts up again,
trying to wrap up the work day before dinner and shut down all
inspiring the brain’s arousal signals, which is how we can get a
technology. At the first signs of sleepiness, I begin to down shift.
second wind. I used to do this all the time and just stay up later
I dim lights and avoid talking about “serious” things. I focus on
and later, and then ultimately struggle to get to sleep—and
quiet activities like reading or knitting.
sleep well.
And to help relax my nervous system, I take hot baths, drink
But now, I find that if I respond to my body’s desire to sleep, I
herbal teas, and take magnesium. The cats are no longer
can fall asleep more quickly, sleep more soundly, and wake up
allowed in the bedroom at night because their comings and
feeling rested. And this means that I end up having time to do
goings can be disturbing. (My 19-year-old cat developed the
both pranayama and asana in the morning, with a kitty-petting
charming habit of standing on my pillow several times in the
break in between! And, I end up feeling more focused and
middle of the night and meowing loudly in my ear.)
creative throughout the day, which is not too bad, either.
I’m also trying to use my yoga practice to help foster more
Michelle D. Williams lives in Portland, Oregon, and is the editor of
balanced sleep. At minimum, I do a few forward bends before
Yoga Samachar. She has been practicing Iyengar Yoga since 1994.
bed. Years ago, I took a six-month introductory teacher training with Julie Lawrence and one of our assignments was to practice headstand and shoulder stand every night before bed. Just to
Roger Cole continued
observe. That experiment had profound results. Not only did I
read in very dim light (preferably red light), or do any of
fall asleep more quickly than I had been, but I slept more
the before-bed activities mentioned above. You can get up
deeply and woke up feeling refreshed. It’s a great practice.
but avoid getting cold, standing for prolonged periods, or exercising. It’s okay to catch up on non stressful work or
In fact, in the back of Light on Yoga, Guruji’s sequence for
leisure activities in the middle of the night as long as they
insomnia is basically that, plus a couple forward bends and
meet the criteria above. If you are awake long enough, it is
some pranayama:
almost inevitable that you will eventually get sleepy and fall back to sleep.
• Sirsasana and cycle • Sarvangasana and cycle
After several days on this schedule, if you feel that you are
• Paschimottanasana
not getting enough sleep, then set your bedtime earlier or
• Uttanasana
your wake up time later. Over time, settle on a generous
• Bhastrika, Nadi Sodhana and
sleep schedule that feels right to you.
Suryabhedana pranayama without retention • Sanmukhi mudra • Savasana
Roger Cole, Ph.D., is an Intermediate Junior III Iyengar Yoga teacher and neuroscientist. Since the 1970s, he has trained
You would think after such terrific results, I would commit to
students, teachers, and medical professionals worldwide in the
this practice for the rest of my life—but it’s not that simple.
anatomy, physiology, and precise practice of yoga, relaxation,
(See the list of disturbances and obstacles above. I’m working
and sleep.
on it.) Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
11
YO G A C H A I R P R O P
Congratulations, Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York, on your recent opening of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Brooklyn. Thank you, James Murphy, for your order of 30 tall chairs.
YOGACHAIRPROP.COM
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415-686-4547
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
Photo: Felix Muzquiz
A H IMS A 101: D O E S E AT I N G ME AT INTER FER E WIT H T H E D E E P E N I N G O F OUR YOGA PRAC T IC E ? By Suzie Muchnick, with Michael Spencer
S
cience reveals the stunning benefits of a plant-based
Guruji and Prashantji have both said that they do not demand
diet—in fact, the claimed effects of veganism seem
that their students be vegetarian. They know that time and
impossible sometimes. Will avoiding meat actually
yoga practice will naturally lead to vegetarianism. In the
help save the planet and reduce pollution, all the
introduction to Light on Yoga, Guruji writes, “Whether or not to
while helping us dodge diabetes, cancer, and heart disease?
be a vegetarian is a purely personal matter… But, in the course
Actually, yes, the claims are true, and more: Eliminating
of time, the practitioner of yoga has to adopt a vegetarian diet,
animal flesh from our diets could dramatically reduce global
in order to attain one-pointed attention and spiritual evolution.”
hunger, and it honors animals.
Digest that as you will.
Despite all of these claims, many people continue to eat meat.
The notion that yoga practice brings vegetarianism isn’t unique
Why? People do things for many reasons. Frequently, we do
to Guruji. Hindu scholar Edwin Bryant’s extensive commentary
things against our own self-interest, balancing the desire of the
on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali paraphrases Hariharananda, head
moment against a long, healthy life. Or we convince ourselves,
of the Kriya Yoga Institute in the U.S., stating that the fifth limb
despite the evidence, that eating meat is the only way to get the
of yoga, Dharana or concentration, is essential for perfecting the
nutrition we need. And sometimes even our doctors tell us we
Yamas and Niyamas. While ahimsa is presented in the sutras as
need meat to stay healthy. There’s an inexplicable streak of
the very first Yama that a practitioner must follow, Dharana
individualism in all of us that sometimes makes no sense
deepens our ability to practice the earlier limbs. And so as our
whatsoever, and yet without it, the magic of being human
practice deepens, our understanding of ahimsa will also
would be gone. Indeed, we must make these choices for
broaden and may come to include practicing vegetarianism.
ourselves as individuals. In Volume 4 of Astadala Yogamala, Guruji graphically illustrates But as yogis, how does the food we eat affect our practice?
another reason to consciously choose what you eat: “A
And does eating meat actually go against the first Yama—
nonvegetarian diet is not conducive to the mental and spiritual
ahimsa, or nonviolence?
aspects of yoga. When an animal is lead to a slaughterhouse, does anyone study the terror, fear, and anguish before it is
While the Iyengars have not published extensively on the topic,
slaughtered? This consequently changes the chemical
Guruji makes it clear in Light on Yoga that a vegetarian diet is
composition of the animal’s body, which is very disturbed.
essential for practicing yoga. In his introductory discussion of
When one eats this disturbed, perturbed, frightened, and
ahimsa, he writes, “Men either kill for food or to protect
chemically changed flesh of the animal, naturally it affects the
themselves from danger. But merely because a man is a
system and disturbs the harmony of one’s body and mind.” As
vegetarian, it does not necessarily follow that he is nonviolent
Guruji framed the process, does it really matter if the meat was
by temperament or that he is a yogi, though a vegetarian diet is a
“factory farmed” or “free-range”?
necessity for the practice of yoga. Blood-thirsty tyrants may be vegetarians, but violence is a state of mind, not of diet.” Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
13
My Own Journey to Veganism One of life’s punctuation marks came as a rebuke from a student in March 1975 upon learning that I was not vegetarian.
So does eating meat interfere with our practice? Each of us must decide that for ourselves.
I thought little of it at the time, but a seed was planted those 40 years ago, a benign seed lying quietly close to a ready heart. But I had eyes that would not see.
Eventually, I began to believe that eating meat—and ultimately all animal products—interfered with my yoga practice, blocking
Why would I even think about diet and yoga? My life was all
my spiritual path. For me, a nonvegetarian diet did not fit in
about food—I’m Jewish, after all. I was a latch-key kid growing
with my desire to go deeper. My husband, Michael, had a
up in a traditional Jewish family. My first-generation American
similar experience: Starting his yoga life in Louisiana, he came
parents both worked. Meals centered around beef, chicken,
to realize one day that he was not eating meat.
turkey, eggs, milk, and Mrs. Paul’s Fish sticks. Yes, I also ate the usual vegetables, and there was a sense that “healthiness” was
My yoga practice forms the framework of my life, and that
important.
means much more than getting down on the mat. Practice encompasses the whole of yoga: the Yamas and the Niyamas;
Mommy and “Ma” (my grandmother) cooked for all the
Sirsasana and the effects of Sirsasana; practicing maitri and
holidays. How I loved the Challah bread (and the French toast
learning discrimination; and dharma, duty. Is it also necessary
made with leftovers) and the stuffed cabbage! There was chicken
to be vegan? Is it incumbent on me to observe ahimsa toward all
soup with knaidlach (eggs), and of course, they made kugel (with
sentient beings?
cheese). A holiday kitchen atmosphere was thick as a steam bath. Pots and ovens were mere tools in the hands of those two
When we practice asana, our efforts affect not only our muscles
ladies, practicing the magic of traditional Jewish cooking.
and bones but also our organic body parts: our heart and lungs and so on. We have methods to help menstrual cramps, anxiety,
And we loved Chinese and Italian food. Every Sunday was
depression, Parkinson’s disease—the list goes on. But we also
Chinese takeout night. Other times, Mom would make the best
affect our “abode” by what we eat (or don’t eat). Recently, I read
spaghetti and meatballs. I recall all of those dishes fondly. Fast-
one of the first pages on the IYNAUS website about Patanjali’s
forward to 2014, and I’m still making my favorite childhood
Ashtanga Yoga:
dishes—but vegan versions! • The first two limbs of yoga, Yama and Niyama, give us guidance Growing up, and even after I’d started practicing yoga to some
for our conduct. One of the most essential of these rules is
degree, I didn’t think about what animals went through to feed
ahimsa, nonviolence—sometimes translated as love for others.
us, the cruelty that was perpetrated on them. It never occurred
This idea is too complex to be easily understood, but in Iyengar
to me that the chicken breast I was eating was the muscle of a
Yoga students learn to practice ahimsa while practicing asana.
chicken. And it wasn’t that I didn’t have an understanding of anatomy. But meat is … meat, right? Not an animal! We live in
• One example: Performed incorrectly, a yoga asana may cause
a state of disconnection (bhrantidarsana) from the animals we
pain in the knee. When the student learns the remedy—correct
eat. My husband mutters, “dead body parts” as we shuffle past
alignment, as directed by an Iyengar Yoga instructor—the pose is
the meat department at the grocery store. Truer words were
done without pain, without doing violence to the self. The student
never spoken.
then begins to understand nonviolence and how to apply it, first in yoga, then “off the mat,” in life.
My journey started not with diet but with a nascent animal activism. I was so against animal experimentation that during
Again, it’s a reference to that deepening of practice.
my graduate work in physical education I asked my anatomy and physiology teacher to lower my grade in an attempt to
So does one have to become a vegan to practice ahimsa? Would
avoid animal dissection. The university wouldn’t agree; I did the
I give up honey, leather shoes and belts, all of the animal
dissection. But I honored that cat with meticulous surgery and
products that pervade our environment? This question haunted
respectfully buried her. All my classmates used my cat as an
me for many years as I continued to grow in my yoga practice
example for their dissections. Students now have choices
and in my life. Maturation and reflection failed to yield a clear
thanks to the work of the American Anti-Vivisection Society
answer. The question plagued me until a teacher training in
(AAVS) and The National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS).
1996 with Manouso Manos in New York. Manouso was teaching
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Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
headstand—long headstand, the kind of headstand where the
meat-eater would, and reach for familiar recipes that we can
sweat drips and the hands slip with wetness. Why did clarity
pull together easily.
come at that time? Who knows? In fact, who cares?! Gratefully, the way forward was clear. To know what I had learned about
When someone is interested in vegetarianism or veganism but
animal agriculture (yes, even pasture-raised and organic
just can’t make the leap, it’s really about overcoming
agriculture) and to still support animal-based industries,
obstacles—the same obstacles that get in the way of our
including pharmaceutical and cosmetic, was shameful to me. I
practice in general, as outlined in Sutra I:30:
definitely cannot practice ahimsa and support those industries.
I Encourage My Students
• vyadhi (disease) • styana (mental laziness)
Knowing about my plant-based diet, students look to me for
• samsaya (doubt, indecision)
leadership in the way they naturally look to teachers. It is a
• pramada (negligence)
serious responsibility. They know many of my life choices. They
• alasya (physical laziness)
know that I am an animal activist and that I have a totally
• avirati (lacking moderation)
vegan diet. When they ask, “Why?” I tell them. Some are
• bhrantidarsana (living in an illusion)
daunted by the prospect of trying to make dietary changes or
• alabdhabhumikatva (missing the mark)
are concerned that becoming a vegetarian will require more
• anavasthitatvani (back-sliding)
hours in the kitchen. Each journey is unique. All of us come to
• cittaviksepah (scattered, distracted mind)
terms with unwanted behaviors and releasing old habits on our own. We deepen our yoga practice individually and at a pace
So does eating meat interfere with our practice? Each of us
that seems right. Still, the move away from consuming animals
must decide that for ourselves. Adopting a vegetarian or vegan
is important beyond the level of the individual. I urge them
diet is just one possibility along the yogic journey. And it’s up to
where I can, nudge them when I must.
us to decide what our yoga journey means to us and how far we’d like to take it. Regardless where we are along this path, it’s
The studio offers literature about research in the science of
useful to look at the obstacles that block our deepening. We
nutrition and disease. In the same way that I share “my yoga”
always have choices.
with interested students, I also share my life choices like eating a totally plant-based diet for the spiritual reasons as well as the
Vegan Resources
known benefits.
One way that some meat-eaters make the transition to veganism is to use “faux meat” in familiar recipes. Made to resemble meat products and often heavily processed, faux meat is a bit controversial. It’s wonderfully useful, though, because frequently a simple one-for-one substitution can be made in any recipe that calls for meat.
I know that not all of my students practice the lessons I share from the Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita, and I know that some of my students will not practice veganism even after I share my experiences with them. As I know well, a seed planted near a willing heart will abide, waiting for the eyes to open. I do fret when a student develops a condition like diabetes or heart disease, and I know that they eat animal-based foods (even if they are not overweight).
Inform yourself. The Internet offers loads of nutritional information and recipes on vegetarianism and veganism. Here are a few useful sites:
Many of my students say they are simply too busy to make the
• http://pcrm.org/health/diets/recipes
change, that they don’t have time to chop all those vegetables.
• http://www.forksoverknives.com/category/recipes
The thing is, adopting a plant-based diet does not require extra
• http://engine2diet.com/recipes/favorites/
time. I know because I have a busy life myself. Neither Michael
• http://www.veganricha.com/search/label/main%20course
nor I want to spend extra time in the kitchen. Most of the meals
• http://www.peacefuldumpling.com/category/food/recipes
we cook at home don’t take any longer to make than if we were having meat. Suzie Muchnick (Intermediate Junior III) is the director of Postures, also We both know that approaching the kitchen with a bad attitude
known as The Yoga Workshop, in New York and Coconut Grove, Fla.
yields bad food, so we try to use cooking time as a respite, not a
Michael Spencer is a landscape architect and garden writer.
chore. We use meal times to step away from the fray to nurture our bodies. We keep it simple when we are busy, just like a Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
15
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Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
BA L A N C I N G W I T H C HE F A L L I S O N By Michelle D. Williams
W
e all know that eating and yoga don’t really mix. It can be tricky to time meals at least two hours before class or home practice. And preparing a nice, healthy meal can take up a lot
“Food to me is not just fuel. Cooking is an act of love—it’s nurturing, it’s creativity. And yoga is similarly all of those things…”
of time—certainly longer than ordering takeout or grabbing something ready-made. If you’re working full time, taking
moment, it can be sort of magical. I’m just in the pose, and I’m
care of a family, enjoying hobbies, and spending time with
not struggling with it.”
friends, it’s difficult to find time to actually cook. But the food we eat is so critical to how we feel overall, and what we
Bader says cooking is the same. “There are so many things I
eat can drastically affect our yoga practice.
love about cooking. I love the mundane—all the chopping of vegetables and other prep work. I love it because those tasks
For Allison Bader, who has been a professional chef for 25 years
make it easy for me—for my mind—to just be there with the
and practicing Iyengar Yoga for more than a dozen, cooking,
product that I’m working with. I’m not thinking about my kids
eating, and yoga are all part of the same practice. “Good food—
and what they’re doing, and I’m not thinking about what I’m
healthy food—is a passion of mine,” Bader says. “And I’m
going to make for dinner at home. I just let go of the points and
passionate about my yoga practice too. In fact, I find a lot of
I’m there. And that for me is where yoga and cooking really
similarities between yoga and cooking.”
kind of merge.”
When she first started taking Iyengar Yoga classes, in her mid-
Lost in Asparagus
40s, it was a way for her to build strength and stay flexible.
Life in the food industry can be crazy—and seemingly not very
Bader is also an avid tennis player and skier so wanted
balanced. Shifts can be long, and depending on your focus,
something to balance out the active, physical side of those
you’re either getting up at 3 a.m. to bake or you’re getting home
sports. But she was immediately drawn into the philosophy of
at 3 a.m. after a long night followed by post-shift hanging out.
yoga and the “just being” of it. Back when she lived in Boston, Bader worked as a pastry chef at “In my classes with Julie Lawrence, we’ll be working hard,
a small but very busy restaurant. She’d go in really early and
putting a lot of effort into a particular pose and holding it,”
make all of the pastries and then all of the pasta for the day.
Bader says. “Then right at the point when I say to myself, ‘Oh,
Then she’d start the stocks and some of the other prep.
my god. Can I just get out of this?’ She’ll say, ‘Okay, now let go
Gradually as the day went on, more staff would roll in and
of the points and just be in the pose.’ When I get to this
things would get busier and busier. By lunchtime, it was
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
17
HOW TO PEEL ASPARAGUS
Indeed, Bader is in her element when she is focused on the details of chopping and peeling. For her, the attention to detail in preparing food parallels that required for practicing
Chef Allison prefers thick, meaty stalks because ultimately they are not as woody and stringy as the thin stalks.
Iyengar Yoga. “I think I was attracted to Iyengar Yoga because it is very focused and detail-oriented. That’s how I cook. My mind stays
• Snap off the tough ends of each stalk—or cut them off so that every stalk is the exact same length.
really focused on the physical aspect of what I’m doing—partly because I’m working with a sharp object! In yoga, I have to focus on what my physical body is doing or I will hurt myself or
• Peel the bottom half of every stalk.
fall out of the pose. There are those days when I can’t seem to find my balance in yoga. And that’s because I’m not present.
• Take your time, and peel very lightly using a regular vegetable peeler. “It’s one of those extra steps that brings food up to the next level,” Bader says. “Just like making your own chicken stock.”
My mind is elsewhere. That’s when I feel wobbly or tippy.”
Cooking as Practice “The most nurturing thing you can do for yourself or anyone else is to cook food,” Bader says. “It nurtures your body and your soul. Food to me is not just fuel. Cooking is an act of love—it’s nurturing, it’s creativity. And yoga is similarly all of those things— it nurtures me, my soul, my physical being. Being athletic in other areas, it’s helped me maintain a balance in my life.” And that’s what Bader’s life is all about really: balance. She loves eating healthy food because it makes her feel good. She loves feeding her family healthy food that tastes good because she wants them to enjoy food. And a big part of cooking for friends and family is about spending time together, balancing out work and other obligations with nourishing community time. “I’m an omnivore. I eat everything,” Bader says. “But I eat less meat now. Not because I’ve consciously chosen that, but because other things sound better. Generally I don’t snack. I don’t eat junk food. I read package labels religiously—I won’t buy anything that has more than five ingredients in it. “But I’m really not that dogmatic in the way I eat or cook,” she says. “I would never forego cream or salt or butter. But when
controlled chaos. As the dinner crew came in, Bader would be
I’m feeling good and healthy, I use so little of that. I think yoga
wrapping up her shift.
brings that to my life—that sense of moderation and balance. I just automatically make good choices.”
“One of the things I loved to do in the spring … we would get these huge cases of asparagus. In the afternoon, when
Many people talk about taking their yoga practice “off the mat,”
everything was ramping up for dinner, I loved to just get a stool,
but it seems that Bader actually took her cooking practice onto
sit in the corner of the kitchen, and remove myself from all the
the mat. She found peace and centeredness early on in the
chaos. I would just sit there for an hour or two, peeling
kitchen. Years later, when she joined an Iyengar Yoga class,
asparagus for the dinner shift. None of the other prep cooks
finding it there was a piece of cake.
ever wanted to do it because it was so tedious. But I could get into a state where I didn’t have any thoughts. It was completely mindless. That sort of task has brought me closer to a
Michelle D. Williams lives in Portland, Oregon, and is the editor of
meditative state than any other activity.”
Yoga Samachar. She has been practicing Iyengar Yoga since 1994.
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Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
IT’S ALL A B O U T T H E Q U E ST I O N S : H OW TO BA L A NC E WO R K A N D P R AC T I C E By Willamarie Moore
Where (And How) I Work I work full time at an art museum. I run the school and teacher programs out of the Education Department at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. We host 55,000 school group visitors annually, bringing the visual arts into the lives and minds of kids when
When people truly resonate with a work of art, they can be transformed, experience a higher state of consciousness—perhaps something akin to Isvara pranidhana?
they’re at their most impressionable. We do so with a crew of 120 docents—dedicated, passionate, smart, and engaged volunteers who lead our guided tours for school groups every weekday
In the practice of VTS, I see a manifestation of kriya yoga, as
morning during the school year. They are able to do so because of
defined by Patanjali in Sutra II.1: Tapah svadhyaya
the in-depth training and ongoing professional development
Isvarapranidhanani kriyayogah. “Burning zeal in practice, self-
sessions that my small staff and I provide. All of us work together
study and study of scriptures, and surrender to God are the acts
with a shared commitment to and love of engaging people with
of yoga” (B.K.S. Iyengar’s translation). In his commentary, Mr.
art. We do so largely by asking questions.
Iyengar reminds us that for Patanjali, “The practice of yoga is
Photo by Jake Clennell
the ‘yoga of action’”—in other words, we practice yoga as we
The foundation of our approach to teaching with art is a
live our lives engaged with this world, not by going off to a
method called the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) (Learn more
remote cave in the mountains. From his Inside the Yoga Sutras, I
at www.vtshome.org). A VTS discussion is structured around
find Reverend Jaganath Carrera’s definition of the three
three basic questions that a facilitator poses to a group about a
components—tapas, svadhyaya, and Isvara pranidhana—
carefully selected artwork:
particularly accessible and applicable to our lives today:
1. What’s going on in this picture? 2. What do you see that makes you say that? 3. What more can we find?
• Tapas: “the acceptance of challenges as a help for
When people respond to the first question, the facilitator
• Isvara pranidhana: “leading a life dedicated to God (self-
purification” • Svadhyaya: “refinement of the intellect through introspection and the acquisition of knowledge (study)”
paraphrases their observations in a neutral, accepting manner.
surrender)”
When appropriate, she asks the second question, probing for visual evidence to back up the observation. In between
As a VTS facilitator, to accurately paraphrase people’s
respondents, the facilitator asks the third question, as a
observations, I have to listen actively and restate the essence of
reminder that there’s always more that can be found within a
the comment in a way that validates. Through acceptance of all
great work of art. After all, our interpretations are largely based
observations equally, I strive to cultivate a supportive
on what we bring to the artwork—how we personally engage
environment in which people feel comfortable sharing.
with what we are seeing in front of us. There are no wrong
Simultaneously, I am pointing to the specific area of the
answers, but there are multiple “right” answers. Together, we
artwork they’re talking about and linking their comments to
build a shared body of knowledge.
others already mentioned in the discussion. Though the process may seem simple, it’s deceptively so.
There is a beautiful parallel between the VTS method and the Iyengar method: actively do or observe, question, go deeper,
To facilitate a VTS discussion well takes a lot of practice and an
then let go.
incredible amount of discipline—tapas. Every time, after I teach
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
19
in this way, I engage in self-reflection. How did the process go?
challenging colleagues and presentations to the Trustees or
What amazing observations did people make and share,
potential new partners are still draining for an introvert like
prompted by this work of art? Was I accurately able to
me; budgets are still confounding to my more artistically
paraphrase, link, bring the group’s understanding to a higher
inclined rather than mathematical mind; emails are still
level, based solely on their contributions (i.e., without the
endlessly demanding of immediate (“Urgent!”) attention; and
imposition of art history)? What can I improve upon for next
my office, which I have to share, is in an almost-windowless
time? This is svadhyaya.
basement—there are whole days when I never get upstairs into the galleries even once. In short, it’s
Ultimately, the meaningful
not all glamour and beauty.
engagement of people with a great work of art brings them—all of us in
And particularly for someone like me,
the discussion—to a deeper
whose tendency is toward over-
understanding of our shared
achievement, perfectionism,
humanity; it engenders an
and—dare I say—work-a-holism,
appreciation for the visual arts as an
work can become all-consuming.
essential form of human expression
It was, for years and years. Until yoga
throughout history and in our world
entered my life.
today. When people truly resonate with a work of art, they can be
Where (And How) I Practice
transformed, experience a higher
I practice yoga under the tutelage of
state of consciousness—perhaps
Patricia Walden. Ever since my
something akin to Isvara pranidhana?
second-ever asana class, about 10
Needless to say, doing VTS is my
years ago now, when I was walking
favorite aspect of my job.
home openly weeping (after something—I had no idea what—
When people hear where I work, they
cracked open in me during
automatically say, “Oh, how
Sarvangasana), I have been taking
glamorous! It must be so beautiful to
classes in the Iyengar method weekly.
work at the art museum!” Which is always a good reminder
That has evolved and has expanded to also assisting Patricia
that, indeed, it is a privilege to spend my weekdays in one of
and teaching my own classes. I practice every day.
the top art museums in the world, something that I often take for granted and forget to appreciate amidst the flurry of the
I practice asana before work in the morning (usually a dynamic
everyday. Yes, it’s wonderful to walk past masterpieces on my
sequence to energize me for the day ahead) and at night before
way to meetings with colleagues in other departments. A
bed (inversions, restoratives, and pranayama) to decompress
favorite is Paul Gauguin’s Where Do We Come From? What Are
after the day’s activities. I dedicate a significant chunk of my
We? Where Are We Going? (1897–98), pictured at the top of
weekend to practicing a longer and/or a more focused sequence
page 19. And it’s a real boon to have a place like the immersive
of poses and pranayama (and preparing for assessment). I also
Japanese Buddhist Temple Room to be able to retreat to
count as part of my weekly practice chanting of the Yoga Sutras
briefly—to sit directly in front of a 12th-century seated Amida
and reading yoga philosophy, both of which I love.
Buddha (pictured above) and calm myself down at 3 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon after a particularly stressful meeting. And
Of course, the best (highest quality) practices are those where I
it can be quite grounding to lead a VTS discussion about a
am able to go deep with inquiry. I find myself asking the same
particularly compelling contemporary art piece, like Josiah
VTS questions of myself as I’m in asana practice:
McElheny’s Endlessly Repeating Twentieth-Century Modernism (2007, pictured on page 21), and contemplate the infinite— realms way beyond our petty daily worries. But the reality is that work is still work; unfortunately, I can’t
1. What’s going on here (with my inner heel, with my thoracic spine, with the skin of my temples)?
2. What do I see or feel that makes me say that?
spend all day every day just doing VTS. Meetings with
20
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
Even if I have only 30 minutes, to integrate in this way ultimately yields a high-quality, meaningful, nourishing practice, serving to balance life on and off the mat.
us, the issue of time (or lack thereof) is what comes to mind first and foremost. If we have to work a minimum of eight hours per day, plus commute to and from the office, that’s over one-third of our 24-hour day taken up with work alone. If we have to sleep a minimum of 6–8 hours per day to function healthily in both body and mind, that’s another one-third of the
3. What more can I find? Especially if I adjust this way or try
day. Which leaves us with the final one-third of the day, a
that variation?
maximum of 8 hours, to be consumed by everything else: from preparing and
Indeed, the Iyengar method is built on
eating meals to personal hygiene like
this same “scientific method” of
bathing (and who has time to floss every
observing, asking questions,
day?) to cultivating and maintaining
hypothesizing, experimenting,
relationships with family members and
observing again. The questions—and
friends, both in-person and now via all
the potential insights—are endless, as I
manner of technologies—by phone,
go deeper and deeper.
email, Skype, etc. Not to mention all the other stuff of daily life—everything from
For three years now, I’ve been teaching
cleaning out the kitty litter to helping
yoga. Though teaching is definitely
the kids with their homework to reading
distinct from the type of practice one
the newspaper to stay an informed
achieves while alone on the mat,
citizen of society …
drawing the mind inward, I do regard teaching yoga as another form of
Where does the practice of asana and
practice. According to Ericsson and
pranayama (much less sutra study and
Charness in their article on practice,
chanting) fit within all of this? I have
“Expert Performance: Its Structure and
finally come to understand that the
Acquisition” (as quoted in Stephen Cope,
solution may not be about trying to find
The Great Work of Your Life, pp. 117–118), the combination and
more hours in an already jam-packed day or figuring out ways
sustaining of certain factors result in “expertise.” Among the
to clone myself. They key is in learning to make the most of
seven key factors, the accumulation of hours within the
what I have—integrating work and practice by asking the right
so-called “domain of the task” is one. Thus, I also count
questions.
teaching yoga asana, including planning sequences and yoga studio, I certainly teach with the same kind of inquiry-
HOW CAN PRACTICE BE INTEGRATED WITH WORK? IT’S ALL ABOUT THE QUESTIONS.
based approach I use in the museum, asking my students to
During my Iyengar Yoga teacher training program several years
bring their mind to a certain area of the body and find out
ago, for an assignment related to the klesas, I came up with the
what’s going on there; what more can they find by trying
idea of keeping a “Klesas Daily Journal.” I developed a set of
different variations and comparing; and how can they
questions based on Sutras II.3 and II.4 and reflected on them
ultimately find repose in the pose (Sutra II.47).
almost every day:
I feel blessed to have asana and pranayama practice in my life,
1. What is the strongest klesa that came up for me today?
reflecting after class, as a certain dimension of practice. In the
multiple CDs of the yoga sutras and other Sanskrit chants to
• What did I struggle with in my life today—either in
listen to, and piles of books related to yoga philosophy, which I
relation to other people, within myself, or with samskaras
can easily consult. Of course, I wish I had more time to spend
(memories) that surfaced, etc.?
with all of this.
Where (And How) I Integrate Work and Practice HOW CAN WORK INTERFERE WITH PRACTICE?
• Is it a manifestation of avidya (spiritual ignorance), asmita (ego), raga (attachment to pleasure), dvesa (aversion to pain), or abhinivesa (fear)?
I’m sure we can all come up with myriad ways in which our work life interferes with our yoga practice. Probably, for most of
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
21
2. What form is it taking? • prasupta (dormant), tanu (attenuated), vicchina (interrupted), udaranam (fully blown)?
udaranam (fully blown). I realize that at the root of this is perhaps a form of abhinivesa, in this case fear of self-perceived failure. I ask myself if it’s possible to let go (Isvara pranidhana) and bring the concepts of Sutra I.33—maitri (friendliness),
3. What is its root? • Is this a samskara that goes way back? Is it a pattern?
karuna (compassion), mudita (joy), and upeksha (equanimity)—to my next interaction with this colleague. That would be one way to practice at work.
• Does it relate to avidya? abhinivesa? (In my experience, I found that almost everything relates back to either
Then at home, I would get right onto my mat. After the kind of
of these.)
day where I didn’t get that budget stuff done, I ask myself: Can I practice tapas on the mat then, through a sequence of strong
4. How might I try to attenuate it? • Tapas? Svadhyaya? Isvara pranidhana?
standing poses or backbends? And thus, I try to meet the challenge. After the kind of day where I struggled with interpersonal relationships, I gently ask myself: Shall I practice
At the end of a long workday, I find it quite illuminating to ask
inversions to calm my mind, regain perspective, and apply the
these questions of myself. For example, if I’m feeling guilty
concepts of Sutra I.33—toward the self, first and foremost? Even
about procrastinating (again!) writing up my quarterly budget
if I have only 30 minutes, to integrate in this way ultimately
variance report, what is that about? Dvesa: I hate budgets.
yields a high-quality, meaningful, nourishing practice, serving
What is the remedy? Tapas: the discipline to just sit down and
to balance life on and off the mat.
do it. Or if I’m agitated by a colleague who unfairly put me on the spot in a meeting, what is the root of my agitation—and
And when I wake up in the morning, I’m ready to start all
why does it stick with me even after I’ve left the office? In going
over again.
through the above inquiry, I see that this is asmita, my ego blowing up and causing me pain, not the person herself; she
Willamarie Moore is working toward her Introductory II certification
only triggered this klesa to move from prasupta (dormant) to
(scheduled for fall 2014). She teaches yoga in the Boston area.
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Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
THE TEAC H E R O F DHARMA : GEETAJI I Y E N G A R By Naghmeh Ahi
E
ach time I’ve had the good fortune to study with
about an effect on
Geetaji Iyengar, invariably she’s highlighted our duty
the other. For
to ourselves to “find out.” In her teachings in asana
example, in
classes, amid her direct guidance of our attention to
Savasana, the
some part of ourselves, she adds, “You have to find out!” In
placement of the
teaching from a chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, she points out
body is such that
that Lord Krishna cajoles Arjuna to find out, to move away
there is a settling
from doubt and toward inquiry. She often shares details
of the karmendriyas, explaining that “the psychology of
about her upbringing and learning yoga by watching Mr.
the karmendriyas has to change to a state of quietness.”
Iyengar’s practice, learning from observation and attention—
This settled state of the arms and legs then further quiets
qualities she reminds us to nurture by turning inward, to
the consciousness deep inside, while the resultant
find out.
exhalations assist the cellular body to become even quieter, a “learned relaxing.”
In December 2013, we were blessed to find ourselves not only present for a month of study at RIMYI and for Mr. Iyengar’s 95th birthday festivities, but also privy to a five-day pranayama course conducted by Geetaji for the Indian teachers—a celebration of the dharma of finding out, through
It is all in the book, she would say. And she encouraged everyone to read the book and learn from it!
her detailed teachings on the art of pranayama, one of the eight limbs of yoga. She taught the art of quieting the senses of perception—closing The Indian teachers had asked Geetaji to teach such a course,
the eyes to see inward and moving from the gross to the subtle,
and she finally decided to offer the course Dec. 9–13 at RIMYI.
from the outer world to the inner world. She called this process
The course took place in the main hall in the mornings for two
a “learned watching” (svadhyaya). “Find out what’s happening!”
and a half hours each day, and non-Indians enrolled in classes
She guided the brain to watch passively, while the eyes
at RIMYI for the month were granted permission to sign up and
withdraw inward. “Enter deep inward,” she said, “and reach
observe the pranayama classes via wide screen video in the
back where you see nothing. The mind wants to look out—
upstairs hall. Teachers of Iyengar Yoga from all corners of India
break that habit—enter deep inward and reach back.”
were in attendance. The hall was packed from wall to wall. Similarly, upstairs, around 50 of us gathered daily with bolsters,
She taught the art of hearing, releasing the eardrums inward to
notebooks, iPads and iPhones, taking notes or following along
notice when the breath turns from inhalation to exhalation, for
with the teachings and doing—finding out.
example. She coaxed the group to be careful and keen in their observations of these things. She asked that the witnessing of
Geetaji presented everything from Savasana, Ujayii, Viloma,
these qualities spread everywhere inside, not controlling but
Brahmari, Kapalabati, and Bhastrika to Pratiloma and Anuloma in
watching to find out where we can reach.
these five days. It was a challenge to sit and watch and not be taken on the inward journey that she guided her students
Every day there was a point in her teachings when Geetaji
toward. As she shared the intricate details required for the
would refer to Light on Pranayama and note that nothing she
body, the mind, and the breath, she also continually referred to
was sharing was new. It is all in the book, she would say. And
the requisite state of attentiveness, watchfulness, and
she encouraged everyone to read the book and learn from it!
humbleness—as well as one’s duty to remain alert—to notice these things.
As much as Geetaji laid out the landscape of pranayama, step by step and part by part, she also took us back to the requirement
Step by step, she taught the process of going inward, explaining
of vigilance in self-exploration and self-study, without
that pranayama is a subtle practice founded on developing
judgment but with keen interest and practice that comes from
sensitivity, patience, and a strong observation of the body, mind,
watchfulness.
and breath, and how adjusting and attending to each will bring
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
23
“Learn to watch. Learn to observe. Be keen for that moment!” Our dharma is to adjust and readjust when we notice a disturbance that might have moved from one part of our being
As much as the sensitivity, surrender, and witnessing processes were required by Geetaji, an equally humble presence was advised
to another part, such as from the body to the breath, the breath to the mind, or the mind to the breath. or any thought.” She took the group deeper and deeper into Geetaji taught that the surrender inward learned in Savasana
vairagya, coaxing, “Wherever you reach, reach comfortably …
is without limit, a “spaceless area within that is timeless.”
whole being dissolving… nothing belongs, nothing is touching
She advised us to “get lost in that area.” In each session, she
you, nothing is attached to you.”
took the group to passive quiet exhalations to reach that depth, where the breath “will vanish in the universe of the
Geetaji gave the road map for the path into the wonderful
body, dissolve in the ocean of the body, like a wave, a letting
world of our breath. Our dharma is to go and find out!
go process.” As much as the sensitivity, surrender, and witnessing processes
Naghmeh Ahi is on the faculty of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Greater
were required by Geetaji, an equally humble presence was
New York and the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Brooklyn.
advised: “Feel as if you are nobody interesting, without any aim
24
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
MOR E O N C OM MU N I T Y A N D C O NS CIOU S NE S S
I
n May 2013, Birjoo Mehta traveled from Mumbai, India, to San Diego, California, to teach at the Iyengar Yoga National Teachers’ Conference and Regional Convention. Manouso Manos had a chance to sit down with Birjoo to
discuss community, consciousness, and skillful action. This is Part 2 of their two-part conversation.
Getting back to the topic of community again—you have a remarkably unique perspective on the world compared with everyone else on this subject. You are a senior teacher and a well-noted world-class teacher of yoga by all standards. Yet, you also have travelled with an international corporation because of the kind of business you do, and you’ve been able to walk in to communities unannounced. For example, once you were in South Africa, and you said, “I am here. Can anyone use a yoga teacher?” You get to see certain communities in a very different light than many of the rest of us senior teachers. You walk out of a business community on Friday and into a hardcore yoga community on the weekend. I’d like to hear a few of your thoughts on this. Manouso Manos:
You’re being very humble because you’ve actually had quite a strong effect on these communities that you’ve walked in and out of. Maybe you don’t even know the ripple effect that you have as a human being and how the community coheres around the teachings that you leave behind. You aren’t the kind of fella who seeks this kind of gratification of the ego on the way out of town, but you have really strengthened those communities in quite strong ways, and I applaud you for it. MM:
BM: I don’t think I have such an impact like that.
You’ve been the keynote speaker at many of the world conventions and have accompanied Guruji on many of his travels, so you know your effect has been felt. I think you have had a remarkable effect on a group of people and their yoga practices and how they conduct themselves. MM:
BM: I don’t give credit to myself. I think it’s their own yoga practice that has brought about any changes.
Yes, but inspiration comes from the outside. Guruji’s an inspirational figure for me, let me say that straight up. I know you know that, but I’m saying it for the record. But in fact, YOU in particular have this way about you and a way of conducting yourself—some people do see you as a revolutionary figure and an inspirational figure because of how you’ve stood with that strong standard of practice. MM:
Birjoo Mehta: Well, if you have visited South Africa, you know that you can visit some beautiful sites, game parks and things like that, but if you are there for too long, there is not that much activity other than shopping malls. So I had an assignment in South Africa once, which meant that I was there for four to six months overall. Now what would you do on a Saturday or Sunday in Johannesburg if you have already seen the sights?
Well, I know you well enough to know that you are going to practice. MM:
BM: I don’t know about standards of practice and things like that, but let me put it this way: Whatever Guruji says leaves behind an impression with me. And many times it’s not what he has taught in the class, but what he has talked about in the
BM: Yes. So apart from my own practice, I just called up [some
library or what he has said just in passing. Those things leave a
of the people I was working with] and said, “Hey, I’m here.
deep impact on me. I may not be able to immediately
Would you like to take a class? I’d be happy to share my
understand what he has said, but over a period of time,
experiences.” And within half an hour they rustled up 20–25
suddenly while I’m practicing, something will come back and
people for a class. That worked out pretty well. It was very nice
[I’ll realize] what Guruji actually meant and then [I’ll work with
because I was meeting people from different places. The same
that in my practice].
thing happened while I was in Hong Kong. I was there for business, and I just called up [my friend Linda and she invited
Second, through teaching, Guruji has left some very strong
me over to her studio for a class]. I like to do that because it
imprints of corrections that he has made. These corrections
allows me to talk and interact with the community. In that
have happened across the 40 or 45 years that I have been with
sense, it’s not that I planned to be there to teach or anything
him. After the impression is left behind, I struggle to articulate
like that.
that impression, and this articulation can take a lot of time. I may not use his exact words because those words were actually
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
25
meant for me in the situation I was in at the time, with the
Once his consciousness moves all over the body, he should feel
shortcomings of the pose. He gave that correction to me. So
the same restlessness as I would feel. He feels the restlessness,
what I do is keep that impression with me and then struggle to
and I ask him, “Are you feeling the restlessness?” That is ksipta
articulate how I got it. And I use the instructions that Guruji
(wavering) citta. When you are not doing anything, and you are
has given me when I teach. They may not be directly spoken,
dull, and your mind is wandering all over the place, that is
but they will be translated into my own language and then
mudha (dull) citta. You are not aware of any part of your body.
given to other people. So there is a sense of Guruji’s teachings— maybe not his words because his words were relative to a
Then I say, “Okay, now focus on your knee. Whatever is
particular context—but I sort of take the context and try to
happening, focus on your knee.” And as you remain in
pass it on.
Trikonasana, let’s say, focusing on the knee, I say, “Grip your knee again.” If you are able to grip your knee again, that means that
For a long time, there was a challenge that was always with me.
it had become loose. If it became loose, it means that the
You know, coming from an engineering background, I place a
awareness you had in the beginning lost out. So although your
lot of importance on objectivity. I don’t trust subjectivity; I go
focus was on the knee, it was wavering in intensity, so that
on objectivity. It is easy for us to measure objectivity and to
becomes viksipta (partially stable, oscillating between
work on an objective level because for generations—probably
wandering and stability) citta.
2,000 years or more—people have been learning objectivity. You know, 12 years in school and another three to four years in
MM:
Right.
university, so 15, 16 years of hard training in objectivity. So, obviously you trust objectivity, and you know how to measure
BM: Now, if I want you to do the viksipta citta, I tell you that as
objectivity. A question came to me that if I injure my knee,
long as your mind is on the knee and you’re observing the knee,
would I not be feeling the same pain as somebody else who also
your consciousness is there. The consciousness causes the
injured their knee? My thought was obviously that it should be
movement. So while you are observing there, the consciousness
the same. Therefore, if something happens to me and I can feel
also will continue to move because you are observing that spot.
pain, and a similar thing happens to somebody else and he can
Whereas, if you focus on your back leg, for example, while
also feel pain, then is it possible for me to translate my feeling
observing the front leg, the movement will come in the back leg
onto somebody else?
but it will keep the front leg undisturbed. So that becomes ekagra (one-pointed) citta.
That’s how I started to work in the standing poses. I’d think, “I am standing here, what do I feel? Where are my thoughts?
So from that point on, it’s going from mudha citta to ksipta citta
Where do I feel something? Where am I aware of something?
to vksipta citta to ekagra citta, and that is something people
And now what did I do? Where did the awareness go?” So when
relate to. Then they start understanding what consciousness is.
I teach, I say, “Okay. This is where your awareness is.” Then I realized that people’s awareness is not there. Then I said, “Okay. I have to first give an instruction to ‘do something .’” So if I say, “Plant the heels firmly on the floor,” the moment you plant the heels firmly on the floor, the consciousness goes to the heels. So I say, “Okay. Fine. You are feeling the consciousness now.” When I say “consciousness”
Your explanation of the asanas with the understanding of the citta is really quite profound. And students can feel the changes that go on in consciousness even without any words attached to them. But they can, in fact, say, “I understand this was dull, now it’s awake.” Now all of my concentration is here, now none of my concentration is here.” Those words are easy for them. MM:
I mean “awareness.”
BM: Yes. I use my body to experiment and see where the awareness should be moving and give the instruction in that manner so that the person who is studying with me, his awareness also starts to move. Then he gets a realization that awareness can move, so this is what is moving his consciousness.
It takes later for the philosophy to catch up. This is what I think Guruji has really brought to the subject. [Guruji] gives up talking to my ears because I’m a fool. But he can talk directly to parts of my body, and they respond to him. MM:
Otherwise, who knows what consciousness is? What I could do is make a person do the pose and move his consciousness from
BM: Absolutely, it doesn’t require language. The way I see it,
one place to another by giving fast instructions, you know, “Grip
language goes to the mind; the mind interprets it and sends it
your knee, extend your hand, turn your chest, then lift your
across based on whatever experiences you have had. Whereas a
head up.” All these things. And then his consciousness is
direct teaching is something that happens when he is working
moving all over the body.
through the consciousness.
26
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
MM:
Yes.
then? Yes, I brought my calf muscles down and then I moved from my knee and I moved the hips forward so that my thigh
BM: He sort of attaches you to your consciousness, which is
muscles went down. So this kind of thought and articulation
probably in the knee, and then by giving direction, the
is required.
consciousness starts to move, and then he talks to the consciousness directly. He doesn’t require the mind to follow.
Articulation is not yoga, but the articulation helps you get to
You just have to give in to whatever he is doing.
a stage where you can cross the boundary. And to me, the challenge is always, how do I articulate what I have felt? But
For example, my personal experience is that I don’t really read
Guruji makes it so clear. Sometimes when he’s explaining, it
too much in books. [But if Guruji] has said something and a
seems as clear as daylight. I sometimes feel that Guruji is
question comes up, then I go back and read. One time, Guruji
able to read minds. I’m not sure in what respect I am saying
spoke about the different chakras, for example. Of course, he
this, but there was a question that was troubling me for a
had talked about them during his 75th birthday, but I hadn’t
few months, and I would not ask this question to Guruji
heard him then. So he started to talk about svadishthana chakra,
because I thought I needed to understand it, find out the
and he started talking about muladhara chakra and all these
answer. The question was about how to know where your
things. I had no idea where they were, but I could understand
mind or your awareness is not reaching.
[what was happening] without understanding where that chakra was positioned. [Later when I] checked, I realized I was
I was wondering, and I sort of struggled for a time, and then I
exactly following what he had said. So I realized very quickly
said, let me ask Prashantji. So I asked Prashantji, but I didn’t get
that he is not talking to the mind. The language may be wrong
an answer that was meaningful. Of course, he gave me some
or used incorrectly. But the effect is still there. It is as if he is
guidance in terms of practice, but still that thing didn’t come.
bringing his consciousness to talk to my consciousness directly
Then I went to the library, and Guruji just spoke as he normally
without the intervention of the mind or the words.
would and said, “You see, when the sun is there . . . and if there
MM:
Yes.
is a cloud between the sun and the earth, that cloud will put a shadow.” So if you trace the path from the shadow to the sun, you’ll see the cloud. Or, in other words, if you come from the
BM: So, what you said is very right.
This is why the senior teachers, yourself being one of the great ones, do not go and try to parrot exactly what they have heard out of India, but they try to interpret what happened inside of them and then find a way to communicate that into the consciousness of the people in front of them. MM:
sun and you encounter a cloud—these are my words, but the intent was that—once you encounter the cloud, from that line if you go further, there is darkness. If you encounter a cloud, everything below it is darkness. I realized that this is exactly what I see. If I follow from the center of the body, which is here, and I start to follow, if at any point I feel that cloud, I can be sure that below that cloud, downstream from that cloud, is the darkness. Then, if I remove
BM: Yes.
And you’re really quite gifted at that, but those people are failing who go home and try to find the exact words that were given to them, whether it was by Guruji or Geetaji or Prashantji. Instead, they should find the essence of where they were taken and the path that maybe got them there. MM:
the cloud I will get to understand that that was the darkness I could feel. Because earlier, I was not feeling that. If I was not feeling it, how did I know it existed? By removing the cloud, I can keep it in existence through awareness. Those are the kinds of things I’ve experienced a number of times. He just remarkably answers your questions without you having to articulate them.
Yeah, it’s remarkable that way, and I’ve had those same experiences. I finally figured out in my own tiny awareness that he knows himself and has studied himself so well, that [to] the people in front of him, it looks like he’s reading their minds. But his awareness of what’s going on in the universe is so sharp that he’s instantly ready to act on what’s going on. MM:
BM: Exactly. What did I feel, what did I feel? And the interesting thing is, you don’t need to know how you did it. To appreciate good food, you don’t need to know how to prepare the food, right?
You don’t need to understand how to manufacture an automobile to drive. MM:
BM: Absolutely, absolutely. BM: No. Exactly. It is for you to feel. Once you [feel something], then you can start building an articulation around it. What did I do then? Okay, I pressed my heel, okay, fine. What did I do Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
We are already over time. Anything you want to close with, any final comments? MM:
27
BM: Sure. To go back to the first questions about community—
“Is what I am doing the right thing for me to do for the
let me look at it this way: You have different parts of your body.
betterment of the community?” If that is so, go ahead and do it.
These are the different individuals in the community. Okay?
You are not likely to cause any problem. But the problem comes
Each part of the body does a different thing because that is for
in when we try to say, “Oh, I need to slight somebody.” You know,
the dharma. If every part started to do the same thing, then the
that is attachment.
human body would not work. Right? When you try to slight somebody [or become attached], that’s In a similar manner, if you say a community is united when
where things start to fail. And I think that is the beauty about
each part does its own thing, as it should be doing, what is the
the communities Guruji has brought together. He believes that
dharma? What is the duty? If everybody starts to do the same
the community should develop, grow, work in its own best
thing, that shows attachment. And attachment doesn’t lead to
manner. And you find that communities are flourishing.
dharma. So what we need to do is [have] each one do what is the right thing for himself and the community, for the community
And most of the other Gurus, as you might know, have this kind
to grow. What it does not mean is that everybody should be
of hierarchy, like a pyramid, that leaves behind only one way to
doing the same thing.
do things. Whereas this community…
If [every body part tried] to do the same thing, the human body
MM:
It keeps growing.
would not work. For example, if the ears attempted to do what the eyes are doing or if the tongue tried to do what the ears are
BM: Yes, it keeps growing because it’s like nature. It just keeps
doing, the human body would not function. Similarly, the
growing and growing and growing, and so I wish the U.S.
community functions when each [person] does his or her own
community well and thank you.
job. Each person’s view will be different. It has to be. Because be different.
Birjoo, thank you very very much from all of us. It’s been quite enlightening.
Therefore, forget about trying to bring consensus, but bring
BM: Thank you.
what the eyes see and what the ears hear have to
MM:
about the dutifulness in terms of the ethics about it that [ask],
28
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
Lifelong
E R IC S MA L L
PRACTICE
By Janet Lilly
I
have had the pleasure of sitting on the IYNAUS Board of Directors with Intermediate Senior II Iyengar Yoga Instructor Eric Small for the past two
When you go to class, that is not practice. You are learning something that you will do in your practice.
years. I always look forward to his stories about his early studies with Mr. Iyengar. At 81, Eric has been practicing
Iyengar Yoga for over 50 years. He is a master storyteller and we had such fun with this interview! There were so many wonderful tales to recount that I could have written at least two more Lifelong Practice columns!
Janet Lilly:
How did you discover Iyengar Yoga?
practice to what I need at that moment. My practice has not always been the same, but it has always been inventive.
How have you seen the Iyengar Yoga student population change over the years? JL:
ES: The students now are far more are perceptive. I believe they perceive that with Iyengar Yoga you just get the truth—there
Eric Small: I started with an early student of Mr. Iyengar’s,
are no distractions, manipulations, or merchandising. As
Indra Devi. I was using two canes at the time. [Eric was
students of Iyengar Yoga, we are learning from Guruji the truth
diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the age of 22.] After six to
about what Hatha yoga really is.
eight months of study, I went from two canes to one, and in another six months, I was able to venture out on my own without my caregiver. Within two years, I was fairly independent, so I moved out of my grandmother’s house into
What do you see as most important for the Iyengar community today as compared with the 1970s and 1980s? JL:
a garage out back where I could have a studio for my practice (my grandfather wasn’t too pleased with this arrangement
ES: I believe that the future of Iyengar Yoga is with the
because he had a beautiful Packard car stored in the garage).
therapeutics work. The appendixes at the back of Light on Yoga
I would use the Packard’s hydraulic lift and some plywood as
show us how to save our own life.
props to practice yoga.
Can you share a favorite memory from the early days with Mr. Iyengar?
JL:
What interferes with your practice?
JL:
ES: My household and my life are built around supporting my practice. For me, my practice space is sacred. I have a fountain
ES: In 1974, after studying with Indra Devi for two and a half
and an outside shady area where I can do my pranayama. I
years, she told me that I should try and see Mr. Iyengar when
know that many don’t have this luxury, and I encourage my
he came to Berkeley. Unfortunately, the event was sold out, and
students to commit to a dedicated space and time to practice
there wasn’t a mat to be had, but I found a way to watch Mr.
for themselves.
Iyengar from a propped-open door in the hallway. I was sort of flopping around out there, and on the second day, Mr. Iyengar came out to see what I was doing. He said, “Everyone in there is
How do you find enough time to practice with your teaching schedule? JL:
here to show me what they know, but you are here to learn what I know.”
JL:
How has your practice changed over the years?
ES: I wouldn’t have a life if I didn’t have my practice. When you go to class, that is not practice. You are learning something that you will do in your practice. Class is where you gather information and acquire knowledge. That is what
ES: I still have a fairly complete practice. These days I do some
makes our certified Iyengar Yoga teachers different; we are
of my asanas in my pool. For example, I practice
there to share and inform students about Mr. Iyengar’s
Pascimottanasana (forward bend), Upavista Konasana, and my
system. What makes Iyengar Yoga teachers unique is our
standing poses using floats. During each of the decades of my
ability to inspire students to look within and become
life, I have been able to sustain a practice because I adjust my
observant of what they are actually doing.
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
29
Guruji teaches us how to be generous, how to be conscious, and how to realize consciousness. I just started a class at the Iyengar Institute of Los Angeles because Mr. Iyengar requested that I do so. I complete an intake session with every incoming student. I ask incoming students general health and experience questions, such as, “What are you looking for? How can I be of service to you?” The session only takes 10 minutes, and it helps me make good decisions while teaching the class.
How has your relationship to eating and/or sleeping changed as your practice has matured? JL:
ES: With multiple sclerosis, sleeping is an issue. I used to have to take a lot of drugs to sleep. Supported forward bends such as Janu Sirsasana or Pascimottanasana with head support and inversions help with sleep difficulties, as does a meat-free diet.
How do you juggle your work and administrative responsibilities with your practice and your teaching? JL:
ES: The most practical answer is that I delegate the responsibilities for my various philanthropic organizations. The M.S. Yoga Foundation, my Adaptive Iyengar Yoga Program for the M.S. Society, also supports the Eric Small Iyengar Yoga Program Achievement Center at UCLA, USC, and at Rancho
Eric Small in Adho Mukha Svanasana
“YOU ALL COMPLAIN THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME TO PRACTICE, BUT THE TRUTH IS YOU DO NOT MAKE THE TIME. ONCE YOU MAKE THE TIME TO PRACTICE, YOU WILL FIND YOU HAVE MORE TIME FOR EVERYTHING.”
Los Amigos (a state rehab center for rehabilitation). My Stress Control Systems Trust handles my classes and
— PRASHA N T I YE N GA R
teaching, publications, and public appearances. I am also on the boards of The L.A. Philharmonic, The L.A. Opera, The Thornton School of Music, USC, Doheny Eye Institute, and Saint Johns Health Center.
Any final thoughts that you would like to share with our readers? JL:
ES: Guruji teaches us how to be generous, how to be conscious, and how to realize consciousness. When I look back at my life, I remember being told that with multiple sclerosis, I wouldn’t want to be alive. Instead of accepting that statement and just sitting around on my tookus, I have become self-reliant. A longtime yoga practice makes you very self-reliant, and in turn, you live to give back what you have learned from Guruji without expectation of rewards.
MEMBERS RECEIVE 10% OFF ORDERS FROM THE IYNAUS STORE! Remember to use the code 2014MEMBER at checkout to receive your discount. For wholesale orders, please call 206-623-3562.
Janet Lilly is president of the IYNAUS Board of Directors. If you have recommendations for future Lifelong Practice interviews, please email them to Janet at lilly.janet@gmail.com. 30
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
Musings A N A NOM A LY I N SU B U R B I A By Kim Peralta Summertime.
by the brick gatepost, waving. Finnian salutes me from the porch. “Good-bye Mama. Bring me a treeeeeeeat!”
4:30 a.m. Still dark. The alarm rings needlessly: I’ve been
I love the 25-minute drive through woodsy back roads and
awake since Finnian, 3, sat up and cried half an hour ago,
small towns until I reach the long, rectangular sign announcing
needing a hug to send him back to sleep. Forrest, 5, also sleeps,
“IYENGAR YOGA SCHOOL OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY.” The
his left arm slung over my neck, his right leg across his
thrill of seeing it remains.
brother’s tummy. Their noses touch. I peel down the covers, slip out, slowly dress in T-shirt and shorts, then tip-toe out onto the
9 a.m. I open the glass doors, switch on the fans, sigh. Today
landing. All the windows are open. The floorboards creek in the
will be hot. After one long Adho Mukha Vrksasana, I prepare for
cold. I sneak back for sweater and socks. Downstairs in the
the 9:30 class: sweep, check the bathroom, dust the photos of
kitchen I turn on the light, grind coffee beans, set out milk
Guruji, Geetaji, and Mary Dunn.
and sugar.
9:15 a.m. An elderly woman clad in Bermuda shorts wanders 5 a.m. Sukhasana. Winnie-the-pooh and his stuffed companions
up. Her large black dog wears a red bandana around its throat.
loom in the half light from the tall, narrow shelf that tops the
She carries a small radio, blasting out a 1940s swing tune, pokes
wood paneling in the dining-turned-toy room. Dawn is pristine,
her head round the door, and says, “Can you levitate?” I explain
magical, orderly—my best time. I bow my head, hear birdsong,
politely: “It’s not what we do here.” I give her a schedule, and
smell fresh dew, feel a cool breeze, watch my thoughts.
she waddles off. I feel a strange kinship with her: Like me, she is an anomaly in suburbia.
7 a.m. Amazed. I have actually completed two uninterrupted hours of Sirsasana, seated forward bends and Sarvangasana. No
11 a.m. As the last student drifts away, I too drift away in a long
one has woken up. I savor their snooze.
Savasana. Somewhere in the middle of it, I fall asleep.
7:01 a.m. Uneven footfalls on the staircase: Forrest and Finnian
11:35 a.m. Eyes open. I see without looking and wonder: Is it
thumping their way down, sleepy-eyed, hair-tousled. “Mama!
possible to be dead and alive at the same time? I savor the
Mama! Are you doing yoga? Come SLEEP with us Mama, in the
thought, conclude that death is just a word, and that living
BIG BED!!” Forrest’s arms grip my neck; Finnian jumps on my
lasts forever.
back, wrapping his legs around my waist. Forrest broad jumps over my crossed legs, misses, falling heavily on my right thigh. Finn, grinding his teeth, grabs folds of my neck, shoves his face
Kim Peralta is a certified Intermediate Junior III teacher in Brooksville,
against mine. We rub noses.
Maine. She wrote this piece in 1997, when her children were small and the family lived in New Jersey.
8:35 a.m. I back my car out of the long driveway. Forrest, racing, follows like a German Shepherd I once knew. He stands Photo: Michelle D. Williams/Curtis Settino
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
31
Certification Committee Dear IYNAUS Members, Guruji recently sent a letter to all Iyengar Yoga Associations worldwide informing them that teachers are not to teach until fully certified. He advised IYNAUS to combine the Introductory I and II assessments into one assessment. He made this change in response to our questions regarding the status of the Introductory I teacher. The IYNAUS Board and Certification Committee recently made these requested changes to our certification process effective for the 2015 assessment cycle. We know there are many questions about this change, and we hope this note will answer some of them. Beginning in 2015, we will offer assessments for the Introductory level, combining the Introductory I and Introductory II syllabi and required knowledge into a single assessment. The certificate level for passing this assessment will be called Introductory Levels I and II. Upon successful completion of the combined Introductory I and II assessment, candidates will be considered fully certified Iyengar Yoga teachers and can use the Iyengar name freely to describe their classes. With this change, our new teachers will be welcomed into the community of Iyengar-certified teachers directly after passing their first assessment. The Introductory I and II syllabi will continue to be listed separately in the Certification Manual for progressive study and learning. The Introductory I material is still an important stage in the training process and should be attained before proceeding to learn the Introductory II material. The new 2015 Introductory I and II assessment will be a sensitive and practical combination of the two syllabi. The assessment will be much like the current Introductory II assessment. The Demonstrated Practice will draw from both syllabi, and the Demonstration of Teaching Skills portion of the assessment will consist of six asanas. Those who have passed Introductory I assessment or those taking the Introductory I assessment this year will still have the option of taking a designated Introductory II assessment in 2015 or 2016. Until an Iyengar Yoga teacher is fully certified, student teachers should not be teaching public classes and cannot identify themselves as Iyengar Yoga teachers. However, to gain experience, they can teach to the public under the direct supervision of a certified teacher. They also can teach to family, friends, in study groups with colleagues, or practice teaching sessions with volunteer Iyengar Yoga students. Yoga studios can employ their certified teachers to oversee classes taught by student teachers preparing for certification. With this change, teachers who pass the Introductory I and II assessment can teach independently and identify their teaching as Iyengar Yoga. We live in a large and diverse country. There are many models that can work to prepare our future teachers and build our community. Those who are currently teaching should fulfill their commitments and proceed to complete the certification process. Among other benefits this change will bring, the process will be more expeditious and less costly. The change also will bring clarity to the status of any candidate who passes an IYNAUS assessment as a fully certified Iyengar Yoga teacher. Mentors, recommending teachers, and current candidates for Introductory certification should discuss these changes to make an informed decision about certification this year. It may be appropriate and beneficial for many candidates to keep their study momentum going and assess in 2014. We encourage further mentoring of Introductory-level candidates by our Intermediate Junior, Senior, and Advanced teachers of the student teachers as they learn to observe, assist, and teach. We are confident this change will bring more interest to Iyengar Yoga and the certification process. All the best,
Leslie Bradley, Mary Reilly, and the Certification Committee Please contact Leslie Bradley, certification chair, at certification@iynaus.org with any questions or concerns.
32
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
2013 Iyengar Yoga Assessments Here are the names of those who went up for and passed an assessment in 2013. Our method provides ongoing education for teachers at every level. Congratulations on your hard work and dedication!
Intermediate Senior III
Kevin Allen Wendy Alter
Introductory I (not yet certified)
Katherine LaSpina
Rebecca Lerner James Murphy
Roberto Astorga
Anne Adams
Achala Jeff LeGro
Beth Aucoin
Nil Akin
Cindy Lee
Intermediate Junior II
Nadya Bair
Jayne Alenier
Laura Lenee
Patrina Dobish
Joanne Boccassini
Susan Allen
Molly Lesmeister
Isabela Fortes
Barbara Boris
Sara Arends-Haggith
Lisa Longton
Tonya Garreaud
Kathy Jo Brisker
Vanessa Bacher
Jennifer Macgregor-Dennis
Donald S. Gura
Karen Bysiewicz
Barbara Bair
Tessa Manning
Vladimir Jandov
Galit Carthy-Katalan
Afsaneh Bakhtiar
Michelle Mansfield
Linda Nishio
Dina Chalom
Stephanie Barnes-Castro
Elizabeth Marple
Koren Paalman
Brendan Clarke
Jeanine Berlocher
Patti Martin
Kishor Stein
Julia DeHoff
Jenn Bowen
Hector Jairo Martinez
Manju Vachher
Nathalie Fairbanks
Susan Brower
Linda McReynolds
Holly Walck
Annie Fedler
Charley Brown
Erika Meir
Daryl Fowkes
Huijung Campbell
Marjorie Minkler
Intermediate Junior I
Stephanie Foxman
Susan Carter
Christine Miyachi
Winnie Au
Susan Friedman
Sandra Castellano
Natalia Momchilova
Cynthia Bates
Jane Froman
Duncan Catanach
Inge Mula Myllerup-Brookhuis
Peggy Berg
Martha Garvey
Enrique Cayeiro
Lori Neumann
Cynthia Berliner
Jill Hagar
Helen Chandler
Elizabeth Pagan
Doerthe Braun
Lisa Henrich
Barbara Chiancone Gitlin
Mimi Pajo
Antonietta Capotondi
Howison Hollenberg
Thecla Chomicz
Prakash Parameswaran
Christina de la Fuente
Abbey Hope
Darren Christensen
Becky Patel
Jennifer Edwards
Aziani Ismail
Angela Cooper
Dana Perkins
Donna Furmanek
Barbara Laird
Christine Corsa
Sue Phan
Holly Hughins
Rebecca Lascoe
Sharon Cotugno
K. Clark Phipps
Diana Jacaman
Leslie Lekos
Carmen Coyle
Veronique Porter
Deborah Lapkin
Stefie Livingston
Sheri Cruise
Shannyn Potter
Casey Love
Kristin McGee
Leanne Cusumano Roque
Erica Quam
Vimla Maharaj-Banks
Kathy Morris
Marilee Dejacimo
Noelle Reyes
Rachel Mathenia
Kathy Oshaughnessy
Kerry Doyle
Orli Rudolph
Monica Rose
Marilyn Patton
Robert Tokusho Flory
Jean Saad
Pauline Schloesser
Joan Pope
Michael Furmanek
Kimberly Scott
Anne-Marie Schultz
Rosa Maria (Rosie) Richardson
Mary Garbiesi
Marilyn Dale Shields
Netta Sella
Michael Romero
Claude Goldstein
Cyndi Simpson
Suzanne Simon
Tahsha Sanbrailo
Katy Groves
Myra Slepoy
David Slack
Mary Bruce Serene
Elizabeth Gudrais
Margaret Spear
Tedrah Smothers
Ginna Sloane
Ana-Mari Hamada
Julie Tamarkin
Anastasia Sofos
Bernadett Szasz
Penny Hanna
Roberta Tewes
Barbara Steif
Jean Torrey-Canney
Emi Harnden
Ashley Thayer
Kathleen Swanson
Mary Ann Travis
Kathleen Harris
Christine Thompson
Catherine Veit
Anne Underwood
Gail Heaton
Lizet Tirres
Rebecca Weisman
Da Gang Wang
Sally Hoesing
Sarah Tuttle
Nuvana Zarthoshtimanesh
Josh Warren
Alison Jackson
Mimi Visser
Jennifer Wert
Liz Juarez
Lisa Waas
Sarah Wilner
Robyn Katz
Suzannah Walker
Marivic Wrobel
Lesa Kingsbury-Taub
Michele Weis
Cathy Adamo
Holly Korab
Maria Wigmore
Carol Ahuna
Louiza Koumoutsakis
Nancy Witters
Introductory II (newly certified)
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
Diane Lassman
33
treasurer’s
REPORT—IYNAUS FINANCES
Financial Report for 2013 By David Carpenter For the past several years, the IYNAUS Board of Directors has been attempting to improve the association’s financial performance. I am pleased to report that these efforts bore fruit in 2013. In addition to the fact that we realized a profit from the San Diego regional conference and convention, 2013 was the first year in some time in which revenues from our other activities exceeded the associated expenses. At the same time, our financial results in 2013 were influenced by events that cannot be counted on in future years, and the board of directors is now considering investing in new initiatives to promote Iyengar Yoga. Thus, while the 2013 results were gratifying, we will continue to pursue measures to increase our revenues, to be vigilant in controlling our other expenses, and to rely on our members’ generosity in donating time and other resources for IYNAUS’ programs. Below is a table that summarizes IYNAUS’ revenues and expenses for each of the past four calendar years (for convenience, I have moved all revenues and expenses associated with the 2010 Portland convention, the 2011 Chicago regional conference, the 2012 Washington, D.C., regional conference, and the 2013 San Diego convention and regional conference to the year in which each event occurred). This table shows that 2013 was, comparatively speaking, a successful year financially.
IYNAUS PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT REVENUES
2010
2011
2012
2013
Dues (less regions’ shares)
85,825
72,650
84,920
74,360
Event revenues (including receivables)
84,513
35,366
-24,000
48,968
Store revenues less cost of goods (store sales at events are in parenthesis)
112,055 (70,000)
69,522 (3389)
58,443 (6053)
82,062 (7565)
Charitable contributions to IYNAUS
7,485
4,750
1,720
1,550
Yoga Samachar advertising revenue
0
0
0
4,000
22,600
16,580
16,785
16,743
Assessment fees and manual
48,895
47,985
46,850
63,784
Bellur donations
23,726
7,658
4,290
26,717
TOTAL REVENUES
385,099
254,511
189,008
314,184
Bellur donations
23,726
7,658
4,290
26,717
Salaries and employment taxes
79,864
76,807
64,531
69,817
Production expenses for Yoga Samachar
24,044
22,012
25,516
24,242
Assessment expenses
48,108
52,470
54,559
63,818
Legal fees
12,358
13,919
17,631
0
Website design and maintenance
46,659
29,002
25,929
21,082
IYNAUS board meeting travel expenses
10,304
12,035
10,532
12,413
Bookkeeping
12,750
5,475
4,853
1,550
Office supplies and expenses
7,487
6,004
5,981
11,499
Merchant and bank fees (for store)
27,212
22,565
15,429
17,696
Nonemployee insurance and taxes
7,054
5,612
2,434
3,896
TOTAL EXPENSES
299,566
253,559
231,685
248,730
NET REVENUE
85,533
952
-42,677
65,454
NET REVENUE—Exclusiding convention/regional conferences and store sales made at these events
-68,980
-37,803
-24,720
8921
Unrestricted Revenue
Restricted Revenue Certification mark (less payments to India) Earmarked Revenue
EXPENSES
34
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
A major factor that contributed to last year’s success was the
In light of the financial success of 2013, the association’s
regional conference and national convention held in San Diego
balance sheet is also stronger today than it was six months ago.
in May 2013. In addition to providing phenomenal experiences
In the fall 2013 issue, I included our balance sheet as of October
for all who attended, this event generated $48,968 in profits for
2013. In the interest of conserving space (and in thus saving
IYNAUS (and some $19,070 for the San Diego region). Many of
money!), I will not provide a complete balance sheet in this
you no doubt recall that I provided a much lower estimate of
issue. But I can report that our “net worth” increased to
IYNAUS’ profits from this event in my report six months ago.
$302,352.04 as of Feb. 28, 2014, and that our unrestricted cash
But that was a preliminary figure, which turned out to be
(which is what is most important to me) increased to $137,185
inaccurate in a number of respects. The correct and final figure
as of that date.
is $48,968. That said, there are no regional conferences scheduled in 2014 or 2015, and IYNAUS will not have another
While the developments of the past year were certainly
convention before 2016. Thus, it appears that it will be some
welcome, we obviously cannot count on a continuation of all
time before IYNAUS realizes event revenues again.
the factors that led to our positive financial results in 2013. For example, we have now decided to fill the clerical position that
For that reason, it is gratifying that IYNAUS also realized positive
was vacant most of last year. In addition, our store sales can be
net revenues from all its other activities in 2013. For the first time
expected to return to their historic levels when the initial
in the past four years (and within anyone’s memory), the
demand for the recent publications from India is met, and it is
association had positive net revenues ($8,921) in a calendar year
entirely possible that we will have legal costs, increased
even excluding net revenues associated with events (i.e., event
assessment costs, and increased clerical costs in 2014 or future
profits plus the store sales made at the events). Accordingly, last
years. Apart from the inherent uncertainty surrounding the
year was the first year in which we did not need event revenues to
costs of our existing programs, the board is actively exploring
subsidize our other programs and activities.
new programs and additional steps to take to promote Iyengar Yoga, and some of these measures would entail significant
Several factors contributed to last year’s exceptional results.
additional expenditures. Thus, in addition to our ongoing efforts
First, IYNAUS store sales were strong in the last half of 2013 as
to minimize expenses, the board of directors will continue to
a result of the demand for the Intermediate Course and some
examine ways to increase IYNAUS’ revenues.
other exciting new books from India. Second, for the first time in many years, we incurred no legal fees or other related
In this latter regard, in both my column and Janet Lilly’s
expenses in 2013, as we were able to arrange for pro bono
President’s Letter in the fall issue, we asked members who have
advice and representation whenever legal issues arose. Third,
the financial wherewithal to consider making charitable
Mary Reilly and the Certification Committee did a magnificent
contributions to IYNAUS, stating that we would accept both
job managing the costs of our assessment program, with the
unrestricted gifts for general support and gifts that would be
total assessment fees virtually matching the total out-of-pocket
restricted for use by Eric Small’s Archives Committee. Because
costs of assessments. (And because of the generosity of
the fall issue generally did not hit the streets until early 2014,
assessors and studios, our assessment costs again consisted
there was no opportunity to make gifts last year. But I am
solely of travel expenses because assessors donate their time
pleased to report that $3,160 was contributed to the Archives
and studios host assessments rent-free). Finally, in a case of
project, and $750 was contributed to IYNAUS generally, in the
extreme financial conservatism, we elected not to fill a part-
first two months of 2014. This is a wonderful start, and we
time clerical position on the IYNAUS staff in 2013. Fourth, last
thank all of you who have contributed to these efforts. We have
year, we began selling advertising in Yoga Samachar, and we
now added a “Donate Now” button on the IYNAUS website,
realized $4,000 from these ads.
which will facilitate future contributions.
One curiosity about the results in 2013 is that we had lower
In short, last year was a financial success. But this year brings
dues revenues than in 2012. Because 2013 was a convention
new challenges, and we have work to do to continue our
year, it should have been a peak year for membership. That
historic programs and more effectively promote Iyengar Yoga.
said, it may be that there was no decline in membership last year and that the year-to-year fluctuations in dues revenues
David Carpenter
were caused by timing differences in dues payments (e.g., large
IYNAUS Treasure
numbers of members paying 2013 dues in 2012).
March 2014
Photo : Lois Steinberg
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
35
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Yoga Samachar seeks questions for our new “Ask the Yogi” column. Rotating senior teachers provide answers to a range of questions submitted by IYNAUS members. We welcome your questions related to how or when to use props, how best to deal with specific health conditions, philosophical help with the sutras, tips on teaching or doing certain poses, and more. Please send questions to yogasamachar@iynaus.org by Aug. 1.
Iyengar Yoga Therapeutics (IYT) Announces a comprehensive three-year therapeutic teacher training course with Manouso Manos and our faculty beginning in 2015. Open to all certified teachers. In the first year, Manouso will teach three weekends in Los Angeles: Feb. 13–15, July 17–19, and Dec. 4-6, 2015. For more information, contact info@iyengaryogatherapeutics. com.
Book Reviews Have you read a good book lately? Yoga Samachar seeks thoughtful and well-written reviews of books by the Iyengars or Iyengar-certified teachers or books that cover topics related to Iyengar Yoga. Please send a query letter regarding the book you’d like to review to yogasamachar@iynaus.org by Aug. 1.
Call for Musings Yoga Samachar seeks submissions for our “Musings” column, which features a range of short thought pieces from members. These can be philosophical in nature or might focus on more practical topics— for example, a great idea for managing your studio or for creating community in your home town. See page 31 for Musings by Kim Peralta, who teaches in Brooksville, Maine. Please send your own Musings to yogasamachar@iynaus.org by Aug. 1.
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Want to Volunteer? In the past year we have had talented, generous volunteers step forward to help the IYNAUS Board and Committee Chairs with various tasks. Rachel Frazee became our Ad Sales expert for Yoga Samachar, and Shaaron Honeycutt got our Facebook page up and running with great style and little fuss. Thank you! Now we are looking for someone to help the Research Committee. For more information, please check the volunteer page on the IYNAUS website: http://www.iynaus.org/volunteer.
Join IYNAUS To join IYNAUS or renew your current membership, please visit our website and apply online: https://secure.iynaus.org/join.php. Membership fees begin at $60, with $30 of each membership going to support teacher certification and continuing education.
Your Ad Here Yoga Samachar accepts short, text-only ads to announce workshops, offer props for sale, list teacher openings at your studio, or provide other yoga-related information. Ads cost $50 for up to 50 words and $1 per word over 50 words, including phone numbers, USPS addresses, and websites. Please contact Rachel Frazee at rhazuga@gmail.com or 608-269-1441 for more information or to submit an ad.
Yoga Samachar Spring/Summer 2014
“ Balance does not mean
merely balancing the body. Balance in the body is the foundation for balance in life. In whatever position one is in, or in whatever condition in life one is placed, one must find balance. Balance is the state of the present— the here and now. If you balance in the present, you are living in Eternity.”
—B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
37
B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States P.O. Box 538 Seattle, WA 98111 www.iynaus.org
Illustration: Carol Nichols