VOL. 19 NO. 1
THE ART, SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY OF IYENGAR YOGA PLUS: YOGANUSASANAM LIGHTING THE WAY BELLUR TRUST
Spring / Summer 2015
CONTENTS
YOGA SAMACHAR’S MISSION
Letter From the President – Michael Lucey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Yogi-Artists Express Themselves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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:
Yoga and Science – Siegfried Bleher and Jarvis Chen . . . . 20
•
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
Atha Yoganusasanam: – Jennie Williford . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
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Report on studies regarding the practice of Iyengar Yoga
Reflections on Our Belated First Trip – David Carpenter . . . 31
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Provide information on products that IYNAUS imports from India
Yoganusasanam -- Melissa Lorraine Hagen . . . . . . . . . . . 33
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Review and present recent articles and books written by the Iyengars
Lighting the Way: Gloria Goldberg – Richard Jonas . . . . . . . 35
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Lifelong Practice: Ben and Tommijean Thomas – Josephine Lazarus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
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
News From the Regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Art, Science, and Philosophy in our Practice – Laurie Blakeney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The Lyrical Language of B.K.S. Iyengar – Laurel Rayburn. . . . 9
Body Sensations – Gin McCollum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Preparing for Prashant – Anne-Marie Schultz . . . . . . . . . . 25 Is Yoga a Religion? – John Schumacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Geeta’s Intensive: Three Perspectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
In Memory of Judi Ann Rice – Alex Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . 34
IYNAUS Store News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Report From Bellur – Michael Lucey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Treasurer’s Report – David Carpenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Classifieds/Corrections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 2014 Iyengar Yoga Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Poem for Our Skeletons – Rosie King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
IYNAUS Board Member Contact List Spring/Summer 2015 Lynda Alfred lynda@montrose.net
Kathy Simon kathyraesimon@gmail.com
Cynthia Bates cynthiabates88@gmail.com
Eric Small ericsmall@yogams.com
Leslie Bradley certification@iynaus.org
Nancy Watson nancyatiyanus@aol.com
David Carpenter dcarpenter@sidley.com
Denise Weeks denise.iynaus@gmail.com
Alex Cleveland clevelandalex@yahoo.com
Stephen Weiss stphweiss@gmail.com
Gloria Goldberg yogagold2@gmail.com
Sharon Cowdery (general manager) generalmanager@iynaus.org
Michael Lucey 1michael.lucey@gmail.com
Contact IYNAUS:
Tori Milner torimilner@yahoo.com Anne-Marie Schultz Anne_Marie_Schultz@baylor.edu
P.O. Box 538 Seattle WA 98111 206.623.3562 www.iynaus.org
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 Aug. 1. Please send queries to yogasamachar@iynaus.org one month prior to these deadlines.
Advertising Yoga Samachar is now accepting paid advertising. Full-page, half-page and quarter-page ads are available for placement throughout the magazine, and a classified advertising section is available for smaller ads. All advertising is subject to IYNAUS board approval. Find the ad rates at www.iynaus. org/yoga-samachar. For more information, including artwork specifications and deadlines, please contact Rachel Frazee at rachel@yogalacrosse.com or 608.269.1441.
Cover: Dory Kanter, Misty Mountains, watercolor on paper. © 2015 Dory Kanter, www.dorykanter.com
Spring/Summer 2015 Yoga Samachar
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IYNAUS Officers and Standing Committees President: Michael Lucey Vice President: Lynda Alfred Secretary: Denise Weeks Treasurer: David Carpenter Archives
Eric Small, Chair Kim Kolibri, Director of Archives Lindsey Clennell, Elaine Hall, Linda Nishio, Deborah Wallach
Certification Committee Leslie Bradley, Chair
Dean Lerner, James Murphy, Nancy Stechert, Lois Steinberg
Elections Committee
Letter
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Fellow IYNAUS Members, Tatah krtarthanam parinamakrama samaptih gunanam (Sutra IV.32) Before the first class she taught at the Yoganusasanam intensive in December, Geetaji reminded us of a word from the Yoga Sutras that Guruji was fond of: krtarthan. Guruji uses this word in his commentary on Sutra II.39 dealing with aparigraha, which, he tells us, “means not only nonpossession and nonacceptance of gifts but also freedom from rigidity of thought.” As Guruji notes in his discussion of that sutra: “When the sadhaka is free of worldly aspirations, he is a krtarthan (a happy and satisfied person).”
Michael Lucey, Chair
Lynda Alfred, Alex Cleveland, Anne-Marie Schultz
Ethics Committee
Michael Lucey, Chair Chris Beach, Randy Just, Lisa Jo Landsberg, Manju Vachher, Jito Yumibe
Events Committee
Nancy Watson, Chair Carole Fridolph, Gloria Goldberg, Colleen Gallagher, Suzie Muchnick, Phyllis Rollins
Finance Committee
David Carpenter, Chair Lynda Alfred, Gloria Goldberg, Stephen Weiss
Governance Committee Nancy Watson, Chair
David Carpenter, David Larsen
Membership Committee
Lynda Alfred & Alex Cleveland, Co-Chairs IYACSR – vacant IMIYA – Lynda Alfred IYAGNY – Ed McKeaney IYAMN – Elizabeth Cowan IYAMW – Becky Meline IYANC – Risa Blumlien IYANE – Kathleen Swanson IYANW – Margrit von Braun IYASC-LA – Wendy Alter IYASCUS – Jerrie Crowley IYASE – Diana Martinez IYASW – Carrie Abts
Publications Committee Tori Milner, Chair
Don Gura, Rachel Frazee, Denise Weeks, Michelle D. Williams
Public Relations and Marketing Committee Cynthia Bates, Chair
Ani Boursalian, Rachel Formaro, Shaaron Honeycutt, Louisa Spier, Holly Walck, Nagisa Wanabe
Regional Support Committee
Alex Cleveland & Anne-Marie Schultz, Co-Chairs IMIYA – Lynda Alfred IYAGNY – Ed McKeaney IYAMN – Katy Olson IYAMW – Jennie Williford IYANC – Heather Haxo Phillips IYANE – Jarvis Chen IYANW – Janet Langley IYASC-LA – Jennifer Diener IYASCUS – Pauline Schloesser IYASE – Alex Cleveland IYASW – Lisa Henrich
Scholarship and Awards Committee Denise Weeks, Chair
Leslie Freyberg, Richard Jonas, Lisa Jo Landsberg, Pat Musburger, Nina Pileggi, John Schumacher
Service Mark & Certification Mark Committee Gloria Goldberg, Attorney in Fact for Geeta S. Iyengar and Prashant S. Iyengar
Systems & Technology Committee Stephen Weiss, Chair
Ed Horneij, William McKee, David Weiner
Yoga Research Committee
Sutra IV.32 combines that word—krtarthan—with parinama (transformation) and krama (sequence). Commenting on IV.32, Guruji wrote: “Having transformed the yogi’s consciousness by the radiation of the rays of the soul, the orderly mutations and rhythmic sequences of the qualities of nature, sattva, rajas, and tamas come to an end… The essence of intelligence and the essence of consciousness both now retire to rest in the abode of the soul. The master, the seer or the soul, is independent.” This contentment, this satisfaction, this independence was Guruji’s at the end of his life, Geetaji reminded us; it was brought about by the successive sequential changes that were the fruit of years of devoted practice, a practice free from rigidity of thought and possessiveness. A krtarthan is a fulfilled soul, Geetaji told us, and this possibility of fulfillment is part of what Guruji offers to us through what he taught as well as through the example of his practice. Geetaji’s inspired teaching last December provided many of those present with a chance to mourn for Guruji but also to celebrate the gift of his life, his practice, and his teaching. Guruji himself insisted that younger practitioners be invited to this intensive. He insisted, Geetaji told us, that there is “a new generation whom we have to care about.” As I reflect on my time in Pune this past December and on what we can be doing as a community to care for a new generation, I find myself meditating on the relationships that might exist between these various concepts from the Yoga Sutras. Aparigraha is a letting go, a nongrasping attitude, an openness of mind, a welcoming of what comes next, of who or what comes after. Parinama is the transformation that devoted, rigorous, and efficacious practice can bring. Krama is the idea of sequence and sequencing so important to Guruji’s method, an idea that encompasses continuing, progressive learning from action to action, from pose to pose, from syllabus to syllabus, from year to year, and from generation to generation. Finally, krtarthan is a fulfillment, satisfaction, or contentment that can be ours if we allow aparigraha, krama, and parinama to be actualized in and through our practice. This, then, is surely our mission—as individuals and as an organization—in the years ahead: Out of a welcoming spirit of generosity, kindness, friendliness, and compassion and out of a spirit of devotion to the rich and rigorous practice that B.K.S. Iyengar taught us, we must find ways to find fulfillment as we cultivate and pass on the knowledge and the practice that have been passed to us. I look forward to continuing to work with you in pursuit of that mission, and I thank all of you who have contributed so generously in so many ways over the years and right up to today—be it as a teacher, an assessor, a community member, or a volunteer, be it with a contribution to the Bellur fund (see the Bellur Report on page 40), to our archives, or to IYNAUS generally (see David Carpenter’s Treasurer’s Report on page 42).
Kathy Simon, Chair
Jerry Chiprin, Renee Royal, Kimberly Williams
IYNAUS Senior Council Kristin Chirhart, Manouso Manos, Patricia Walden, Joan White 2
Michael Lucey, President IYNAUS Board of Directors Yoga Samachar Spring /Summer 2015
News
FROM THE REGIONS
IYAGNY
Community Outreach Classes
around the world including Father Joe Pereira and Stephanie Quirk have taught the class.
The Iyengar Yoga Institutes of New York and Brooklyn hold nearly 100 classes every week, ranging from Level I to Level IV
What has never changed is the spirit in the class—similar to
and including Pranayama, Restorative, Women’s, Prenatal,
that among survivors of breast cancer in the Breast Health
Gentle, and Specific Needs classes. Introductory classes and
Class and in the Veterans’ Class. The HIV Class began in 1994 in
series for students new to the method are offered as well as
the old New York Institute on 24th Street and was taught by
teacher training, including ongoing programs for certified
James Murphy, IYAGNY director, and Brooke Myers. The class
teachers. There is also a full slate of weekend workshops taught
still meets at noon on Fridays. In the early days, some students
by faculty on special themes such as “Asana for Anxiety,” “Yoga
were incapacitated; some did no more than lie on the floor with
for Depression,” “Working With Bunions,” “Anatomy of the
their heels elevated on blocks to quiet the abdomen and relieve
Breathing Mechanism,” and “Finding Your Balance.” In addition,
diarrhea. Changes in the HIV Class mirror changes in the
special workshops bring visiting teachers to the region.
epidemic. Conditions of the eye like retinitis, which meant students could not do inversions, are much more rare; so are
Still another kind of class mirrors the community outreach
fever and diarrhea. A second HIV Class, at the Brooklyn Institute,
efforts of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York
meets at 3 p.m. on Mondays and is taught by Richard Jonas.
(IYAGNY) and the universal reach of Guruji’s method: an HIV Class, a Breast Health Class, and a Veterans’ Class.
One current student says, “I would not classify it as yoga and HIV, but yoga and life. Yoga has an effect on our posture, our life
These free classes remind us that Iyengar Yoga is a vital, life-
choices, and our ways of thinking. Yoga has become an
affirming way to work with chronic conditions and to nurture
instrument for a healthier body and a cleaner mind.” Another
hope and fortitude in the face of difficulties. They show how a
adds, “The benefits I have achieved in a very short period of
yoga institute is more than a yoga studio in the way it reaches
time are amazing. The first thing I noticed was a real change in
out to people in its community. Most of all, these classes
my posture. I feel my body has enlarged. For the first time, I
demonstrate that, along with the striving for absolute
have found out how to have a relationship with all of my body,
alignment and constant focus, the nature of the Iyengars’
inside and outside. Another benefit is the level of relaxation;
teaching is profound compassion for students of all levels and
yoga makes it so much easier to reach that state of mind where
conditions. This compassion comes from and demonstrates
everything is peaceful.”
their sure knowledge of how profoundly curative and transformative yoga, correctly performed, can be.
— Richard Jonas
The HIV Class
The Breast Health Class
The Iyengar Yoga Institute’s HIV Class began in the days before
For the women who attend it, the Breast Health Class is a
anti-retroviral medications were available. As the nature of the
lifeline. It is both a place for like-minded women to meet and
AIDS epidemic changed, so did the class. People grew healthier
network and a place where they can begin to take charge of
and stronger, and along with sequences devised by Guruji and
their lives and learn yoga in a supportive atmosphere.
the Iyengars to control HIV infection, students began to do the kind of “regular” yoga that makes everyone stronger, more
Taught by Bobby Clennell, author of Yoga for Breast Care: What
flexible, and balanced.
Every Woman Needs to Know, the class is targeted to the particular needs of these women; only breast cancer survivors
There’s always been a special feeling in the HIV Class—
may attend. And since most of the women are over 60, they
friendly and supportive—and a sense of belonging. Longtime
know they can be in a class without fear of not being able to
students welcome and encourage newcomers. Along with
keep up.
firmness of body and steadiness of intelligence, which B.K.S. Iyengar tells us are two of the defining qualities of asana,
Breast cancer surgery brings a particular set of limitations and
one feels here the benevolence of spirit he names as the
a particular set of aspirations not found among any other group
third quality.
of students. Now in its fourth year, the class draws a mixed group. Many of the women, especially the dedicated group of
Over the years, we have lost students and mourned as a
regulars who make up the bulk of the class, are long-term
community. Newcomers have arrived. Senior teachers from
survivors. These women have made tremendous strides in their
Spring/Summer 2015 Yoga Samachar
3
offered to all veterans from any branch of service—regardless of injury or past yoga experience. The biggest concern plaguing veterans today is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—and Iyengar Yoga really shines in this arena. Our approach to yoga is a clear breath of fresh air to all who enter the class. The discipline of our practice appeals to a veteran’s already-honed skills of attentiveness and focus, and the pranayama taught in Iyengar Yoga helps students take this Supta Baddha Konasana: Begin on a lower support (i.e., a narrow-fold blanket) immediately following surgery for breast cancer.
honed skill and turn it inward so the mind can become quiet and peaceful. The feeling in the room during class is one of community and
practices. Improvement in mobility around the affected site, in
openness. “Once you figure out what it’s all about, it becomes
particular the arm and shoulder, is one of the first benefits they
so meaningful. It’s like family,” says Anu Bhagwati, a longtime
gain from the class.
yoga practitioner and teacher in New York.
A less obvious, but extremely valuable benefit is regaining
IYAGNY is proud to offer the Veterans’ Class to honor and pay
confidence in a body that a woman may feel has let her down.
tribute to a group that has given so much.
It takes a while, but with regular attendance in the class (and for some with home practice), trust in the body’s ability to heal
— Adam Vitolo
itself through yoga builds, week after week, month after month, year after year.
Richard Jonas, Bobby Clennell, and Adam Vitolo are faculty members at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York.
This is a close-knit group. Navigating the health system and attempting to pull together the components that make up a
IYAMN
medical support system are among the subjects the students
In October 2014, the Iyengar Yoga Association of Minnesota
exchange information about.
(IYAMN) hosted senior teachers Mary Obendorfer and Eddy Marks to conduct a three-day workshop in Saint Paul at the
As teachers, one of our greatest rewards is watching the progress
Saint Paul Yoga Center. In their asana classes, Mary and Eddy
of our students. In many respects, this group is no different from
conveyed key philosophical concepts of yoga and demonstrated
students in a regular class. As their immune systems become
the seamlessness of practice and philosophy. They also taught
stronger, we see their health and strength improving. And if they
two pranayama classes during the well-attended and much-
stick around, something else happens—something wonderful:
appreciated workshop.
They become fascinated by yoga and interested in practicing beyond the initial confines of breast cancer.
We continued our tradition of holding a winter yoga day to honor and celebrate Guruji’s life and work. This was also held
A breast cancer survivor does not want to think about breast
at the Saint Paul Yoga Center and was attended by about 35
cancer all the time. She wants to move on. Yes, this class takes
people. Local teacher Jeanne Barkey taught an asana class,
into consideration the specific needs and concerns of the group,
using it to introduce some of the basic philosophical ideas of
including the aftereffects of chemotherapy (long-term and
the yoga tradition. Members of our association were
lingering fatigue), the initial immobility caused by scar tissue
encouraged to bring guests new to yoga to introduce them to
(most of these women have undergone some sort of surgery, a
the tradition of Iyengar Yoga, and Jeanne taught a class that
mastectomy, lumpectomy or reconstruction surgery), and, in
was amenable to that group. This proved to be a great success,
some cases, lymphedema. But this class also recognizes the
and we intend to do this once a year as a way to build
need to address the entire person—the body, the breath, the
community and increase membership in our association. The
mind, and the innermost self.
evening concluded with refreshments, including a cake to honor Guruji’s birth. IYAMN also sponsored a workshop with
— Bobby Clennell
John Schumacher in early June in Saint Paul.
The Veterans’ Class
We welcomed new board member Luanne Laurents to the
The Veterans’ Class takes place at noon on Saturday afternoons
board to succeed outgoing member Michael Moore. We are
at the New York Institute and is taught by Adam Vitolo. The
thankful to Michael for his service to the board. Our board
class gives IYAGNY the opportunity to give back to the men and
continues with its mission of building the Iyengar Yoga
women who have risked their lives for our country. The class is
community in this region, especially reaching out beyond the
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Yoga Samachar Spring /Summer 2015
YOGI-ARTISTS EXPRESS THEMSELVES HOW DOES YOUR YOGA PRACTICE INFLUENCE YOUR CREATIVE LIFE? AND VICE VERSA?
“Iyengar Yoga helps me connect with myself in order to express
notice this in asana practice. The five kleshas (afflictions), for
the soul, to be courageous enough to put my art out to the
example, are easily recognizable when painting. When I’m in
public. Yoga makes my body and mind a clearer passage for
deeper concentration, all of this disappears. Through painting,
the spirit to create through the body. By learning to recognize
I understand what is meant by the act of painting, the painter,
the states of mind in yoga practice, I recognize those same
and that which is being painted, and in rare moments, it
states of mind when painting, so the painting as well as the
happens that it all comes together, and there is nothing but the
asana become a tool for reading the processes on the field of
state of being. Also, strangely, when painting asana, the area in
consciousness.
the body that I have not understood in practice comes out distorted and out of balance, and this points me toward the
“The processes in the consciousness that I notice when painting
direction of focus in my practice.”
are more easily recognizable when practicing asanas. For example, I notice using too much rational thinking when I’m
—Jana Chadimova, painter, Czech Republic
painting, rather than being present in the moment—and I also
Jana Chadimova working on Urdhva Dhanurasana in her studio. Photo: Daniel Papousek
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Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, work in progress by Jana Chadimova Photo: Daniel Papousek
Yoga Samachar Spring /Summer 2015
“Iyengar Yoga has improved my painting process on a physical,
“Art helps me to be disciplined and practice yoga regularly, and
mental, and spiritual level. I now have no back pain. I carefully do
it gives me the patience required to work in other nonartistic
twists and turns when I place the brush on canvas, palette, water,
fields and the strength to confront some of life’s obstacles. The
cloth, etc. I am always conscious when coming in and out of a
process of creation has also given me a spiritual sense of
position. I’m also more relaxed, in the NOW, rather than focused
meaning, and I enjoy it immensely.”
on a deadline. I have a sense of meaning in what I do. —Mario Dubovoy, painter, Miami Beach, Florida
Mario Dubovoy at work
Mario Dubovoy painting
“I consider yoga an art and art to be yoga-like, so the process of creating all becomes one. Whether I’m painting, curating, practicing asana, or tying my shoe, they all feed each other in some mysterious way. At least that’s how I think about it!” —Sharon Hawley, painter and art curator, San Francisco
Sharon Hawley paints or sketches portraits of the mentally ill people she works with. She then photographs the portraits and transfers the images to other paper via chemical processes that erode the images, thereby depicting what she believes to be a more accurate image of the complexity of the human condition. “These downtrodden were ‘hung out to dry,’ so to speak, on a clothesline.” Spring/Summer 2015 Yoga Samachar
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B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States P.O. Box 538 Seattle, WA 98111 www.iynaus.org
A student in Bellur provides a yoga demonstration for visitors. Photo: Michael Lucey Painted portrait of B.K.S. Iyengar at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India