Iyengar Yoga News - issue 23 - Autumn 2013

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IYENGAR YOGA NEWS

ISSUE NUMBER 23

AUTUMN 2013

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IYENGAR YOGA (UK) ®

President: Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar

IYENGAR YOGA NEWS

Editorial

Welcome to a birthday edition of Iyengar Yoga News, celebrating Guruji’s 95 years; how lucky we are to have such a brilliant genius as our teacher. Our tribute includes an article by Rajvi Mehta, who inspired so many of us at last year’s convention, and an interview with Guruji from earlier this year. We have an article by Kofi Busia on Guruji’s use of props in his teaching and a nostalgic look back to early trips to Pune by Judi Sweeting. Our normal features include an article on Asana, again by Judi, book reviews, an update on Bellur, a report of this year’s convention, and lots more.

We also include an application form to apply for next year’s convention in Harrogate with Abhijata Sridhar Iyengar, Guruji’s granddaughter, who many of you will remember from the convention we held in London with Geetaji in 2009. Do feel free to use the form included in this magazine, but we much prefer you to go onto our website an enrol online if you can. Last year’s convention sold out very quickly (although, in the end, everyone on the waiting list did get a place).

We expect lots more people to want to come for Abhijata next year and we have hired a larger hall, but do book early if you can, especially if you want more choice regarding accommodation.

www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

Issue No.23 Autumn 2013

Finally, we would like to make two appeals to our membership regarding Iyengar Yoga News. One idea we have come up with is to appoint a guest commissioning editor for each issue; this person would write/commission three or four articles on a specific theme of their choosing. They would not be involved in the production or sub-editing of the magazine. If you think you might be interested in taking this on for the next issue, or maybe for one in the future, please contact us. Also, we are looking for someone to take on the layout and design of the magazine. This is not a small task and it is voluntary, although we will supply the hardware and software you will need. We produce two issues a year and you would be responsible for doing the entire layout and preparing the copy for the printer; previous experience is necessary!

IY (UK) contacts

Katie Owens: Membership and Office Manager Telephone: 07510 326 997 email: katie@iyengaryoga.org.uk Address: IY (UK), PO Box 4730, Sheffield S8 2HE Jess Wallwork: Finance and Bookings Administrator Telephone: 07757 463 767 email: jess@iyengaryoga.org.uk Address: 15 West Grove, Bristol BS6 5LS Jo Duffin: Assessments Administrator Telephone: 07795 443 375 email: jo@iyengaryoga.org.uk Address: PO Box 255, Royston, SG8 1DU

Editorial Board: John Cotgreave, Philippe Harari, Judith Jones, Lucy Osman, Tehira Taylor Layout & Design: Lucy Osman Articles to: editor@iyengaryoga.org.uk Copy deadline 1 December 2013 Advertising: John Cotgreave cotgreavej@gmail.com IY Office: admin@iyengaryoga.org.uk e ® used with permission of B.K.S Iyengar, Trade Mark owner

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Contents Features

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The Art of Giving Yoga for Life The Innermost Guru Blasts from the Past The Cotswold Iyengar Yoga Centre Book Reviews Bellur Junior Assessments: Taking the Next Step 2013 Convention Obituaries

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IY(UK) Reports Assessment Passes Professional Development Days Institutes

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Member Information

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Yogacharya BKS Iyengar 95 on 14th December 2013!

As we celebrate Guruji’s 95th birthday on 14th December and send our congratulations and good wishes to him, we also pay our respects and extend our gratitude to him for all he has given us so freely.

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Guruji has touched, enhanced, changed the lives of countless people worldwide.

Through yoga and by his own example he teaches us how to know ourselves and how to live a more worthy and meaningful life. His compassion and generosity are abundant.

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The Art of Giving Rajvi H Mehta Guruji has given health to millions. He has given peace of mind to the strife torn world. He has provided a living for the thousands of teachers across the world.

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His ideas have led to the constant creation of new props which has made yoga a multi-billion dollar industry. He has not asked for patents; he has not asked for royalty; he has not even asked for credit or a name for his Nobel-prize worthy discoveries and inventions. Interestingly there are many others who have capitalised and patented his creations in their own names, but that does not matter to him. He is happy that people have found meaning to their lives through the amazing subject of yoga that he is constantly revealing to us.

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He is consistently sharing his knowledge with us as he tries not to keep anything to himself. He gives so much that none of us have the ability to accept his generosity.

He didn’t just start donating and sharing his economic wealth after he had provided for himself and his family but did so even in the very early years of his life when he himself was struggling for a living. The post-independence phase in lndian history (lndia got its independence from the British in 1947) was a period of great struggle. A young nation was trying to gets its own footing in the world arena. She had teething troubles for several decades which were made worse by an unrelenting onslaught of Nature's fury in the form of draught, famine, floods and

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Whatever you keep yourself, know that it belongs to others.

What you give belongs to you.

ln the last decade, he has given away his lifelong earnings to the children of his birthplace Bellur so that they too can advance in their lives. The scroll of honour presented by the Village Panchayat in 1967, at the time of the building of the primary school in Bellur, records his donation of nearly Rs.60,000 – his earnings from his trips to Switzerland and the UK. Guruji felt that no child should be denied basic education and he started the primary school in 1967 which remained the only school in Bellur till 2004.

Giving charity is an integral part of his life as much as yoga is. He himself never claims to be a philanthropist – he just gives! Even when the

children were very young, Guruji's daughters, Sunita and Sucheta gave a sitar recital while Sri Prashant made his maiden appearance with the violin, presented to him by none other than Menuhin. The proceeds were donated! Guruji has given many demonstrations all over lndia raising funds for the famine affiicted masses of Bihar or the flood ravaged people of Darjeeling. Donations are as regular a feature in his life as is his yoga practice. In the year 2001, the western state of Gujarat suffered from a massive earthquake in the midst of winter. We have no idea about the amount of money that Guruji had donated as it is not his nature to talk about it, but he could not hide the truck loads of goods that were donated by him and the family. Donations of old clothes and blankets were asked for but everything that was sent by Guruji was new and some of his most expensive woollen shawls were all packed into the boxes to help the victims endure the bitter winter.

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earthquakes. Having experienced poverty and hunger Guruji could not ignore the fact that many of his countrymen were starving. His yoga demonstrations were attractive so he gave many to raise funds for various charities. It is on record in the newspaper archives of the Poona Herald that "his demonstrations have helped the "War on Wants", "the Bhoodan Movement" and other charitable causes to the tune of Rs. 30,000". This was in the 1960s at a time when Guruji himself was struggling for a consistent livelihood and to get yoga its due recognition.

Today, many of the large lyengar Yoga lnstitutes in the world are purely a result of the generosity of Guruji. He gave demonstrations to packed audiences and whatever earnings were made were always given back to the local community.

The first lnternational lyengar Yoga Convention

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was held in San Francisco and in the words of the organisers, “We finished the convention and paid off all the expenses.” We had a good profit which we offered Guruji. He refused. He said, “Keep it for the growth of yoga in your community”. And this is what he did with all the earnings from all the conventions. The Light on Yoga Research Trust in Mumbai was formed by Guruji's funds collected during his 60th birthday celebrations in 1978. Guruji sowed the seeds of most of the premier lyengar Yoga lnstitutes not only with his knowledge but his hard earned money. But he has never asked or taken any earnings from these lnstitutes, even after they became economically viable or even profitable.

Having been a silent observer to his consistent generosity for decades, I plucked up the courage to ask Guruji about charity and what had made him give when he didn’t even have enough for himself.

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His answer was simple: “In my early days there was suffering, so (I felt) at least let this generation not feel the prick of want. We are human beings so we should have the qualities to help human beings. That is what I feel is charity”. He then gave the example of one of the teachers who had back pain. “His lumbar is shortened. How much I thought how to give him that extension. That is also charity. lt is not only giving money that is charity but even the art of teaching is charity."

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I said “You have been giving and giving. How do other human beings develop this quality? When most people give they expect something in return!”

He replied : “There was a very famous Kannada poet, Sarvajna, who used to write small three line poems called as tripadas. We were taught his poems in our schools in those days. lt is full of ethics. There is one very good poem which I learnt at that time.

“Whatever you keep yourself, know that it belongs to others.

What you give belongs to you.”

What you keep belongs to others – this was taught in childhood and we had to say this everyday as a prayer. So I say – Let us share. That is all. Otherwise, I would have been the richest man in the world! I never hankered for money otherwise I could have demanded even then.

Whatever you want to pay, you pay. lf you don't pay, don't pay! What can I do? I am happy. All my students are also grateful to me – that is also a good thing. That also comes under the charitable qualities of students.”

(Edited from an article in Yoga Rahasya Volume 20, No.1 2013)

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Yoga for Life Excerpts from an Interview with BKS Iyengar Jan 2013 - published with permission of Roger Champagne (editor IYCV Newsletter, Canada)

Would you say there has ever been a change in what has interested you in yoga, or has it remained the same all these years?

No, the subject is quite different. Naturally as I make progress changes do come and I have to accept those changes and find out whether they are genuinely good or bad. So if it genuinely helps I accept it otherwise I reject it.

The changes are in the body?

Well the body cannot change on its own unless the mind, which is a mixture, a chemistry of the body, has to come in contact.

So if there is a change in the body there is a change in the mind, and if there is a change in the mind there is a change in the body.

They go hand in hand so you cannot divide it, so this is mind action; this is body action. They are co-ordinated

motion. So therefore one cannot say divide yoga... this is physical, this is mental. They are all going on and yet people’s minds are still in division.

The body is the gross holder of the Self. If there is no body there is no spirit and no soul.

So then why we are practicing yoga is because the body, as the holder of the Self, has to be sustained and supported so that the Self surfaces. If it is neglected there is no chance for anyone to know the Self. So that is dharma (duty). That’s the reason. So why I practice is that the upholder of the Self has to be maintained in a good state of equilibrium and harmony. Only then is there concurrence of mind and atma (Self). Otherwise there will be division, not concurrence.

So we begin from the body for a simple reason, body is the holder of the Self. You cannot neglect the holder. Can the water be held if there is no jar?

So that is why I pay respect to my body.

You practice many hours a day Naturally. The body is a temple of the Soul. Why have I used that word? If the temple is clean and looked after people go and pray, otherwise it is just a sightseeing area. So if the temple is kept clean you’re attracted religiously towards the practice of yoga to have a sight of the soul, towards the realisation of the Self.

You are acknowledged and honoured as yoga’s foremost master – how have you remained so humble as well?

Because new things come up. That’s why it makes me humble. I have practiced for years to get there then all of a sudden something strikes me. Where is my intelligence, why did it not show me this before? So that makes me to be humble. There is still plenty to learn!

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Could you speak about what continues to interest you on the subject of yoga?

I’ve taken it as a mission so I am doing it as missionary work.

I’m a bhakta of yoga, a devotee of yoga, so the inspiration (interest) is automatically there.

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The Innermost Guru Kofi Busia

sive rushte gurustrata gurau rushte na kascana “If Siva is exasperated with you, the guru can still guide and protect you; But if the guru is exasperated with you, then there is nothing that can help you” Guru Gita “Body is my first prop. The body is a prop to the soul”.

BKS Iyengar

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The style of yoga that Guruji has bequeathed to us all is characterised by, amongst other things, its distinctive and effective use of props. In his hands, props cease to be ‘mere objects’. They become aids that facilitate yoga. They are no longer just external. Those most famous accoutrements of Iyengar yoga instead symbolise Guruji’s systematic approach to the surrounding world. They bring health and harmony not just to the body, but to the whole of the inner being.

Although we nearly all use, and are immensely grateful for, Guruji’s many props, few of us use them effectively. Fewer of us still have a proper appreciation for the deeper role they play in Guruji’s more general approach to health and healing. In order to properly understand props and Guruji’s attitude to them, it is important to understand his overall philosophy, for that is the origin of his discoveries.

Guruji was born into a Vaishnavite family. Through his family deity, Lord Venkateshwara, commonly known as Balaji, he is a follower of Ramanuja’s vision of visisthadvaita, a branch of vedanta. In contrast to yoga, this ‘qualified non-difference’ school teaches that the surrounding universe has been created by an ultimate reality. No matter how distinctive or diverse worldly phenomena may appear to be, that ultimate reality is both

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source and fundamental component of them all.

Whether those phenomena are animate or inanimate, they are produced by the same ultimate reality. It is their indwelling presence. And since each of us, as individual beings, is therefore its expression, it is our duty to seek for ‘moksha’, that liberating communion that is a complete surrender to that manifest reality. This moksha is a ceaseless and loving meditation upon the supreme. Guruji’s famous expression “the body is my temple, and asanas are my prayers” perhaps best summarises this understanding.

It may seem anomalous, but Guruji’s views on the external world, based as they are on the vedanta of his family deity, could hardly be more different from those espoused by Patañjali, and as codified in the Yoga Sutras. Where Ramanuja and the form of vedanta that Guruji originally inherited are monistic, and so hold that an ultimate and inherently divine reality is both the source of and contained within everything, Patañjali’s philosophy is more austerely dualistic. Along with its sister philosophy of sankhya, yoga instead divides the universe into the two distinct and quite separate realms of matter and spirit.

Matter and spirit, as envisioned by Patañjali, are polar opposites. In his view, far from the material world being a potential source of contemplation

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“Body is my first prop. The body is a prop to the soul”.

BKS Iyengar

We can perhaps best understand Guruji’s resolution of the dilemma posed by yoga’s

matter–spirit dichotomy by considering two things. First is Yehudi Menuhin, his most famous of all students. Menuhin described Guruji as his ‘best violin teacher’. As for the second … although Guruji most certainly does not follow it; and although few really know very much about it, or what it is, or what it is trying to do, almost everybody has heard of tantra yoga. This argues that when matter is properly fashioned and approached, it can be a guide - or prop - for coming to know the spiritual. This is a very different view from Patañjali’s somewhat stricter variant.

Before turning to Menuhin, we

should understand that tantra arose out of yoga’s attempts to answer, from its dualistic perspective, the powerful criticisms directed at it by the very different monistic vedanta philosophy. Its resolution of these issues is worth understanding, for it provides us with the foundation we need to understand Guruji’s views on, and usage of, props and as exemplified in what he conveyed to Menuhin.

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and liberation, should we end up making the wrong choice by paying undue attention to that materiality, we will be “rewarded” by becoming ensnared in its oscillations – its ‘cittavrttis’. The essential message of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, for example, is that we should use asana to train our bodies so they keep all sensations and distractions as far away from our ‘true self’ as possible. We can then get on with the ‘higher purposes’ that the Pradipika characterizes as raja yoga.

Yoga might mean ‘union’, but as far as almost all schools of vedanta are concerned, yoga is premised on what vedanta conceives of as an ultimately false distinction between

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matter and spirit. Since yoga regards these two as irreconcilable opposites, then as far as vedanta is concerned, yoga’s entire philosophy is inherently flawed. Vedanta, being monistic, instead insists that everything that yoga would in its turn characterise as material is born from the same ultimate reality as everything it might care to characterise as divine. While yoga might try to insist that its techniques – grounded as they are in mind, concentration, and practice – can lead us to samadhi, permanently distance us from matter and so render us unstained and undistracted by materiality; vedanta counters by saying that since matter and spirit are in any case equivalent, in that both are emanations of the one supreme creative being, then any attempt to “distance” spirit from matter is mistaken in principle. More than that, it is utterly impossible in practice. Therefore, the ideas that yoga insists on promoting, based as they are on distinguishing matter from spirit, are fraught with danger and cannot be valid.

Since vedanta’s above argument calls yoga’s entire existence into question, tantra feels compelled to come up with a robust counter-argument. If we can understand that counterargument, then we have a solid foundation for understanding Guruji’s approach to props.

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We can refer back to Menuhin.

As is well known, he met Iyengar when he was suffering from a variety of muscular and skeletal aches and pains that greatly affected his playing. He could no longer use his violin and his music to express his true self. Under Guruji’s tuition, however, his muscular and other pains disappeared completely and restored that capability.

If we now use Menuhin’s search for freedom in his playing as an analogy, then tantra reconciles

vedanta’s assertions by suggesting that instead of ‘distancing’ ourselves from the material world, we should each convert it into our “unique violin”. We should appreciate that once we have reshaped and remoulded all externals in this way, we can then use them to inspire ourselves to emulate Menuhin in full cry and express our fullest and deepest inner nature. We should therefore turn the entire external world into something both inspirational and spirit-affirming.

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Guruji’s next major prop innovation grew out of observing what happened when he used weights upon himself to help with his baddhakonasana. He used to suffer great fatigue from cycling many miles every day to teach his classes all over Pune and his legs would also shiver and shake. He knew that this was because of restlessness in the nerves. But he noticed that when he put stones, drums of water, and rolled up mattresses upon his legs, they did a little more than just stretch out.

The shaking reduced. Since he had pupils whose legs often shook and trembled, he reasoned that weights would have a similar therapeutic effect upon their nerves. His surmising was correct. He now knew that weights – when used carefully and effectively – could make a person’s entire nervous system gradually become calmer.

The props Guruji invented and discovered from these initial realisations are many and varied.

However, in his eyes they do something more than simply help muscles stretch, give physical support, create optimal alignment, and make specific actions possible by transcending perceived physical or other limitations. A brick or block does something more than simply “raise the level

A prop should never make us forget, as yoga students and teachers, that asana is a way of posing a question about embodiment of the floor” and obviate our inability to get the hand to the ground, while all the time steadying our balance.

A prop should never make us forget, as yoga students and teachers, that asana is a way of posing a question about embodiment. Asana is a way of asking how we should conduct ourselves, and in that sense, a prop is a spiritual adviser. The Guru Gita or Song of the Teacher, quoted at the beginning of this article, is a dialogue between Siva and his wife Parvati. It describes the guru as the one who ‘removes the darkness of ignorance’.

The guru’s purpose is to teach, and this traditionally has three aspects. The ‘diksha guru’ is the initiating guru who recognises and authenticates the objective, and so first inducts the student on the path. The ‘shiksha guru’ is the then instructing guru who does the actual training. The ‘chaitya guru’ is the guru within who must eventually be awakened. This is the voice within that ultimately tells a person how they should act. Awakening that innermost guru is the true purpose of any prop.

Our job as yoga teachers does not end when we give someone a prop. It is only just beginning. Our work is not done simply because we have given a person a prop and therefore made the pose “easy” for that is a little like giving someone a violin, and then expecting the instrument to somehow work its magic unaided.

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Guruji’s adventures with props, as we now know them, began in earnest in 1937 when he was trying to teach the former principal of Fergusson College in Pune, then 85 years old, some standing poses. The principal suffered from numerous aches and problems, and also could not stand properly.

Guruji’s first innovation was to use the whole floor as a prop by getting his elderly student to do trikonasana and other standing poses in a supine position. But due to his hip problems and his general inflexibility, the principal still could not separate his legs to the required distances. Guruji solved this problem by placing a long wooden rod between the principal’s feet. This straight away allowed the hips and the leg muscles to begin extending, and so to learn the correct movements. In Guruji’s own words, “that was my first creation of a prop - a wooden rod”.

As another example, many a child learns to ride a bicycle by first riding a tricycle. In most people’s eyes, a tricycle is a prop. It is but a prelude, after

Awakening that innermost guru is the true purpose of any prop.

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all, to “the real business” of a bicycle. We generally expect people to “graduate” from three wheels to two when they are ready. But a tricycle is in fact something a little more than just a bicycle for the incompetent. Adults ride tricycles, and there are regular world tricycle racing championships. My wife used to own a tricycle, and we used it extensively. It had a very large basket which was very handy for shopping, as well as for ferrying young children around. We used to put the baby in the basket, while the older two would supposedly roller blade along beside whoever was taking them to and from school that day. Going downhill was “fun”, so the older two would happily hop out of the basket and use their roller blades. But when it came to the uphill sections, they would get right back in the basket and/or hang on to the tricycle while we poor parents would struggle and puff all four beings all the way up … only for them to let go and freewheel the next downhill section. And as we discovered to our cost, if you do not pay proper attention then it is still possible to fall off a tricycle. We had cycled safely across a busy intersection, and the front wheel had gone slightly to the left and up onto the small incline to take us back onto the pavement. Then just as one back wheel mounted, so leaving the other still down on the street, one child leaned over to the right to show a sibling something; two backpacks slid over to join them; everything was suddenly over on the right; and over we all went, spilling onto the ground.

A prop is more than an external aid. It is about seeing with fresh eyes. It is an internal awakener. A prop might support and help open up a range of possibilities, safely and effectively, but in Guruji’s hands it stops being simply a part of the external world, it becomes our spiritual advisor. Just as the conductor of an orchestra listens to every instrument and tries to get every player in harmony, so also should a teacher continue to observe how every student is using that prop. A prop should should not be given blindly, and should help us to develop physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.

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Yoga instead teaches us that all suffering begins and ends with our own ignorance.

The word ‘rushte’ used in the Sanskrit verse from the Guru Gita quoted at the beginning is extremely hard to translate, but it lies at the heart of Guruji’s distinctive use of props. Rushte reminds us that the world is full of suffering, and that none of us can avoid all possible ailments.

However, that near inevitability of suffering does not mean that we should regard the external world as its source. Yoga instead teaches us that all suffering begins and ends with our own ignorance.

The real lesson Guruji has to teach us is that props are the guru that help us all overcome our essential misunderstanding about existence. They encourage us to look at the world in a new light.

The world is something in which we can derive the maximum inner benefit from everything that lies around us. Thus working with a prop does not immediately alleviate us from doing the hard inner work that leads to increased knowledge and wisdom. Props should instead teach us to see our situation with fresh eyes so that we can correct the errors we were making before we turned to them. In this sense, props are the imparters of jnana or knowledge. We cannot do anything about the fact that if Siva so chooses, then he can send us any ailment, affliction or tragedy he chooses. But properly used, props can help us face those turmoils with a steady spirit.

Props then become our guardians and protectors. If we therefore become cavalier in our attitude to them; if we do not properly understand their deeper role in what they are trying to achieve; then where are we to turn when they seem to prove ineffective?

When we reach out for a prop, we should always remember that we reaching out for the diksha or initiating guru. We should remember that we have a path and an ultimate objective. As we use the

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The real lesson Guruji has to teach us is that props are the guru that help us all overcome our essential misunderstanding about existence

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prop we should be observant to the lessons imparted by its inbuilt shiksha guru for as Guruji teaches, this entire world is an agent of liberation.

Finally, we should absorb and open ourselves to the chaitya guru and awaken, for that is the true purpose of any prop, and using a prop should never be an excuse to forget the deeper purposes and intentions of yoga … which is to follow the spirit to its ultimate liberation. That is the message of this surrounding universe, and that is the essential truth of any prop. As Guruji says: “Body is my first prop. The body is a prop to the soul”.

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Blasts from the Past Judi Sweeting

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I found some photographs.

They are really to blame for this article, my inspiration! When we look at old photographs they stir up all sorts of memories and emotions and our imagination is stimulated, we are taken back to that time.

Now I know that we must live in the present, but there is a lot to be said for this kind of “blast from the past”, stories within stories to be related and shared with our friends.

During our most recent trip to Pune, Tig Whattler and I were very fortunate to be asked to help Penny Chaplin index some photographs, which Silvia Prescott had amassed over many years and were to be included in the archive of photographs at the RIMYI last August 2012. We were mesmerised by images of the Iyengar family, their relatives, friends and famous students. There were family trips, picnics, yoga practice, yoga students and much more, but the atmosphere appeared to be one of fun and joy. At the same time Guruji asked if a particular photograph could be located and Tig and I, along with others searched for a picture of Guruji showing a magnificent Natarajasana in front of the Mysore Palace. It

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So first of all, take a look at those photographs, is there anyone you recognise?

I asked Sheila Green, who is in the pictures, for some memories of 1991 and here is part of her reply.

was eventually found and there was jubilation all round!

My photographs, nowhere near as historical or important, brought back memories. The Intensive shown in the first batch of photos, took place in January 1991. It combined teachers/students from Scotland, Bristol, London and the U.S. I look at them with feelings of amusement (we all looked so young) sadness (one or two very special people have since passed away) and joy (memories of Guruji, Geetaji and Prashantji teaching us so generously).

“I was a lowly new introductory teacher on her first visit to India but I recall there were only about 40 in the class and we were taught by Guruji and Geetaji. We were given an introductory talk by Geetaji who told us how we should conduct ourselves whilst in Pune for safety and health reasons; no sun-bathing (why would you want to burn your skin?); not to take motor rickshaw rides on our own especially at night; also to rest, not to dash around doing too much. We were taught a full range of asana, lots of emphasis on the correct action of the feet and legs, and much more.

When Guruji came into Geetaji’s first class, we were terrified. He said “you call yourselves senior teachers from England and you can’t even do Tadasana, you are useless.”

Sheila and I, along with others observed a medical class and Guruji looked over at us and said “hey you come here.” I

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looked round convinced he didn’t mean me but everyone was looking at me. A senior teacher said, “he means you, off you go”! I was so worried, out of my depth, what did I know, what was I going to have to do? I was assigned to a local student who was recovering from a hysterectomy and I learned more from her that day than she ever learned from me; what an experience!

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Many thanks to those appearing in these images, who you may recognise: Patricia Walden, Victor Oppenheim, Lindsay and Bobby Clennell, Elaine Pidgeon, Anne Beresford, Johnnie (sadly deceased), Janet Lombard (sadly deceased), John Claxton, Catero Hawkins, Sarah Mansfield, Rowena Harris, George Glen, Joan White, Elizabeth Wengerski, Bob Welham, Sheila Green and myself.

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9 January 1991 RIMYI, Pune – Guruji’s Asana Class

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Here is a class for you to practice taken from my notebook, using belts to bring more attention to the extension of our upper arms, shoulders and upper back. My notes are simple because that is where I was in my practice then. There are a few photos of the Friday Teachers’ Class at CIYC to show how to arrange the belts. The work needs to be practiced more than once to “get it”. I recall the bruises on my upper arms afterwards, they lasted for days, but I have not forgotten the work.

It is a fact that if you receive adjustment from Guruji, Geetaji or Prashantji it remains in your cells!

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Order of asana taught by Guruji Adho Mukha Vrksasana: Tadasana: Utthita Trikonasana: Utthita Parsvakonasana: Virabhadrasana 1: Virabhadrasana II: Ardha Chandrasana: Janusirsasana: Sirsasana: Salamba Sarvangasana: Halasana: Savasana:

“The emphasis today was on the work of the upper arms and back etc. though we still had to do yesterdays work in our feet, legs, hips and groins. We used belts…

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Adho Mukha Vrksasana We had to keep the lower arm bones firm, arms straight to go up, hands really stretching and alive.

So, we had to start the pose with intense attention and awareness, not just letting the energy burst forth when we get up into the pose.

We did with belt on lower arm bones and elbow joints and felt how the lower arm bones stay firm and allow armpits to lift up. We tried without belts, did many times. Push out against the belt, keep it tight!

Utthita Trikonasana The buckle of the belt was arranged on the inner armpit side of our upper arms, VERY tight. Length of belt on inner arm side.

When going from Parsva Utthita Hasta Padasana, stretch the belt firmly up (top arm) and down (bottom arm).

Utthita Parsvakonasana Same starting points as above, but lift toes up on forward leg. Same instruction for top arm and bottom arm, but greater intensity experienced when taking top arm over – magic!!

Virabhadrasana 1 The skin on the upper arm revolves from inner to outer.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

We started in Utthita Hasta Padasana, revolve inner arm out, stretch the belt firmly through the length of the arms, the “tails” held between thumbs and fingers (see photos). Each time we did this in any of the standing asana, we had to first of all get the firmness of the belt and bones, revolve the inner arm out, but when bringing the arm into the correct alignment, keep the rotation of the biceps .

Virabhadrasana 11 Lift the toes up on forward leg foot, then relax them and the skin of the inner knee moves back. Go down with extension but release in forward leg groin and buttock.

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Adho Mukha Vrksasana Using belts as they are (on top arms) place belts under the palm to feel how the arm works – go up.

Ardha Chandrasana Use 2 belts, joined into one really long one. See photograph. Place a loop on the instep of the leg to be raised in Ardha Chandrasana. You need to start from Utthita Trikonasana. Use the long belt behind your body. Take the belt into both hands, there will have to be plenty of belt to span the shoulders and extended arms. The tension and resistance provided by the belt encourages an amazing experience of freedom. It is well worthwhile struggling to get this right.

Uttanasana

Janu Sirsasana To help the knee, take the bent leg a long way back to release the groin. Keep the buttock down and if difficult, keep working the groin and don’t go down low in the asana, the end is not the point. Elbows lifted, look up and go.

Paschimottansana Feet 12 inches apart, keep legs parallel. Elbows lifted.

Back did not pain.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Sirsasana

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Sarvangasana Fairly quickly as we were running late!

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9 January 1991 RIMYI, Pune – Geetaji’s Pranayama Class We practiced Virasana (Adho Mukha), Adho Mukha Svanasana, followed by Sirsasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana and Setubandha.

Supine: Then we took a Pranayama pillow, a blanket and were told to lie down.

“Completely let go. Release the eyeballs down towards the cheekbones, cheekbones down. Relax the jaw. The feet should be together to start, release the feet out one inch, but further if the groins grip. Release the arms.

We went on to practice slow, soft, deep, inhalations and slow, soft, deep, exhalations. Geetaji checked my abdomen was relaxed and she said “don’t hold, open the diaphragm.”

Seated: Sit up on the Pranayama pillow, those who could not sit straight had to take extra blankets.

Geetaji showed how we should sit.

“Sit straight, not forwards, not backwards, use the hands at side ribs and check if they are lifting, then fingers besides the hips. Groins down, hips and abdomen up. The fingers should be “tripod”– index finger and thumb light and sensitive, lift and open side ribs, relax the abdomen. Inhale, diaphragm and side ribs broad and lifting, not twisting, exhale, to the point where all wants to drop but keep lifting the chest just before that happens! Normal inhalations, normal exhalations.

Then Viloma with two “stages” – same instructions but make any postural adjustments at the pause between stage one and two.

Savasana.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Later in the day we returned to the Institute for a Pranayama class with Geetaji – here it is…

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Asana Class for Anxiety Sufferers Judi Sweeting Sequence of Paschimottanasana-HalasanaSarvangasana repeated 20 times (yes 20!) with short holdings for each pose. Other sequences of poses taught rapidly are also useful, this sequence is Guruji’s specified suggestion.

of the pupil’s back.

14. Viloma Pranayama – 5 minutes 15. Viloma 1 with inhalation retention – 5 minutes.

1.Tadasana 2.Uttanasana for 5 minutes, head resting on pillow/chair.

3.Adho Mukha Svanasana 2-5 minutes, heading resting on support.

4. Adho Mukha Vrksasana – if strong enough.

5. Pincha Mayurasana – if strong enough 6. Janusirsana for 3-5 minutes with head supported on a soft block or pillow so that it is higher than sacrum and sternum is extended.

7. Paschimottanasana – as for Janusirsasana.

8. Urdhva Dhanurasana – on a support, feet into the wall, frontal hip bones lifting to ribs. Lumbar lengthens by reducing its concavity and chest opens fully with back of head supported and head and neck passive.

9. Sirsasana – on rope (if available) 5-10 minutes.

10. Sarvangasana – with chair into the back for support 5-10 minutes.

11. Halasana – shoulders raised, legs on a stool 5 minutes.

12. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana on prop for 5-10 minutes.

13. Viparita Karani for 5-10 minutes. Legs up wall, sacrum resting on bolster with thoracic region curving over it to rest tops of shoulders, neck and head on the floor. The height of the support may need to be adjusted according to the length

This programme was used in a trial at a hospital in Edinburgh under the direction of Dr. Bruce Low with advice from Guruji. Dr. Low attended the 1991 Intensive.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Pupils who have tension around the eyes, teach standing asana with eyes staring as wide open as possible.

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Important notes: Observe timings, increasing those indicated within your capacity. Take care with alignment. Do not practice or teach any asanas you are not qualified to practice or teach, know your limitations.

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The Cotswold Iyengar Yoga Centre Judi Sweeting

We had been teaching for many years, Tig in Bristol and myself in Reading, then Cirencester.

Watermoor Villa is a beautiful Cotswold stone house in a walled garden of a third of an acre on the outskirts of Cirencester, a market town. The house was built in 1835; it was a market garden for many years. Tig and a friend Ian worked on the property for a year, full time, to create the Cotswold Iyengar Yoga Centre and our home. As well as doing this Tig would dash off to Bristol and Bath to teach. I taught masses of classes in Cirencester and looked forward to the day I would not have to carry a huge bag of equipment to various schools, village halls etc.

Guruji kindly gave us permission to use the Iyengar name and Jeanne Maslen opened the centre for us. It was a

wonderful day of demonstrations, classes and Indian food shared with our yoga students and friends. We held classes in the studio and also in a Pakistani wedding tent on our lawn. CIYC has now been open for 18 years.

Both Tig and I are Intermediate Senior 3 teachers; we share our teaching with Ronnie

Pogson, Maggie Waters and my daughter Lucy Willis and Toby her husband. We teach around 21 classes a week, all levels, plus a children’s session and remedial cases. I have taught some of the students for 28 years! Our students come from all walks of life, they take their yoga seriously and love to hear about Guruji, Geetaji and Prashantji. We hold events, workshops, summer schools, and intensives and show video

footage of the Iyengar family teaching and lecturing. We have a huge screen which Tig erects at the front of the studio, we make an event of it, have some snacks and the students are fascinated to see the Pune Institute.

Over the years, we have been told how Iyengar Yoga has changed a person’s life; it has helped them to cope with all the stress points in a persons life; birth, death and illness. We have students with serious complaints, MS, Parkinson’s, Cancer, broken neck, to name a few.

Tig is an ex Membership Secretary of IY (UK). I have trained many Introductory, Intermediate teachers and helped with senior teacher training. We are both members of the Therapy Committee. I am a Moderator and Professional Development Co-ordinator. We have both travelled to Pune on many occasions to study at the RIMYI.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Tig and I started “CIYC” at a time of huge change in both our lives. We were looking for the right place to run a Yoga Centre as colleagues and eventually became man and wife.

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Book Reviews Yaugika Manas: Know and Realise the Yogic Mind by B.K.S. Iyengar Book Review by Brigid Philip

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

This short book resulted from an invitation to Mr. B.K.S. Iyengar to speak at a conference on Mind Mystery in June 2009 at Sadhana Kutiram. As the other speakers were eminent scholars, brain specialists and yogis, Guruji asked to be excused as neither a scholar nor a specialist. But he was asked to participate and speak his mind according to his yogic knowledge. Guruji subsequently made this the subject of his Guru Purnima festival talk on 7 July 2009, and then edited the talk into this interesting short book.

Yaugika Manas means auspicious mind. Guruji has broken the topic down into six chapters – Cosmology ; Why yoga? ; Mind ; Transformation of the Mind ; Yoga Sadhana (practice); and a Caution for Sadhakas (practitioners). Each chapter is well laid out with clear headings, so that one can easily reprise should you lose the plot! This is not a dry work - he gives aspects that have interested and intrigued him, his opinions, and includes many useful summarising charts, tables and pictures. The text is peppered with quotations from Patanjali's Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, applying the texts in appropriate contexts. There is also a helpful glossary of many of the less familiar Sanskrit words.

For the Western mind many of the ideas are unfamiliar and provide a different model of the world, which Guruji is clarifying for us. The aim of yoga (and hence the auspicious mind) is to conjoin the

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seer (purusa) with the seen (prakriti) for "evolution in involution" to gain emancipation.

The natural study of cosmology is to understand the structure of nature in man, to know where the mind stands and how the mind functions, so that through practice we convert the mind towards spiritual knowledge and wisdom. This is explained with tables in the first chapter.

Why yoga? deals with the role of mind in yoga.

The mind has two ends like a thread, one connected with pleasures of the senses and the other with spiritual wisdom. It plays a dual role as the inner mind and outer mind, or as in-coming and out-going mind. "Yoga is meant to understand the interior interconnections of the body from the skin to the self in order to learn and to bring ultimate dissociation of the purusa (Self, seer) from both the external and the internal senses of the body."

In the Mind chapter Guruji makes a detailed analysis of the facets of mind in asana and pranayama. The body-mind composite throws light in several directions like a diamond, and he provides a fascinating analysis to extend our understanding of how it branches out in different directions.

Transformation of the Mind, Guruji says, can be achieved by practice and detachment. "The mind has the habit of poking its nose in every other affair of the citta (consciousness). It can put the person in bondage or give emancipation and it can interfere, creating impediments." The mind has a double role playing between the senses and the soul. It can be transformed into a single mind

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So we come full circle to Yoga Sadhana, which suggests a preventative method (better than a cure!). "The pains which are existing can be eradicated or minimised, and the pains and sorrows which may appear later ... can be avoided by cultivating and storing the defensive energy through auspicious discipline." This chapter covers all the eight limbs of yoga (yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi).

The book explores how the five sheaths of human beings (anatomical, physiological, mental, intelligence and bliss) intermingle with no clear division between them. This is a book to turn to again and again. For those who want to know more the content of this work is explored in greater depth in Mr B.K.S. Iyengar's latest book on philosophy, ‘Core of the Yoga Sutras’.

The Core of the Yoga Sutras The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga

by B.K.S. Iyengar Book Review by Joan Abrams

Many yoga practitioners might ask – ‘why another?’ since there is the ‘definitive’ 1993 ‘Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali’.

The dates are the key – 20 years difference, shown in the cover of this new book: bright magenta with traditional Indian patterns

and a white circle representing ‘the core’. His Holiness the Dalai Lama writes the Foreword.

There is one obvious difference – except that the ‘Core’ is always how the Sutras of Patanjali can illuminate our understanding of what yoga is and how it can change our consciousness. The earlier 1993 book is a commentary: it follows the sutras closely in order. This latest book, aimed at a fairly wide range of readers, is not ‘sutra led’ but ‘topicled’. In the Prologue, Mr. Iyengar says: ‘I have arranged the Sutras so that the practitioner understands them easily and is thus encouraged to explore further via my reflections.’ Mr. Iyengar, immersed in the practice of yoga, discusses and enlightens, using examples from the Sutras of Patanjali, but also other philosophical sources – eg the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads.

These topics are of great interest. In logical order with first, the historical origins of yoga (‘it is said that one should ask neither the origin of a sage or the source of a river…yoga has existed since the universe existed.’ p.12). The concept of yoga follows - (‘the sutras I.17 and I.33 imply that yoga is a practice designed to steady the intellect and bring it into harmony with the stable emotional intelligence of the heart.’ p.17). A third chapter concerns the wheel of birth and death – (‘Patanjali guides us to stick to actions that may not cause pains, or pleasures mixed with pains’ p.23).

And a further short chapter (none are over-long) on the structure of the universe and the relation to it of self. (‘The Supreme Being (or God) creates atman (the soul) which dwells in the heart of all beings without a form…and it endows a power in it with a form of ‘I-ness’’ p.32)

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

by releasing itself from the magnetic force of the senses of perception to gravitate towards the consciousness and the soul. As the senses of perception are in the face, close to the brain, they keep the brain in duress, active and busy; we aim for a brain passive but alert.

A western reader, interested in yoga, will find a serious but explanatory tone of voice, clear references and diagrams. They penetrate the inevitable complexities of Yoga philosophy and prove Mr. Iyengar’s sincere determination to impart his personal, deep experience of yoga. I was particularly interested in a metaphor I’d not registered before. In Chapter 13 ‘The Razor Edge of Yoga’ – from Sutra II.18 ‘By walking on both the edges of

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the razor, this sadhaka faces the good and bad sides of nature and learned to be unattached to both.’ Difficult!

The final part of the book, in short sub-sections, discusses well-known practical areas of yoga from Patanjali, such as ‘How should an Asana be done?’ to ‘The Effects of Samadhi’. This is a book that will enliven our thinking about yoga and give us more to engage with.

A few personal criticisms of course. For me some of the Sanskrit terms could be used less or glossed more clearly and more often. There is a lengthy, useful index and glossary, but some of us are not able to swim so easily within a Sanskrit pool. I also found the Introductory Chapter (Yoga Pithika) rather dense. However, we know Mr. Iyengar’s written style and his approach well – and this latest intelligent gift of ‘The Core of the Yoga Sutras’ takes us even further in our own yoga journey.

IYN readers can buy this book at half price from Yogamatters. Enter the code CORE50 at checkout (or quote on the ‘phone) and the book will cost £7.50 instead of the RRP £14.99. Code valid until 31 October 2013.

A Chair for Yoga

by Eyal Shifroni

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Book review by Indira Lopez-Bassols We have all experienced the benefits of using chairs in Iyengar yoga and we know they are a jewel to our practice, one of Guruji' s greatest prop inventions.

Even though props are not a means to end but rather a learning tool, it is still amazing to see all the different uses and shapes an asana can take with the use of a chair.

In his new book Chair for yoga: a complete guide

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to Iyengar Yoga practice with a chair, Eyal Shifroni has done an extensive compilation of putting together numerous modified asanas with chairs.

There is a great variety as it covers all the main groups of asanas including: standing asanas or Utthitha Sthiti, sitting asanas or Upavistha Sthiti, forward extensions or Paschima Pratana Sthiti, twists or Pravritta Sthiti, inversions or Viparita Sthiti, backwards extensions or Purva Pratana Sthiti, abdominals or Udara Akunchana Sthiti and recuperative or Visranta Karaka Sthiti.

All the presented asanas come with a short explanation and a picture. It also includes a gentle practice sequence at the end in the appendix. This book may appeal to Iyengar yoga teachers as well as dedicated students.

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Who do we want to support – IYDF or Bellur?

Helen White

Many people have been to Bellur and have seen the amazing work that has been done there due to donations from Iyengar yoga students all over the world. We are very happy to support Mr Iyengar’s own charity and send money out every year. We have been asked, however, that people who want to donate funds to Bellur do so through the IY(UK) so that all the donations can be transferred directly into the bank account of the Bellur Trust in one go to make the administration simpler in India.

Our own IYDF is really appreciated by Mr Iyengar, who himself gives 40% of each teacher’s Certification Mark fee back to the IYDF. He is very pleased that the IYDF can support so many yoga teachers to teach students who would not normally be able to access any Iyengar yoga. For

the past two years, we have asked teachers and students to raise money towards the IYDF as our way of marking Mr Iyengar’s birthday, and we have written and told him how much money we have received.

We are always thrilled that so many of you are able to make donations and put something back in the Iyengar yoga community whether here or in India.

Last year we raised £4,975 for the IYDF, and £4,000 for Bellur, which was amazing.,

Any and all donations really are appreciated which can range from a few £’s to many hundreds. If you wish to hold a fundraising event, or donate the proceeds of a class, then please choose whether you want your donation to be for to The Bellur Trust or the IYDF. Please send all donations to Jess Wallwork.

And Thank you to everyone for your generosity.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

At the AGM, someone asked whether the IY(UK) were still raising money for Bellur as they understood that we were only wanting donations towards the IYDF (Iyengar Yoga Development Fund). We are sorry that there has been any confusion about this.

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Bellur – The Story and Update Compiled by Judith Jones from Yoga Rahasya As many of you will know by now Bellur is a small village 60 kms from Bangalore in Karnataka, Southern India and is now famous as the birthplace of Mr Iyengar.

In 2003, Mr Iyengar initiated the setting up of the Bellur Krishnamachar & Seshamma Smaraka Nidhi Trust® (BKSSNT), a charitable body named in memory of his parents known by us as the Bellur Trust. The aim was to achieve educational, health, social, and economic reform for the people of Bellur, especially for the children, and to further the practice of yoga in schools.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Bellur is in a remote rural area, where the people still lead very poor simple lives. Ten years ago Bellur had changed little since Mr Iyengar lived there as a young boy. There was not even a clean, fresh water supply until the Trust erected a water tank in 2004. The only amenity was the Primary School, built and financed by Guruji in 1967. Even though his father was a headmaster there had

The children who were hungry for food are now hungry for knowledge

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been no school in Bellur itself until this time. In 2002 the school was found to be in a very rundown state and children did not continue with any kind of education beyond seven years old. In fact parents didn’t see the value of education and often only sent their younger children to school for the free meal! Mr Iyengar’s heart went out to the children of his home village whose lives would never change without education. He embarked upon a mission to raise and enhance the general quality of life and improve future prospects for the young – and also of course to teach the children yoga!

Guruji says “When the children do yoga at this tender age transformations take place. This is the time to build up courage, clarity and confidence in them”.

Since 2003 BKS Iyengar’s energy and determination have rubbed off and miracles have been achieved.

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The Trust has built educational facilities at Bellur which serve a wide community bringing hope to young people from 30 – 40 surrounding villages. There is a refurbished Primary School and a High School, providing free education, books, uniforms and meals. The only entry provision is that the children undertake yoga! The children have done well, many being successful in state exams. They also practice art, music and dance as well as yoga and have put on many displays and performances.

The cultural heritage of the people has not been forgotten. Mr Iyengar financed the building of a Patanjali Temple where there is a community meeting place. More recently the ruins of the Rama temple have been restored using as many of the original stones that could be found, and rebuilt, appearing now just as it was a thousand years ago.

Education will improve the prospects of the new generation.

However the work of the Trust is not over!

The children who were hungry for food are now hungry for knowledge.

To look after the health needs of the whole area a small but fully equipped modern Hospital, even with an operating theatre, has been built and mobile clinics have also provided free treatment for common problems like eye disorders, diabetes, arthritis, and more.

BKS Iyengar’s vision for Bellur has become a reality in an incredibly short time due to his personal generosity and inspiration. The villagers now have something to be proud of and the young people have hope for a better future.

Photos by Jo Crossly.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

In 2012 a Further Education College was opened for adolescents. There is now talk of a university! This means that the children will be given educational opportunities normally only available in urban areas to develop all their varied skills and talents from primary to further education.

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Iyengar Yoga (UK) Convention Harrogate, 3rd - 5th May 2014 We are absolutely delighted to welcome Abhijata Sridhar Iyengar to the beautiful northern spa town of Harrogate to lead our 2014 Iyengar Yoga Convention. Situated in the heart of the UK, Harrogate, a place full of grace, history and character, is the perfect location for our event, with wide leafy avenues, abundant flower baskets, beautiful architecture, wonderful restaurants, a wide range of accommodation and their famous Edwardian Spa all within walking distance of our venue; the Harrogate International Centre, one of the best appointed and largest purpose built centres in the North, hosting conferences, exhibitions and events .

Abhijata Sridhar Iyengar is the grand-daughter of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar. She started seriously

studying yoga from the young age of 16 directly under her maternal grandfather, Yogacharya BKS Iyengar, her aunt, Smt Geeta S Iyengar and uncle Shri Prashant Iyengar. She has now grown to be a very articulate teacher, and we are deeply honoured that she has agreed to lead our 2014 convention.

The convention will take place over three days (Saturday morning until Monday lunchtime) and participants are expected to attend all three days.

One change for our 2014 convention is that there will be no special teachers' day; this is at the request of BKS Iyengar who would like our event to include all students and teachers together. However, the whole weekend will count

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as specialist training for teachers.

Accommodation in Harrogate varies from grand Edwardian mansion house hotels to smaller, family-run guest houses and bed and breakfasts.

We expect that the most suitable for us will be the smaller guest houses, none of which will accommodate all attendees of the convention, so we have appointed an accommodation agent to manage the bookings for us this year. The link to their website is on our convention bookings page; or if you prefer, their reservations line is 0)423 525577. We do not expect the Convention itself

to sell out (we have booked a much larger hall than last year) but it takes place over a bank holiday weekend and booking early for accommodation is advised.

We have also decided not to organise an official social event this year. If you would like to join a group to go out to a meal on the Saturday or Sunday evenings, please indicate on your booking form and Jess will get back to you.

We very much look forward to welcoming Abhijata and you to our 2014 convention.

2014 Convention Booking Form Classes Pre-ordered t-shirt

Book online: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk Saturday, Sunday and Monday 3rd - 5th May Women’s fitted: S q M q L q XL q or classic fit: S q M q L q XL q

£135 q £ £12 q

£ Market place: single table £10 q double table £20 q If you are renting a stall, please contact Patsy Sparksman: patsyyoga@aol.com £ IY (UK) membership number: ................................................ or join for 2014: £18.50 q £

Tick here if you would like to join a group for a meal on:

Saturday evening q

TOTAL: £

Sunday evening q

Name:..................................................................................................................................................................................

Address:..............................................................................................................................................................................

................................................................................................................................Postcode:............................................

Cheques payable to IY (UK) and sent with completed form to: Jess Wallwork, 15 West Grove, Bristol BS6 5LS.

Reduced fees may be available to those experiencing financial difficulties and who can provide proof of their circumstances. Please contact Jess at jess@iyengaryoga.org.uk.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Telephone:......................................................email:.........................................................................................................

Terms and Conditions: bookings are not transferable. It is advisable to take out travel insurance in case you have to cancel your trip. Health insurance is required for non-EU nationals. In agreeing to come to the convention, please be aware that the teacher will require you to take responsibility for your own physical and mental health and will not be able to give you help for individual problems. You are expected to manage these using your own knowledge and experience.

Cancellation policy: fees will not be refunded for cancellations after 22nd February 2014 unless there are exceptional circumstances. All changes to bookings and cancellations before this date will be subject to a £25 administration charge.

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IY (UK) Teacher's Yoga Marathon for Bowel Cancer Awareness Lucy Joslin

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

On 3 February IY (UK) Intermediate Senior teacher Elizabeth Tonner organised a Yoga Marathon to promote awareness of bowel cancer and raised £1245 to show appreciation for Ward 15 of the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, where she was herself treated.

During the day-long event she attempted as many of the 200 poses from 'Light on Yoga' as she could.

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Elizabeth said, “I chose to do something to raise money for my local hospital because their work and care was so good, contrary to much of the current negative publicity about the NHS. I have been practising Iyengar yoga for 42 years and wanted was to show how it is possible to live positively after being diagnosed with cancer and to show how much yoga helps and is always there in some capacity to practise no matter what is happening currently with health issues.

Since 2010 I have had been in hospital four times, three times in Huddersfield and once at St. James's in Leeds. Despite being a hospital renowned nationally for its excellence in treating cancers, my experience postoperatively was far better in my local hospital, despite its slightly rundown appearance and lack of hefty funds due to government cutbacks. For this reason I wanted to show my appreciation for the care I received hence the event on 3rd February.”

The event took place at Manuela Meadows’s yoga studio

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Elizabeth said: “I devised a programme which I thought would be manageable to include as many of the 200 poses in ‘Light on Yoga’. As there were some poses (actually quite a few) that I knew I couldn't possibly do I did several of the others twice. In the end I did 216 poses and it took 6 hours. My good friend Debbie Bartholemew took photos and not only that, she did all the asanas as well! Manuela joined in with the whole programme in between looking after the numerous visitors to the studio. By the time I got to the backbends at the end there was a bit of heaving and helping from Debbie - she was a star.

I am waiting to hear from the Ward manager about how she plans to use the money. Often there is a need for special chairs for patients who have had radical surgery and sometimes small things that make time spent in hospital more dignified are important (for example a couple of hair dryers and similar small items) that couldn’t conceivably be purchased out of the regular budget.”

Fundraising with a difference – Birthday for Bellur Elaine Rees

Reaching the age of 50 is an ordeal in itself, so I decided to get through it with a little fundraising fun. About 120 family and friends came along to an evening of music, dance and entertainment. The theme was ‘Indian’ – leggings, saris & ‘bling’ and everyone entered the spirit of the night. Indian elephants, sweeties and vibrant decorations were brought back fresh from Pune to adorn the tables, a dash of ‘Bombay Mix’ was added and candles were lit. We all had a go at learning some modern jive and even tried our hand at some Bollywood dance routines !

We managed to raise a grand total of £1000 for The Bellur Trust. This was achieved through a fantastic raffle where friends, family and local businesses donated generously. My two young nephews refused to let anyone leave the venue without putting something in their Bellur Bucket !

And, I’ve had an amazing response from people who were unable to come and from the local yoga community. Thank you EVERYONE.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

‘Room for Yoga’ in Brighouse. Yoga students, their friends and family, other teachers, their students and friends were invited. From 10:00 am until 4:00 pm anyone was welcome to visit the studio (for many it was an opportunity to actually see a specifically fitted out yoga space) and either join in with some yoga practice of their own, attempt to do the same things as me or just come and watch. At the same time there were hot and cold drinks plus homemade cakes, scones, biscuits etc. available to tempt them to give a little money! We made a nominal charge to come, an equally small charge to do some yoga and of course people paid for their eats and drinks. Someone brought some homemade greetings cards to sell and the proceeds went into the general pool. At some points in the day the yoga studio was full and the kitchen/office area was teeming with people. It was like a party!

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Junior Assessments – Taking the Next Step Some Guidance and Advice Alan Brown

Although assessments and levels of certificate are not really what yoga is all about, going in for assessments can have a number of advantages for the yoga practitioner and teacher if approached with the right frame of mind. If you have been an Introductory teacher for a while and you are keen to progress as a yoga teacher, then applying for Junior Intermediate assessments can provide focus and discipline to your learning and encourage you to practice more challenging poses, as well as improve your practice of the already familiar asanas of the Introductory syllabus.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Your students will benefit from the knowledge you gain from your deeper enquiries and they will also eventually benefit from having a teacher who is qualified to teach a wider range of postures and is able to help them to progress further. You will also gain in confidence and your teaching will improve and have more authority.

But hang on a minute! Are you ready to progress to the next level? Have you matured sufficiently in your practice and teaching to think about becoming a Junior Intermediate teacher? Many who go in for Junior assessments have a very unclear picture of what will be expected of them, so the purpose of this article is to provide some idea of what is required from a candidate entering Junior Intermediate assessment and how this differs from Introductory level 2. It also offers some advice about how to prepare.

At Introductory level 2 one is assessed on personal practice and on teaching some of the asanas on the syllabus. A Junior Intermediate assessment is very similar but you have to familiarise yourself with some additional asanas and be better in performing and teaching the ones you

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know already from Introductory. For the new asanas you need to show you have enough understanding in teaching and practice to be able to create improvement in yourself and your students. You don't necessarily have to be able to achieve the full pose in every case (unless otherwise stated) but you should know how to work intelligently with your limitations. You should also understand some of the difficulties others are likely to encounter and how to address them.

If you are practising regularly, working on the Junior syllabus asanas and attending classes with a more senior teacher, then it is more likely your level of practice will be good enough to enter the assessment. Senior teachers can advise you on this, but don't rely completely on outside opinions; you also have to develop enough self aware-

Know how to 'teach yourself' into the poses and assess how well you are following your own instructions ness to gauge your own level of practice. Some students are good at following instructions and perform better in a class situation than when left to their own devices in a silently observed practice. Know how to 'teach yourself' into the poses and assess how well you are following your own instructions. As well as understanding how to position yourself in the asana you also need to have some idea how to work in it, where to work from, where to create firmness and stability and where to move and extend to create improvement. Once your asana has been 'constructed' to the best of your ability then it has to

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be maintained with steady breathing and without strain. Evidence of these skills is of course required for Introductory assessment but your command of them needs to be thoroughly established at Junior level.

It is highly unlikely that you will be successful in a Junior 1 assessment unless you are teaching a few classes and have managed to progress at least some of your students to a practice of the full Introductory syllabus.

This may involve the use of props. Often props are needed to gain access to the correct movements of the asana but you should always understand what the prop is there for and how it is helping you. A prop ought to be used as a last resort rather than a first resort in both personal practice and teaching. Understanding what you are trying to achieve should be the starting point and if that cannot be accomplished in any other way then use a prop. In teaching it is permissible to use props as educational devices to create awareness, to direct the work of the asana into various parts of the body and in other ways, such as to protect your students from injury. Do you really think about how you use props when practising yourself or when teaching in your own classes or do you reach for them automatically?

Demonstration Means performing the asana well with integrity and understanding and explaining something about it to your students - which doesn't mean giving a great long list of instructions they will immediately forget. The demonstration is more for bringing out one or two useful points to be thought about and worked on. It could include showing a particular way of doing the pose or the use of a helpful prop, although it doesn't have to. The instructions of how to go into the pose can be given when the students attempt it themselves.

In Introductory assessments candidates are expected to show awareness of their students' needs and teach safely. Some skills are required in demonstration, observation, correction and class organisation as is the ability to deliver simple instructions for each pose in a clear and effective way. When you come to take your first Junior Intermediate assessment you will have had a fair bit of real life teaching experience so in theory you should have developed greater proficiency in all these teaching skills and this will be expected.

Unfortunately teaching regularly doesn't necessarily guarantee greater proficiency in teaching; While for the most part Introductory teachers carry on attending classes with more senior teachers and continue to evolve their practice, most get little input or feedback on their teaching skills after they finish the Introductory teacher training course. Even with the best of intentions it is very easy to slip into bad habits. So it is important to think about what it means to be a better teacher and to consider carefully how your teaching will be assessed. All the main categories on which you will be assessed are listed below with some advice on how to evaluate and improve your own skills.

In day to day teaching you may not always demonstrate for every pose but ask yourself how often you do it at all. How often do you demonstrate thoroughly with a careful explanation? How skilful are you at getting your points across to your students? Are your demonstrations of a good standard and do the points you give work well for you in your demonstration? How well do you show that?

What is the quality of your voice and delivery?

Do you speak clearly, with confidence and authority? How well do you stand?

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

It is all too common before assessments for joints and muscles to be forced in the wrong way to try to get the shape of the asana. Be aware that a competitive mentality or a careless attitude combined with a stiff body can cause injury, especially when attempting harder asanas. Such injuries can take a long time to heal and lead to pain, frustration and even withdrawal from the assessment.

Therefore remember that you will get more marks for working intelligently to overcome your physical limitations than you will for achieving the final posture at the expense of your own health.

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them. It includes ensuring that you are always able Observation and Correction to see them and they are able to see you.

In assessments it is not unusual to see candidates Ensuring they place themselves in the way you frozen in a state of panic and unable to even see want them and if you are teaching with props the students before their eyes, let alone offer ensuring that they have what they need and that them help. Think of observation not so much as they are using the props in the correct way. It is looking for faults in your students, but more as ensuring that they Understand that correction can be effective even at this follow basic level. Do you have a clear idea what you want from the your students? Are you firm and persistent in ensuring they do what instructions. The you ask of them? way to stay connected with the students is to look to see also being able to modify and improvise setups that every instruction you give is carried out by for students with different needs and to do this them. Even the simplest things are important - for quickly and efficiently so as not to disrupt the example, if you ask them to turn their left foot in class too much. do you look to see that all have done it before you move to the next instruction? If you ask them How well do you manage to do all these things in to lift their chests do you consider at all what your regular classes? Are you assertive in making that means or whether they are actually doing it? sure that your class is well organised whilst Or is it just one more thing on your long list of remaining sensitive to your students’ needs? things to say?

Safety of Students Understand that correction can be effective even Always being aware of students and knowing what at this basic level. Do you have a clear idea what they are doing. you want from the students? Are you firm and Sensitive handling in adjustments doesn't mean persistent in ensuring they do what you ask of you can't be firm but you have to understand them? If they don't respond to your instructions what the student's body is capable of. or adjustments in the way you would like how do Taking care of students in postures where they you deal with the situation? are vulnerable, such as inversions.

Using props in a non injurious way and being alert Clarity of instruction to the potential for injury to occur e.g. jumping In assessments you have to appear confident in feet apart when there are bricks on the mat. your teaching, especially at the higher levels, so The safety of the people you teach is of paramaintaining a good posture is essential. Be aware mount importance so if you are careless or casual of how you stand when teaching in your own in your approach to their safety in an assessment classes and how this affects your voice and this is more likely to fail you than anything else. If delivery. When you are giving instructions are you on automatic pilot or are you thinking about what you are casual about safety in your regular classes then you are likely to behave similarly in your you are saying? Are you clear about what you are assessment. trying to achieve through your instructions? How can your instructions be clear if you are not clear You may think that the artificial situation of in your own understanding? assessments has little to do with real life practice and teaching of yoga and in a way you would be Good Class Control right, but the assessment does require you to This is an important part of looking after your demonstrate a set of skills to a level which satisstudents and fulfilling your responsibility towards

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Of course it would be highly restrictive and seriously cramp your style to always follow the assessment format in everyday teaching, but it can be a very useful exercise to do it sometimes and is highly recommended. Occasionally teaching some asanas in your class according to the assessment format and seeing how well you match up to the criteria will not only help your teaching to improve but will help to give you a realistic idea of how ready you are for your next assessment.

Junior Intermediate Level 1 is a significant step up from Introductory Level 2 but don't be too daunted: If you are clear in your mind that you are gaining competence in the above-mentioned teaching skills and you are conscientiously working on all the asanas of the syllabus then there is no good reason why you shouldn't attempt your first Junior assessment.

Do you want to become an Iyengar yoga teacher?

Before being accepted onto an Introductory Teaching Training Course a student must have completed a minimum of three years' regular study with an approved Iyengar yoga teacher.

A letter of recommendation from the student's regular teacher is also required. For full details of how to apply to start training, please visit the IY (UK) website. You can also search for teacher trainers near to where you live, and there are details of specific teacher training courses around the country.

Some teachers continue training beyond their Introductory certificate and go onto Intermediate Junior, Intermediate Senior and ultimately, Intermediate Advanced certificates. To progress to teach more advanced postures, it is up to the individual to attend classes with Intermediate Senior or Advanced teachers.

These more advanced certificates demand more of teachers, both in the number and difficulty of asanas practiced, and in the subtlety of their understanding of the theory and practice of yoga. For more information, and to book an assessment online, please visit www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

fies the assessors that you are on the right track and will be a safe and effective teacher. Don't forget that all the elements on which you are assessed are the skills that you should be using and improving on in real life teaching situations: If you practice these skills then they will improve.

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IY (UK) Convention 2013 with Rajvi Mehta Comments compiled by Vanessa McNaught The 2013 IY (UK) annual convention took place at the Cambridge Guildhall, taught by Rajvi Mehta.

Of the many comments from those who attended, we have made a selection to give a taste of the event.

“It was my first convention and I really enjoyed it.

As the last time I was in the Guildhall I was doing an exam, seeing the shrine to Patanjali was a lovely change! Rajvi's teaching was fantastic. I knew I was going to be happy as soon as she started the convention making the links between the sutras and asana practice. I enjoyed the philosophical input and slow asana pace, integrating mind, body, breath and soul.”

Iyengar Yoga News No. 21 - Autumn 2012

“I like to attend every year and found this year's teaching really enlightening... Rajvi brought Prashant's teaching into focus for me in a very practical and down-to-earth way and introduced me to a way of working with breath and mind that I know I will find invaluable in my home prac-

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“I enjoyed Rajvi’s explanation of yoga as science: that we should not be afraid to experiment, and then to test in a rational manner – by repeating actions to prove or disprove the result – which also helps to understand the connections between cause and effect. We then repeat with mindfulness and curiosity rather than for the sake of repeating.”

tice. I know I have heard before about awareness of how one part of the body can profoundly affect another part quite distant but Rajvi brought it to life with her caring and calm teaching. The experience of really being ‘in asana’ as opposed to being ‘in a pose’ and her explanation of the difference was just wonderful.”

“The convention brought me a paradigm shift in the kind of teaching I have received till now from Pune teachers or large scale yoga events. It felt more like a small intimate workshop due to the mode of work - a portal to practising through more subtle aspects of the skin and breath - not stopping at either the structural alignment or the outward shape of the postures, but penetrating the inner feeling of the posture. Somehow in that large very public space she was able to feed us the subtle hints that take one deeper into one's practice. It was hugely reassuring to discover that, what seemed till then rather abstract and often tentative aspects of my own practice could be described and instructed so explicitly. Her explicitness resolved many of my doubts and confusions about 'direction' in a comprehensive range of postures.

Several of my 'ding' moments were about separating the experience of skin from that of muscle, and realising that I have developed a more subtle awareness increasingly over the years I have practised, but have sometimes been confused by instructions from teachers that have only been instructing at the grosser level of bone and muscle. I really feel my experiential understanding of 'yoga' (as opposed to individual postures, many of which continue to be very challenging, albeit some of these are becoming more accessible) has found more firmness and clarity. For example the

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work we did to extend the skin of the forearms felt in the extension of the sides of the trunk in Urdhva Hastasana was already in my practice, but I hadn't realised so clearly what I was doing - it had already felt right to work like that, but now I know confidently, through her teaching, that its a good way forward, and a valid way through - not merely a technique or sidetrack.

I particularly appreciated her many references to feeling/experiencing the postures, as I have been instinctively trying to encourage this in my own (more experienced, not beginner) students during this last year. The way we had to mimic new learners on the teacher's day was also very interesting. It is important to be able to empathise at this level while our own practice evolves more subtly. I was one

of the many who put their hands up when she asked us who had felt fatigue towards the end of that session. And the convention so far had stood out as not having produced any fatigue at all! Each evening I had walked the mile or so to my lodgings with a spring in my step.

Please forward a huge thank you to Rajvi for such skilful teaching and generous sharing.”

Iyengar Yoga News No. 21 - Autumn 2012

“I found Rajvi's teaching stimulating, refreshing, and extremely memorable. This was because of the extraordinary clarity and wonderfully balanced structure of her classes. Specific things are many; her emphasis on absorption in the asanas stood out – making asana not 'any comfortable position' but rather that 'any asana is comfortable' and that when absorbed in an asana it ceases to matter (or even to be perceived) which particular asana it is.”

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“On the Sunday morning I found myself with a smile on my face throughout the whole of supta padangustasana. That way of working into the full pose mindfully with the breath is just what my body needs. Her teaching is inspirational and I am still going back to my notes and finding another angle to steer my practice and possibly my classes in the weeks ahead.”

“Virabhadrasana I - The most exhilarating I have ever experienced with the upward skin movement of arms to lift chest and head back. Go to back brain with skin adjustment. I just wanted to stay in the pose.”

“It was really illuminating and a revelation to connect the breath to the poses in the way we did in Virabhdrasana. I. It has transformed my practice and brought a lightness and quietness to it and more depth so please thank her so much.”

“What is the difference between trying to stretch as far as you can, and following the breath? As soon as you go start to let your will lead instead of the breath, you should stop. Let the breath lead. This way we can lose our sense of time, find joy in the pose and enjoy the journey rather than using our will for a fixed result.”

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23- Autumn 2013

“Rajvi’s teaching was inspiring and enlightening and it has given me a new way to practice that I won’t forget. I felt that her teaching resonated with me and I could really tune in to what she was saying.

I didn’t take notes during the event but was amazed at how much I could remember at the end of the weekend.”

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“If I was to pick out one phrase Rajvi used, it was ‘do not do the poses with the will’.”

“Shoulders to elbows in backbends - I think that has stuck with me forever!”

“I loved Rajvi’s teaching because she is so sensitive and generous towards her students.... “once you have ‘lost’ your attention to your breathing and

“While you are chanting, don’t focus on doing the chanting – focus on hearing the sounds.”

equanimity come out of the pose” is such a helpful suggestion. We usually battle on stressing and taking strain and praying for the “now exhale and come out of the pose” it was a breath of fresh air. The theme of the convention was also appropriately (for me at least) advanced, the skin, the alignment of the fingernails and paying attention to where the brain was in the skull was fantastic and has added a new dimension to my practice. I also loved the analogy of packing a suitcase in relation to moving the limbs without disturbing the alignment of the bones. In short I loved Rajvi’s teaching. It was enlightened and enlightening!”

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

“Memorable points of Rajvi's teachings: Using the skin to extend; Principle of minimum effort for maximum output (which is a Permaculture principle too!); Somehow making me want to do backbends even though I don't like backbends much ...”

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Obituaries Hilda Mitchell:

Irene Elson:

Hilda Mitchell, 89, keep fit instructor, former Iyengar Yoga teacher and dedicated fundraiser would have been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Years’ 2013 Honours list.

I first met Irene in the early 1970s at the Folk House in Bristol. I thought I had enrolled to learn Flower Arranging but discovered I had been booked into the Yoga class. The relaxed and peaceful atmosphere of the class appealed to me and I remained Irene’s student until she retired.

Irene was in her fifties when she decided she wanted to teach yoga. The visit of Mr Iyengar to Bristol in the 1960s changed her life; it was not like any yoga she had experienced before. It was Mr Iyengar who told Irene that she must teach his method, but at that time it was not easy to make changes. Those running the programme at the Folk House were very much against the “new” Iyengar method; “it is too hard”, “it is not real yoga”, “the classes will not be well attended”, “teach the old easy way”.

31 December 1922 – 28 October 2012

Despite being 89, Hilda ran four keep fit classes for older people every week. She devoted four decades of her life to teaching older generations in Leeds the importance of looking after their health. Her motto was “kick a leg, move an arm but don’t just sit there”.

In recent years, Hilda suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and was registered blind but continued her classes and fundraising in Leeds.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Hilda took up Iyengar yoga after hearing about Mr B.K.S. Iyengar and was taught by him when he came in England in the 1960s. She was in Pune in 1977 and was awarded Junior Intermediate certification by Guruji.

Hilda was my great-aunt and she inspired me to take up Iyengar Yoga in my early 20’s and subsequently train as a teacher. I enjoyed going to Aunty Hilda’s keep fit classes in Leeds, all of which included relaxation at the end. My 5 year-old daughter loved her classes and especially showing the ladies her latest dance move, cartwheel or forward roll.

Debbie Rosenberg

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8 September 1911 – 11 April 2013

However Irene was determined to teach the way Mr Iyengar had taught her. Each year her classes were well attended in spite of all the official opposition. She continued teaching at the Folk House until she retired at the age of ninety.

Jade Mellish

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5 February 1968 – 18 February 2013

Ivan became my student 10 years ago, gaining his Teaching Certificate in 2009. He was an excellent, teacher respected by his students. He was working towards Intermediate level. Ivan quickly saw the link between engineering principles and yoga asanas; he could have discussed this with Guruji!

Ivan was a gentleman in every sense, a loyal supportive friend, colleague and great at fixing ‘anything’. He appears in our Yoga Calendar (see picture) as Vasisthasana.

As Head Technical Consultant to a large engineering company his skills were often sought on business trips around the world, but he remained very unassuming. Ivan was an Advanced Motorist with a great interest in restoring classic cars, for which he won many trophies in competitions.

Tests at university revealed his IQ was 155!

Last August Ivan experienced abdominal problems, becoming very ill on Boxing Day. A bowel operation revealed cancer cells with secondary’s to other organs; he bore it stoically. Ivan was home for three weeks for his 45th birthday but died 18 February in Antrim. He was an integral part of our yoga community; he really was IVAN THE GREAT. Ivan leaves behind his mother, sister, brother-in-law and a big gap in our lives.

Margaret Gunn-King

Kannarakoti Venkatachri Parthasarathy We have recently received the sad news of the death on August 17th 2013 of Kannarakoti Venkatachri Parthasarathy, husband of Guruji’s daughter, Sunita Parthasarathy.

Our thoughts and sympathies are with Guruji, Sunitaji, and the entire Iyengar family.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Ivan Robinson:

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IY (UK) CHAIR – EMMA PINCHIN

Interim Structure: As reported in the last magazine, a proposal for an interim structure for our organisation was put to the membership at the AGM, held during the Convention in April. This interim structure is in part to allow the full formation of a Board, required by Companies House, since we became a Company Limited by Guarantee. The proposal for the interim structure was unanimously approved by the membership. More information about both the interim and long term structures can be found on the website.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 21 – Spring 2013

Approval of Board Members: Following the approval of the interim structure, the AGM ratified the appointment of the Board members as listed below: - Chair of the IYA Executive Council Emma Pinchin - Vice Chair of the IYA Executive Council Philippe Harari - Secretary of the IYA Executive Council Helen White - Membership Secretary of the IYA Executive Council Anita Phillips - Treasurer of IYA Executive Council Pam Mackenzie - Chair of the Assessing and Teacher - Training Committee Sheila Haswell - Chair of the Ethics and Appeals Committee Sasha Perryman - IYA Constitutional Officer Jill Johnson

The IY(UK) Ltd Board holds regular meetings both face-to-face and via email/Skype. The approved minutes of these meetings are made available to members via the website, in the same way as approved Executive Council (EX) Meeting minutes. These can be accessed from the members’ area of the website – you will need your email address and password to log in.

Standing Orders: At the AGM the membership was also asked to 44

consider the Standing Orders of our organisation.

These were not formally presented for approval but were circulated via email prior to the meeting, and members were asked to consult sections of interest.

The latest version of the Standing Orders can be viewed on the website. Any comments should be directed to Jill Johnson, the IY(UK) Constitutional Officer.

Accreditation of Iyengar Teachers: Work has continued over the summer on our next application to Ofqual. Whilst this work has been ongoing discussions have taken place between IY(UK) and REPs (The Register of Exercise Professionals) about an interim membership for our teachers. It was hoped that a deal could be brokered thereby allowing teacher members of IY(UK) to join REPS either at a reduced rate, or without having to complete the reams of paperwork currently required for those teachers who work in certain health clubs and fitness centres. Unfortunately REPs was only interested in such a deal if IY(UK) could guarantee all its teacher members, and as this would have increased membership fees by about £25 per teacher, the IY(UK) EX felt that it could not recommend this. Once Awarding Organisation status has been achieved through Ofqual it won’t be necessary to register separately through REPs. The EX appreciates that for those teachers affected by REPs this interim period is difficult. We are therefore striving to ensure that our next application is successful.

Convention: We enjoyed a wonderful three days of teaching from Rajvi Mehta in Cambridge, back in April. The venue of both the Guildhall and the City of Cambridge provided a delightful setting, and the organisation of the whole event was second to none.

We now look forward to welcoming Abhijata Sridhar Iyengar to the North of England in May 2014. The Events Committee have been busy scouting for an appropriate venue in the delightful spa town of Harrogate. More information and booking options can be found in this magazine.

Please note, that following guidance from Mr Iyengar, there will be no dedicated teachers’ day at this event.

For our teacher members wishing to use the convention as part of their specialised training hours attendance will be required at all three days.

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IYN in Colour: You will notice that IYN has again been produced in colour. At its meeting in May the EX unanimously approved the continued production in colour of IYN. However, this will come at no extra cost, as the PR Committee has engaged new publishers, who have been able to produce a colour version of the magazine for less than the previous publishers charged for black and white. We very much hope that you continue to enjoy the advantages of our magazine.

Isis Florence Grace: And finally, to once again end on a personal note, my husband Tim and I are delighted to announce the safe arrival of our beautiful baby girl Isis Florence Grace, born at the beginning of July. Although the labour was long and hard (but then when isn’t it), my physical recovery has been speedy, which in no small part I put down to the great benefits of Iyengar Yoga.

TREASURER – PAM MACKENZIE

This is the first year that the Financial Accounts have been produced as the new company Iyengar Yoga (UK) Ltd. They have to be produced in the Limited Company statutory format, and the first year is shown from 28 October 2011, when the company was officially formed, to 31 December 2012. We started trading on 1 January 2012. The Statutory Accounts are different to our existing Financial Statements as they amalgamate the General Fund and Development Fund, which were previously reported separately. For the AGM in April 2013 our accountant produced a set of Financial Statements as at 31 December 2012 in the original format, which were presented and agreed. The Balance Sheet showed net assets of £97,022, represented by General Fund of £53,738 and Development Fund of £43,284. The Income and Expenditure Accounts showed a small deficit of £547 in the General Fund and a surplus of £4,847 in the Development Fund. The Board formally approved the Statutory Accounts following the AGM. Overall I am pleased to report that the company is in

a healthy financial situation and has sufficient reserves to underpin its ongoing activities.

The membership and assessment fees for 2014/15 have been agreed as follows:

Iyengar Yoga (UK) Fees 2014/15 Membership fees £ Institute members 7.25 Individual members 18.50 Individual members overseas supplement 18.50 Individual teachers 18.50 Teachers supplement 39.00 Teachers concessionary rate 24.00 Teacher training registration 38.00 Affiliated centres 110.00

Assessments fees Introductory I Introductory II Junior intermediate Senior intermediate

82.75 127.75 127.75 127.75

The Certification Mark fee for 2014/15 is currently based on US$50. It will be updated on 1st November 2013 to reflect the exchange rate that is in place on that date.

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY – ANITA PHILLIPS

I’m happy to introduce Sarah Berelowitz, who has kindly volunteered to join the Membership team as Deputy Membership Secretary. Sarah started practising yoga with Patsy Sparksman in 2001, gained her Introductory Level 2 teaching qualification in 2007 and Intermediate Junior 1 in 2012. She is the Purchasing Manager at Yogamatters and mother to a totally delicious little boy, Sonny, who turned 2 in May. Welcome Sarah!

Katie Owens, Sarah and I are working to improve the members’ area of the IY (UK) website and have recently begun to add newsletters from some of our Member Institutes. You can find them after signing in via the Members’ Dashboard. If your institute produces a newsletter and it isn’t yet on the website, please send it to us in pdf format and we’ll post it.

We’ve very much enjoyed reading about what’s going on around the country and there are inspiring stories

Iyengar Yoga News No. 21 – Spring 2013

London Yoga Show: Once again, IY(UK) will be represented at the London Yoga Show, from the 25-27 October 2013. For anyone interested in helping to staff the stall please contact Katie Owens, Membership and Office manager, via 07510 326997 or katie@iyengaryoga.org.uk.

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and ideas for everyone.

Did you know that you can find out about events planned until the end of next year? The display on the Conventions & Events page is for the current month, but it’s possible to filter this list for any month until December of the following year. Teachers, please add your events in plenty of time for us to mark our diaries!

Please feel free, as some Member Institutes have already done, to add a direct link from your website to our Member Institute and Affiliated Centre page: https://www.iyengaryoga.org.uk/about-iy-uk/uk-institutes-and-affiliates There are a lot of broken links out there: this way you can rely on us to do the updating for you.

Teachers, have you added your photograph to your teacher profile on the website yet? Please sign in and upload a picture of yourself to improve the look of the website – do contact Katie in the main office if you need any help with this. You might also want to check that your class details and contact information are all up-to-date, and to add any events you are planning.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Current membership numbers:

These figures, compared year-to-year, were calculated as always at the beginning of July. Unfortunately not all Member Institutes had updated their non-teacher members on our database at the time of going to press, the result being that the July 2013 non-member figures look rather alarming. Actual non-teacher member numbers are roughly unchanged since this time last year. The teacher numbers are accurate, but only because Katie invested a significant amount of time this spring, updating the database for a few Member Institutes. Apologies to any teachers affected by the delay, especially to those who were removed from the website search function in error. We’re also sorry for the inconvenience to those members who did not receive IY (UK) communications and/or were not able to sign in to the website during the time we were unaware their membership had been renewed.

We are keen to work with Member Institutes to resolve these issues.

46

Non-teachers Institutes Individuals Total Teachers Institutes Individual Total

Non-teachers UK ROI Overseas

Teachers UK ROI Overseas

July '13 July '12 559 178 737

1050 194 1244

755 270 1025

737 280 1017

674 43 20

1153 63 28

933 70 22

933 62 22

July '13 July '12

We’d like to highlight the importance for teachers of paying the basic membership fee on time. This fee (£18 for the current year) is payable by all teachers, and can be paid directly to IY (UK) when renewing your teacher membership, or alternatively by joining your local Member Institute. We prefer teachers to join IY (UK) via their local Member Institutes as this helps support the local organisation of the Assoication; also, most Member Institutes charge less than 18 a year, so not only do you save money but you get the benefits of being a member of your local Institute as well. It would really help if teachers could remember to pay their institutes at the same time as renewing their teacher membership, so that we can keep things running smoothly and avoid chasing. It is also important to note that the non-payment of this fee means that your membership is not complete and your insurance may be compromised.

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Some changes have taken place to our committees recently. The Ethics and Appeals committee have said goodbye and many thanks to Ros Bell and Penny Chaplin, who have both left the committee after many years of service. They have both worked for many years on this committee, and their contributions will be greatly missed. Ros Bell is still chair of the Therapy Committee.

There have been other changes to the Executive council (EX). Sharon Klaff has now left the EX, where she has been an individual rep for the last 6 years. She will, however, still be working hard on our application for accreditation status, for which we are all grateful.

Tessa Bull has stood down as rep for NELIYI, and we are pleased to welcome Larissa McGoldrick in her place.

Assessment Passes Congratulations to all those who gained success in their assessments Intermediate Junior Level 3 Andrea Ferencikova Rachel Lovegrove Keiko Onishi Toby Willis Cecila Winter Pavlou Christos Hannah Lovegrove Laura Potts Julia Casson Louise Kennedy Nicholas Long

Intermediate Junior Level 2 Yvette Blumberg Peter Burnham Maurice Finn Monica Rooney Anita Cullen Alison Hahlo Honor Pennington Legh Caroline Turck Roisin O'Shea Lara Speroni Maureen Wray Kathy Anning Lucy Willis Dave Dayes Diana Harris Annie Rossi

Intermediate Junior Level 1 Hannah Benham Karen Calder Maria A. (Toni) Elliott Randall Evans Sally Hall Loll Pownall Guenola Pinel Catherine Alison Sally Child Louise Percy Catherine Brzeski Tanya De Leersnyder Liz Kavanagh Jenny Wong Laurie Bray Elaine Bull Claudia Dossena Celia Henebury Lisa Morris Amanda Richardson Nandini Shah Elisabeth Rigby Agipeleka Giddings Tracey Evans Claire Ferry Kathryn Howard Andrew Paine Jenny Taylor Alison Griffin Francesca Nixon Claire Redwood Georgia Marnham Priti Mehta Nita Shah Lindsay Shaw Marion Sinclair Helen Stylianou Niall Jennings Naseem Kapasi Clare Tunstall

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

SECRETARY REPORT – HELEN WHITE

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IY (UK) Professional Development Days 2013 London & South East NELIYI – North East London – 16 November with Diane Coats Organiser: Nancy Clarke – 020 8442 0617 / nancyclarke@btinternet.com IYIMV – North West London – 23 November with Elaine Pidgeon Contact: I.Y.I.M.V 020 7624 3080 Organiser: Kate Rathod – kateyogajudd@hotmail.com IYISL – South London – 17 November with Mary Heath* Organiser: Glenys Shepherd – 020 8694 0155 / iyisl@btclick.com North West MDIIY & LIYI, Manchester – 30 November with Penny Chaplin Organiser: Janice Yates – 0161 368 3614 / janice.yates@sky.com South Central DHIYI, Bournemouth – 16 November with Brenda Booth Organiser: Kim Trowell – 01202 558 049 / kimtrowellyoga@gmail.com East CIYI, Cambridge – 30 November with Jayne Orton Organiser: Sasha Perryman – 01223 515 929 / sashaperryman@yahoo.co.uk

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

*Denotes Senior Teacher

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Assessment Deadlines

IMPORTANT: Note to Teacher Trainers There have been some changes made to the way assessments are organised. Timetables were previously organised by volunteers, but due to the ever increasing size of the assessments this has now been brought in house and will be done by the Assessments Administrator. This means that in order to allow the process to run smoothly throughout the year some of the teacher training deadlines and procedures have changed, please ensure you are fully aware of the changes as outlined above.

Some main points to note: - In the past there has been some flexibility with deadlines, unfortunately because the assessments are now such a large undertaking we can no longer offer this, if deadlines are not met the candidate will not have a place in the assessment.

- Introductory Level 1 &2 paperwork requirement has changed – For each level the Test papers and other standard paperwork are now expected to arrive together – incomplete packs of paperwork will be returned and could result in a loss of place if not completed correctly by the deadline. Please note this also includes First Aid Certificates at intro level 2, if the First Aid Certificate is not included in the paperwork and with the office by the deadline the candidate will NOT be allocated a place in the timetable, and no refund will be given.

- Introductory Level 1 &2 and Intermediate Senior assessment applications and payments will now be completed by the candidate online. (This is already in place for all Intermediate Junior assessment applications)

- Please read the deadlines carefully as there have been changes and missed deadlines will result in no assessment place being given.

Note from the Assessment Administrator: These changes have had to be made as the Assessment Process runs on a very tight schedule in order to ensure everything is in place on the actual day. Each Assessment level has a cycle of 67 months of administration necessary for it to take place and with 4 Assessment Levels running each year there is a lot of overlap in these tasks.

A missed deadline in one area can cause the whole year’s Assessments to be put under immense pressure. Please help us ensure this does not happen by checking deadlines regularly and ensuring you have included everything that is required in a pack of paperwork before you send it. All details will be updated and published in the Teacher Trainer Manual. These updates will be sent to you soon.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Introductory Level 15th January C1 and C2 form must be with the Assessments Administrator 1st – 28th February Introductory Level 1 application available online 30th April Introductory Level 1 test paper and standard paperwork deadline 1st – 31st May Introductory Level 2 application available online 30th June Introductory Level 2 paperwork deadline (test paper and standard paperwork including 1st Aid Certificate) Intermediate Junior 1st to 31st August Junior Intermediate application available online 31st October Junior Intermediate test paper and standard paperwork deadline Intermediate Senior 1st – 30th June – Senior Intermediate application available online 31st July Senior test paper and standard paperwork deadline

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Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

IY (UK) Executive Council Officer Rep. Chairperson Treasurer Secretary Membership Sec. Vice Chairperson EA Rep/Constitution Officer Chair of AT AIYI BDIYI CIYI DHIYI DIYI ESIYI GWSIYI IIYS K.I.Y.I. LIYI MCIYI MDIIY MDIIY NEIIY NELIYI ORIYI SADIYA SWIYI SWLSIYI RoI Rep Hon Mem Individual Dep. Treasurer Individual Individual Individual Dep. Secretary Individual

50

Name Email Emma Pinchin chair@iyengaryoga.org.uk Pam Mackenzie pammackenzie@live.co.uk Helen White secretary@iyengaryoga.org.uk Anita Phillips anita.phillips@btinternet.com Philippe Harari philippe.harari@runbox.com Jill Johnson jjyoga@mac.com Sheila Haswell sheila.haswell@talk21.com Edgar Stringer edgarstringer@googlemail.com Michelle Mangeolles mmangeolles@yahoo.co.uk Isabel Jones Fielding events@iyengaryoga.org.uk Elaine Rees elainerees@europe.com Teresa Lewis teresaflo72@hotmail.com Agnes Matthews cmtpartner@aol.com Brian Stewart brians@chem.gla.ac.uk Mary Mulligan mulligan558@btinternet.com Carrie Turck carrie.t@care4free.net Judi Soffa info@yoga-studio.co.uk Vacancy Joan Abrams joanabrams@hotmail.com Vacancy Gael Henry gaelhenry@btinternet.com Larissa MacGoldrick larimcgoldrick@yahoo.com Clare Bingham bingham_c@hotmail.com Wendy Weller Davies wendy@wellerdavies.co.uk Julie Smith schmooly@hotmail.com Diane Drain dianedrain@btinternet.com Paul Taylor paul.taylor12@hotmail.com Elaine Pidgeon elaine.pidgeon@virgin.net Ally Hill ally@sarva.co.uk Sev Kanay sev.neliyi@yahoo.com Anna Macedo annamacedo@clara.co.uk Sharon Klaff sharon.klaff@btopenworld.com Karen Dunne karenjodunne@yahoo.co.uk

Telephone 01235 820223 020 8373 8356 01132 746 463 020 8675 1631 01223 523 410 0619299462 01494 711 589 01249 716 235 07910 963 183 01202 483 951 0141 334 3834 01273 604 588 01580 240 421 0151 7094923 01457 763 048 01914775904 01844212770 01142363039 07816 236158 0035361924236 0131 552 9871 01494 521 107 020 8368 7898 01903 242 150 07939 834252

IYN23_IYN.qxd 27/09/2013 08:08 Page 51

IY (UK) Committee Members Board

Philippe Harari, Sheila Haswell, Jill Johnson, Pam Mackenzie, Emma Pinchin, Sasha Perryman, Anita Phillips, Helen White

Ethics & Appeals

Eileen Cameron, Gerry Chambers, Jill Johnson (Rep. on Ex.), Judy Lynn, Sasha Perryman, Chris Robins

Assessment & Teacher Training

Margaret Austin, Alan Brown, Debbie Bartholomew, Penny Chaplin, Diane Coats, Sheila Green, Sheila Haswell, Judy Lynn, Sallie Sullivan

Communications & Public Relations

Moderators

Richard Agar Ward, Margaret Austin, Brenda Booth, Tricia Booth, Julie Brown, Dave Browne, Penny Chaplin, Diane Coats, Sheila Haswell, Judith Jones, Marian Kilburn, Meg Laing, Susan Long, Jayne Orton, Sasha Perryman, Elaine Pidgeon, Sallie Sullivan, Judi Sweeting

Professional Development Days Co-ordinator Judi Sweeting

Committee chairs are in bold. Co-opted (i.e. non-Executive Council) members are in italics.

Joan Abrams, John Cotgreave (IYN), Philippe Harari, Judith Jones (IYN), Lucy Dowd, Sev Kanay, Lucy Osman (IYN), Emma Pinchin, Elaine Rees, Tehira Taylor (IYN)

Finance & Membership

Sarah Berelowitz, Sev Kanay, Pam Mackenzie, Anita Phillips

Archives/Research

Debbie Bartholomew, Suzanne Newcombe, Brian Stewart, Janice Yates Philippe Harari, Isabel Jones Fielding, Vanessa McNaught, Patsy Sparksman, Jess Wallwork

Therapy Committee

Penny Chaplin, Judith Jones, Lynda Purvis, Judi Sweeting, Tig Whattler

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Conventions/Events

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Member Institutes Please contact the events organiser for details of events and classes, or see the events page on the IY (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

Avon (AIYI)

www.aiyi.org.uk Mike Penny mike@yogawest.co.uk

Bradford and District (BDIYI)

Alan Brown events@BDIYI.org.uk 01535 637359 www.bdiyi.org.uk

Cambridge (CIYI)

Liverpool (LIYI)

Judi Soffa info@yoga-studio.co.uk 0151 7094923 www.yoga-studio.co.uk

Manchester and District (MDIIY)

Janice Yates janice.yates@sky.com 01613 683614 www.mdiiy.org.uk

Kim Trowell 01202 558049 www.dhiyi.co.uk

Prabhakara prabhakara@freeuk.com 01214 490413 www.mciyi.co.uk

Dublin (DIYI)

Beccy Cameron 00353 860620660 (text only) www.iyengaryogainstitute.com

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Annie Dickmann dickmanannie@gmail.com 020 8460 4275 www.kentyoga.org.uk

Sasha Perryman sashaperryman@yahoo.co.uk 01223 515929 www.cambridgeyoga.co.uk

Dorset and Hampshire (DHIYI)

East of Scotland (ESIYI) www.eastscotlandyoga.org

Glasgow and West of Scotland (GWSIYI) Valerie Miller vjmiller@talk21.com

52

Kent (KIYI)

www.gwsiyi.org

Midland Counties (MCIYI)

Munster (MIYI)

Dorothy Walshe, dorothy.walshe@gmail.com www.miyoga.org

North East (NEIIY)

Gael Henry 0191 477 5804 info@iyengaryoganortheast.co.uk www.iyengaryoganortheast.co.uk

North East London (NELIYI)

Sev Kanay sev.neliyi@yahoo.com 07951 059962 www.neliyi.org.uk

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O . R . I . Y. I .

Mary Fitzpatric maryfitzpatric@ntlworld.com www.oriyi.org.uk

Sheffield and District (SADIYA)

Lorraine Bonete lorraine.bonete@gmail.com 0114 236 2115 www.yogasheffield.org

South West (SWIYI)

Jane Lane janelaneyoga@btinternet.com 01326 319809 www.swiyengaryoga.org.uk

South West London & Surrey (SWLSIYI)

Jane Howard 07504 126078 swlsiyi@gmail.com

Sussex (IIYS)

Sallie Sullivan sallie.sullivan8@btinternet.com www.iiys.org.uk

AFFILIATED CENTRES

Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre

www.bath-iyengar-yoga.com Kirsten & Richard Agar Ward, 01225 319699

Congleton Iyengar Yoga Centre www.congletonyogacentre.com Christina Niewola 01260 279565 / 07970186109

Cotswold Iyengar Yoga Centre

www.cotswoldiyengar.co.uk Judi Sweeting, Tig Whattler, 01285 653742

Edinburgh Iyengar Yoga Centre www.yoga-edinburgh.com Elaine Pidgeon, 0131 229 6000

Iyengar Yoga Institute of Birmingham www.iyengaryoga.uk.com Jayne Orton, 0121 608 2229

Iyengar Yoga Institute Maida Vale www.iyi.org.uk Alan Reynolds, 020 7624 3080

iYoga Centre www.iyengaryogamanchester.co.uk Carolyn Ferguson, 07763 346332 / carolyn@iyoga.org.uk

Knutsford Iyengar Yoga Centre

www.knutsfordyoga.co.uk Margaret Carter, 01925 758382

Maidstone Yoga Centre www.iyengar-yoga.co.uk Lin Craddock, 01622 685864

North Dublin Iyengar Yoga Centre

www.iyengaryogacentre.com Roisin O’Shea, 00353 1882 8858

Putney Iyengar Yoga Centre

julieyogaputney@yahoo.co.uk Julie Hodges, 0208 704 5454

Sarva Iyengar Yoga Institute

www.sarva.co.uk Sheila Haswell, Ally Hill, 01494 521107

Sheffield Yoga Centre

www.sheffieldyogacentre.co.uk Frances Homewood, 07944 169238

The Iyengar Yoga Studio East Finchley

www.theiyengaryogastudio.co.uk Genevieve Dicker, Patsy Sparksman, Wendy Sykes 020 8815 1918

West Suffolk Iyengar Yoga Centre

www.iyengaryogasuffolk.co.uk Jane Perryman 01440 786228

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Oxford and Region (ORIYI)

Yogadham Iyengar Yoga at St Christopher's

www.yogadham.co.uk Judith Richards, 0208 398 1741

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Yoga Rahasya Magazine YOGA RAHASYA MAGAZI

Yoga Rahasya is a quarterly publication of the Ramamani Iyengar is Memorial Yoga Institute Yoga Rahasya a quarterly publication of the Ra (R.I.M.Y.I.), Pune and the Light on Yoga Research Memorial YogaMumbai, Institute Pune Trust (LOYRT), India.(RIMYI), It is published on and the Ligh Trust Mumbai, It is published on t the (LOYRT), occasions of the Annual DayIndia. of R.I.M.Y.I., Hanuman Guru Purnima and Patanjali Annual DayJayanti, of RIMYI, Hanuman Jayanti, Guru Purn Jayanti.

Jayanti.

The aim of Yoga Rahasya is to share the essence Yogacharya B.K.SRahasya Iyengar's teachings.

This the essence o Theofaim of Yoga is to share journal contains original articles and transcripts of Iyengar's contains original ar talks by teachings.

Guruji Iyengar,This Geetajournal and Prashant Iyengarby onGuruji philosophy, psychology, scienceand and art of talks Iyengar, Geeta Prashant Iyen of yoga and life. It also includes articles by his psychology, science and art of yoga and life. It also students on their experiences, practical details on his students theiras experiences, practical details the practice on of asanas well as treating chronic ailments through asanas as well asyoga. treating chronic ailments through 2013 Subscription for Non-Teacher Members of IY (UK) Member Institutes ORDER DEADLINE 1 JULY 2014

Please use this form if you are a member of a Member Institute of IY (UK). Teachers and individual non-teacher members can subscribe when renewing their membership with IY (UK) using the online or paper renewal form.

2012 Subscription for Non-Teacher Members of IYA (UK) Member Ins To subscribe to Yoga Rahasya for 2014 please 2012 complete this form and send with your payment of £16 ORDER DEADLINE 1 JULY to IY (UK), PO Box 4730, Sheffield S8 2HE by 1 July 2014.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Please use this form if you are aformember a Member Institute of IYA (UK).

Visit bksiyengar.com/modules/Referen/YR/yr.htm informationof about previous issues.

Tea non-teacher members can subscribe when renewing their membership with IYA ( IY Membership No (if known) .............................................................................................................. or paper renewal form.

Name ...........................................................................................................................................................

Address ....................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................................................................................................................

To subscribe to Yoga Rahasya for 2012 please complete this form and send with Postcode .....................................................................................................................................................

to IYA (UK), PO Box 4730, Sheffield S8 2HE by 1 July 2012.

Please circle your institute: AIYI, BDIYI, CIYI, DHIYI, DIYI (DUBLIN), MIYI (MUNSTER), ESIYI, GWSIYI, VisitLIYI, http://bksiyengar.com/modules/Referen/YR/yr.htm forInstitutes information about pre IIYS, KIYI, MDIIY, MCIYI, NEIIY, NELIYI, ORIYI, SADIYA, SWIYI, SWLSIYI. All other and yoga centres are not Member Institutes.

I enclose a cheque for £16 / €20 payable to IY (UK) Limited.

54

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For all levels students, after two years of practice

CENTRE DE YOGA IYENGAR DE MARSEILLE yoga iyengarmarseille@gmail.com www.yogaiyengar.net 00 33 4 91 34 15 25

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Bath Ba th Iyengar Yoga Iyengar Y oga Centre Centre Classes, Cl asses, IIntensives, ntensives, Re tre a ts Retreats In troductory. JJunior unior & S enior T eacher T raining Introductory.

Senior Teacher Training Iyengar Iy engar books books & kkitit ssales ales

A C E L E B R A T IO N O F G U R U J I’ S 9 5 TH B IR T H D A Y 14 D ECEMBER EVENTS 2014 6A pril Fi rst Ai dT raining - El a in e M a r t in April First Aid Training Elaine Martin 22-25 April Easter Kirsten 2225 A pril E aster IIntensive ntensive - Ki r s te n 6-8 Bhagavad Gita Seminars Edwin Bryant 68 JJune une Bh agavad G ita Se minars - Edw in B ry a n t 12-14 1214 JJuly uly Re Retreat treat iin nY Yorkshire orkshire Da Dales les - Richar Richard chard & K Kirsten irsten August Au gust Yoga Yo ga H Holidays olidays iin n Bermuda Bermuda ((dates dates tbc) t b c) 1-5 Se pt Su mmer IIntensive ntensive - Ri ch ard Sept Summer Richard 1416 N ov Ch r is t ia n P isano we ekend 14-16 Nov Christian Pisano weekend Se See e our w website ebsite ffor or ev events ents iin nR Rome, ome, D Dublin, ublin, B Bermuda ermuda & M Mexico exico TEACHER TRAINING 2013-14 Senior Se nior - 1/ 1/2 2 Feb; Feb; 26/27 26/27 April; April; 4/5 4/5 Oct O ct Junior Juni or - 9/ 9/10 10 Nov; Nov; 18/19 18/19 JJan; an; 8/ 8/9 9 Feb Introductory Selection Day forr 2 2014 In troductory - 6 JJuly uly Se le c t io n D ay fo 014 iintake ntake

14 Charlotte Street Bath BA1 2JP 01225 319699 www.bath-iyengar-yoga.com

Yoga Supplies Inexpensive

INDIAN YOGA BELTS, BANDAGES, BOLSTER SETS, PRANAYAMA SETS, ROPES.

BOOK YOUR ASSESSMENT ONLINE Teachers and trainees can now download syllabus and book and pay for assessments online.

Please visit the IY (UK) website at www.iyengaryoga.org.uk.

The deadlines for assessment applications are: Introductory Level 1 – 1 March Introductory Level 2 – 1 May Intermediate Junior Levels 1,2 and 3 – 30 September

For Intermediate Senior assessments, please contact Penny Chaplin (pennyroyal@btopenworld.com); the deadline for these applications is 1 May.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

Call: 01225 319699 or Email: kirsten@bath-iyengar-yoga.com for prices

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Advertising in the Iyengar Yoga News

We only print quarter page adverts (80mm wide by 118mm high); you can either send the completed artwork (as a ‘press quality’ PDF, a high resolution JPEG or a QuarkXpress document) OR you can send the images (as high res. JPEGs) and wording and we will make the advert up for you. Please note:

· Advertisements for yoga classes, events, holidays etc. – will be only be accepted from certificated Iyengar Yoga teachers · Advertisements for Yoga Centres will only be accepted from official Iyengar yoga organisations · Where yoga equipment is itemised in an advert, this will only be accepted for equipment which is used within the Iyengar method. The name ‘Iyengar’ must not be used as an adjective attached to specific items of equipment e.g. use ‘blocks for Iyengar practice’ rather than ‘Iyengar blocks’ etc. · Goods or services which are not used in yoga and/or which are not acceptable within the Iyengar method will not be advertised in IYN · Advertisements for other goods (e.g.

Books/CD ROMS/videos) will only be published if they concern the Iyengar method or have otherwise been approved by the Ethics & Certification Committee of the IY (UK)

cotgreavej@gmail.com

Advertising rates Circulation: 2800. Quarter page £50; Half page £100; Small ads 60p per word NB. the Editorial Board reserves the right to refuse to accept advertisements or parts of advertisements that are deemed to be at variance with the stated aims of the Iyengar Yoga (UK). IY (UK) does not necessarily endorse any products etc. advertised in this magazine.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 23 - Autumn 2013

If you wish to advertise in the next issue of Iyengar Yoga News, please send all text, photographs or artwork by the next issue deadline of 1 July 2013 to

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