Yoga Samachar SS2009

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News from the Regions Convention and conference planning from the West to the East Coasts has been occupying several regional associations. Others are finding ways to serve their local communities with workshops, outreach, research, and community-building events. If your regional association has news to share, please contact Regional Support Chair Leslie Freyberg.

IYASE: Southeast Kimberly Williams presented her research on Iyengar Yoga therapy for low back pain last October in Mumbai at a scientific conference organized in honor of Guruji’s 90th birthday.

IYANW: Northwest Activities in the Northwest revolve primarily around the 2010 Convention to be held in Portland, Oregon. Co-chair Julie Lawrence hopes that all teachers plan to attend not only to benefit from the teachings of Geeta Iyengar, but also to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

IYAGNY: Greater New York On the weekend of February 13–15, the Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York family of teachers, students, and friends alike gathered for a celebration of the amazing life of Mary Dunn. Mary passed away last September after a brave and inspiring yearplus battle with peritoneal cancer. People came from far and wide to see slides and videos and to share memories, tears, and laughter. Each day celebrated her presence in a yoga class given by wonderful Iyengar teachers Laurie Blakeney, Chris Saudek, George Purvis, Mary Reilly, and Patricia Walden. Leslie Freyberg led a beautiful, healing chanting session to close the extraordinary event.

Siegfried Bleher will present a poster and a preconference workshop entitled “Transforming Consciousness through the Practice of Yoga” in Hong Kong from June 11 through 14. The conference, Toward a Science of Consciousness 2009: Investigating Inner Experience—Brain, Mind, Technology, is organized by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, MERECL, and the Center for Consciousness Studies at the University of Arizona.

Twice yearly, IYANW awards scholarships to further the study of its members. Michelle Downing, recipient of this winter’s scholarship, applied the funds toward a workshop with Rebecca Lerner at Sunset Yoga in Portland.

Institute teacher Tori Milner described the experience this way: “It was powerful and poignant to see her face on screen, to hear her voice in the incredible interview she gave near the end of her life, and to genuinely feel her presence in the room as we honored her life and the things she loved most, from yoga to strawberry ice cream. “As the weekend progressed, I realized how sad I felt about our loss of Mary, but how much richer we all are because of her influence. I was reminded of watching her speak last July (her last visit to the Institute) at Guru Purnima and how she said so eloquently that it is the teachings that live on.”

Students and friends of the Boise Yoga Center recently held a benefit sale for Kiva.org. This international nonprofit allows donors to select an entrepreneurial organization in the developing world and to donate specifically to it. Everyone donated clothing for the sale, shoppers paid an entrance fee, and all proceeds went to Kiva.org. Organizer Vickie Aldridge said, “It makes sense to pool our money together and help someone out in a bigger way.”

Yoga Samachar Spring / Summer 2009

In honor of Mary, IYAGNY has begun The Mary Dunn Fund. All proceeds from the celebration weekend were allocated to that fund to help continue to spread the teachings of yoga that B.K.S. Iyengar so generously shared with Mary Palmer, who inspired her daughter, Mary Dunn, to follow suit.

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