THE TEAC H E R O F DHARMA : GEETAJI I Y E N G A R By Naghmeh Ahi
E
ach time I’ve had the good fortune to study with
about an effect on
Geetaji Iyengar, invariably she’s highlighted our duty
the other. For
to ourselves to “find out.” In her teachings in asana
example, in
classes, amid her direct guidance of our attention to
Savasana, the
some part of ourselves, she adds, “You have to find out!” In
placement of the
teaching from a chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, she points out
body is such that
that Lord Krishna cajoles Arjuna to find out, to move away
there is a settling
from doubt and toward inquiry. She often shares details
of the karmendriyas, explaining that “the psychology of
about her upbringing and learning yoga by watching Mr.
the karmendriyas has to change to a state of quietness.”
Iyengar’s practice, learning from observation and attention—
This settled state of the arms and legs then further quiets
qualities she reminds us to nurture by turning inward, to
the consciousness deep inside, while the resultant
find out.
exhalations assist the cellular body to become even quieter, a “learned relaxing.”
In December 2013, we were blessed to find ourselves not only present for a month of study at RIMYI and for Mr. Iyengar’s 95th birthday festivities, but also privy to a five-day pranayama course conducted by Geetaji for the Indian teachers—a celebration of the dharma of finding out, through
It is all in the book, she would say. And she encouraged everyone to read the book and learn from it!
her detailed teachings on the art of pranayama, one of the eight limbs of yoga. She taught the art of quieting the senses of perception—closing The Indian teachers had asked Geetaji to teach such a course,
the eyes to see inward and moving from the gross to the subtle,
and she finally decided to offer the course Dec. 9–13 at RIMYI.
from the outer world to the inner world. She called this process
The course took place in the main hall in the mornings for two
a “learned watching” (svadhyaya). “Find out what’s happening!”
and a half hours each day, and non-Indians enrolled in classes
She guided the brain to watch passively, while the eyes
at RIMYI for the month were granted permission to sign up and
withdraw inward. “Enter deep inward,” she said, “and reach
observe the pranayama classes via wide screen video in the
back where you see nothing. The mind wants to look out—
upstairs hall. Teachers of Iyengar Yoga from all corners of India
break that habit—enter deep inward and reach back.”
were in attendance. The hall was packed from wall to wall. Similarly, upstairs, around 50 of us gathered daily with bolsters,
She taught the art of hearing, releasing the eardrums inward to
notebooks, iPads and iPhones, taking notes or following along
notice when the breath turns from inhalation to exhalation, for
with the teachings and doing—finding out.
example. She coaxed the group to be careful and keen in their observations of these things. She asked that the witnessing of
Geetaji presented everything from Savasana, Ujayii, Viloma,
these qualities spread everywhere inside, not controlling but
Brahmari, Kapalabati, and Bhastrika to Pratiloma and Anuloma in
watching to find out where we can reach.
these five days. It was a challenge to sit and watch and not be taken on the inward journey that she guided her students
Every day there was a point in her teachings when Geetaji
toward. As she shared the intricate details required for the
would refer to Light on Pranayama and note that nothing she
body, the mind, and the breath, she also continually referred to
was sharing was new. It is all in the book, she would say. And
the requisite state of attentiveness, watchfulness, and
she encouraged everyone to read the book and learn from it!
humbleness—as well as one’s duty to remain alert—to notice these things.
As much as Geetaji laid out the landscape of pranayama, step by step and part by part, she also took us back to the requirement
Step by step, she taught the process of going inward, explaining
of vigilance in self-exploration and self-study, without
that pranayama is a subtle practice founded on developing
judgment but with keen interest and practice that comes from
sensitivity, patience, and a strong observation of the body, mind,
watchfulness.
and breath, and how adjusting and attending to each will bring
Spring/Summer 2014 Yoga Samachar
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