Letter From the Presidents – Janet Lilly and Michael Lucey

DEAR FELLOW IYNAUS MEMBERS,

Aug. 20, 2014—the day we felt like everything changed. B.K.S. Iyengar, the man we honored, admired, and celebrated had passed from this world. In the days following, I realized that despite our collective loss, there were many things that had not changed; even with Guruji gone, his legacy and the permanence of his gift to the art of yoga remained imperturbable. Yes, the voice of Guruji is no longer with us, but his words live on through his family and the teachers trained in his method around the world.

Guruji’s gift lives on in the IYNAUS association as well. There are many things we don’t know in this time of transition, but what we do know is that there is a cohort of dedicated IYNAUS board members who are eager to work under the guidance of RIMYI and the Iyengar family toward the preservation and propagation of Guruji’s work. Moreover, the board continues to promote and increase the visibility of Iyengar Yoga across the United States.

Many of you know that in 2011, when we changed the elections process from national nominations and elections to a regional representation model, we were acting on instructions from our Guru. He intuited the importance of engaging the regions in the governance process. With his goal in mind, I encourage all IYNAUS members to reach out to their region to find out more about how we collectively will honor Guruji’s legacy in the years ahead.

As I transition from my role as president of the IYNAUS Board of Directors, I have no doubt that the integrity and commitment of the board members will remain unwavering, especially with my esteemed colleague Michael Lucey at the helm as president. Michael and I have worked together over the past two years in preparation for the transition, and we offer our thanks to departing board members: Ethics Chair Rebecca Lerner, Certification Chair Mary Reilly, and Membership Chair Phyllis Rollins. We also are delighted to welcome incoming board members: Lynda Alfred from the Intermountain Region, Cynthia Bates from Northern California, Anne-Marie Schultz from South Central, and Stephen Weiss from the Minnesota Region.

Finally, I would like to suggest that all members keep in mind Guruji’s enduring wish to maintain a vibrant level of support for the Bellur Trust to continue his humanitarian mission to better the lives of the people of his birthplace in Karnataka, India. What better way to celebrate his memory than to visit the IYNAUS homepage and click on the Donate Now link to make a donation in his honor? IYNAUS and the regions are also promoting Bellur Trust Donation classes at studios and institutes across the country on Guruji’s birthday, Dec. 14. More information about this annual event is available on our Facebook page. Thank you in advance for your consideration and participation in IYNAUS.

With gratitude, Janet Lilly, Outgoing President IYANUS Board of Directors

BEING IN PUNE AT THE RAMAMANI IYENGAR MEMORIAL YOGA INSTITUTE this September 2014 was a complex emotional experience. Guruji’s presence had been so vibrant and so compelling there that on certain mornings it seemed nearly impossible to believe that he wouldn’t be appearing for morning practice at any moment. And yet while the reality of his passing is difficult to absorb, the reality of all he achieved during his life, all he offered to us and to the world, is there all around us in the structure and fabric of the Institute he built, in the community of students who gather there, and in the practice and teaching that happens at RIMYI and around the world, thanks to him. The classes I took on this visit with Prashant, Abhijata, and long-term senior students such as Navaz Kamdin (who taught us pranayama with remarkable grace and clarity) were endlessly inspiring. Fierce loyalty to Guruji’s teaching and his mission came through in every class. His brilliance shines on.

One Saturday in class, Abhijata reminded everyone of the high standard set for us by the intensity of Guruji’s sadahana. She recalled for us the sutras where Patanjali speaks of different levels of intensity in practice (1.21 and 1.22). Guruji rendered Sutra 1.21 as “The goal is near for those who are supremely vigorous and intense in practice.” Guruji’s supreme intensity is an aspiration for all of us, an aspiration that takes material form in the Institute he founded in Pune and also in the associations around the world dedicated to his method. I look forward to working with all of you over the next two years as we keep our attention focused on his example and the aspiration and the inspiration he leaves us with.