Lighting
U.S. IYENGAR YOGA COMMUNITY CELEBRATES GLORIA GOLDBERG
the Way
GATHERED BY RICHARD JONAS Senior teacher Gloria Goldberg received IYNAUS’s sixth Lighting
was director of the
the Way award honoring distinguished volunteer service to the
Iyengar Yoga Institute
U.S. Iyengar Yoga community Sept. 27 in Los Angeles at the
of Los Angeles from
30th anniversary celebration of the Iyengar Yoga Institute
1990–1993 when she
of Los Angeles.
moved to La Mesa, where she is director
Members of the Iyengar family, teachers, and students
of the B.K.S. Iyengar
reminisce about Gloria’s long record of volunteer service:
Yoga Center of La Mesa. She was very
“Congratulations, Gloria! You deserve it as you have worked so
involved in the
hard for the U.S. Iyengar Yoga community.”
Pasadena convention
—Sunita Iyengar Parthasarathy
in 2001, Guruji’s visit to Estes Park in 2005,
Gloria Goldberg
“As the old saying goes, ‘If you need something done, ask a busy
the 2010 Portland
person to do it.’ Clearly they were talking about Gloria Goldberg.
convention, and the
Over the years, I have witnessed Gloria come to the forefront of
2013 San Diego convention featuring Birjoo Mehta.
our community. Giving of herself over and over, and taking little credit, she has founded and helped to found several Iyengar
“Her commitment to the teaching and upbringing of new
Yoga studios. She has chaired two national conventions, as well
teachers is unparalleled! Her service as the director of the
as assisted in the planning of nearly every local and national
teacher training program in Southern California underscores
convention and conference. She spearheaded the establishment
her commitment to bringing up the highest quality teachers.
of the service mark that protects Guruji’s name and works—all
Now she’s breaking new ground and training a whole new
the while raising a son by herself and teaching, tutoring, and
population of teachers in China. I’ve been blessed to study
mentoring thousands of students worldwide. Gloria started and
under her expert stewardship. Her dedication to Guruji and his
continues to nourish teacher training programs in our country,
work is inspiring and infectious.”
Europe, and Asia. We all owe a great deal to Gloria Goldberg for
—Garth McLean
her selfless service.” —Manouso Manos
“What I admire and appreciate most about Gloria is her devotion to Guruji and to disseminating Iyengar Yoga in this
“I worked with Gloria on the IYNAUS Board during my two
country and around the world. Her teaching is pure Iyengar
years as president. Gloria found the Las Vegas location for that
Yoga: I always feel connected to the Iyengars and Pune during
convention, and with a very short lead time, brought everything
her classes. She sets high standards for herself in her practice,
together to have Geetaji teach. Gloria had one gear: fast
and her teaching inspires and energizes us to reach for those
forward! Having her on the board was such an advantage
standards ourselves—even though we don’t always get there!
because of the historical perspective she brought. She is knowledgeable about the evolution of IYNAUS from its
“Gloria is a powerhouse of energy. Recently, we secretly planned
inception. She showed her fierce loyalty to Guruji at every turn.
a celebration for her 70th birthday, but no one could believe she had reached that age, and we checked with more than one
“When I plugged back in as a member of the New England
source to make sure we weren’t committing a faux pas. Now we
group that spearheaded the first regional conference. Gloria’s
have to believe it, although her activity level is that of someone
energy kept me going. Her enthusiasm is contagious. Gloria is
very much younger.”
the essence of the Energizer Bunny. There is no end to her drive
—Jenny Hartman
to do the needful.” —Linda Di Carlo
“Gloria worked with other local teachers in the mid-90s to create a teacher training program in San Diego. She has
“Gloria is extremely involved in making things happen! As long
ongoing teacher training classes, weeklong workshops, yoga
as I can remember, she has served on the IYNAUS Board. She
therapy, and philosophy classes. She maintains a level of
Spring/Summer 2015 Yoga Samachar
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