News
FROM THE REGIONS
IYAGNY
Community Outreach Classes
around the world including Father Joe Pereira and Stephanie Quirk have taught the class.
The Iyengar Yoga Institutes of New York and Brooklyn hold nearly 100 classes every week, ranging from Level I to Level IV
What has never changed is the spirit in the class—similar to
and including Pranayama, Restorative, Women’s, Prenatal,
that among survivors of breast cancer in the Breast Health
Gentle, and Specific Needs classes. Introductory classes and
Class and in the Veterans’ Class. The HIV Class began in 1994 in
series for students new to the method are offered as well as
the old New York Institute on 24th Street and was taught by
teacher training, including ongoing programs for certified
James Murphy, IYAGNY director, and Brooke Myers. The class
teachers. There is also a full slate of weekend workshops taught
still meets at noon on Fridays. In the early days, some students
by faculty on special themes such as “Asana for Anxiety,” “Yoga
were incapacitated; some did no more than lie on the floor with
for Depression,” “Working With Bunions,” “Anatomy of the
their heels elevated on blocks to quiet the abdomen and relieve
Breathing Mechanism,” and “Finding Your Balance.” In addition,
diarrhea. Changes in the HIV Class mirror changes in the
special workshops bring visiting teachers to the region.
epidemic. Conditions of the eye like retinitis, which meant students could not do inversions, are much more rare; so are
Still another kind of class mirrors the community outreach
fever and diarrhea. A second HIV Class, at the Brooklyn Institute,
efforts of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York
meets at 3 p.m. on Mondays and is taught by Richard Jonas.
(IYAGNY) and the universal reach of Guruji’s method: an HIV Class, a Breast Health Class, and a Veterans’ Class.
One current student says, “I would not classify it as yoga and HIV, but yoga and life. Yoga has an effect on our posture, our life
These free classes remind us that Iyengar Yoga is a vital, life-
choices, and our ways of thinking. Yoga has become an
affirming way to work with chronic conditions and to nurture
instrument for a healthier body and a cleaner mind.” Another
hope and fortitude in the face of difficulties. They show how a
adds, “The benefits I have achieved in a very short period of
yoga institute is more than a yoga studio in the way it reaches
time are amazing. The first thing I noticed was a real change in
out to people in its community. Most of all, these classes
my posture. I feel my body has enlarged. For the first time, I
demonstrate that, along with the striving for absolute
have found out how to have a relationship with all of my body,
alignment and constant focus, the nature of the Iyengars’
inside and outside. Another benefit is the level of relaxation;
teaching is profound compassion for students of all levels and
yoga makes it so much easier to reach that state of mind where
conditions. This compassion comes from and demonstrates
everything is peaceful.”
their sure knowledge of how profoundly curative and transformative yoga, correctly performed, can be.
— Richard Jonas
The HIV Class
The Breast Health Class
The Iyengar Yoga Institute’s HIV Class began in the days before
For the women who attend it, the Breast Health Class is a
anti-retroviral medications were available. As the nature of the
lifeline. It is both a place for like-minded women to meet and
AIDS epidemic changed, so did the class. People grew healthier
network and a place where they can begin to take charge of
and stronger, and along with sequences devised by Guruji and
their lives and learn yoga in a supportive atmosphere.
the Iyengars to control HIV infection, students began to do the kind of “regular” yoga that makes everyone stronger, more
Taught by Bobby Clennell, author of Yoga for Breast Care: What
flexible, and balanced.
Every Woman Needs to Know, the class is targeted to the particular needs of these women; only breast cancer survivors
There’s always been a special feeling in the HIV Class—
may attend. And since most of the women are over 60, they
friendly and supportive—and a sense of belonging. Longtime
know they can be in a class without fear of not being able to
students welcome and encourage newcomers. Along with
keep up.
firmness of body and steadiness of intelligence, which B.K.S. Iyengar tells us are two of the defining qualities of asana,
Breast cancer surgery brings a particular set of limitations and
one feels here the benevolence of spirit he names as the
a particular set of aspirations not found among any other group
third quality.
of students. Now in its fourth year, the class draws a mixed group. Many of the women, especially the dedicated group of
Over the years, we have lost students and mourned as a
regulars who make up the bulk of the class, are long-term
community. Newcomers have arrived. Senior teachers from
survivors. These women have made tremendous strides in their
Spring/Summer 2015 Yoga Samachar
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