Lifelong Practice: Ben and Tommijean Thomas – Josephine Lazarus

BEN AND TOMMIJEAN THOMAS

BY JOSEPHINE LAZARUS

On March 23, 2014, I had the good fortune to spend most of the day with Ben and Tommijean Thomas at their home in Oro Valley, Arizona. Ben is 76 and Tommijean is 73. They generously shared their thoughts on yoga, teaching, and aging. We had a lot of laughs and some tears.

Josie Lazarus: What are your best effort? Do I back away or physical challenges in teaching as confront the issue? Every day is a you age? balance of what to do. The mind and ego must examine the self-image. Age Tommijean Thomas: I’ve taught and maturity have helped me come to mostly private lessons since the understand my nature. age of 68. I used to teach very large classes, which included students JL: What are the issues your aging who may not have been aware of students face? Has your student how to follow the principles. One population aged along with you? has to maintain control, i.e., no talking, giving 100 percent Tommijean and Ben Thomas in the courtyard garden of their home BT: I understand the concept of attention—and to attend. in Oro Valley, Arizona. Photo: Alfio Procopio divinity within (Sutra I.3) better, and therefore, it is more teachable. Similarly the concept of Ben Thomas: How you demonstrate only on one side then walk contentment, regardless of life’s challenges. It’s important for around is not good for the body. I am more conscious of myself my students to come to their own understanding. Students give and my joints as I practice and teach. For example, I don’t me their joy of personal evolution. demonstrate Pincha Mayurasana anymore. I am not able to demonstrate as much due to my own issues. JL: What are the spiritual changes that you have noticed in yourselves and your students? As I age, I have to be aware that the ego doesn’t get in the way. Balance is more of an issue in many asanas, such as Vrksasana. BT: As a rule, young people don’t care as much about knowledge Now I use a wall. It’s good for students to see how their teacher or the relevance of change. My life perspective has changed; I am is aging. They are like us, and it is helpful for the student to more at ease with life. Pride is a factor, seeing the changes as a observe how we handle what we go through over time. blessing rather than focusing on I what can’t do.

JL: What are your physical challenges in your own practice as you age?

TJT: Guruji said to us, “It is not what you do, it is how you do.” The poses change. The practice has become more of an internal, private practice. It is more self-focused. I find I do more writing. Yoga saved my life after having four children and developing problems with my legs and bad circulation.

BT: I asked B.K.S. Iyengar at various stages, about every 10 years, “What is your practice at age 68?” He said, “How much maintain?” At age 85, he said, “Can I age gracefully? What is that? I have to have support on the stairs. The joints become a problem. I must evolve and adapt.” I have more compassion and contentment. Yogis have the opportunity to enter into contentment with the mental perspective to counterbalance the physical decline.

TJT: My practice is more spiritual. I spend more time alone focusing on devotion and prayer and surrendering myself. I cannot imagine not having that time. I have lost the desire for achievement, but I do experience those scared moments. I am indebted to B.K.S. Iyengar for this. more can I do?” Then 10 years later, he said, “How much can I

JL: What does retirement mean for you as a teacher?

BT: The opportunity to experience beauty in life and nature. The ability to contemplate youth versus maturity. To be part of the change to a new phase of life. There is less need to attract more students, but I’m grateful that I can teach and share. It is a time to truly appreciate and resolve issues with life itself.

Yogis get to experience youth and vitality in their maturity unabated until the late 60s.

Teachers do not retire in the traditional sense. We become different teachers; we accommodate but we do not stop teaching. Active retirement keeps us all healthy. When I retired from my career as an engineer and transitioned to teaching 20 yoga classes a week, I did so for money.

JL: Does having a full practice have a new meaning?

BT: Yes, a “full-spectrum practice” (abhysaha and sadana) has much more meaning. It comes with more knowledge about the self and the practice, which are essential to care for and train the body, mind, breath, and intellect. The fullness of physical practice deals with seeing that the end is near. Deaths of friends and family bring a new perspective on life and practice. We are now down to 10 quality years before our mortality.

JL: What started you on the path to yoga?

TJT: I went to a yoga class to relax. I was caring for a family of 10. The yoga was for me. I was in a group class when Manju Jois came to California. I took classes six days a week, doing 100 postures a day. Ben came and watched and then joined right away. That was in January 1976. JL: How did you get to the practice of IyengarYoga?

BT: After one month, I could feel a change in the breath and the rhythm. There was not much detail moving from beginning to intermediate to advanced asanas. Six months later, we got Light on Yoga and began to study. Tommijean had trained as a dancer, and I had played baseball, which helped us focus. After three years, we went to the 1979 intensive in Pune at the Institute. It was our first meeting with Manouso Manos, Patricia Walden, Kofi Busia, and Ramanand Patel. It was quite a culture shock to be in India and with such a class of students.

TJT: I could do all but five of poses in Light on Yoga and was nicknamed “Showoff.” Mr. Iyengar called Ben “Strongman.”

BT: I realized I was with a master teacher. When I was asked to demo for the class, I realized I was being given a private lesson.

Josephine Lazarus owns Archana Yoga in Gilbert, Arizona, has been teaching Iyengar Yoga since 1984 and was certified at the Introductory II level in 1993. She has traveled to Pune six times to study at RIMYI and continues to study with senior teachers in the U.S.