8.25.2014

B.K.S. Iyengar


I join with many in mourning the loss if B.K.S. Iyengar, he changed my life when I was just 19 years old, I was lucky enough to find an instructor (and this is the 1980's) when I lived for a short time in Chicago and his practice has followed me through my life. I had been a gymnast as a young girl so when I was working and held down a job yoga was the perfect outlet for my limber body. It's wonderful today that so many young people are into yoga and moving their bodies, meditating and living a more spiritual life and this all may be due to Mr. Iyengar who practiced a full approach to yoga and didn't segment it into different practices. I would hate to think of this world without him and his teachings. I mourn the loss of Mr. Iyengar but the light that he brought to my heart and mind will always shine brightly thanks to this wonderful man, who helped so many.

If you would like to collectively share in the passing of MR. Iyengar there is the suggestion of the following:

This  coming Tuesday, August 26th , IYNAUS [The Iyengar Yoga National Association of The United States], has invited its members and other practitioners across the continent for a collective commemoration in an expression of gratitude to B.K.S Iyengar for what he brought to our lives and the lives of others:
 
"We know that many of you have already been attending or planning commemorative gatherings, but we have also heard from members that they would like for there to be an event that brings us together as practitioners across the continent.
 
We suggest that on next Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at 8:30 pm EDT (7:30 pm Central, 6:30 p.m Mountain, 5:30 p.m. Pacific) as many of us as possible, in our own practice spaces or at our yoga schools and institutes, practice the following sequence of asanas (except for Tadasana, we leave the timings to your best judgment). IYNAUS

Tadasana - 3 minutes
Uttanasana
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Utthita Trikonasana to the right and to the left
Adho Mukha Svanasana
Uttanasana
Tadasana - 3 minutes

5 minutes seated quietly
“It is essential to master the art of standing correctly. One thousand things that apply to Tadasana apply to every other pose. See how much your intelligence has to peep in, has to go in, even to understand tadasana? When truly in tadasana, one feels light in body and the mind acquires agility.” BKS Iyengar
 
 “Like rain, he touched all of us equally.” Geeta Iyengar
 
I remember I was taught this about tadasana early on and whenever I stand in a queue or anywhere for a long period of time, tadasana comes to my mind and I bring my body together and meditate - Thank you B.K.S Iyengar for all that you taught me, my life would be small without your teachings.
 
Here are some short items from NPR about B.K.S Iyengar if you are not already familiar with him and if you are lucky enough to live in Boston you can go to the Studio of Karin Stephan, she is one of the most comprehensive teachers in the ways of Iyengar (I call her my guru because somehow my life leads a path to her when I need it, and she straightens me out).