The document discusses the author's personal journey with Iyengar yoga over several decades. It describes how the author was first introduced to yoga in the 1960s and favored Iyengar yoga for its logical, thorough approach. The author began formally studying Iyengar yoga in the 1990s and was inspired to become a teacher by instructors like Mary Dunn, Robin Janis, James Murphy, and Carrie Owerko. While the training was rigorous, the author found Iyengar yoga suited all types of bodies and capabilities. It challenges students to improve their alignment and push past limitations.
The document discusses the author's personal journey with Iyengar yoga over several decades. It describes how the author was first introduced to yoga in the 1960s and favored Iyengar yoga for its logical, thorough approach. The author began formally studying Iyengar yoga in the 1990s and was inspired to become a teacher by instructors like Mary Dunn, Robin Janis, James Murphy, and Carrie Owerko. While the training was rigorous, the author found Iyengar yoga suited all types of bodies and capabilities. It challenges students to improve their alignment and push past limitations.
The document discusses the author's personal journey with Iyengar yoga over several decades. It describes how the author was first introduced to yoga in the 1960s and favored Iyengar yoga for its logical, thorough approach. The author began formally studying Iyengar yoga in the 1990s and was inspired to become a teacher by instructors like Mary Dunn, Robin Janis, James Murphy, and Carrie Owerko. While the training was rigorous, the author found Iyengar yoga suited all types of bodies and capabilities. It challenges students to improve their alignment and push past limitations.
James Murphy, Robin Janis, and Carrie Owerko practice Eka Pada Urdhva Danurasana Y oga keeps the mind and body young. But this admission may date meI started doing yoga in high school during the late 1960s, not long after the Beatles jetted off to India to study Transcendental Medita- tion with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Our local YMCAoffered a yoga class, so I begged my father to drop me off every week. If the Beatles could do Headstands, so could I. From the very beginning, I loved yoga; it challenged my body and focused my mind. Ever since then, Ive continued studying yoga, trying just about every style with many dif- ferent teachers. I liked all of them for various reasons, but I favored the Iyengar method, the most challenging. It suited me because it was logical and thorough, and promised a solid practice from its well-trained teachers. I began practicing Iyengar yoga in 1992 when I took a yoga class at Columbia University, where I work, on my lunch hour. One day, we had a substitute teacherand some- thing about the more careful attention to the various parts of the body really appealed to me. It wasnt just some haphaz- ard series of postures strung together, and we didnt just lie around relaxing, although, of course, we ended in Savasana. So, I sought out qualifed instructorsand discovered the Iyengar Yoga Institute and its wonderfully talented teachers, some of whom are pictured in this articleMary Dunn, Robin Janis, James Murphy, and Carrie Owerko. All of them have been instrumental mentors in my growth as a yogini. They even inspired me to become a teacher-in- training in the Iyengar method. Iyengar Yoga A personal odyssey by Gerry Visco P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y K E L L IE W A L S H F O R 4 E Y E S P H O T O G R A P H Y ; H A IR & M A K E U P B Y S T E F A N IE D U E L L . L I G H T O N 38 FIT YOGA August 2008 FIT YOGA August 2008 39 Tadasana Parivrtta Sirsasana ply 100% of myself and be present in the poses. With ev- eryone working so hard, a great spirit suffuses the room. Sometimes, I imagine if we concentrated hard enough, maybe we could levitate. Ive always been more strong than fexible, and be- cause I sit at a desk all day, Im one of the stiffer mem- bers of the class. Poses such as twists come more easily now, especially after years of working to open my chest. My Downward Facing Dog has improved since my dor- sal spine doesnt protrude like before. Then, theres Handstands. Even though I started do- ing them in 1993, I lost the ability to kick up after I took some time off for abdominal surgery. It took a number of years, but now I get up most of the time. And I still cant reach my hands together in Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose), though I try every day. And who knows when Ill achieve full Padmasana (Lotus Pose)? My pelvic area is especially tight. But thats what I like about Iyengar yoga. Im there to practice, not to show off how accom- plished I am. Open to change Its not easy to get into the Iyengar teacher-training pro- gram; in fact, I failed my frst audition. But after a few more years of practice, I was accepted in 2005. The program, run by Mary Dunn and James Murphy, was rigorous, but I enjoyed learning more about yoga and how to teach it. My frst teaching experiences, though, were a bit dis- maying when I realized that many students are reluctant to try something new. Wheres the fow series? Why arent you playing music? they asked. Although Iyengar yoga includes jumpings that fow, it is mostly about holding a pose in ideal alignment. And while music is great, its easier to focus without distractions. Nonetheless, the students kept mentioning how their old teacher did things. Since yoga is about allowing change to happen and being open to new things, my job was to show them why this method works. The fexible students jumped easily into Headstands, but they were wobbly once they got there. They thought just getting up was enough, but the challenge is to hold a solid Headstand. That means its better to do it against the wall than be in a banana shape, where the back bows and the body is out of alignment. In Headstand, your chest needs to be open, the legs active and balanced evenly. Aproper Headstand fows in one straight line, from a frm foundation, with every part of the body extended toward the ceiling like the spire of a cathedral. With this alignment, some Iyengar practitioners can hold Headstand for 20 minutes or more. Something for everyone Yoga is not exercise. Mr. Iyengar says yoga is the art of living. Its a method where you transcend your limita- tions. It teaches you how to observe your own body and mind, which can help you in all your other activities. Iyengar yoga is often mislabeled as the style practiced by dancers or teachers. The truth is Iyengar yoga speaks to all types of bodies and capabilities. Im no dancerIm just an average athletic person who likes to work hard. My yoga has evolved over the years, and at this point, I could be classifed as an intermediate practitioner. In the beginning, my main challenge was to open my joints and relax the stiffness in my hips and shoulders. Virabhadrasana II used to be so painful for me. Should I mention Im a wimp with some inversions, too? I study regularly with Carrie Owerko, this issues cover model. Her arduous classes have taught me to ap- The Light of Yoga Iyengar teacher Mary Dunn pioneered the style in the U.S. with intelligence, empathy, and a stalwart spirit Since she began teaching yoga in 1974, Mary Dunn has taught thou- sands of students at all levels from total beginners to senior citizens to advanced practitioners and teach- ers. Dunn, a founding organizer of the rst Iyengar Yoga Association in the United States, was instrumen- tal in establishing the Iyengar Yoga centers in San Francisco, San Diego, and New York. From 2003 until 2005, I took the teacher-train- ing course she ran with teacher James Murphy at the Iyengar Institute in New York City. Sitting in her airy Upper West Side apart- ment, Dunn reminisces with me about her begin- nings in yoga. I never planned on being a yoga teacher, she says. Back when she was a young mother of two daughters, Dunn couldnt even touch her toes, although she regularly participated in ice skating, swimming, team sports, and tennis. You should try yoga, her mother, Mary Palmer, encouraged her. Its the most amazing thing! A bit skeptical at rst, Dunn began taking a local yoga class once a week. A half-hour into her rst class, she decided this was just what she needed to physically express herself and give her mind an intellectual workout. Dunn moved to Berkeley in 1973 with her family and began teaching yoga when her teacher left. In the meantime, her mother, inspired by BKS Iyengars Light on Yoga, traveled to study with him in India. When Iyengar came to the US for the rst time to teach yoga in 1973, he stayed with Mary Palmer in Ann Arbor, where he taught hundreds of students at the local YMCA. Dunn took his classes when he went to California in 1974. He put me on the stage, she recalls. I was nave and didnt have any bad habits he had to break. I said to myself, This person knows so much. I trusted him from the beginning. Dunn still marvels at her early encounters with Iyengar. He was dynamic and strong, demanding yet also good-natured, she says. He demanded a lot from his students from the be- ginning, allowing them to have the wonderful experi- ence of doing more than they thought they could. Meeting Iyengar changed her whole life. It wasnt until I studied with Iyengar that the scope of the subject began to reveal itself, says Dunn. I became aware there were pathways in the body al- lowing the intelligent understanding of movement, the creation of silence. Asana and pranayama opened doors to awarenessemotionally, physi- ologically, intellectually, and spiritual- ly. Her studies made her realize the universality of the human condition and helped her cope with her own difculties. To become a teacher, you have to have both detachment and profound empathy, she says. When Dunn and her mother trav- eled to Pune to study with Iyengar, he set the tone by telling Palmer, Out of class, she is your daughter; but in class, she is my daughter. Dunn treasures the experience. Mother and I laughed in the dark when we fell into bed exhausted after full days, delighted in what we were learn- ing, she says. We got to know each other in many new ways that set the basis for a marvelously satisfying adult closeness. Since then, Dunn has made many trips to India to work one-on-one with her teacher. Her own teaching style has always been clear, direct, and accessible. An article for the IYAGNY newsletter about Tadasana (Mountain Pose) re- veals the former high-school English teachers poetic economy of words: From the very rst direction, Join your feet we learn to transfer focus from our head to what is most distant from it, our feet, Dunn wrote. As we develop our connection with the foots system of arches, our feet become wellsprings of energy we can use to fuel our entire being. Teaching has given me a lifes work of which Im proud, she says. I feel Ive made a difference, and its given me innumerable friends and a wonderful sense of purpose. Being a yoga teacher is a way of connecting with people about the things that mat- ter most, not only for my own life but to look at the big questions. Diagnosed with advanced peritoneal cancer in 2007, Dunn has since had three major surgeries and chemotherapy. She maintains a blog where she talks about her ongoing treatment (marydunn.blogspot.com). Our thoughts and hearts are with Mary at this difcult time. G.V. 40 FIT YOGA August 2008 FIT YOGA August 2008 41 Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York
150 West 22nd St., 11th oor New York, NY 10011 (212) 691-9642 iyengarnyc.org Where it all began Living master BKS Iyengar, one of the foremost teachers of yoga in the world and creator of this eponymous style, be- gan teaching in Mysore, India, at the age of 18 and was then sent to Pune. Often called Guruji, for beloved teacher, he will turn 90 in December. Assisted by his daughter Geeta and son Prashant, Iyengar continues to teach at his center, called Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI). Most Iyengar teachers make a pilgrimage to Pune to study with him, but Iyengar yoga centers extend all over the world, with several thousand certifed teachers and hundreds in the United States alone. Mr. Iyengar has writ- ten many best-selling books on yogic practices and philoso- phy including Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Light on Life, and others. All these books are essential study tools for most yoga teachers and practitioners of all styles everywhere. Whats most amazing about Mr. Iyengar, though, is his willingness to go beyond his limits. He uses his own body as a laboratory of sorts, which is why the Iyengar method continues to evolve. If you go to an Iyengar class, be assured that youll be guided by an experienced and knowledgeable teacher. Iyengar teachers are required to undergo an ongoing cer- tifcation process throughout their careerswith assess- ments on six levels from Introductory to Advanced Senior. The Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States (IYNAUS, iynaus.org), a national non-proft group dedicated to the teachings and philosophy of BKS Iyengar, oversees the certifcation process. The Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York, located in New York Citys Chelsea area, where I study, is a non-proft group affliated with IYNAUS and is the headquarters for the Iyengar Yoga As- sociation of Greater New York, which includes New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Students and teachers from any style of yoga can certainly beneft from the Iyengar methodand who knows, if you try it, you just might want to continue. Gerry Visco is a freelance writer and photographer and completed a two-year yoga teacher-in-training at the Iyengar Institute in New York City. Take time to explore As my practice matures, I discover new things about myself every day. Afew years ago, I realized I wasnt stand- ing properly. Id grip my stomach, and I wasnt keeping the middle of my torso longwhich made me wonder whether this constriction was what caused the abdominal issues that led to my sur- gery. Ditto my chest: Alifelong habit of caving in my chest and collapsing my rib cage could have contributed to my asthma. As all my teachers emphasize, the best way to go beyond your limits is with a daily home practice, even if its a short one. Although it can be diffcult to juggle a full-time job and a full life with all the New York City distractions, I developed a basic routine. Every day, I swim at the gym on my buildings rooftop and spend as much time as possible before or after doing an asana sequence. Sometimes, Ill pick one or two poses Im having trouble with and keep at it. Ive managed to improve my balance in Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose) and Vrksasana (Tree Pose). Its great going into class with confdence that I wont fall. And after a month or two of daily attempts to stand tall and grab my toe in Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Extended Hand to Foot Pose), I can fnally do it. And if I can do that with daily effort, then I can do any pose if Im diligent. Yoga is not about achieving the perfect poseits about intention. Its being in the moment, but its also the process, the effort, the concentration. Being able to touch the ground in Ut- tanasana (Forward Bend) or drop back into Urdhva Dhanurasana (Upward Facing Bow Pose) is not any better than doing the simplest poses with devotion and intelligence. Yoga is an exploration of your body and mind. We try to bring freedom, lightness, and space into the body as we strengthen it. Through Iyengar yoga, Ive learned not to rush but to concentrate and give the process my all. Half- effort and half-attention to anything will result in medi- ocrity. Developing my practice with my Iyengar teachers provided a foundation that helps all my poses as well as my own life challenges. Roped In One of the tools Iyengar relies upon is Yoga Kurunta, the use of ropes, as part of a regular yoga practice. Geeta S. Iyengar, his daughter, describes seven rope techniques in her book, Yoga: A Gem for Women. The word kurunta means puppet, describing how the yoga practitioner suspends on the ropes. Practicing yoga this way opens the body, releasing tension in the spine and pelvic area, and allows easier access to even the most difcult poses. An effective way to work with elderly or stiff practitioners, the ropes also help correct scoliosis. People with neck problems can practice Sirsasana (Headstand) with ropes.
Some other benets of Yoga Kurunta: Good for backbends and concave back postures, forward bends, Downward Facing Dog, remedial or restorative work Spinal traction helps relieve back pain and tension Excellent for stretching hamstrings, shoulders, and chest Adds speed, lightness, agility, range of motion Although using ropes can be a bit daunting at rst, James Murphy says, Its actually a lot of fun. He uses them often in his classes at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York because the gravity and movement in rope work awakens the body and brings freedom to the joints. Practitioners should learn the art of Kurunta with an experienced teacher. Ropes provide a great tool for any yoga studio but, of course, they need to be securely bolted to the wall by a professional carpenter. Being able to touch the ground in Uttanasana... or drop back into Urdhva Dhanurasana... is not any better than doing the simplest poses with devotion and intelligence. Setu Bandha Sarvangasana Variation
The Song Celestial or Bhagavad-Gita: Discourse Between Arjuna, Prince of India, and the Supreme Being Under the Form of Krishna: One of the Great Religious Classics of All Time - Synthesis of the Brahmanical concept of Dharma, theistic bhakti, the yogic ideals of moksha, and Raja Yoga & Samkhya philosophy