A Message from Patricia Walden:
Dear Students of Iyengar Yoga,
May this email find you with a peaceful heart, tranquil mind, and steadiness in the body. We’re writing to invite you to celebrate the centennial year of our beloved Guruji, BKS Iyengar’s, birth. Join a worldwide effort to honor him by offering praṇāms, or gestures of respect, by engaging in a yogic activity for 100 consecutive days, beginning September 5th and culminating on December 14th, Guruji’s birthday. As the Bhagavad Gitā counsels, any small action, done with reverence, is sufficient to both participate in this global effort and to invest in your own yoga practice.
Here are six ideas to get you started:
1.Practice āsana from the core of your being
Chapter 2 (pp. 21-64) in Guruji’s book, Light on Life, offers wisdom on how to cultivate stability in the physical body. Choose a section from this inspiring chapter to guide your daily āsana practice.
2.Experience the depth of inversions
Known as the King & Queen, or Father and Mother, of all the āsanas, Śīrṣāsana (Headstand) and Sarvāngāsana (Shouldersand) confer myriad benefits. Consult Light on Yoga’s teachings on these āsanas (Śīrṣāsana, pp. 179-205 and Sarvāngāsana, pp. 205-220) to deepen your daily practice of them.
3.Relax into the deep well of the heart
Ever wonder why Śavāsana (corpse pose) is considered the most difficult of all the āsanas? Read the beautiful chapter on Śavāsana in Light on Pranayama to explore your inner world.
4.Study Guruji’s vast collection of writing
Read a sūtra a day from Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. Learn the yamas and niyamas by heart (see sutras II.28-III.4). Practice sequences from Light on Yoga, Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health, or Yoga for Sports: A Journey Towards Health and Healing. These texts are available at www.iynaus.org, online, or from your local bookstore.
5.Reflect on how Guruji’s teachings impact your life
6.Connect with like-minded individuals
Get together with friends to practice to support the promotion of Guruji’s work.
Yoga is blending the intellect of the brain with the intelligence of the heart-Guruji
vaayuyogashala.com 