yogafrica march 2015 - plusto · tute to register. it was a truly ... an ancient yoga textbook, the...

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YogAfrica March 2015

CONTENTS

Ed’s Notes 4

Effects of inversions during menstruation and pregnancy 5

Medical Class Pune — January 2015 7

Blissful Breath — Leslie Peters 9

Yoga and Pregnancy 12

Corine Biria in Cape Town 14

Iyengar Yoga Retreat, Hogsback 15

Visits to Pune 17

Tribute to Denise Rundle 20

Congratulations 21

Notices 22

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RIVA HIRSCHOWITZ

Dear Members,

I hope that you are a l l we l l and enjoy ing the ta i l -end of the warm days o f summer .

I t has been a busy few mon ths, wi th Cor ine B ir ia v is i t ing both Cape Town and Johannesburg for work-

shops. I am sure that those tha t a ttended her workshop wi l l be p leased to know that Faeq Bir ia wi l l be

v is i t ing for Sou th Afr ica 's 40 th year celebra t ions . Make sure to d iar ise the workshop when i t is adver -

t ised nex t year .

We have lots o f news for th is ed it ion.

Four lovely ar t ic les have been wr i t ten abou t tr ips to Pune. Make sure you read the one by Jane who

was ab le to get some he lp from Gee ta j i hersel f (as wel l as some o f our sen ior teachers) for her h ip .

There seem to be many pregnancies a t the moment. I t is a lways wonder fu l to see the pregnant lad ies

in c lass doing the ir Asana's par t icu lar ly the ir invers ions. Viv and Jacqui have both wr i t ten lovely ar t i -

c les for us as wel l as some beau t i fu l photographs.

I t is very sad to men tion the sudden pass ing o f Denise Rund le who w i l l be missed both for her contr ibu-

t ions to the Ins t i tu te and as a sen ior teacher wi th in her region .

Thanks again to Strat ford for the t ime taken to do the layou t for the ar t ic le as we l l as to a l l those who

contr ibu ted.

Be in l igh t

Be in joy

Yours in yoga

Riva

r iva.h irschowi tz@gma il .com

ED’S NOTES

"Yoga teaches us to cure wha t need no t be endured and endure wha t cannot be cured . . "

- B . K . S . I y e n g a r

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EFFECT OF INVERTED YOGA POSTURES ON MENSTRUATION & PREGNANCY


GEETA IYENGAR

Inver ted yoga postures or invers ions are those wherein the head remains down and the body is in an

inver ted pos i t ion. The invers ions inc lude Asanas such as Sirsasana , Sarvangasana , Halasana, V ipar i ta

Karani, Pincha Mayurasana e tc . The var ia t ions of S irsasana and Sarvangasana are a lso inc luded in

th is group.

Hatha Yoga Prad ip ika on Inversions

The th ird chap ter o f Svatmarama 's Ha tha Yoga Pradip ika is named mr idav idhanam men tions about the

inver ted yoga postures . Ha tha Yoga Pradioka deals w ith asanas in the f i rs t chap ter , pranayama in the

second chap ter , mudras as we l l as bandhas in the th ird chap ter and samadhi in the four th . Mudra

means a seal whi le bandhas means bondage. Mudra seals the energy and bandha regu la tes the en-

ergy. Sva tmarama devo tes s ix s tanzas (s lokas) to expla in v ipad ta kami in the th ird chap ter .

Vipar i ta karn i is a mudra where the head is down and legs are up , pala te is down and the nave l is up ,

moon or soma chakra wh ich l ies in the center o f the bra in is down and sun or surya chakra which l ies

in between the nave l and d iaphragm is up . I t has to be learnt under the guidance of a Guru and prac-

t ices everyday gradual ly increas ing the dura t ion of s tay in the pos ture. In the upr igh t pos i t ion the sun

(navel) swal lows the nectar which is dropped down by the moon bu t in v ipar i ta karn i the sun absorbs

the nec tar . The pract ice o f v ipar i ta karn i increases gastr ic f i re and improves the d igest ion and keeps

the person younger preventing h im from ge t t ing wr ink les or grey hair and pos tpones death.

The Ef fects of the Inverted Postures on the Endocr ine System

All the o ther inver ted postures come under v ipar i ta kami. Invers ions done accurate ly are a lways re lax-

ing and reduce stress and s tra in . The b lood c ircu la t ion to the bra in is improved in S irsasana; the s lug-

g ish cel ls are re juvenated and the bra in be ing the seat of in te l l igence is s t imu lated . I t a lso s t imulates

the p i tu i tary and p ineal g lands on wh ich the growth, hea lth and v i ta l s trength of a person depends.

Sarvangasana works ef fec t ive ly on the thyro id and parathyro id by increas ing the b lood supply . Ha la-

sana is e ffec t ive on adrenals .

The secret ions o f the p i tu i tary regula te sexual character is t ics and growth o f the reproduc tive organs. I t

a lso regu lates the funct ion of adrenal , thyro id and the ovar ies . I t is the hormone wh ich s t imula tes the

product ion of m i lk in nurs ing mo thers. Thus , p i tu i tary is the mas ter g land which p lays a very impor tant

ro le in regula t ing menstrua t ion and pregnancy . The inver ted pos tures in turn regula te the func t ion ing of

th is mas ter g land .

Guruj i has r igh t ly sa id that one mus t pract ice asanas regular ly and in case , one does not have enough

t ime then one shou ld a t least do the invers ions . I f S irsgsana is the father of asanas , then Sarvangsana

is the mo ther o f isanas. The heal th o f the body and mind is dependen t on the pract ice o f these two is-

anas as the heal th and happiness o f the chi ldren is dependent on the ir paren ts .

Pract ice of Menstruat ion Inversions

One should no t per form inver ted postures dur ing menstrua t ion . Invers ions per formed dur ing menstrua-

t ion ar rest the mens trual f low . They dry up the uterus and can lead towards comp l ica t ions l ike cysts

and f ibro ids i f pract iced dur ing mens truat ion. On the o ther hand , invers ions can contro l menstrual

b leeding when i t exceeds i ts normal dura t ion or i f i t occurs in between. They check the f low an d

strengthen the u ter ine system. They dry up the a rea fas ter than any o ther Asana.

One shou ld immed iate ly commence the pract ice of invers ions af ter complet ion o f mens truat ion s ince i t

is the t ime for re-establ ishment of hormonal balance. Such a pract ice wi l l prevent d iseases l ike endo-

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metr ios is , leucor rhea and a lso miscar r iages . They he lp in main ta in ing the hea lth o f the reproductive

organs.

Pract ice of Invers ions dur ing Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an opposi te s ta te of mens truat ion , as the fe tus has to be reta ined . Inver ted pos tures

should be per formed in the f i rs t three mon ths when there is a chance o f miscar r iage especia l ly for

those who are prone to miscar r iages and abor t ions. One can con tinue prac t ic ing them up to the end o f

pregnancy. The ir regular pract ice s trengthens the spine , improves b lood c ircu lat ion , checks wa ter re-

tent ion , preven ts in fec t ion , ma inta ins hormona l balance, lubr ica tes the reproduct ive passage, checks

b lood pressure , main ta ins emot iona l and menta l balance.

Invers ions are har mfu l dur ing mens truat ion and helpfu l dur ing pregnancy. Avoid invers ions dur ing men-

struat ion bu t pract ice them re l ig ious ly dur ing pregnancy.

One shou ld cont inue wi th the prac t ice of invers ions even af ter menopause in order to keep a cheek on

the b lood pressure, hear t problems, c ircu la tory defec ts and ag ing . We have to learn to be in an in-

ver ted pos it ion as long as we are in an upr igh t pos i t ion.

“Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement.

What the world needs is more conscious movement, more action.”

- BKS I y en ga r

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JANE TREFFRY-GOATLEY

We ar r ived in Pune a f ter a long and t i r ing journey. A fter a wel l needed res t we proceeded to the Inst i -

tu te to reg is ter . I t was a tru ly amaz ing exper ience. I fe l t so happy to have been able to make th is jour -

ney to the hear t of Iyengar yoga .

As I had a h ip in jury , tendon i t is o f the med ia l g lu tea l tendon and burs i t is , I was ra ther anx ious as to

how I was going to manage the c lasses . Wi th the suppor t of Pat and G i l l I was for tuna te enough to be

p laced in the Medica l C lasses . These are schedu led three t imes a week for two hours per c lass .

The f i rs t two weeks o f Medica l Classes Pa t and Gi l l ass is ted me wi th inpu t from Stephanie Qu irk . The

inten t ion was to create ex tens ion in the spine and to at tempt to br ing the femur heads cor rect ly in to the

h ip socke ts us ing suppor t where necessary. W hen per for ming s tanding poses , there was to be no

weigh t borne on the in jured h ip leg. Ropes were used to main ta in cor rect ro tat ion o f the th ighs and

opening of the respect ive gro ins . These c lasses have been very valuable and they taught me about a l l

the th ings tha t I do incor rect ly in my Asanas! ! !

In week three Geeta j i a t tended the medica l c lass. Gi l l and I were summoned to her desk . This was a

huge pr iv i lege though very nerve wrack ing a t the t ime . Geetaj i , a f ter hav ing assessed my cond it ion and

what I was able to do and not do , proceeded to work ou t a su i table sequence for me . Under Geetaj i ’s

keen superv is ion we worked through the sequence.

G i l l ass is ted me w ith the Asanas and Abh i (her granddaughter ) he lped as wel l . I fe l t very sel f-

consc ious w ith a l l the at ten t ion g iven to me but ex treme ly grate fu l . I was overwhe lmed by the knowl-

edge, ins ight and sk i l l o f th is great teacher . Geetaj i was ab le to p in poin t the problem and prescr ibe

sui tab le Asanas to br ing re l ie f from pa in and help cor rect “ incor rect pos ture ”.

The emphasis was on opening the h ips wi th suppor t and ach iev ing the cor rect pos i t ion of the pelv is .

After one sess ion in which Abhi worked on opening my h ips I fe l t a major re lease in the h ips . I cont in-

ued to imp lemen t Gee taj i ’s sequence for the rest of the mon th .

Every med ical c lass was exhaus ting . I was pushed and pul led in to the cor rect a l ignmen t. I t was a lo t o f

work for G i l l . Lawrence Batchelor , a teacher from Cape Town and my husband Kevin ass is ted . Pat

made cop ious notes o f the ins truct ions.

Al l the teachers in the med ical c lasses work extremely hard. The c lasses are a h ive o f ac t ion wi th

teachers and ass is tan ts help ing more than 50 medica l s tuden ts, a l l wi th d i f ferent problems . One has to

keep an eye on one ’s props as they d isappear in the b l ink o f an eye .

I am ex treme ly grate fu l that I was able to exper ience the teachings of Gee taj i f i rs thand and for the help

from everyone involved. My h ip is so much be tter though I s t i l l have to be carefu l wi th s tanding and

balanc ing poses .

I look forward to my nex t tr ip to Pune and hope fu l ly I w i l l be in the General C lasses, a l l be ing wel l ! ! !

(Pic tures on Page 8 .)

MY EXPERIENCE IN THE MEDICAL CLASS AT PUNE, JANUARY 2015

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Jane Tref fry-Goat ley is the pa t ien t . . .

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BLISSFUL BREATH


LESLIE PETERS

You’ve probably heard that the word "yoga" comes from the Sanskr i t root yuj , which means to yoke or

unite . And tha t the u l t ima te goal of yoga is l iber at ion , a lso known as Samadh i , through the union of the

indiv idual se l f wi th the un iversal sou l . Bu t jus t how do we uni te what we perceive as a sma l l ind iv idual

se l f w ith some th ing as vas t, inv is ib le , and inef fab le as the un iversal soul?

An anc ien t yoga textbook , the Ha tha Yoga Prad ip ika , of fers th is s imp le answer : "Brea th is the key to

u l t ima te emancipat ion. " The Upan ishads, the H indu sacred scr iptures , l ikew ise equate prana , i n the

form o f brea th, wi th the un iversal soul . When i t is done proper ly and when a yoga pract i t ioner is

ready, pranayama, the yog ic prac t ice of regula t ing and channel ing one’s breath , can prov ide a br idge

between the indiv idua l se l f and the un iversal sou l.

B.K .S . Iyengar expla ins how the three s tages o f the brea th in pranayama—inhala t ion (puraka ) , reten-

t ion (antara kumbhaka ) , and exha lat ion ( rechaka )—can connect us to the universal soul . Dur ing our in-

halat ion , we are inv i t ing prana to come in . Accor ding to Iyengar , the indiv idual se l f mus t then move out

of the way in order to make room for the soul . I yengar be l ieves tha t through th is process, we are ab le

to generate energy, expansion, and awareness w ith in .

Iyengar te l ls us to th ink o f the contac t of the br eath aga ins t the inner lung as the connec tion be tween

universal sou l and ind iv idua l se l f . When we consc ious ly s top the f low o f breath ( reten t ion) , we or ganize

the mind ’s though ts and the body’s exper ience . The leng th o f the reten t ion var ies . I t shou ld last just

unt i l the conten t (prana) beg ins to move away f rom the con ta iner ( the lung) . We must keep the mind

connected to the exper ience o f the body to know when i t ’s t ime to exha le.

The Breath /Brain Bond

I t is our goal to know a t exact ly wha t second the soul and the se l f beg in to re lease away from each

other . Tha t is exac t ly when the exhala t ion shou ld begin . Developing the abi l i ty to feel something as

subtle as when the un iversal soul and the ind iv idual se l f beg in to separate in the course o f a breath

takes regu lar pract ice and is what pranayama is a l l abou t.

Iyengar bel ieves that in norma l breath ing , the bra in in i t ia tes the act ion o f inha lat ion and draws energy

to i tse l f . This keeps the bra in in a s tate o f tens ion. When the bra in is tense , the breath is cons t r ic ted .

But in pranayama, the bra in remains pass ive , and the lungs, bones , and muscles o f the torso in i t ia te

the inha lat ion . Rather than suck in a ir , the lungs , d iaphragm, r ibs, and abdomen rece ive the brea th. In

descr ib ing the prac t ice , Iyengar says tha t the br eath must "be ent iced or ca jo led, l ike ca tching a horse

in a f ie ld , no t by chasing a fter i t , but by s tand ing s t i l l wi th an app le in one’s hand . No th ing can be

forced; recep tiv i ty is everyth ing. " We are to do pranayama wi th our in te l l igence , as opposed to our

bra ins, Iyengar says.

By pract ic ing pranayama and regula t ing the f low of prana w ith measured observa t ion and d is tr ibu t ion of

the brea th, the mind becomes s t i l l . When th is happens, we can a l low the energy we normal ly spend en-

gaging wi th and process ing the wor ld to bend inward.

According to Iyengar , asana pract ice makes the body f i t for pranayama, and pranayama pract ice makes

the mind f i t for medi ta t ion . In order for us to reach the u l t ima te un ion o f our ind iv idua l se l f wi th the un i-

versal soul , we mus t f i rs t exper ience dhyana , or t rue med ita t ion .

Iyengar ins is ts that true medi ta t ion cannot be done i f the prac t i t ioner " is under s tress, has a weak

body, weak lungs, hard muscles , co l lapsed sp ine, f luc tua t ing mind , menta l agi tat ion , or t imid i ty . " Fur -

thermore, he says tha t s i t t ing quie t ly is no t cons idered true medi tat ion , nor does he recognize medita-

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t ion as a s tress re l iever . He bel ieves tha t the p ract i t ioner shou ld a lready have achieved a s tress less

s tate in the body and bra in be fore medi ta t ion can occur . When per formed cor rect ly and wi thou t s tra in ,

pranayama coo ls and res ts the bra in and f loods the body wi th v i ta l energy . I t re l ieves s tress and , there-

fore, prepares us for true med ita t ion.

A Word to the Wise

Patan ja l i wrote in the Yoga Su tra tha t mov ing fr om asana to pranayama is a b ig s tep . He warned that

we mus t bu i ld enough streng th and stab i l i ty in the body and nervous sys tem through our asana pract ice

f i rs t , in order to w iths tand the increase in energy f low tha t pranayama generates . Pranayama is an ad-

vanced pract ice. I t was on ly a f ter many years o f asana pract ice tha t Iyengar says he s low ly began to

bui ld a pranayama prac t ice . I t took h im many more years and grea t e ffor t to sus ta in i t . He d idn’ t have

the gu idance o f a teacher and made a l l the mis takes that Patan ja l i warned agains t. Because making

these mis takes can be qui te harmful , Iyengar adv ises tha t i f you want to prac t ice pranayama, you

should do so only i f you have a teacher w ith whom to work.

Iyengar a lso cau t ions tha t i f a t any t ime dur ing the prac t ice o f pranayama you exper ience pa in in the

head or tens ion in your temp les , i t means tha t you are in i t ia t ing the breath from your bra in , no t your

lungs. I f th is happens, return to normal breath ing and re lax.

Supine Pranayama

In the anc ien t yog ic texts , the pract ice of pranayama was a lways taugh t in a seated pos i t ion . However ,

Iyengar no t iced tha t main ta in ing the cor rect sea ted posture required so much ef for t for many s tudents

that they were no t able to pract ice the var ious br eath ing exerc ises wi thou t great s tra in . He dec ided that

a l low ing pract i t ioners to l i e down in a var iat ion o f Savasana , in which the spine and chest ar e sup-

por ted, created enough re laxat ion so tha t the br eath work cou ld be done safe ly . He recommends tha t

s tudents l ie down i f they are new to the pract ice or are i l l or fa t igued .

The drawback to ly ing down is tha t the brea th is cons tr ic ted because the back lungs press aga inst the

suppor t. Longt ime prac t i t i oners prefer to s i t because the en t ire torso is free to move— in front , in back,

and on the s ides . In L igh t on Pranayama, Iyengar says the pract i t ioner needs two essen tia l th ings: a

s table sp ine and a s t i l l , but a ler t , m ind . Bo th of these are bui l t up w ith a s trong asana pract ice . Given

the hazards o f forc ing a pranayama pract ice , i t ’s best to bui ld your pract ice s low ly and w i th care .

When ly ing down for pranayama, use b lanke ts to suppor t the spine and head . When the props are pos i-

t ioned cor rect ly , the ches t opens and re laxat ion results . When pos i t ioned incor rect ly , the lower back

and neck harden . L ie so that the bu ttocks rest on the f loor and the b lankets suppor t the sacra l and lum-

bar regions of the back. Your he ight and level o f f lex ib i l i ty w i l l d ic tate the d is tance be tween you r but-

tocks and the end o f the bo t tom blanket as wel l as between the bot tom edges of the two b lankets . The

end o f the top b lanke t w i l l be be tween three- four ths of an inch and an inch and a hal f from the edge o f

the bot tom b lanket . I f your head t ips back when you l ie down , pu t a b lock under i t w i th a b lanket on top .

The sk in o f the forehead shou ld f low toward the eyebrows.

Pranayama beg ins w ith observat ion. As you l ie there, re lax your en t i re body and begin to observe your

breath. A fter several m inutes , you wi l l not ice that your breath has become s lower and s l igh t ly deeper ,

because you have re laxed . As you breathe nor mal ly , no t ice where you feel the breath in your body .

Does your abdomen move w i th each breath? Do you fee l your r ibs move when you inha le and exhale?

At the end of a norma l exha la t ion , pause for a second or two before tak ing your nex t inha lat ion. I t

should be so ft and smooth . I f you fee l tense, or are gasping for a ir , your pause was too long . Add a

s l igh t re tent ion at the end o f the exha lat ion seve ral t imes. Then try tak ing a s l igh t ly deeper inha lat ion .

To in i t ia te the breath , move your r ibs ou tward to the s ide. Ins tead o f forc ing the brea th in , move the

r ibs to a l low i t in . When you have taken that s l igh t ly deeper brea th, pause for a second be fore you

s lowly and smoo thly exha le.

I f you fee l tens ion anywhere in the body , or i f you f ind yoursel f gasp ing for a ir , you have done too much

and have been too aggress ive. I f you fee l re laxed and calm in your body , espec ia l ly in your head , prac-

t ice the comple te cyc le : a shor t pause at the end of an exha lat ion ; then a s low, re laxed inhala t ion in i t i -

a ted by the r ib cage moving outward; a s l ight pause a t the end o f the inha lat ion ; then a s low, comple te

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tens ion in the body . I f you fee l tense or nervous at any t ime , s imp ly return to normal breath ing , observe

your breath , and re lax. Pract ice th is pranayama as long as you can s tay focused and re laxed . S tar t

s lowly and bui ld up your pract ice over t ime .

Seated Pranayama

Sit t ing proper ly takes a great dea l o f ef for t and s trength . In order to do pranayama in a sea ted pos it ion

without s tra in , the body mus t be qui te supp le and s trong. A s teady asana pract ice w i l l bu i ld the neces-

sary s treng th and f lex ib i l i ty to s i t cor rect ly . When you’re learn ing to do sea ted pranayama, i t is essen-

t ia l that you fee l s table in the pos ture be fore adding the brea th. I f you canno t take a deeper inhalat ion

without s tra in wh i le seated , just pract ice s i t t ing wi thou t add ing the breath. You can cont inue to learn

the brea th whi le ly ing down. When the sea ted posture is cor rect , the breath w i l l come. Don’ t force i t .

Si t in a s imple cross- legged pos i t ion . Use enough b lankets under your h ips so tha t your knees ar e par -

a l le l to or below your h ips , not above them. In an at tempt to l i f t the sp ine, many o f us harden the lum-

bar spine and draw i t i nward, which moves us to the front o f our s i t t ing bones . To s i t cor rect ly , center

yourself on the po ints of the s i t t ing bones and d raw the front sp ine and s ide ches t up w ithout cr eat ing

hardness in the low back. Re lease the back of the neck and move the head down .

When you pract ice pranayama in a sea ted pos it ion, you mus t move the head down to crea te Ja landhara

Bandha. A l i f ted head br ings pressure to the hear t, bra in , eyes, and ears.

Post-Pranayama Savasana , var iat ion

After pract ic ing pranayama of any k ind, i t is impor tant to end wi th Savasana in order to soo the the

nerves and erase any tens ion tha t you may have inadver ten t ly created dur ing the pract ice . A lso , af ter

pranayama, you shou ld wai t a t leas t 30 minu tes before pract ic ing asanas . I t is too jar r ing to the nerv-

ous system to go immedia te ly from the quie t, ca lming pract ice o f pranayama to the more act ive, phys i-

cal ly demanding prac t ice o f asana . A l low for a gent le trans i t ion between your pranayama and any ac t iv-

i ty you choose to engage in fo l lowing the prac t ice.

To se t yourse lf up proper ly p lace one th in , fo lded b lanket on the f loor . L ie over i t so that the b lanket is

perpendicular to the spine and below the base of the shoulder b lades . Place ano ther fo lded b lanket un-

der the head. A l low the shou lders to res t on the f loor . Th is suppor t creates a gen tle l i f t for the s te rnum,

which is sooth ing to the nerves .

Lesl i e Peters , current l y th e d i rector o f th e B.K.S . I yengar Yoga I nst i tu te o f Los Angeles

“Some t i mes o u r b o d y i s w i l l i n g , b u t o u r m i n d i s we a k . Some t i mes o u r m i n d i s w i l l i n g , b u t o u r b o d y i s wea k . Do n o t b e a f r a i d . S t r i v e t o e x -t e n d y o u r c a pa c i t y b u t d o n o t b e d i s a pp o i n t e d w i t h y o u r s e l f . Wha t

d o e s n o t c h a l l e n ge u s , c a n no t c h an ge u s . ”

- B . K . S . I y e n g a r

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I have been blessed with a beautiful son.

Jacqui Acres

N u a n L a x m a n a A r u m u g a m w a s b o r n o n t h e 2 6 O c t o b e r 2 0 1 4 . H e w a s b o r n i n w h a t I c a n o n l y d e s c r i b e

a s t h e m o s t s u b l i m e , p o w e r f u l m o m e n t o f m y l i f e . N e v e r b e f o r e h a v e I f e l t s o c l o s e t o t h e u n i v e r s a l

l i f e f o r c e , a n e x p e r i e n c e o f c o m p l e t e s u r r e n d e r a n d o n e n e s s .

I a m d e e p l y g r a t e f u l f o r t h e p r a c t i c e o f y o g a w h i c h a l l o w e d m e t h i s e x p e r i e n c e .

1 9 y e a r s a g o I m e t a y o g a t e a c h e r i n a s m a l l v i l l a g e o u t s i d e o f V a r a n a s i . I s t u d i e d

w i t h h i m i n h i s h o m e s t u d i o f o r 2 w e e k s . I t w a s e x h i l a r a t i n g . I t f e l t l i k e I h a d c o m e

h o m e . I c o n t i n u e d t o p r a c t i c e b y m y s e l f u n t i l 6 m o n t h s l a t e r w h e n I r e t u r n e d t o C a p e

T o w n a n d m e t B r i g i t t a T u m m o n w h o w a s t o b e c o m e m y l i f e l o n g m e n t o r .

B e c o m i n g a n I y e n g a r y o g a s t u d e n t a n d t e a c h e r p r o f o u n d l y t r a n s f o r m e d m y l i f e . W i t h

m a n y y e a r s o f p r a c t i c e I l e a r n t t h a t f l u i d i t y n e e d s t o a l w a y s b e b a l a n c e d w i t h s t a b i l i t y

a n d t h a t a w a r e n e s s a n d s e n s i t i v i t y a r e f u n d a m e n t a l t o t r u e i n t e l l i g e n c e . Y o g a g i v e s

m e s p a c e . I t c r e a t e s a c o n s c i o u s n e s s t h a t a l l o w s m e t o b e t h e k i n d o f p r e s e n c e I

s t r i v e t o b e i n t h e w o r l d . I t i s u n d e n i a b l y a s c i e n c e o f l i b e r a t i o n .

I d i d n o t t a k e f o r g r a n t e d t h a t I w o u l d h a v e a b i r t h c h i l d . P r e g n a n c y i s a p r i v i l e g e . I t

i s a s t a t e o f g r a c e , a w o m a n ’ s g r e a t e s t a n d d e e p e s t e x p e r i e n c e o f b e c o m i n g o n e w i t h

t h e u n i v e r s a l l i f e f o r c e . I d i d n o t f u l l y a p p r e c i a t e t h i s u n t i l N u a n w a s c o n c e i v e d . T h e

e n e r g y g r o w i n g i n s i d e o f m e w a s t h e s w e e t e s t b e i n g a n d i t w a s t h r o u g h m y p r a c t i c e

t h a t I w a s a b l e t o n o u r i s h a n d n u r t u r e t h a t e n e r g y .

I h a d t h e h o n o u r o f h a v i n g w e e k l y p r i v a t e c l a ss e s w i t h B r i g i t t a t h r o u g h o u t m y p r e g -

n a n c y . Y o g a e m p h a s i s e s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e t e a c h e r a n d s t u d e n t . A t r u e

t e a c h e r i s a b l e t o t e a c h m u c h m o r e t h a n a s a n a . T h r o u g h t h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p I h a d t h e

s p a c e t o r e f l e c t o n t h e k i n d o f m o t h e r I w a n t t o b e – a c a l m , c e n t r e d , j o y f u l m o t h e r .

B e i n g p r e g n a n t a l l o w e d m e a g e n t l e n e s s i n m y p r a c t i c e a n d l i f e t h a t I h a d n o t e x p e r i e n c e d b e f o r e .

A l w a y s s t r i v i n g t o w a r d s n e w g o a l s , n e w h o r i zo n s . S u d d e n l y I h a d t o b e . T o e m b r a c e t h i s e n e r g y

w i t h i n . T o t u r n i n w a r d s a n d b r e a t h e . S i m p l e a n d p r o f o u n d . M e d i t a t i o n i n m o v e m e n t . W o n d r o u s t o e x -

p e r i e n c e w i t h y o u r u n b o r n c h i l d .

O u r S a d h a n a t e a c h e s u s t o m e e t p a i n a n d t o e m b r a c e i t s o i n t h i s a s p e c t I f e l t t h a t I

w a s p r e p a r e d f o r t h e p a i n o f c h i l d b i r t h . W h a t I l e a r n t d u r i n g l a b o u r w a s t h a t y o u c a n -

n o t k n o w t h e i n t e n s i t y o f t h e p a i n b u t y o u c a n b e p r e p a r e d t o a c c e p t i t a n d n o t f i g h t

i t . T h i s i s a f u n d a m e n t a l a s p e c t o f y o g a – I s h va r a - p r a n i d h a n a – a j o y f u l s u r r e n d e r –

t o k e e p p e a c e f u l a n d q u i e t u n d e r t h e m o s t d i f f i c u l t c i r c u m s t a n c e s , n o t r e s i s t i n g , n o t

s t r u g g l i n g , j u s t b e i n g . T h e n e v e r y t h i n g i s o n e . I f y o u h a v e b e e n a b l e t o e m b r a c e t h i s

a s p e c t o f y o g a t h e r e c a n b e n o b e t t e r p r e p a r a t i o n f o r c h i l d b i r t h . I f y o u c a n t r u l y s u r -

r e n d e r t h e n t h e r e i s n o f e a r , n o s e p a r a t i o n a n d a l l o f c r e a t i o n i s w i t h y o u a s y o u b e -

c o m e t h e p a s s a g e f o r l i f e . V i b r a t i n g w i t h t h e u n i v e r s a l e n e r g y o f l i f e t h e r e i s n o t h i n g

t o d o b u t l e t g o . A n d s o N u a n w a s b o r n e f f o r t l e ss l y b o u n d i n g a l o n g w i t h t h i s l i f e f o r c e

t h a t i s e v e r y w h e r e a n d e v e r y t h i n g .

YOGA AND PREGNANCY

13

Pregnant with Twins

Viv ian du Preez

I t a l l s t a r t e d a l m o s t 2 0 y e a r s a g o w h e n a s a b e g i n n e r I y e n g a r Y o g a p r a c t i t i o -

n e r I s a w a n o l d b l a c k a n d w h i t e p h o t o o f o n e o f t h e I y e n g a r f a m i l y w o m e n i n

a h e a d s t a n d a b o u t 8 m o n t h s p r e g n a n t . I t h o u g h t t o m y s e l f , w e l l t h a t ’ s o k t h e n ,

i f t h e y c a n d o i t s o c a n I ! T w o d e c a d e s l a t e r I f o u n d m y s e l f p r e g n a n t f o r t h e

f i r s t t i m e , i n p e a k h e a l t h a n d f i t n e s s … w i t h t w i n s . W e l l , t h a t w a s s t i l l o k , I w a s

s t i l l g o i n g t o r e c r e a t e t h a t p h o t o b u t i n f u l l c o l o u r .

E c s t a t i c a s I w a s a f t e r 5 y e a r s o f t r y i n g t o c o n c e i v e t o h a v e a r r i v e d a t t h i s

p o i n t , I w a s n o t g o i n g t o p u t m y f e e t u p a n d t a ke i t e a s y a n d w a i t f o r t h e t w i n s

t o p o p o u t i n a h o s p i t a l u n d e r a n a e s t h e t i c a t t h e u s u a l 3 7 w e e k s o f g e s t a t i o n .

I b o u g h t t h e I y e n g a r Y o g a f o r M o t h e r h o o d b o o k a n d s t u d i e d i t i n t e n s e l y f o r m y

o w n p r a c t i c e a n d t o p a c e m y s e l f e a c h w e e k a s m y b e l l y e x p a n d e d i n m y r e g u -

l a r c l a s s e s w i t h m y t e a c h e r . I k e p t t h i n k i n g b a d d h a k o n a s a n a i s s u r e l y o n e o f

t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p o s e s b u t n o o n e r e a l l y t a l k s a b o u t i n v e r s i o n s t h e w a y

I y e n g a r y o g a d o e s . I r e g u l a r l y e x p e r i e n c e d t h e b e n e f i t s o f h e a d s t a n d s a n d

s h o u l d e r b a l a n c e s a l b e i t w i t h m o r e p r o p s a n d b a l a n c e d a g a i n s t w a l l s r a t h e r

t h a n f r e e s t a n d i n g w i t h m y n o w 8 m o n t h t w i n b e l l y . T h r o u g h s e q u e n c e d y o g a

p r a c t i c e I w a s a b l e t o r e d u c e t h e i n t e n s i t y o f p o s e s a n d s t o p s o m e a l t o g e t h e r

d u e t o t h e p h y s i c a l c h a n g e s t o m y b o d y s h a p e .

A l l t h e y e a r s o f y o g a h a v e g i v e n m e a n i n n e r s t r e n g t h b o t h p h y s i c a l l y a n d e m o t i o n a l l y a s w e l l a s a

g o o d u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f m y b o d y w h i c h h a s a l l o w e d m e t o c a r r y 2 b e a u t i f u l b a b i e s f o r 4 2 a n d a h a l f

w e e k s t o f u l l t e r m . I t a l l o w e d m e t o w a l k u p a n d d o w n t h r e e f l i g h t s o f s t a i r s a t h o m e a n d t h e n a g a i n

t h r e e f l i g h t s o f s t a i r s a t m y o f f i c e t i l l t h e e n d a n d o n l y p u t o n 1 5 k i l o g r a m s i n e x t r a b o d y w e i g h t . Y o g a

a l l o w e d m y m i n d t o e n d u r e 1 7 h o u r s o f s e e m i n g l y n o n - s t o p l a b o u r c o n t r a c t i o n s . I t e n a b l e d m e t o k n o w

h o w t o f i l l m y l u n g s c o m p l e t e l y w i t h t h e s a l t y s e a a i r i n f r o n t o f m y h o u s e o n a h o t A p r i l n i g h t a n d f u l -

f i l m y h o m e b i r t h p l a n . M y b o d y a l l o w e d m e t o t h e n e x h a l e t h e p a i n a w a y r i g h t d o w n t o m y t o e s f r o m

a l l t h e p r a n a y a m a p r a c t i c e . T h e y e a r s o f s t r e n g t h b u i l d i n g a n d s t a m i n a f r o m d o i n g a d v a n c e d y o g a

c l a s s e s a l l o w e d m e t o t r u s t t h e i n t e r n a l h i p e x p a n s i o n a s t h e b i r t h t i m e n e a r e d . Y o g a a l s o h e l p e d m e

t o a l l o w t h e p a i n t o b e s o m e w h a t p l e a s u r a b l e l i k e t h e i n t e n s i t y o f H a n u m a n a s a n a p r e p a r a t i o n . I c o u l d

r e l a x w h e n I w a n t e d t o s c r e a m a n d e x h a l e w h e n I w a n t e d t o c r y a n d a f t e r 1 0 h o u r s o f f l o a t i n g i n a

h u g e w a r m b a t h , I c o u l d b e a r d o w n w h e n m y b a b y b o y S k y e w a n t e d t o m e e t t h e w a r m w a t e r a n d f l o a t

u p t o t a k e h i s f i r s t r e l a x e d b r e a t h .

I w a s n ’ t t o o s u r e w h a t t o t h i n k w h e n I s a w t h i s b e a u t i f u l l i t t l e b e i n g , o n l y t h a t t h e r e w a s a n o t h e r o n e

r i g h t b e h i n d h i m t o o , s o w e b e t t e r g e t h i m w r a p p e d u p a n d i n t o h i s f a t h e r ’ s a r m s w h i l e w e w a i t a f e w

m i n u t e s f o r h i s s i s t e r .

6 h o u r s l a t e r , a f t e r r e i n i t i a t i n g l a b o u r c o n t r a c t i o n s b y b r e a k i n g h e r a m n i o t i c s a c , E d e n w a s w i t h u s

w i t h a h e a d c i r c u m f e r e n c e 6 c m ’ s l a r g e r t h a n h e r b r o t h e r ! A g a i n a l l t h e m e n t a l a n d p h y s i c a l p r e p a r a -

t i o n f o r y e a r s a n d y e a r s b r o u g h t m e i n t o p r e s e n t t i m e a n d a l l o w e d m e r e l e a s e a n y t e n s i o n t h a t w a s

s t o p p i n g n a t u r e f r o m d o i n g w h a t i t d o e s b e s t a n d h a s d o n e f o r t h o u s a n d s o f y e a r s . T h e r e t h e y w e r e ,

a s t r a u m a t i s e d a s I w a s , q u i e t a n d t i r e d a n d w e a l l t u c k e d u p i n t o b e d a t m i d n i g h t , a f a m i l y o f f o u r .

F o r t h e d a y s a n d m o n t h s t h a t f o l l o w e d , I w a s b a c k o n m y y o g a m a t f o l l o w i n g t h e r e v e r s e s e q u e n c i n g

b a c k u p t o t h e f u l l p o w e r . I t i s n o w e i g h t m o n t h s l a t e r a n d I a m i n b e t t e r p h y s i c a l s h a p e t h a n I h a v e

e v e r b e e n , t e n k i l o g r a m s l i g h t e r t h a n b e f o r e I f e l l p r e g n a n t !

S o h e r e i s t o y o g a a n d t h e h y p n o b i r t h i n g c o u r s e I d i d , m y i n c r e d i b l e u n w a v e r i n g c a l m h u s b a n d a n d

t h e t w o w o n d e r f u l m i d w i v e s t h a t w e r e q u i e t l y t h e r e i n t h e b a c k g r o u n d a l l d a y a s w e l l a s t o C a p e

T o w n ’ s o n l y h o m e b i r t h e d t w i n s , E d e n S o p h i a a n d S k y e b o r n o n t h e 1 2 t h o f A p r i l 2 0 1 4 .

14


R IVA H IRSCHOW IT Z

C o r i n e i s a s e n i o r t e a c h e r w i t h a w e a l t h o f t e c h n i c a l k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e , w h i c h s h e i m -p a r t s w i t h p a s s i o n , e n e r g y a n d g e n e r o s i t y . I t i s a c o m b i n a t i o n o f h e r l o v e o f y o g a , h e r s o l i d g r o u n d i n g i n i t s m o r a l c o d e a n d h e r c o n s t a n t e m p h a s i s o n p r e c i s i o n t h a t m a k e s h e r a n e x c e l -l e n t a n d w e l l - r e s p e c t e d t e a c h e r . S h e h a s w r i t t e n a b o o k o n t h e s a g e s i n I n d i a m y t h o l o g y a n d

h a s r u n t h e I y e n g a r Y o g a C e n t r e o f P a r i s w i t h h e r h u s b a n d F a e q s i n c e 1 9 8 4 .

E a r l y m a r c h b r o u g h t a f l u r r y o f a c t i v i t y a s C o r i n e B i r i a r e t u r n e d t o C a p e T o w n a f t e r 5 y e a r s .

M y m e m o r y o f t h e p r e v i o u s i n t e n s i v e w i t h C o r i n e w a s t h a t s h e w a s s t r o n g , k n o w l e d g e a b l e i n a

w a y t h a t m a d e l e a r n i n g o l d a n d n e w p o s e s i n t e r e s t i n g a n d a c c e s s i b l e . A f t e r t h e f i r s t s e s s i o n

I w a s r e m i n d e d t h a t s h e i s i n d e e d a n i n c r e d i b l e t e a c h e r . I n 5 w o n d e r f u l d a y s , w e w e r e

b r o u g h t c l o s e r t o t h e m u s c l e s , l i g a m e n t s , j o i n t s , o r g a n s , a n d s k i n . E v e r y p a r t o f t h e b o d y b e -

c a m e a l i v e w i t h e n e r g y a n d a w a r e n e s s . W i t h h u m i l i t y , c o m p a s s i o n a n d m a n y y e a r s o f e x p e r i -

e n c e , s h e g u i d e d u s t h r o u g h t h e p o s e s t h a t w e h a v e d o n e s o m a n y t i m e s i n a w a y t h a t t h e y

f e l t a s i f t h e y w h e r e b e i n g d o n e f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e . T i m e t o r e t h i n k t h e r e g u l a r p a t h s o f m o v i n g

i n t o , s t a y i n g a n d c o m i n g o u t o f t h e p o s e s .

T h e c o l l a r b o n e s ( g r o i n s ) o f t h e l e g s w i l l b e w e l l r e m e m b e r e d b y t h o s e t h a t a t t e n d e d t h e

c o u r s e . W e w h e r e m a d e t o b e c o m e i n t r i c a t e l y a w a r e o f t h i s a r e a i n e a c h s t a n d i n g p o s e . T h e

a f t e r n o o n s e s s i o n s o f r e s t o r a t i v e p o s e s a n d p r a n a y a m a w h e r e e q u a l l y e n l i g h t e n i n g . B y t a k i n g

t h e f e w p r o p s t h a t w h e r e a v a i l a b l e , s h e m a d e w h a l e s o u t o f t h e b l a n k e t s , b l o c k s a n d b l a n k e t s .

W e w e r e k e p t i n t h e p o s e s f o r l o n g r e s t o r a t i v e t i m e s . U s i n g t h e b a b y b e i n g f e d a s a n a n a l o g y

f o r p r a n a y a m a g u i d i n g u s t o u s e t h e b r e a t h t o f e e d t h e b o d y i n a g e n t l e , n u t r i t i o u s w a y .

I n h e r g e n t l e h u m o r o u s w a y , s t u d e n t s w h e r e c h o s e n t o d e m o n s t r a t e a r e a s t h a t n e e d e d a t t e n -

t i o n . E v e r y o n e l e a r n t a n d i n t e g r a t e d t h e l e s s o n o n c e b a c k o n t h e m a t w i t h r e p e t i t i o n a n d i n -

t r i c a t e a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l .

I t i s a l w a y s w o n d e r f u l t o c o m e t o g e t h e r a s a n I y e n g a r c o m m u n i t y . W e a r e r e m i n d e d o f o u r

G u r u j i , t o w h o m w e o w e t h e w o n d e r f u l g i f t o f t h i s m e t h o d o f y o g a a n d t h e t e a c h e r s t h a t c o m e

i n t o o u r l i v e s t o g u i d e u s t o a p r a c t i c e t h a t i s n o t h a r m f u l t o o u r b o d i e s . T o i n t r i c a t e l y u n d e r -

s t a n d h o w t h e b o d y c o m e s t o g e t h e r a s b o n e s , m u s c l e s , l i g a m e n t s , o r g a n s a n d a n a w a r e n e s s

o f h o w a l l t h e p a r t s w o r k t o g e t h e r . H a v i n g C o r i n e i n S o u t h A f r i c a i s a w o n d e r f u l r e m i n d e r o f

t h e w o r k o f o u r b e l o v e d G u r u j i a s s h e b r i n g s t o u s h e r d e v o t i o n t o t h i s p a t h o f y o g a a n d

g u i d e s u s t o o u r o w n c e n t r e .

CORINE BIRIA IN CAPE TOWN

15

IYENGAR YOGA RETREAT, HOGSBACK


A f t e r G u r u j i ’ s p a s s i n g o n t h e 2 0 t h A u g u s t l a s t y e a r a n d R a y a ’ s

s e m i n a r i n S e p t e m b e r o f t h e s a m e y e a r , i t b e c a m e c l e a r t o m e

t h a t t h e t e a c h e r s h a v e t o m a i n t a i n t h e l e g a c y a n d p u r i t y o f

I y e n g a r y o g a . I t h a s a l w a y s b e e n m y d r e a m t o h o s t y o g a r e -

t r e a t s a n d t h e s e t w o e v e n t s s p u r r e d m e i n t o a c t i o n .

A f t e r c o n s i d e r i n g v a r i o u s l o c a t i o n s , I o p t e d t o h o s t t h e r e t r e a t

a t K i n g ’ s L o d g e H o t e l i n H o g s b a c k , a c o u n t r y h o t e l n e s t l e d i n

a b e a u t i f u l p a r k - l i k e g a r d e n i n t h e H o g s b a c k m o u n t a i n v i l l a g e .

H o g s b a c k i s i n c r e d i b l y b e a u t i f u l w i t h f o r e s t s , c l e a r m o u n t a i n

s t r e a m s , g e n t l e f o r e s t w a l k s , m i s t s a n d w a t e r f a l l s .

T h e r e t r e a t w a s s t r u c t u r e d t o b e s u i t a b l e f o r s t u d e n t s a t a l l

l e v e l s , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e n e w t o y o g a . N o t h i n g i s m o r e r e w a r d i n g t h e n i n t r o d u c i n g p e o p l e t o

y o g a a n d h o p e f u l l y i n s t i l l i n g a p a s s i o n a t e a n d l i f e l o n g c o m m i t m e n t . A t o t a l o f 1 5 p e o p l e r e g i s -

t e r e d , c o m p r i s i n g o f 2 g e n t s a n d 1 3 l a d i e s , a l l b e t w e e n 4 2 a n d 6 5 y e a r s o f a g e . T h e p a r t i c i -

p a n t s c a m e f r o m d i f f e r e n t t o w n s i n t h e E a s t e r n C a p e s u c h a s

B e d f o r d , S t u t t e r h e i m , G r a h a m s t o w n , E a s t L o n d o n a n d K i n g W i l -

l i a m s T o w n .

I s p e n t m a n y h o u r s w o r k i n g o u t m y s e q u e n c e s , k e e p i n g i n m i n d

a l l t h e m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s t h a t I c a m e a c r o s s o n t h e r e g i s t r a -

t i o n f o r m s . I t w a s a l i t t l e d a u n t i n g p r e p a r i n g f o r p e o p l e I h a d

n e v e r m e t , n o t k n o w i n g w h a t ‘ b o d i e s ’ t o e x p e c t . I p r e p a r e d a

w e e k e n d s c h e d u l e t h a t i n c l u d e d a s a n a s , r e s t o r a t i v e s a n d

p r a n a y a m a a s w e l l a s a g l i m p s e o f t h e Y o g a s u t r a s o f P a t a n -

j a l i , s p e c i f i c a l l y f o c u s s i n g o n t h e y a m a s a n d h o w t o a p p l y t h e m

i n a n d o u t o f c l a s s .

T h e r e t r e a t s t a r t e d o n F r i d a y a t 1 8 h 0 0 w i t h a n i n t r o d u c t i o n a n d ‘ m e e t - a n d - g r e e t ’ s e s s i o n , f o l -

l o w e d b y d i n n e r a n d f r o m 2 0 h 0 0 – 2 1 h 0 0 I t a u g h t r e s t o r a t i v e s . A n e a r l y b r e a k f a s t o n S a t u r d a y

0 7 h 0 0 w a s f o l l o w e d b y a 2 h o u r a s a n a p r a c t i c e , a h a l f h o u r t e a b r e a k a n d a n o t h e r 2 h o u r a s -

a n a p r a c t i c e . L u n c h w a s s e r v e d a t 1 3 h 0 0 . T h e r e a f t e r , S i y a t h e g u i d e t o o k t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s

o u t i n t o t h e f o r e s t t o s e e o n e o f t h e m a n y w a t e r f a l l s a n d b r e a t h e t h e f r e s h H o g s b a c k a i r . A t

1 7 h 0 0 w e w e r e b a c k i n t h e y o g a r o o m f o r 1 . 5 h o u r s o f r e s t o r a t i v e s a n d p r a n a y a m a . A f t e r d i n -

n e r t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s w e r e f r e e t o d o a s t h e y p l e a s e d , h o w e v e r a l l s t a y e d i n t h e d i n i n g r o o m

c h a t t i n g b e f o r e d e p a r t i n g f o r b e d . S u n d a y b r e a k f a s t w a s a t 0 7 h 0 0 , f o l l o w e d b y a n o t h e r 2 h o u r

a s a n a s e s s i o n , a t e a b r e a k a n d f i n a l l y r e s t o r a t i v e s a n d p r a n a y a m a . T h e r e t r e a t e n d e d w i t h

l u n c h a t 1 3 h 0 0 t o g i v e e v e r y o n e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o g e t b a c k h o m e i n t i m e .

T h e r o o m s a t t h e K i n g ’ s L o d g e H o t e l w e r e c l e a n , c o s y a n d c o m f o r t a b l e . T h e c h e f s p r e p a r e d

16

d e l i c i o u s v e g e t a r i a n f o o d ( w i t h s o m e c h i c k e n a n d f i s h o n t h e s i d e a s 2 h u s b a n d s j o i n e d t h e

w e e k e n d ) . T h e h u s b a n d s d i d t h e i r b i r d i n g a n d p h o t o g r a p h y w h i l e w e d i d t h e y o g a . T h e r e a r e

m a n y a c t i v i t i e s a v a i l a b l e i n H o g s b a c k f o r t h e ‘ o t h e r h a l v e s ’ , f r o m h i k i n g , a b s e i l i n g t o m o u n -

t a i n b i k i n g .

T h e r e t r e a t w a s v e r y w e l l r e c e i v e d . I w a s t r u l y b l e s s e d w i t h a w o n d e r f u l g r o u p o f p e o p l e . I

d o n ’ t k n o w w h o w a s e n j o y i n g t h e r e t r e a t m o r e , m e o r t h e m … …

. S o m e o f t h e f e e d b a c k f r o m t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s i s i n c l u d e d b e l o w :

‘Thank you so much for such a beautiful weekend. I feel so much better for it, on every

level. On my arrival home, I spent about 2 hours pottering in the garden. Everything had a

greater definition, the smells were sharper, the colours clearer. I feel longer, stronger,

sharper, softer, cleaner, leaner. I both respect and appreciate your attention to detail,

knowledge, skill, patience and love of yoga.’ Penny from King Williams Town

‘Thank you for a fantastic weekend, really enjoyed it and now more than ever

wanting to do yoga properly!’ Mel from Stutterheim

‘It was an absolute privilege to be part of the retreat and under your nurturing guid-

ance and tuition. We had a lot of fun and laughs too and the surroundings were just

perfect. All in all a very special experience.’ Sheila from East London

‘Michael and I are still talking about how transformational this weekend was for us! As we

retire from a hectic academic life and seek more balance, it seems as if this retreat was

the ideal context for us to re-align our goals and aspirations. Thank you so much for the

gentle, principled and humane way in which you taught us. You have left an indelible imprint

on our minds, not just as a yoga teacher but as a human being!’ Michael and Esther from Gra-

hamstown

‘What a special weekend for me. Thank you so so much for all your effort,

preparation, caring, professionalism and for setting up a retreat that

allowed us beginners access. It meant so much to me that it will change the

way I look at life forever. The people I met will be everlasting too.’ Kim from Bedford

W e w e r e a l l s a d t o l e a v e o n S u n d a y a n d t h e p a r t i c i p a n t s m a d e m e p r o m i s e t o d o a n o t h e r r e -

t r e a t s o o n . T h e n e x t r e t r e a t i s s c h e d u l e d f r o m t h e 7 t h – 9 t h O c t o b e r 2 0 1 5 a t K i n g ’ s L o d g e H o -

t e l i n H o g s b a c k .

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t :

Monique Weschta

monique@shakt i shant i yogawea r.com

ht tps: / /www. facebook.com/backtowel lnessIyenga ryog a

“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.”

― B.K.S. I yengar,

17


Pune Magic d iscovered by Tanya Glazer

T h e s t r e e t s o f P u n e m e t m e w i t h a n e x p l o s i o n o f t h e s e n s e s . T h e s m e l l o f f r e s h l i m e s a n d

p o m e g r a n a t e s m a s k s t h e s o u r o d o u r o f s t r e e t l i f e . T h e f r i e n d l y c h a t t e r o f C h a i - m a k e r s s o f t e n s

t h e f r e n e t i c h o o t i n g , a n d t h e c o l o u r s o f t h e s a r i s e m u l a t e t h e v i b r a n c y o f t h e c i t y a n d i t s s o u l -

f u l p e o p l e . A d d t o t h i s s e t t i n g a y o g i c e x p e r i e n c e – p u r e b l i s s .

Yoga i s t h e g o l d en k e y t h a t u n l o c k s t h e d oo r t o p e a c e , t r a n qu i l i t y , a n d j o y .

― B . K . S . I y e n g a r .

A r r i v i n g a t t h e I y e n g a r I n s t i t u t e a f t e r y e a r s o f s t u d y a n d p r a c t i c e w a s a s u r r e a l e x p e r i e n c e . I

w a s f e e l i n g b o t h e x c i t e d a n d a p p r e h e n s i v e , a s t h e m o m e n t h a d f i n a l l y a r r i v e d . H e r e w a s a n

o p p o r t u n i t y t o s t e p o u t o f m y y o g i c c o m f o r t z o n e a n d l e a r n f r o m a d i f f e r e n t , u n i m a g i n a b l e p e r -

s p e c t i v e – r e n e w i n g m y y o g i c p a s s i o n . D o i n g y o g a a m o n g s t t h e l o c a l s b r o u g h t a d i f f e r e n t d i -

m e n s i o n t o t h e e x p e r i e n c e . I t w a s a l s o a r a r e t i m e t o b e c o m p l e t e l y f o c u s e d o n m y y o g a w i t h -

o u t t h e d e m a n d s o f d a y - t o - d a y l i f e a n d w o r k t o w a r d s t h e a c h i e v e m e n t o f p e a c e , t r a n q u i l i t y ,

a n d j o y .

W e w e r e p r i v i l e g e d t o b e t a u g h t b y m e m b e r s o f t h e I y e n g a r f a m i l y , i n c l u d i n g P r a s h a n t , w h o s e

p h i l o s o p h i c a l w a y o f t e a c h i n g w a s b o t h i n s p i r i n g a n d c h a r m i n g , S u n i t a , w i t h h e r i m m e n s e

y o g i c k n o w l e d g e , a s w e l l a s A b b y , w h o s e y o u t h f u l a p p r o a c h t o i m p a r t i n g h e r g r a n d f a t h e r ’ s

w i s d o m w a s f r e s h a n d w e l c o m i n g . W e w e r e a l s o l u c k y e n o u g h t o h a v e G e e t a a t t e n d s o m e o f

o u r p r a c t i c e s e s s i o n s .

W i t h i n d a y s , w e h a d d e v e l o p e d a r i t u a l ; a f t e r a n e a r l y s t a r t , w e ’ d m e a n d e r t h r o u g h t h e n e a r b y

p a r k f o r c l a s s a n d p r a c t i c e , f o l l o w e d b y a v i s i t t o o u r f a v o u r i t e c o c o n u t - w a t e r s e l l e r a n d C h a i -

t e a s t a l l . A t e n d o f e v e r y h a r d w e e k o f y o g a , w e w e r e r e w a r d e d w i t h a b e a u t i f u l , r e j u v e n a t i n g

c l a s s o f p r a n a y a m a w i t h N a v a a z – a r e a l t r e a t . W e a l s o h a d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o o b s e r v e s o m e

c l a s s e s , t h e h i g h l i g h t b e i n g t h e c h i l d r e n ’ s c l a s s e s . I t w a s h e a r t - w a r m i n g t o s e e t h e s e c h i l d r e n

l e a r n i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g t h e i r p a s s i o n f o r y o g a f r o m s u c h a y o u n g a g e .

W e i n c o r p o r a t e d s o m e v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g , c u l t u r a l e x p e r i e n c e s w h i c h a d d e d h i g h l i g h t s t o o u r

j o u r n e y . T h e s e i n c l u d e d a h i s t o r i c a l w a l k i n g t o u r o f P u n e a n d a n i n t e r a c t i v e b a z a a r a n d c o o k -

i n g t o u r w h e r e w e f o u n d o u r s e l v e s i n t h e h o m e o f o n e o f t h e l o c a l s . W e t o o k a w e e k e n d v i s i t

t o t h e c a v e s o f E l l o r a a n d A j a n t a a s w e l l a s t o t h e K a r e A y u r v e d i c C e n t r e . A f e w d a y s t o u r i n g

i n D e l h i i n c l u d e d y o g a i n L o d i G a r d e n s , a h u m b l i n g b u t i n s p i r i n g s l u m t o u r , a w a l k i n g f o o d

t o u r i n t h e O l d C i t y a n d a d a y v i s i t t o A g r a t o v i e w t h e s p e c t a c u l a r T a j M a h a l .

I w a s f o r t u n a t e t o s h a r e m y P u n e e x p e r i e n c e w i t h a g r o u p – P a t ( m y t e a c h e r w h o s t a r t e d m e

o n t h i s j o u r n e y ) , G i l l , J a c q u i , M a r i a n n e , D i a n a , B a t c h , J a n e , K e v i n a n d M a d e l a i n e – t h a n k y o u

a l l f o r a d d i n g t o t h e e n r i c h m e n t o f t h i s l i f e - c h a n g i n g e x p e r i e n c e . W e s h a r e d m u c h q u a l i t y t i m e

a l s o a t m e a l t i m e s w h i l e e n j o y i n g t h e d e l i c i o u s I n d i a n c u i s i n e ! A s I f l a s h t h r o u g h t h e p l e t h o r a

o f p h o t o g r a p h s , I h a v e o n l y w o n d e r f u l , p o s i t i v e m e m o r i e s o f a g r e a t a d v e n t u r e !

Wor d s c a nno t c o n v e y t h e v a l u e o f y o ga ; i t h a s t o b e e x pe r i e n c ed .

― B . K . S . I y e n g a r

S o , t a k e t h e p l u n g e a n d b o o k y o u r t i c k e t !

VISITS TO PUNE

18

My won de r f u l mo n t h i n I nd i a

M a r i a n n e W i i d

W e a r r i v e d i n P u n e a t t h e e n d o f D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4 s u r r o u n d e d b y a t l e a s t 8 m i l l i o n p e o p l e . M y

f i r s t i m p r e s s i o n w a s t h e s o u n d , t h e n o i s e o f a l l t h e a u t o r i c k s h a w s h o o t i n g . . . . a s I l e a r n l a t e r

i n m y m o n t h t h e r e – n o t o u t o f a g g r e s s i o n , b u t a s a f r i e n d l y w a r n i n g t o m a k e s p a c e . T h e p e o -

p l e o f P u n e a r e f r i e n d l y , c o m p a s s i o n a t e p e o p l e . T h e i r p o s t u r e s a r e u p r i g h t , o p e n . N o t h a r -

b o u r i n g a n y f e a r . T h e c i t y i s l i k e a n a n t c o l o n y , i n t h e m i d s t o f t h e c h a o s t h e r e i s a p l a n , o r -

d e r . M a n y a c t i n g a s o n e . A n d i n t h e e n d , e v e r y t h i n g f u n c t i o n s .

P a t D e a c o n w a s o u r M o t h e r - o f - a l l , w e w e r e h e r d u c k l i n g s . S h e g u i d e d u s a l l t h r o u g h t h e p r o c -

e s s e s o f t h e I n s t i t u t e , t o t h e b e s t e a t s a n d s h o p s . I t w a s w o n d e r f u l t o b e u n d e r h e r w i n g , e s -

p e c i a l l y a s a f i r s t t i m e r v i s i t i n g P u n e a n d t h e i n s t i t u t e . T h a n k y o u P a t . G i l l i a n a l s o s h o w e d

m e t h e s h o r t - c u t s , g u i d e d m e t o h a v e t h e b e s t M a s a l a D o s a e v e r a n d f i x e d m y D w i P a d a V i -

p a r i t a D a n d a s a n a w i t h s u c h p a t i e n c e . T h a n k y o u .

M y f i r s t d a y a t t h e I n s t i t u t e w a s a s h o c k . F r o m o u r n o r m a l , c o m f o r t a b l e s p a c e o f p r a c t i c i n g

y o g a a t h o m e , t h e r e , a f t e r t h e f i r s t a s a n a i n P r a c h a n t ’ s c l a s s , a m o n g s t 1 6 0 o t h e r y o g i ’ s , I

l o s e m y p r e c i o u s y o g a s p o t a n d h a d t o s c r a m b l e f o r a n o t h e r s p o t . N o r m a l t h e r e . A s t h e

m o n t h p r o g r e s s e d I l e a r n t t o b e c o m e N O N A T T A C H E D t o i t .

I t w a s s a d t o h a v e m i s s e d s e e i n g G u r u j i i n r e a l l i f e , b u t h i s s p i r i t i s t h e r e , e v e r y w h e r e , i n t h e

o t h e r t e a c h e r s , i n t h e I n s t i t u t e . I f e l t h i m w a t c h i n g o v e r a l l o f u s . T h e m o n t h a t t h e I n s t i t u t e

i n d e e d g a v e m e t h e p r e c i o u s g i f t o f e s t a b l i s h i n g m y o w n s e l f - p r a c t i c e .

F o r m e , e v e r y t h i n g w a s j u s t p e r f e c t . T h e e a r l y m o r n i n g w a l k t o t h e I n s t i t u t e w i t h t h e c h o r u s o f

t h e b i r d s w a s s p e c i a l ; a s w a s t h e y o g a , t h e f o o d , t h e c o l o u r s , t h e f r i e n d s . I e v e n l o v e d t h e

c h a o s ; t h e d o g s o n t h e s t r e e t . A n d n o t h i n g b e t t e r t h a n t o b e i n t h e h a n d s o f a c r a z y r i c k s h a w

d r i v e r , t o r e a l i s e y o u c a n d o n o t h i n g b u t t o r e l a x a n d j u s t t o e n j o y t h e m a d r i d e .

Pun e J an ua r y 2 015

B y J a c q u i P r e t o r i u s

F i n d i n g p e a c e a m i d s t t h e c h a o s … I g u e s s t h a t i s I n d i a ! M y e x p e r i e n c e o f P u n e i n J a n u a r y t h i s

y e a r w a s e x t r a o r d i n a r y ! T h e p o l l u t i o n , p o v e r t y , n o i s e a n d c h a o s w a s c o m p l e t e l y o v e r w h e l m i n g

b u t w e w e r e d r a w n t o t h e d e l i c i o u s f o o d , I n d i a n c h a r m , w e l c o m e r o u t i n e o f y o g a , m a s s a g e ,

c o c o n u t w a t e r , c h a i t e a a n d r e s t .

O u r a c c o m m o d a t i o n a t t h e H o t e l C h e t a k w a s b a s i c a n d I w o u l d d e f i n i t e l y r e c o m m e n d t a k i n g

y o u r o w n p i l l o w , b u t t h e s t a f f w e r e w a r m a n d c a r i n g a n d t h e r o o m s w e r e k e p t c l e a n .

T h e I y e n g a r I n s t i t u t e w a s q u i t e a n e x p e r i e n c e ! C l a s s e s w e r e v e r y d i s c i p l i n e d a n d b o t h p h y s i -

c a l l y a n d m e n t a l l y c h a l l e n g i n g b u t i t w a s v e r y i n s p i r i n g t o b e p a r t o f s u c h a l a r g e , c o m m i t t e d ,

i n t e r n a t i o n a l g r o u p o f t a l e n t e d y o g i s .

W e h a d m a n y w o n d e r f u l e x p e r i e n c e s i n c l u d i n g a v e r y p e a c e f u l , r e s t f u l , p a m p e r i n g w e e k e n d a t

t h e K a r e A y u r v e d a r e t r e a t . W e d i d a v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g 3 h o u r H e r i t a g e w a l k a r o u n d P u n e a n d a

l o v e l y c o o k i n g f o o d t o u r o r g a n i z e d b y T a n y a t h r o u g h p u n e m a g i c . c o m .

I c o n s i d e r t h e m o n t h t o h a v e b e e n a r e a l g i f t t o m y s e l f t o f o c u s o n y o g a a n d i n d u l g e i n t h e

r i c h n e s s o f I n d i a n l i f e .

19

Visit to Pune in Pictures

Pictures by Jacqu i Pretor ius

20

TRIBUTE TO DENISE RUNDLE


W i t h t h e d e a t h o f D e n i s e , w e a l l f e e l a p r o f o u n d s e n s e o f l o s s a n d

s a d n e s s a s w e l l a s p r o f o u n d s h o c k . S h e w a s s u c h a n i n v a l u a b l e m e m -

b e r o f o u r c o m m u n i t y a n d g a v e s o m u c h o f h e r s e l f a n d h e r e n e r g y t o

u s .

I w o u l d l i k e t o s a y t o I a n , w h o m u s t h a v e h a d t o b e a r t h e b r u n t o f h e r

d e d i c a t i o n , a n d t o h e r f r i e n d s , t h a t h e r e f f o r t s a n d h e r d e v o t i o n t o

Y o g a w e r e v e r y m u c h a p p r e c i a t e d a n d v a l u e d .

S h e w a s N a t i o n a l C h a i r o f o u r a s s o c i a t i o n f r o m 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 1 1 , a n d C h a i r

o f o u r R e g i o n f o r 3 y e a r s b e f o r e t h a t . S h e a b l y l e d u s t h r o u g h s i g n i f i -

c a n t e v e n t s i n o u r s t o r y , a n d w a s u n w a v e r i n g l y c o m m i t t e d a n d c o u r a g e o u s . S h e g a v e u n -

s t i n t i n g l y - h e r t i m e , h e r e n t h u s i a s m , h e r a t t e n t i o n t o d e t a i l a n d h e r d e t e r m i n a t i o n . S h e h a d

t h e c a p a c i t y t o l o o k b e y o n d o u r p r e s e n t s i t u a t i o n , a n d t h r o u g h i t a l l , s h e g a v e u s t h e o p p o r -

t u n i t y o f s e e i n g a n e w a n d d i f f e r e n t p e r s p e c t i v e , b e c a u s e w h a t e v e r s h e u n d e r t o o k , D e n i s e

b r o u g h t h e r o w n p e r s o n a l i t y a n d u n i q u e t o u c h t o i t .

H a v i n g s p e n t s o m u c h t i m e w i t h u s a l l - a s a p u p i l t o s o m e , a s a b e l o v e d t e a c h e r , o r a

t e a c h e r t r a i n e r , a l e a d e r - d e e p a n d m e a n i n g f u l f r i e n d s h i p s w e r e f o r m e d , m a n y w h i c h h a v e

s p a n n e d d e c a d e s . I t i s a t e s t a m e n t t o h e r t h a t s o m a n y o f o u r m e m b e r s f r o m a l l a r o u n d t h e

c o u n t r y h a v e s e n t m e s s a g e s o f l o v e a n d c o n d o l e n c e .

H e r c o n t r i b u t i o n w i l l b e r e m e m b e r e d w i t h g r e a t r e s p e c t . S h e w a s b r i g h t a n d e n t h u s i a s t i c a n d

c o m p l e t e l y i n v o l v e d . W e s h a r e d s o m u c h w i t h h e r - s u c c e s s , f r u s t r a t i o n s , l a u g h t e r , s o m e -

t i m e s p a i n ( o f t e n l i t e r a l l y , a n d a c c o m p a n i e d b y t h e s a m e l a u g h t e r . . . )

I h o p e t h a t s o m e w h e r e b e y o n d t h e s h o c k , a n d s a d n e s s o f h e r p a s s i n g , b e y o n d o u r h u m a n

e m o t i o n s w h e n f a c e d w i t h a p r e c i o u s l i f e c u t s h o r t , w e c a n l e a r n t o f i n d a c c e p t a n c e . T o f e e l

t h a t p e r h a p s D e n i s e h a d l e a r n t a l l s h e n e e d e d f r o m b e i n g h e r e , t h a t s h e h a d c o m p l e t e d h e r

j o u r n e y , a n d w a s r e a d y t o b e c o m e o n e w i t h t h e u n i v e r s e a n d m e e t G o d . D e n i s e , w e h o n o u r

y o u , t h a n k y o u s i n c e r e l y f o r e v e r y t h i n g , a n d a b o v e a l l , a s a f r i e n d , w e w i l l m i s s y o u s o r e l y .

C a r l a R e i c h

Why y ou ! ! ! A nd t h e n… how c o u l d y o u g o… w e we r e t o g r ow o l d t o g e t h e r a n d l o o k a f t e r e a c h

o t h e r , w e t a l k e d a bou t i t s o o f t e n… we l a u gh ed a bou t o u r o l d a g e a nd a l l t h e t h i n g s t h a t a n -

n o y ed u s a n d t h e n t h e y b egan t o c r e ep u p o n u s ! And we l a u ghed s ome mo r e ! !

A l l t h e k n i t t i n g a nd s ew i n g we w e r e g o i n g t o d o a nd t a l k o f t h e t h i n g s we l o v ed t o d o a nd t r y

t o k e ep d o i n g o u r y o ga , y o u p u s h i n g me , a n d me p u s h i n g y o u ! ! Who w i l l I g o a nd s h op w i t h

n ow ! ! !

Dea r e s t f r i e n d – t h e y e a r s w e h a v e s h a r e d , s o many t h i n g s , u p s a nd d owns a nd y o u w e r e

a lwa y s t h e f i r s t p e r s o n I c a l l e d when I n e eded s omeone a nd y o u o r I a n r e s ponded i n

e v e r y wa y p o s s i b l e .

Da r l i n g f r i e n d – y o u j u s t c o u l d n ’ t man age t h e s h i f t a n d n ow y ou a r e f r e e .

We w i l l s h ou l d e r o n w i t h a l l t h e wonde r f u l memo r i e s a nd I a n a nd I w i l l t a l k a b ou t y o u o f t e n

t o k e ep y o u i n o u r h e a r t s f o r e v e r… .

F r om L i z C r i t t e n a nd Ben j am i n V an N i e k e r k ( Den i s e a nd I a n ’ s God Ch i l d )

21


The fo l lowing teachers were success fu l in pass ing the ir In troductory Leve l assessmen ts in Februa ry 2015. Gauteng Elaine Bann is ter El len Crab tree Carala de Gouveia Maya Jaram Nuschka Leroni Kwa-Zulu Nata l Cel ia de Me l lo Machado Marc Kress Ingi Sa lgado Hazel Singery Kaz Wi lson Southern Cape Shavonne H i l l Mar ion W it te Rober ta Lombardi Sharon van Niekerk Western Cape Rahle Dushe iko Groschaan Emmanue l Gerda Gen is L inda Kel le t t Sal ly S tephens We wish them al l the best as they con tinue their yoga journey and may a l l tha t they do be success fu l !

CONGRATULATIONS

“Yoga allows you to find a new kind of freedom that you may not have known even existed.”-

- B.K.S. I yengar

22

NOTICES


VISITING INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS

2015: Firooza Razvi: Johannesburg: General Classes: 03 — 04 October For teachers only: 05 — 09 October 2016: Faeq Biria Goudini Spa : dates to be confirmed

YOGA RETREAT WITH BRIGITTA TUMMON

YogaPoise Retreats 2015 With the continuous inspiration of the late BKS Iyengar, Brigitta Tummon will be leading several

retreats in Bodhi Khaya. The retreats will be periods of yoga practice and quiet time within a

peaceful and holistic setting overlooking Fynbos and the Atlantic Ocean. It will include intense

asana practice, pranayama and restorative sessions. The Bodhi Khaya centre offers a wide range

of accommodation and all meals, vegetarian, will be catered for. Bodhi Khaya has walks and

swimming dams, a labyrinth and a very well stocked and interesting library

May 22-24: Integration

August 7-10: Delving deeper in the practice

November 13-15: Dynamic Restoration

For more info: [email protected]

23

IYENGAR YOGA IN OUDTSHOORN

The BKS Iyengar Yoga Centre, Schoemanshoek, Oudtshoorn, Klein Karoo South Africa

March — May 2015

This Centre is ded icated to the teachings of Sr i B .K .S . Iyengar

W e l c o m e t o t h e B K S I y e n g a r Y o g a C e n t r e , n e s t l e d i n t h e b e a u t i f u l a n d t r a n q u i l S c h o e m a n -

s h o e k v a l l e y o n t h e w a y t o t h e f a m o u s C a n g o c a v e s . S u r r o u n d e d o n l y b y n a t u r e a n d t h e

m a j e s t i c S w a r t b e r g M o u n t a i n s , t h e C e n t r e o f f e r s t h e c o m p l e t e y o g a e x p e r i e n c e . O u r f u l l y

e q u i p p e d C e n t r e i s d e s i g n e d t o g i v e t h e I y e n g a r y o g a p r a c t i t i o n e r t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o e x -

p e r i e n c e h i g h - q u a l i t y y o g a t u i t i o n i n a p e a c e f u l a n d p r i s t i n e s e t t i n g . D a v i d a n d I a r e a c -

t i v e l y i n v o l v e d i n t h e t e a c h e r ’ s t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m f o r b o t h I n t r o d u c t o r y a n d J u n i o r I n t e r m e -

d i a t e l e v e l s . T r a i n i n g i s d o n e a s a s e m e s t e r - s t y l e p r o g r a m – m o r e d e t a i l s a v a i l a b l e .

F o r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e 3 & 6 - d a y r e t r e a t s , r e g u l a r w o r k s h o p s a n d o u r r e s i d e n t i a l t e a c h -

e r s t r a i n i n g p r o g r a m , p l e a s e v i s i t o u r w e b s i t e , w h i c h h a s b e e n s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s i g n e d t o

g i v e y o u a c o m p r e h e n s i v e p i c t u r e o f w h a t t h e Y o g a C e n t r e h a s t o o f f e r .

T h e S c h o e m a n s h o e k v a l l e y o f f e r s a v a r i e t y o f s u i t a b l e a c c o m m o d a t i o n t o c o m p l e t e t h e e x -

p e r i e n c e . T h e t o w n o f O u d t s h o o r n c o m p l i m e n t s t h i s q u i e t , r u r a l e n v i r o n m e n t a n d G e o r g e

a i r p o r t i s a m e r e 6 5 k m s a w a y .

More abou t us a t h t tp: / /www. iyengaryogawi thdav id.com

h ttp :/ /www.iyengar -yoga-sequences.com

Upcoming retreats

SUMMER: - Sunday , 22nd March 2015 – Thursday, 26 t h March 2015

WINTER: Saturday 13 t h June 2015 – Wednesday, 17 t h June 2015

24

Iyengar Yoga PracticeIyengar Yoga PracticeIyengar Yoga PracticeIyengar Yoga Practice with with with with

Senior Certified Iyengar Yoga TeacherSenior Certified Iyengar Yoga TeacherSenior Certified Iyengar Yoga TeacherSenior Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher

David Jacobs David Jacobs David Jacobs David Jacobs

Cape Town, 25Cape Town, 25Cape Town, 25Cape Town, 25th th th th & 26& 26& 26& 26thththth April 2015 April 2015 April 2015 April 2015

Saturday: 09h00 – 12h00 Asana

12h00 – 13h30 Lunch

13h30 – 16h00 Restoratives/Pranayama

Sunday: 09h00 – 12h00 Asana

Venue: Rosebank Junior School, Rosebank

Bookings: Jürgen

Props required: Mat, 2 blocks & 2belts, bolster, yoga chair, blankets and your support for

shoulder balance

Cost: R1,000 per student

Bank Details:

Account name: David Jacobs

Standard Bank: Sea Point Branch

Current Account number: 071040749

�� Please give your NAME as reference when making electronic transfers. � � � � Workshop fees are NOT refundable, or transferable to another workshop

David Jacobs (Senior Intermediate III) Jürgen Meusel (Introductory II)

www.yogawithdavid.blogspot.com [email protected]

BKS Iyengar Yoga Centre , Oudtshoorn, Klein Karoo, Western Cape Tel: 082 886 7568

BKS IYENGAR YOGA CENTRE

OUDTSHOORN

SOUTH AFRICA

25

IYENGAR YOGA PRANAYAMA CLASSES

WITH JUDY FARAH

“Pranayama removes the veil covering the light of knowledge and heralds the dawn of wisdom” Sutra 11.47

Pranayama, the 4 t h L imb o f yoga, is the sc ience of the breath . Regular prac t ice o f Pranayama is as essen tia l as a regu lar Asana pract ice .

On Sa turday 24 t h January 2015, I w i l l s tar t a new course (1 Sat . per month) of Pranayama Sadhana; In the L i t t le Glen , Camps Bay .

This beau ti fu l , peace fu l space a l lows for quie t and focused Yoga Sadhana (pract ice) .

(Please d iar ize the fo l low ing da tes for your convenience 18 t h Apr i l ; 23 r d May ; 20 t h June; 25 t h Ju ly ; 29 t h Aug; 26 t h Sep; 31 s t Oct ; 28 t h Nov .)

The c lass runs from 08h30 – 10h00 ;

A l l leve ls o f pract i t ioner are mos t welcome.

For fur ther de ta i ls and book ings p lease con tact Judy on 082 8256792 or e mai l judy@yogasou tha fr ica .com

www.yogasoutha fr ica .com

IYENGAR YOGA AT BUDHIST RETREAT CENTRE, IXOPO

WITH JUDY FARAH 26 June to 2 July 2015

This magni f icent Re treat Cen tre in KwaZu lu-Nata l o ffers a peacefu l space for the hear t and soul to

open up to some qu iet and focused Yoga Sadhana.

I t can be done in two sect ions:

1 Beginning Fr iday evening 19h00, 26 t h June to Sunday lunch 28 t h June

2 Beginn ing Fr iday evening 19h00, 26 t h June to Thursday lunch 2n d Ju ly .

(Fr iday Dinner is served at the BRC at 17h30)

The re treat w i l l cons is t o f Asana (Pos tures) and Pranayama (breath ing) , wh ich wi l l bu i ld up over

the course of the 7 days . Al l levels o f prac t i t ione r are mos t welcome.

For fur ther de ta i l and book ings p lease con tact the BRC on 039 8341863 or e ma i l

brc ixopo@fu turene t.co .za.

Check the web s i te ht tp :/ /www.brc ixopo.co .za

26

YOGA RETREAT

KING’S LODGE -HOGSBACK 9th – 11th October 2015 Calm your mind, free your body and nourish your soul.

R1930 per person sharing (twin or double)

R2230 per person single

The price includes 2 night’s accommodation, 3 meals per

day, yoga tuition and a guided hike in the forest.

Early bird registration - R300 discount (before 1st Au-

gust 2015).

This weekend of yoga is suitable for students at all levels, including those new to yoga.

Kings Lodge (where the Retreat is held) is a Sanctuary nestled in a beautiful park-like garden in the Hogsback Mountain

Village. Hogsback is famous for its forests, waterfalls, clear mountain streams, gentle forest walks and mists.

Monique Weschta was born in the Netherlands and moved to South Africa at the age of 22. She has practiced Iyengar

Yoga for 17 years and became a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher in 2009.

For enquiries and bookings contact:

Monique Weschta

083-330 6948

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/backtowellnessIyengaryoga

YOGA RETREAT WITH MONIQUE WESCHTA

PRANAYAMA IN SOMERSET WEST

Pranayama on Saturdays workshop in Somerset West

Ina Gerber’s yoga studio. Date and times to be confirmed 4 weeks prior to the event via email

Contact Ina at 083 303 5477

RETREAT WITH PAULA VILJOEN

Karoo Game Farm Retreat - Freedom Day weekend.

3 nights 24,25,26, April 2015

Contact Paula Viljoen

[email protected] for further details re: cost and location.

27

“

Blocks for a yoga practice

Compiled by David Jacobs and Jürgen Meusel this e-guide with photographs and basic instructions of

the many uses of blocks in a yoga practice is available online.

The e-book is a .pdf file and has 200 pages with more than 440 photographs.

The block is used on its own, in pairs or even sets and sometimes enhances the use of other props, such

as benches, chairs and the wall.

We have selected some of the most practised asanas.

For more information, as well as a sample on what you can expect, can be seen on our website: -

http://www.iyengar-yoga-sequences.com/#!blocks-for-yoga-practice/c1ao9

LEATHER MAT CARRIERS

For Sale at R220.00 each.

Contact Janel Rust at [email protected]

or phone 071 856 3222

28

NOTICES


Newsle tter comp i led and ed ited by Riva H irschowitz .

Typesett ing by Stra tford Cann ing.

Our s incere thanks to a l l who took the t ime and made the ef for t to con tr ibu te to the con ten ts o f th is magaz ine . Anyone w ishing to con tr ibu te ar t i c les, pho tos, in forma tion or suggest ions to the newsle tter may contac t our ed itor : Ph 082 782 8275, ema i l : r iva.h irschowi tz@gmai l .com

“We must create a marr iage between the awareness of the body and that o f t he m ind. When two part ies do not cooperate, there i s unhappiness on both s ides. ”

–B.K.S. I yengar—Light on L i fe

29

The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute Pune, India

yogafrica march 2015 - plusto · tute to register. it was a truly ... an ancient yoga textbook, the...

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