Yogarosa Blog

Remembering Geeta Iyengar on the first year anniversary of her passing... My first encounter with Geetaji was at Guruji’s 80th Birthday. It was my first time in India, and actually my first time traveling by myself without my family. I was very much a beginner, and had never heard of her. I had only heard about BKS Iyengar. On the first day, I was in the back of the class, and for those of you that were there, you may remember the venue was put together last minute because of flooding at the original venue. The yoga hall was built beautifully on the grounds of a place named Ambrosia. My mat ended up on an uneven surface caused by the root of a tree. Guruji was teaching Tadasana, and he said something about the foot I didn’t understand, so I stood up on my tippy toes to get a glimpse of the screen, which I could barely see above the tall man’s head in front of me. While I was on my toes, Geeta caught me. I quickly learned that in this place you are being watched ALL th...

Class with Prashantji Notes Learning begins in the invocation.  We must involve the heart.  The heart is such an organ that can involve all the organs like a queen bee and bees. Not the case of all other organs. Not all organs are “liverized”, but all organs can be “heartisized.” All organs are involved in the state of love. I love from the bottom of the heart.  Whole hearted actions. The heart has such a gravity, that is 100% involvement, such as the state of being in love. Guruji gave 100%, and made is give 100%. All organs getting connected for connected unified conditions. That is yoga. We can all speak, but we can not speak in such a way that there will be clarity for all who listen because of human doubt. Get clarity. It’s like having worms for vrittis. Let me apply a pesticide to those worms. We all have thought processes. When we practice, don’t just do the pose like Light on Yoga. That book was written for those to be introduc...

Day 1 RIMYI a Teachers Programme Pune, India Iyengar Yoga Teachers who mentor students from around the world were invited to this special program December 7-15. It took place at the private club PYC Hindy Gymkhana in Pune. The program will be very full, and we were asked not to schedule appointments during this event, as most days would begin in the morning and end in the evening. As we were awaiting Prashant, Abhijata asked us if we were jetlagged. We all said yes. She asked if we wanted her to teach a 5 minute class. We laughed. She said, no I’m serious, Parsva Swastikasana, Twist to the right! Open eyes. Open the outer corners of the eyes and look up, roll the right shoulder back! Uttanasana same Sirsasana head placement. Recover! Stand up. Padmasana right leg up. As many started to sit down, she said, no, standing! Now you will not be sleepy! Wake up! Eyes at the horizon level. Paschimottanasana Namaskarasana open the chest!! Sit down.  After we gr...

“Abhijata, I’m recovering from having a very bad cold for 5 days. Shall I take the class today or observe?” She answered me, It’s up to you. You decide. I’ll do what I can and see how it goes. I was excited she didn’t say no, but already exhausted from walking to the venue, I knew I had to pace myself. When Raya started teaching the class, I realized I had set myself up right under the fan. Ugh. Blanket around my shoulders. Problem solved temporarily. Raya started to say we were doing standing poses, so ladies on their period and those not well could use the wall. My chance to find a fan less wall. Lucky for me there was space on a column. Never mind my back would be to the stage. I’ll make it work. Prasarita Padottanasana. Ok. Don’t need the wall for that. Already out of breath and we haven’t even started. Why are people so slow in getting a wall? Ok standing poses against the wall. Vriksasana, Trikonasana, Parsva Konasana, Ardha Chandrasana. Body happy to be moving, grateful for th...

Observing and participating in Prashant’s classes are two totally different things. Feeling weak after five days of a very bad cold, today I decided to watch it. The benefits were that I could write his ideas as he spoke. The bad part was that I was writing, and not really doing and feeling what he was instructing. It was also difficult to sit on the stairs and be mindful of students coming and going into the second floor space for classes. It was, however a wonderful experience to watch a room full of students from all walks of life, from all corners of the world, the young, the older, and all body shapes and constitutions. It was educative to watch many variations being modified according to people’s conditions. Everyone was really doing their own practice, but like an expert chef, being guided to have a delectable outcome.  I watched as some faces went inwards, and others were distracted by their neighbors. I watched the students that knew exactly how to set up for the req...

Saturday Geeta’s Class Sequence  Adho Mukha Virasana Adho Mukha Svanasana  Half did Supta Padangusthasana with the belt, the others did Utthita Hastasana padangusthasana with wall support We started with the top leg at 90degrees so that we could move the hip down. We were to move the buttocks down and middle buttocks in. Lengthen the sides of the trunk. Second time set up the hip properly with leg at 90, then raise leg without losing the hip. Half did Parsva Supta Padangusthasana with belt, the others did Parsva Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana with wall support  Start with leg at 90 degrees to acquire proper action of the buttocks. Second time set up hip at 90, then raise leg without losing the proper actions. There was a woman doing Parsva Supta Padangusthasana who had a hip replacement. Geetaji had us watch. She was bringing the foot up in line with the shoulder (as many of us have been taught), and she showed us how the pelvis goes wrong. Sh...