Yogarosa Blog

March 8, 2016  International Women’s Day 21 years ago I learned about the International Day of Women. My daughter was born at 11:50, and the midwife announced to me, it’s a girl! And born on International Women’s Day. Her father looked defeated, as this was our third daughter. On this day, as I celebrate her 21 years of spreading joy and love to all who know her, I reflect on the meaning of this day. Why do we even need a day?  The earliest Women’s Day observance was held in 1909, in New York; it was organized by the Socialist Party of America . The International Day of Women, with its beginnings in Europe and Russia, proclaims equal rights for women, including the right to vote, and protection from employment sex discrimination. In 1918, women in Saint Petersburg went on strike for “Bread and Peace" – demanding the end of World War I, an end to Russian food shortages, and the end of czarism. The day was celebrated mostly in communist and socialist count...

There are events in our life, where time stands still. And as we look back, in that interval of a moment, we remember exactly where we were. September 11, the assassination of John Lennon, perhaps even the day we landed on the moon.  A year ago, I was on an airplane back from Pune. As soon as I landed, the first text I read said, "Guruji has passed." I knew it was coming, but it still seemed unreal. I had seen him just a few days before he went into the hospital.  He looked tired.  He had offered his final goodbyes. He had shared everything he knew about yoga with so many people. It seemed unfair to be sad for someone who embodied his teachings.  He taught us about the Cosmic Breath, and then he joined it.  He offered his devoted prayers, practice, and work to The Lord. His final offering was himself. He deserved to rest.  This selfless man taught us about feeling unworthy, and then conquering the world through his teachings of yoga. He ta...

Dear Silvia, Today I heard that you surrendered to the light. I chanted and prayed that you have found the freedom that you sought. The news was shocking to me, because somehow in my mind, I thought you would return to the studio. Since I opened the studio, you were a full supporter. When I look back, I realize you were one of the pioneers of Iyengar Yoga in South Florida.  We met at The Point in Aventura, where you started classes with me, probably 18 years ago. I remember you warning me that you couldn’t put weight on your neck because you had had cancer of the throat in the past. You were always thin, but you decided you wanted to get strong enough to stand on your head. And you did. I recall your dedication to your practice, despite the obstacles you encountered along the way. With dedicated effort, you cultivated a valuable yoga practice. When you missed class, it was usually because you were travelling or you had sustained an injury. I remember you dragging Julia...

August 16, 2014 Pune, India I have spent now almost 19 years studying, practicing and teaching Iyengar Yoga. And I have come to the conclusion that I have not learned anything. Everything I've learned has been mostly from my own imagination and perspective. And I suspect, that Except for those with the actual name of Iyengar, most Iyengar Yoga teachers are deluded. Let me explain. There is only one man, BKS Iyengar, who began to share yoga in an innovative way, that he himself does not call Iyengar Yoga. We (the students and fans) call it that. He says he just teaches yoga. But wow, how he teaches yoga! I had the great fortune to be in his presence as a student on a few occasions. The first one was memorable because it was his 80th Birthday Celebration. I was very much a beginner, but the experience propelled me into a whole new world. One memorable moment was, while he was teaching Virabhadrasana 2, and he told us we needed to let our soul spread all the way into the fingert...

Here I am in India. I am not dreaming. It's real. With its sights and smells, this enchanted land rich with history as well as mystery. Where there is a marked difference between opulence and misery. Land of extremes, with mountain tops covered with snow, and steamy beaches all in one. There are mystic and sacred sites, as well as fancy shopping centers. Ultra spicy food, as well as the sweetest of sweets. Palaces with gold trim, and beggars sleeping with dogs in the street. The latest model BMW driving on the same street that a woman and her children call home. But India is real. With all its shocking problems, India is authentic. It doesn't try to please anyone. Perhaps that is the allure that attracts visitors from all over the world. It's dirty, but it has a soul. Noisy, because it has a lot to say. Complicated, because it has so much to teach us about the human condition. Some escape to India to run away from their reality. Some come to fill themselves with ancien...

I Just finished a yoga class taught by a master. I could say taught by the granddaughter of a master, but in her own right, she shines on her own. I am talking about Abhijata, grand daughter of legendary yoga master, BKS Iyengar. After 6 weeks in Pune, I have taken many classes, with different teachers, and have been inspired and have learned and deepened my practice with all of them. Each and every teacher has something to offer. But it is not so much about what they give, it is really more about what I have received, as Prashant Iyengar says. My eyes, ears, and mind pay attention. But I offer myself as a student full of samskaras, or imprints from past lives. In addition, I have the imprints and the scars of this life. So I come with some knowledge, or my own perceived knowledge. As a student, I am not fortunate to have the opportunity of taking classes with a regular teacher in my hometown. Perhaps this has been a blessing in disguise, as well as a curse, as I am forced to figure...

In the ancient treatise, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Sage Patanjali states an eight fold path of yoga, known as astanga yoga. This path begins with social and personal responsibilities. The first limb along the path of yoga is called Yama. Yama in Sanskrit means “taking a vow”. These 5 ethical principles are the basis for living a yogic lifestyle.   They are: Ahimsa, Non violence Satya, Truthfulness Asteya, Non-stealing Bramacharya, self restraint, or celibacy Aparigrahah, Non-hoarding, non attachment Ahimsa is the basis for all other yamas. If we think, act, and behave in such a way that doesn’t harm others, we will tell the truth, we won’t steal, we will not be promiscuous, and we will let go of attachments. Ghandi chose to only practice Ahimsa and Satya, and everything else fell into place.  Practicing Ahimsa can be challenging, because the world around us is a breeding ground for violence. For example, driving during rush hour, everyone is i...