Iyengar Yoga News - issue 16 - Spring 2010

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IYENGAR YOGA NEWS

The magazine of the Iyengar Yoga Association of the United Kingdom

ISSUE NUMBER 16

SPRING

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IYENGAR YOGA

ASSOCIATION (UK) ®

www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

I YENGA R YOGA NE W S

President: Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar

I ssu e No .1 6 Sp ri ng 2 01 0

EDITORIAL

By the time you read this, the weather will hopefully have released its icy grip and we will be enjoying Spring. One thing to look forward to is our 2010 annual convention.

This year, we are pleased to welcome Zubin Zarthoshtimanesh to Nottingham; there is an article on pages 23-24 about him and about the other classes that he will be taking whilst in the UK, and we have included an application form for the Convention with this magazine. You can also sign up online on our website, www.iyengaryoga.org.uk.

Spring is also membership renewal time for teachers. The easiest way to do this is online on our website, but you can renew by cheque if you prefer (see page 26). This year, as part of the renewal process, we are offering all teachers the opportunity to subscribe to Yoga Rahasya, the official journal of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune. The cost is £16 for 4 issues a year. If you would like to subscribe to this excellent publication, just tick the relevant box. Non-teachers can renew online as individuals but mostly they renew their IYA membership with their Member Institute.

Non-teachers can also subscribe to Yoga Rahasya (see page 31). Note that there have been important changes to the teaching of yoga therapy, or remedial yoga, and these are explained on pages 12-14.

We are keen to receive articles and letters from readers; please note that the next issue is due out in September 2010 and the deadline for copy is 1 July. We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Iyengar Yoga News.

Editorial Board: John Cotgreave, Philippe Harari, Judith Jones, Lucy Osman, Tehira Shafiq Layout & Design: Lucy Osman Articles to: editor@iyengaryoga.org.uk Copy deadline 1 July 2010 Advertising: John Cotgreave jcotgreave@hotmail.co.uk IYA Office: admin@iyengaryoga.org.uk Printed by: Blueprint Press, Cambridge, on paper made using wood from sustainable forests and without the use of chlorine ® used with permission of BKS Iyengar, Trade Mark owner

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Mr. Iyengar's Commentary on Patanjali Tadasana - compiled by Judi Sweeting Yoga Concepts by Sallie Sullivan Important new rules for teachers concerning Iyengar yoga therapy Iyengar Yoga Development Fund

by Helen White Assessments: Failure and Success

by Alan Brown Professional Development Days

by Judi Sweeting Institutes: Or, What Happened to the Regions? by Judith Richards Letters to the Editor IYA (UK) Annual Convention

Member Information 24.

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Reports Professional Development Days Teacher Trainers Assessment Results Institutes and Events

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Mr. Iyengar’s Commentary on Patanjali Part I of III: Introduction The following is Part I of Mr. Iyengar's address on Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, given at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in London, England, July 15, 1990. The address first appeared in Dipika, Journal of this Institute (No. 24, January 1993), London, England.

It included an introduction, entitled "Pearls of Wisdom� and a commentary on each chapter of the Sutras, in which Patanjali describes the different paths that characterise yogic ascendance to Samadhi.

Patanjali The sage Patanjali, the "Father of Yoga", lived in India approximately 2,200 years ago. A great scholar and philosopher, he was the author of classical treatises on Yoga philosophy (The Yoga Sutras), Sanskrit grammar (the Mahabhasya) and Indian medicine (Ayurveda). Patanjali showed his mastery of Yoga and language by codifying the entire Yoga system (Darsana) in just 196 sutras.

Tribute is made to Patanjali in the above traditional sloka (verse). The second verse describes Patanjali's symbolic form. The thousand-headed cobra represents infinity, the conch calls us to Yoga practice and the disc symbolizes the wheel of time and the law of cause and effect. In reciting the sloka we pay respect to the three aspects of Patanjali's work; Yoga, Pada Shastra (grammar) and Ayurveda, and to also Patanjali himself.

Pearls of Wisdom: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Yogena cittasya padena vacam Malam sarirasya ca vaidyakena Yopakarottam pravaram muninam Patanjalim pranjaliranato'smi Abahu purusakaram

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Sankha cakrasi darinam Sahasra sirasam svetam Pranamami Patanjalim

I salute Patanjali, the revered sage, Who brought Yoga for serenity of mind, Grammar for clarity of speech, and Medicine for purification of the body.

I salute Patanjali, Whose upper body has a human form Who holds a conch and discus in his hands, and Who is crowned by the thousand-headed, shining cobra.

Friends, to speak on the subject of Patanjali's sutras is not easy. As you all know it is a concise and concentrated book. Without Patanjali's blessings it is difficult to penetrate the essence of his words. But today is a happy day, and you have a chance to learn about this great book. So may the blessings of Lord Patanjali be on you, may his wisdom dawn on you, so that the flash of his understanding may come to you.

My request to you all is, when you start your classes, if you cannot attempt the recitation of the Sanskrit original, that you recite the translation of this Patanjali sloka. In this way we may invoke his presence at the time of our practices. We do this for the simple reason that he is the Father of Yoga. I have become convinced after many years of practice that we should think of this great founder who gave us grammar for right speech, medicine for health and Yoga for the mind so that our minds may be tuned to the good thoughts of this great man.

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Before I start, you should know a little of the background of Patanjali. He is said to have been born some time between 800 and 200 B.C. Nobody can give the exact date because in India the dates of the lives of the great sages were always given approximately. Similarly, in some of the books they say Patanjali was born in Chidambaram in South India and some say he was born in Bengal. Nobody knows for sure but everywhere there is a temple of Patanjali, all over the south and all over the north.

Patanjali is a svayambhu (svaya-ambhu: with one's own willpower). He came into existence by his own will. He has no parents and, according to Indian mythology, he is the incarnation of Lord Adisesha. Adisesha is a great King Cobra who gives his body as a seat for Lord Vishnu. It is said that once Lord Shiva, king of dance, invited Lord Vishnu and other deities to see his famous dance, Tandava Nrtya. As Lord Shiva danced, Lord Vishnu's body began to vibrate to the graceful movements of Lord Shiva. As Lord Vishnu was seated on Adisesha, the great cobra became breathless under the weight and started to gasp for air. When the dance came to an end, Adisesha asked the Lord, "How is it that you were so heavy when you were dancing, and as soon as the dance stopped you became light?" He replied, "I was so completely engrossed in the movements that my nerves and body vibrated as if I was myself dancing. That is why you felt it". Seeing how impressed the Lord was with the dance, Adisesha decided to learn dance himself (That is why many dancers in India say that Patanjali is also the father of dance.) However, Lord Vishnu said, "You mustwait. Lord Shiva is going to ask you to do some work. At that time you can be incarnated on the Earth and then you can learn dance." That time arrived and Lord Shiva asked him to write a commentary on grammar. Adisesha saw that his master Lord Vishnu's prediction had come true and he accepted. Then he looked for a woman who was both a yogini and a tapasvini (one who had done much yoga and fervent penance) to be his mother. He waited to find the right person, Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

So may the blessings of Lord Patanjali be on you, may his wisdom dawn on you, so that the flash of his understanding may come to you.

someone who would allow his goals to be fulfilled. After some time he found a lady called Gonika who had no children and who had done penance for several years. She was praying to the rising sun, saying, "My time has come to an end and whatever knowledge I have gathered it was only through you, 0 Sun God. So, as I have no son or daughter to pass it on to, I return my knowledge to you". She took some water to offer as an oblation and she closed her eyes to pray. Then as she opened her eyes to make her offering of water to mother Earth, she saw a small worm moving in the water in her palms. She was terrified and said, "What polluted water I have taken!"

Then immediately the worm began to take human form and begged the yogini to accept him as her son. She was astonished that he could speak and she accepted him as her son.

This story is the origin of Patanjali's name. Pata means snake or fallen and anjali refers to the folding of the hands during prayer, thus Patanjali means "in the form of a snake that fell into the palms at the time of prayer".

As he grew, Gonika became more and more impressed by the boy and she passed on her knowledge to him. Eventually Patanjali completed his first duty, the commentary on grammar. It is very hard nowadays to imagine how one man

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could be a master of grammar, a master of medicine and a master of yoga. Because of this, some Western scholars have conjectured that Patanjali, the author of the grammar, which was based on the work of the grammarian Panini, must have been the son of Panini. However, that is not so according to the Indian tradition.

Next, Patanjali determined to learn dance because he wanted to please his master. As he was learning dance, the idea struck him that the various movements of the body could be used for the improvement of health. The name of the system he then devised is Ayurveda: Ayus means life and veda means knowledge, so Ayurveda is the knowledge of health, not the knowledge of medicine. This is an important distinction (Patanjali was also the writer of Sushrata Samhita which deals with the surgical branch of Indian medicine).

He realised the value of health through dance and he produced a book on the subject of "life" or "energy" and thus gave us the "knowledge of life".

When he had finished these two great works he was very unhappy; he thought, "I have given the grammar for the use of right words and I have shown various ways to develop health, but I have not said anything about cultivating the mind. Some commentators say this is why the first sutra, atha yoga anusasanam begins with the word atha which means "now". Some people translate this sutra as "Now, the exposition of Yoga", interpreting the "now" to mean that Yoga had not been in existence before. But Patanjali was not creating Yoga; instead, he was bringing what had been in the past into the present. In this sutra "now" does not indicate a new idea. It is like in our classes, when we say, "Now, come on, do Trikonasana." or "Now, do Parsvakonasana" Don't we say that? This use of the word "now" is to bring the hearer's attention to the present situation. So Patanjali was bringing the attention of his readers to a past tradition, which had been evaded or neglected. Also, in the original language anusasanam did not mean exposition (as it is usually translated in English), but referred to the oral tradition of the sages (sayings passed down).

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So may the blessings of Lord Patanjali be on you, may his wisdom dawn on you, so that the flash of his understanding may come to you.

Sasana also means "code of law", like the law codes of this world. However, this book is a code for human spiritual development and contains directed instructions for a code of living, a code of conduct. So, the sutras begin, "Now, what is the code of conduct?"

So Patanjali thought, "I have dealt with two parts of the body, how to speak and how to keep the body healthy; now let me speak about the mind.

Then he integrated the different texts referring to Yoga, which are scattered among the different Vedas and Upanishads, and he systematised them and presented Yoga as a subject which would be comprehensible for those who are truly interested. Then, when the book was finished he disappeared from this world, in order to please his master and to dance before him and so this ancient text has survived to this day. As I said, there is still discussion about the exact date of its writing, but as students of Yoga we are concerned about what Patanjali said, not when he was born The Yoga Sutras The Yoga Sutras are the seed for the total growth of a human being and in the first three sutras Patanjali sums up the essence of the whole work.

(1.1) Atha yoga anusasanam (1.2) Yoga citta vrtti nirodhah (1.3) Tada drastuh svarupa avasthanam

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As I said, anusasanam is a code, a discipline. What do you develop through this discipline? You are able to restrain the mind (1.2). But how can the mind citta) be restrained (nirodhah)? It is uncontrollable, thoughts are uncontrollable.

Before we can begin to control the mind, we must first understand the funtioning of the mind.

This understanding will come as we discover the profound meaning of the terms that Patanjali uses in this first sutra.

Patanjali concludes this summary by saying that when the mind is restrained, the core of the being surfaces and rests in its abode (1.3). This is like the cobra, which does not raise its hood unless it is awakened. Usually the mind prevents the hood of the self from surfacing. And that is why the mind must be restrained because only then can the soul (drastuh) be awoken and brought to the surface. The moment the mind is successfully restrained you enter a state of beatitude and freedom because the mind is dissolved in the seat of the soul and the soul acts directly.

It is very simple. In three sutras he has covered the whole subject. Then why the hundred and ninety extra sutras? The ancient texts of India always began with the conclusion and then moved onto the elaboration. Books today are quite different; we begin at the base and move towards the summit. In ancient books the initial summary was there to attract the intellectuals, to allow them the freedom to ponder its meaning, and then to draw them into the main text.

Then as she opened her eyes to make her offering of water to mother Earth, she saw a small worm moving in the water in her palms. She was terrified and said, "What polluted water I have taken?" it everlastingly in a state of serenity. In order to maintain that serenity, what methods should we practise? To explain this, Patanjali has arranged the sutras in four chapters. In order, they are: Samadhi Pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti Pada, and Kaivalya Pada.

This article will be continued in the next issue of the IYN.

Anusasanam in the first sutra is intimately related to yama and niyama. Patanjali explains later that these ethical disciplines are involved in the character building of anusasanam. We are made up of three gunas (qualities): tamas, rajas and sattva.

The mind is sometimes dull, sometimes vibrant, and sometimes serene. You have all experienced these states. They come in a flash and disappear in a flash. Patanjali explains that how through the science of Yoga we can learn to free our mind from the states of inertia and vibration and keep Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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Tadasana as taught by Geetaji, Pune 2008 These notes come directly from being taught in class in Pune and the instructions were directed to those present at the time. There are so many excellent Iyengar publications, they give us enough information to last a lifetime of practice. These notes are to encourage self analysis and enquiry in our own personal practice.

If you understand your faults and weaknesses in Tadasana, you can take your practice forward and inward. Guruji has always told us that when we work in Tadasana we are learning the basis of practice in all asanas.

"When doing the asanas, whether you believe in God or not, you believe in existence".

Lastly, "Many thanks to the late Lilian Biggs, Jeanne Maslen and Tricia Booth for their invaluable help".

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Head straight – eyes up a little, not down!

Shoulders back, armpit chest open..

Lift the chest

Don’t take arms away from the body – “closer in.

Stretch the little finger side of the hands strongly down, shoulder bones go back more.

Grip femurs – be firm.

Lift your quadriceps up and tighten them.

Press fronts of knees back and tighten them.

Press all 4 edges of feet down.

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Tricia Booth – “In my personal experience, I move into Tadasana from bent knees, beginning like a little Utkatasana, I press the knees together and as I straighten my legs I keep the groins moving from front to back as they did in Utkatasana and move the skin from the waist down to the tailbone on my back body and keep the tailbone firm. Practicing like this helps me to keep my lumbar quiet and to lift from the pubic bone.”

Judi Sweeting – “Having been firmly kicked in the thighs by Guruji in the past (“aggressive thighs”!) I particularly took note of this instruction. Stand in Tadasana. (“not one person in the room is doing the pose correctly”!)

Look down at your feet (immediately there was a shift of 120 pairs of thighs backwards!) Now keep the thighs back, lift your torso upwards, chest up, and without loosing the actions, grip femurs and tailbone inside”.

Magic!!!

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Geetaji – “Extend the wrist bones, palms spread, fingers spread and imagine you are practicing “Urdhva Mukha Svanasana. It gives a better locking action to arms and access to the elbow joint “I can see it, your must feel it!”

Flatten buttocks so sacrum moves into the back body Be very firm in the buttock fold.

Both big toe mounts on the floor and weight extended into the base of the heel mounts.

Roll the weight onto the outer feet and bring the inner ankles nearer.

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Samasthiti as taught by Guruji, Pune 1988 Which flesh on the inner knees is circular – which is dropping?

“This known as slipped disc, it is easy to say I have a slipped disc, cervical or lumber pains”.

When standing in Tadasana, stand with equal pressure on the soles and the heels.

Divide the arches of the feet, moving the fronts forwards and the backs backwards. Both big toe mounts on the floor and weight extended into the base of the heel mounts. Roll the weight onto the outer feet and bring the inner ankles nearer.

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Observe where the knees are, one is up and one is down. That side of the spine is down.

What is the life in the knee bone?

Lift the “dull one” and feel what happens to the life of the spine.

Watch your thighs. When you turn the chips of the knees, what type of grip do you get up to the pelvic rim? One goes straight without moving, the other moves outwards. Watch your shoulder blades at the same time!

Inner knees back and up, open the backs of the knees.

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If you cannot stand and stretch your legs in Tadasana with the support of the feet on the floor, how will you know the stretch of the legs in Sirsasana without the support?

Outer sacroiliacs level.

Are the length of the frontal legs and the skin on the back of the legs running parallel?

Stamp the heel bones into the ground.

How do the ankles behave, how do the inner arches of the heels behave?

One wants to come in, one wants to go out, so what happens to the flesh of the buttock at that time?

You will stand on one side, one buttock above, one buttock below.

Press into the ground stronger and stronger to spread the centre heel bones towards the outer.

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Is your body resting on the skin of the feet?

If the skin is moving too much to the feet, then that means the back of the legs are too long and the front of the legs too short! Can you move the top leg skin to the centres and find out what happens to the backs of the legs, what happens to the inner knees? What length comes on the outer legs?

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Yoga Concepts

by Sallie Sullivan Geetaji at Billingsgate mentioned many yogic concepts during her asana teaching. Sometimes she translated and explained these and sometimes used the Sanskrit words without further explanation. I have picked out many of these and codified them. I give references to Light on the Yoga Sutras (YS), Light on Yoga (LOY) and Yoga: a Gem for Women (YGFW) so you can read what she and Guruji have written about them. I have also selected brief examples from the daily asana programmes.

Prakriti - Matter/nature/ body (as distinct from spirit or purusha): YS pp.45-47, LOY p.46 Example: Day 3: bending the leg out for Janu Sirsasana – prakriti (the body) has to catch where you find hindrance.

The three gunas - The three qualities of matter: tamas inertia/stability rajas activity sattva illumination YS 2.18 – 2.19 pp.118-122; LOY pp.46-49, YGFW p.11, p.37 Day 1: in Adho Mukha Svanasana go from tamas to rajas.

The three doshas - The three humours in the body: vata wind pitta bile kapha phlegm YGFW p.37 Day 1: movement comes from vata – the wind blows you out of line. Action, not motion, is stability.

prajna awareness/mind prana energy YGFW pp.66-67 Day 2: Tadasana - prana and prajna bring about elemental change.

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Day 4: Parivrtta Ardha Chandrasana – take the mind and energy, prana and prajna, to the thigh of the back leg. Lift the mind in the thigh upward.

The five elements that exist in all matter, including human kind: prthvi earth ap water tej fire vayu air akash space YS p.10 Day 2: Utthita Hasta Padasana – legs are prthvi, arms are akash

The five pranas - Life force/bio-energy according to place: apana the lower body samana the gastric area prana the chest udana the throat vyana all over LOY p.45 Day 2: Tadasana – upper chest is area of udana vayu.

People are yawning because upper chest is not open.

Thighs back, and apana goes towards udana

The five koshas - The five sheaths of body - outer to innermost: anamaya anatomical – muscular/skeletal pranamaya physiological – the organs manomaya mental, emotional vijnanamaya intellectual Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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anandamaya blissful YS p.10, p.47, YGFW p.40 Day 2: Tadasana – you can touch the anandamaya kosha. Ajnana/avidya (ignorance) prevents you knowing it. Arms and legs are the frame to adjust the physiological body – standing poses do this.

The five vrttis - The five modifications or states of mind that yoga is intended to restrain: pramana correct knowledge or cognition viparyaya illusion, incorrect cognition vikalpa imagination, verbal illusion nidra sleep smrti memory YS 1.6 – 1.11 pp.52-57, LOY p.23, YGFW pp.11-12 Day 2: Virabhadrasana 1 – mistaken knowledge, like mistaking a rope for a serpent.

Day 4: Prasarita Padottanasana – (one leg seemed shorter) this is viparyaya, you see what is not there, and don’t see what is there.

The five kleshas - The five afflictions/causes of pain: avidya lack of knowledge/ignorance asmita ego raga desire/attachment (to pleasure) dvesha dislike/aversion (to pain) abhinivesha fear of death/clinging to life

The five karmendriya - Organs of action: organs of excretion, organs of generation, legs, arms, speech organs Day 1: Upavishtha Konasana – the anus is a karmendriya

The nine antaraya – Obstacles: vyadhi (disease), styana (lethargy), samshaya (doubt), pramada (heedlessness), alasya (laziness), avirati (inattention), bhrantidarshana (mistaken notions), alabdabhumikatva (instability), anavasthitva (backsliding). These are accompanied by duhkha (pain), daurmanasya (depression), angam ejayatva (shakiness of the limbs) shvasa prashvasa (the breath).

YS p.18, LOY pp.24-26, YGFW p.38 Day 6: Urdhva Dhanurasana – Geeta spoke about fear and neck pain. She listed, explained and gave examples of each of these obstacles.

Day 2 Tadasana – the person’s legs were trembling – this is angam ejayatva.

YS 2.3 – 2.9 pp.105-111, LOY pp.25-26 Day 4: Standing poses – we are so much in avidya; avidya is the mother of the kleshas. Back pain can be from fear complex - abhinivesha.

The five jnanendriya - Organs of perception: nose, tongue, eyes, skin, ears YS 1.2 pp.45-48, YGFW p.28 Day 1: Janu Sirsasana concave – see which eye dominates; that side body extends more. (Here the eyes seemed to become agents of action as well as perception) Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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Important new rules for teachers concerning Iyengar yoga therapy Therapeutic or remedial applications of yoga are an important aspect of Iyengar yoga, as can be seen at the medical classes held at the RIMYI in Pune. In 2009, Mr Iyengar wrote to Iyengar Yoga Associations about the levels of qualification, experience and maturity that he requires of teachers who wish to do this kind of therapeutic work. His letter coincided with important developments in the UK concerning a national register for yoga therapists, so we were able to write to Mr Iyengar for his views on this, at the same time as clarifying the new requirements for teachers who wish to offer yoga therapy.

Mr Iyengar has told us that teachers may “undergo [an] apprentice course in the remedial method at Intermediate Junior Level 2, and when they apply for Junior 3 there will be a gap of a year or two and probably by that time they may develop maturity. Though Junior Level III people can handle, I think they should take the advice of the senior teachers through communication and teach accordingly so that 12

records can be maintained how various diseases are guided through yogic therapy. This can be built up for the future generation through publication so that they get the basic idea of handling remedial cases.

Regarding registration, I think senior teachers and Senior Intermediate 1 level should get registered. I think this is the best way to go in a uniform way. The therapy conducted in Junior 3 may be treated as a training period for registration and when they get through in Senior 1, they get registered.�

From now on, all teachers will be required to apply to IYA (UK) for approval to offer yoga therapy to students either in a general yoga class or in a class which has been set up specifically for yoga therapy or pregnancy.

Introductory and Intermediate Junior Level 1 For all teachers of Intermediate Junior Level 1 and below the situation has not altered and there is still no question of doing remedial work with students. The insurance option

for yoga therapy continues to be unavailable to these teachers.

Intermediate Junior Level 2 Up to now Intermediate Junior Level 2 teachers have been permitted to take on remedial work but Mr Iyengar’s new ruling has changed that situation.

So now, under the new definition, Intermediate Junior Level 2 teachers will only be able to take remedial work in the presence of a teacher qualified for that work.

Mr Iyengar recognises that there are some Intermediate Junior Level 2 teachers who already have been teaching therapy classes. So, exceptions to the rule may be possible in some cases and each application for approval will be considered on its own merits, but it is expected that Intermediate Junior Level 2 teachers who are permitted to continue working in an existing therapy situation will seek to upgrade to Intermediate Junior Level 3 where feasible.

Intermediate Junior Level 3 Intermediate Junior Level 3 teachers with existing therapy

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classes may continue but will be expected to be in regular communication with a senior teacher experienced in therapy work. They will also be expected to attend medical classes at RIMYI as soon as practicable, if they have not already done so.

Intermediate Senior Level 1 and above Intermediate Senior Level 1 teachers and above may take yoga therapy classes and will be eligible to go on the register of yoga therapists, but will need to attend medical classes in RIMYI as soon as they can, if they have not already done so.

Pregnancy Classes Mr Iyengar has told us that the same rules will apply for teachers running classes specifically for pregnancy as for therapy classes.

Insurance The standard insurance arranged

by IYA (UK) will no longer automatically include cover for yoga therapy or pregnancy classes.

These options will now be available separately to teachers approved by the IYA (UK) for therapy work when they renew in 2010 and thereafter.

Every teacher who has been approved by IYA (UK) to offer Iyengar yoga therapy will need to purchase separate therapy insurance. This could include: • Teachers undertaking or assisting in classes (including one-to-one), which have been

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set up specifically to deal with medical conditions or pregnancy; • Teachers who meet the new eligibility criteria and who choose not to set up specific therapy classes but wish to offer yoga therapy in a general class situation.

• Teachers who do not meet the new eligibility criteria but who wish to continue to offer yoga therapy to existing Iyengar yoga students who attend their classes.

CNHC Register, BCYT and Yoga Therapists For many years, IYA(UK) has been working as part of the British Council for Yoga Therapy on the establishment of minimum standards for yoga therapists who wish to join the Register of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council.

The CNHC (www.cnhc.org.uk) has as its key function to enhance public protection; it has been developed largely by complementary healthcare practitioners, with support from the Prince's Foundation for Inte-

grated Health. The Department of Health has supported the CNHC throughout its start-up period and is committed to establishing the CNHC as the national voluntary regulator in the complementary healthcare field. At least seven different complementary therapies will be represented on the Register.

The CNHC Register is already in operation, and it opened to Yoga Therapists on January 4th 2010. Only suitably qualified Yoga Therapists will be eligible to go on the Register, and IYA (UK) has offered to verify the eligibility of any applicants to the CNHC Register who come from within our membership. We anticipate that this will include those Senior teachers who have attended medical classes in RIMYI (as Mr Iyengar mentions, above), and are IYA (UK) teacher members in good standing (with up-to-date insurance and continuing professional development), and also hold a valid first aid certificate.

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will follow soon. Registration is voluntary – it is not a requirement of IYA (UK), nor of the UK government – but it may carry advantages. However, it is primarily a regulatory mechanism, not a promotional directory. The BCYT continues its working relationship with the CNHC, and IYA(UK) remains part of BCYT. If you would like to get involved in this work, or wish for more information immediately about these matters, please contact IYA (UK) Vice-Chair, Ros Bell.

Ros Bell (r.j.bell@open.ac.uk; 02083409899)

Committee for Yoga Therapy Finally, the IYA (UK) is setting up a standing committee specifically to deal with yoga therapy issues, to coordinate and facilitate the sharing of information and to set up a support network for therapy teachers. For this committee we will be looking for teachers with commitment, experience of yoga therapy work and an interest in improving the quality of provision. If you think you may be interested please contact IYA (UK) Secretary Helen White.

Helen White (01132746463; white.helen@btinternet.com).

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essential for all teachers teaching in a therapy situation to get in touch explaining the full circumstances of their therapy work, including:

1. Certificate level 2. Therapy training (e.g Stephanie Courses, RIMYI Medical classes, other), 3. How long involved in yoga therapy 4. Number of therapy classes (including pregnancy) 5. Number of students in those classes 6. What conditions are being treated 7. How long the classes have been running 8. How many teachers are involved 9. If not teaching specific classes, give details of any therapy work undertaken in regular classes.

10. Whether receiving regular support or advice from a more senior teacher and if so, who.

Please contact Alan Brown with this information without delay as failure to do so may affect your right to run therapy classes and your insurance.

The Bellur Trust We are pleased to announce that we have recently sent £11,221 to Guruji for the Bellur Trust. About £4000 was raised at last year's convention but the rest has come from individuals, Institutes and Centres around the UK and Ireland. Guruji has written to us saying: "Please convey my grateful thanks to all those who donated for this noble cause".

The IYA (UK) is very keen to continue to raise money for Bellur, but we need someone to coordinate our fund-raising activities. If you think you may be interested in this role, please contact the Secretary, Helen White (01132746463; white.helen@btinternet.com).

Write to 23 Middleton, Cowling, W Yorks BD22 0DQ or email alan@dianalan.plus.com

What teachers doing therapy work must now do The new rules will come into operation immediately when membership and insurance renewal are due in 2010. It is 14

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Iyengar Yoga Development Fund

by Helen White The Iyengar Yoga Development Fund (IYDF) has been set up to fund teachers to work with people who would not normally be able to afford or access yoga classes and could benefit a great deal from the positive outcomes of regular yoga practice.

Every certificated Iyengar yoga teacher pays an annual sum to the Iyengar Yoga Association UK (IYA (UK)) for the use of the Iyengar Yoga Certification Mark: 60% of this money goes towards development projects like schools and hospitals in the village of Bellur, India, where Mr Iyengar was born. The remaining 40% is used for the Development Fund, and a part goes towards the Iyengar yoga archives project. As the income stream for these classes is sustainable, we are able to offer a long term commitment to running the classes if funding cannot be sourced elsewhere.

The IYDF supports teachers with a range of different students, including prisoners, a deaf club, special needs students, and vulnerable women in a refuge. There is a committee who agree the requests for funding.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

The latest supported class to start is with Caroline Kennedy, who is teaching in a carers’ centre in Haringay. Caroline asked her class for comments, and the following quotes are a lovely example of how yoga helps people: “Since starting Yoga at the carers centre I have felt better and am a lot more flexible” ”I have just had my first class I found it relaxing and refreshing. It is good to focus on something other than my caring responsibility”

”I'm enjoying the classes and it has helped me relaxing” ”I really enjoyed the yoga. I look forward every Monday morning it helps me a lot to relax and socialise [lovely]”

If you have a passion to help vulnerable members of the community, do get in touch and ask about IYDF funding.

Things you need to know: • teachers will be paid £40 per class • classes can either be free, or teachers can choose to make a small charge to the students

which would be subtracted from the £40 teacher payment • the classes should be arranged through an organisation in your local area that works with people who would not normally be able to access yoga classes or who are deprived in some way • the host organisation will be responsible for identifying students and publicising classes • if possible, the host organisation will provide a venue • the classes will be for beginners and will use minimal equipment • teachers need to be qualified to Junior Intermediate Level 1 or higher • if there is a remedial aspect to the classes, please see the announcement about remedial classes in this issue of the IYN • classes can be funded indefinitely subject to the availability of the teacher, the co-operation of the host project and that the students remain eligible for IYDF classes Do get in touch with me for more information!

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Assessments: Failure and Success

by Alan Brown The first part of this article is for the 30% or so of candidates at all levels who every year fail their assessment – just remember you are not alone!

I am currently the Chair of the Assessment and Teacher Training Committee of IYA(UK) and our job is to deal with all matters to do with Iyengar Yoga assessment and teacher training in this country. This includes reviewing and updating procedures and syllabuses for the various levels of assessment which we do in line with the guidelines received from Pune.

We have done a tremendous amount of work to formalise the whole process to make it as fair as we possibly can and to try to ensure candidates are well treated and have a positive experience of assessment.

At Introductory assessments there are three assessors and a moderator. Each assessor marks the candidates independently without communication with the other assessors and these marks are then recorded by the moderator. There is generally a good understanding of the required standard by the assessors and a high level of agreement in the marks but in the rare cases where there is disagreement, the moderator will lead a discussion and guide the assessors towards a decision. A similar process takes place when a candidate’s marks are borderline and a decision has to be taken as to whether to pass or fail.

At Intermediate and Senior levels the system is very similar but there are only two assessors and a moderator.

Assessors are only human and so occasionally they will make mistakes, but all the assessors of the IYA are very experienced Iyengar yoga teachers who have, without exception, been assessed themselves at least five times and fully appreciate what it feels like to be on the other side of the clipboard. In my experience they are well meaning and sympathetic to the candidates and don’t fail anybody without good reason.

Every year there are always some candidates who, finding it hard to accept they have failed, lodge an

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appeal. Despite all our best efforts to ensure fairness in the system mistakes are made from time to time and appeals are sometimes allowed for procedural irregularities which cause the candidates not to receive the treatment they have a right to expect. The appeal process was set up so there would be an avenue of redress in such cases. We do not allow appeals just because the candidate disagrees with their result.

It is important that all candidates understand this because if such a thing was allowed there would be no respect for the system and it would quickly crumble.

Therefore it is clearly stated on the assessment application form that the candidate agrees to abide by the assessors’ decision. Successful candidates feel pleased and proud to gain their certificate and never contest the sound judgement of the assessors, yet some failed candidates will take issue with that judgement and complain bitterly about the unfairness of their result.

Would these same people have felt pride in their achievement if they had passed? If so then by the same token they should surely have the humility to accept the result if they fail.

Of course it is understandable that people feel upset when they fail an assessment and it is an experience many of us have been through and can empathise with: The disappointment, hurt and humiliation; the disbelief and indignation that so-and-so could have passed when we didn’t; the feelings of resentment and injustice.

I say ‘us’ because I have experienced all of this and so I know how difficult it is to come to terms with failing and understand the reasons for it. But I now see the assessment I failed as the one that taught me the most.

As a teacher trainer myself I have one trainee who has just taken his Level 1 assessment for the third time and finally succeeded. He has suffered all the agonies of disappointment and questioned more than once whether it was worth his while continuing, but he is now cheerfully embarking on Level 2 with a pragmatic view of however long it takes. His argument is ‘you can’t lose’ because he sees the value to himself of all Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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the extra personal attention he gets on teacher training and even if he is not yet ready to teach he is gaining immeasurably from the benefits of the yoga. It may be difficult to adopt such calm pragmatism when so much time and money has been spent on training and all hopes and desires directed for so long towards the goal of passing an assessment. But it is a good attitude and one that is wholly in keeping with the philosophy of yoga, which warns us to work diligently but not to be attached to the result.

For the second part of this article I would like to talk about those successful candidates who are now thinking of going on for higher levels of assessment.

We are extremely fortunate that we have been given a system of eight levels of assessment based on an ingenious scheme of progressively more difficult work.

The first two levels of the Introductory teaching syllabus give us the essential foundation of asanas in all the different categories and equip us with the knowledge to teach at a basic level of safety and competence. The continuing three levels of Intermediate Junior and three levels of Intermediate Senior provide us with a vehicle for continuing learning; to deepen our knowledge and bring more depth and maturity to our teaching.

The minimum requirement to progress to Junior Intermediate is to have held an Introductory certificate for 18 months. Because of the timing of our assessments this means in reality that an Introductory teacher has to wait nearly two and a half years before going in for the first level of Junior Intermediate. After that the next two levels may be taken in subsequent years. Once Junior Intermediate Level 3 has been gained the system then requires a further 18 months before embarking onto the Senior levels with the additional requirement that the candidate has visited the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in India at least once. The timing of our assessments mean that there will be a gap of at least 20 months between Junior Intermediate 3 and Senior level 1.

Mr. Iyengar has told us that these minimum periods between the assessments are for those with exceptional talent and for most of us it will take longer to gain the necessary flexibility, strength and intelligence in our bodies to be ready to progress to the next level. There is also the matter of teaching ability to consider because each level of assessment requires not only the skill to perform more difficult Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

asanas but also a greater degree of maturity and understanding in teaching. Unfortunately there is often a tendency to try to race through the levels without fully consolidating the work of the preceding level and then the candidate runs the risk of failing their assessment or, much more worrying, hurting themselves - an all too common occurrence for those who race against the clock to achieve positions their bodies are not ready for.

It may be because the assessment programme has become linked to status in many people’s minds and either because of personal ambition or encouragement from their teachers that some are feeling pressured to enter when they are not properly prepared.

It is a fine line and I don’t want to give the impression I am discouraging anybody from going for assessments, but I do feel it is important not to rush into them. I know from my own experience how long it takes to assimilate each level and, once gained, the new work has to be absorbed into one’s regular practice and incorporated into day-to-day teaching for some time to acquire the maturity that only experience gives – as in passing a driving test it is only after the qualification is gained that the real learning begins.

My simple point is that it is a pity to miss out on the marvellous opportunity for learning which has been presented to us by rushing the work or skimming too quickly over it in the desire to achieve the end result or more sadly still, forcing our bodies and causing injuries which may set us back years. After twenty two years of teaching I now hold a Senior 2 certificate and I have been carefully working towards Senior 3 for a few years: It contains some very difficult asanas and I am still quite a way off some of them but am greatly enjoying the process of practising them and marking the gradual improvement that brings me closer to their eventual achievement. I am hoping to go in for it next year but I said that last year so we will see. In any case there is still plenty from the other levels that I am working to improve – to be perfectly honest with you I can’t yet complete every posture from Introductory level!

So in both success and failure, let us not forget that the assessment programme is there for yoga and not the other way round.

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Professional Development Days

by Judi Sweeting Do you remember previous incarnations Professional Development (PD) Days? First we all experienced "Revalidation Days", superceded by "Exchange of Learning Days" and ending up with Professional Development Days! In 2004 there were just 12 PD Days held annually and now there are 17 centres for 2010. I am hoping that after you have read this article you will want to get in touch with the area organiser of your local PD Day and book yourself a place!

2004: We covered all the changes to the Introductory, Junior and Senior Syllabi received from Guruji in Pune. This was a huge task and of great importance to all teachers. 2005: The subject was "Links and preparation leading to Junior Intermediate asanas from a sound grounding in Introductory 1 & 2". 2006: Pranayama - the morning session concentrated on preparation for Pranayama, the correct props for supine asanas and accurate positioning. The afternoon session covered supine Pranayama, seated Pranayama, Brahmari, Ujayi, Viloma and correct fingers for Digital Pranayama. This PD Day aimed to prepare teachers attending classes at RIMIYI in Pune for the Thursday Pranayama classes with Geetaji and make her task more rewarding! 2007: "Purva Pratana Sthiti" Backward extensions (Introductory 2 - Junior Intermediate 1 & 2.) and (Junior 3 & Senior Intermediate 1, 2 and 3). 2008: "Teaching pregnant ladies" for a long morning session, followed by "Teaching children" for the afternoon.

2009: "Paschima Pratana Sthiti" Forward extensions, all levels. 2010 will cover "Parivrtta Sthiti"lateral extensions.

PD Days are "intense" days and we do our best to be thorough and help everyone understand.

There is always an opportunity to ask questions and discuss. PD Days are there for all teachers.

Introductory teachers are encouraged to come

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along, maybe not during the first year after qualifying, but certainly after that!

We all need to constantly update our knowledge, for our own sakes and for our students. The work covered is always taken from direct experience of being taught by the Iyengar family in Pune.

Recommendations for the subject matter has come from our membership and senior teachers who frequently go to local classes in Pune. It is the one essential workshop you should put down in your diary! Please don't let "nerves" prevent you from coming, you may have to teach, presumably you are doing this on a daily basis, so sharing with your peer group is no big deal. As Guruji would say "just do it!�

There are many benefits for you - renewal of your enthusiasm for your practice - confirmation that you are in fact "on the right track" in your teaching and practice - the enjoyment of seeing your friends and colleagues and the inevitable flashes of humour during the course of the day.

The Moderators are all very experienced senior teachers and travel all around the UK so that you all have the opportunity to be led by someone you may not have been taught by previously.

Lastly, the PD Days contribute to your required hours of "specialised training" and attendance every year tells the IYA (UK) that you are "keeping up to date" and are serious about being an Iyengar Yoga Teacher, something we should all be very proud to say. It is our duty to pass on an authentic experience of Iyengar Yoga to our students, after all that is what we all trained and were assessed to do. Make sure you book your PD Day for 2010!

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Institutes: Or, What Happened to the Regions?

Once upon a time there were two associations for Iyengar yoga in Britain. The B.K.S.Iyengar Yoga Teachers’ Association (BKSIYTA) was for teachers, and Light on Yoga Association (LOYA) was for all practitioners of Iyengar Yoga.

LOYA was a charity, and under its umbrella, various local groups were instituted, and became locally run non-profit making Institutes, such as AIYI, BDIIY, IIYS, NELIIY, ORIYI and so on. None of these institutes had buildings; they were institutes by virtue of their constitution, organised locally, and sought only to cover their costs.

BKSIYTA was also a not-forprofit organisation, dedicated to support the teaching and promotion of Iyengar Yoga throughout the UK and the training and assessment of teachers. For ease of communication and to foster a sense of community, BKSIYTA was divided into regions – North West, Central, South Central, South & West, Scotland & North East; London, having the largest conglomeration of teachers, was divided into two regions – North Thames and South Thames.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

by Judith Richards

At the same time, around the country there were and are long-established centres and institutes for Iyengar Yoga.

Some, like Manchester and District Institute for Iyengar Yoga (MDIIY), were communally run along similar lines to the LOYA institutes; others, like IYI (Maida Vale) have charitable status but many, like IYISL (South London) and IYIOB (Birmingham) are fundamentally private businesses, providing a living for those who own and run them.

When BKSIYTA and LOYA amalgamated in 2002 to form IYA (UK), all the institutes in the country that were run on a not-for-profit basis, which included all the old LOYA institutes and MDIIY, were invited to affiliate to IYA and make their members, members if IYA. All did, and became Affiliated Institutes. This left many of the private centres and institutes, dedicated to disseminating pure Iyengar Yoga, unacknowledged.

So, for these, in 2006, the IYA introduced the category Affiliated Centres, and the locally run institutes became Member Institutes.

What we have now is a national organisation of

teachers and practitioners of Iyengar Yoga, IYA (UK), whose members are either individual members or members of Member Institutes. Although the old BKSIYTA regions covered the entire country and everyone was part of a region, this is not the case with the IYA Member Institutes. Many people enjoy being part of a Member Institute. It provides a sense of belonging to a group which is ‘human sized’, whilst maintaining links with the national association, and connections with neighbouring institutes. The smaller groupings that are member institutes can communicate more easily with the people they represent; they can put on local events and serve local needs.

The desirability of locally run institutes is shown by the number of new Member Institutes that have been created since the original group which affiliated to IYA when it was formed. These include Sheffield, Kent, Dorset & Hampshire, Glasgow & West of Scotland and, most recently, Dublin and Munster in the Republic of Ireland. The regions are coming back!

I am writing this in Surrey, on

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the fringes of South West London. By the time you read this, there will be another Member Institute, serving the Western half of what was once the South Thames region – the London (SW) and Surrey Iyengar Yoga Institute. We have a number of Affiliated Centres in the area, and we’re coming together to create this institute.

We have been greatly encouraged by our students and colleagues who have come forward with assistance, expertise and great enthusiasm for the project. I have heard the same story from many of the member institutes around the country.

I hope this piece has gone some way to dispel any confusion that may have existed about what constitutes an institute, and encourages you to become part of your local institute. If you haven’t got a local institute, why not find one?

If you belong to an IYA (UK) Member Institute, your Institute will pay your IYA (UK) fee out of your subscription to them; this automatically makes you a member of IYA (UK). The Member Institutes are: AIYI (Avon), BDIYI (Bradford), CIYI (Cambridge), DHIYI (Dorset & Hampshire), DIYI (Dublin), ESIYI (East Scotland), GWSIYI (Glasgow & West Scotland), IIYS (Sussex), KIYI (Kent), LIYI (Liverpool), MCIYI (Midlands), MDIIY (Manchester), MIYI (Munster), NEIIY (North 20

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East), NELIYI (North London), ORIYI (South Central), SADIYA (Sheffield) and SWIYI (South West).

Affliated centres are as follows: Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre www.bath-iyengar-yoga.com Kirsten & Richard Agar Ward Tel: 01225 319699 East Clare Yoga Centre www.eastclareyoga.com Susanne, Pheme or Paul Tel: +353 (0)61 640923

Edinburgh Iyengar Yoga Centre www.yoga-edinburgh.com Elaine Pidgeon 0131 229 6000

Iyengar Yoga Institute Maida Vale www.iyi.org.uk Alan Reynolds Tel: 020 7624 3080 Knutsford Iyengar Yoga Centre www.KnutsfordYoga.co.uk Margaret Carter Tel: 01925 758382

North Surrey Centre for Iyengar Yoga www.yogadham.co.uk Judith Richards Tel: 0208 398 1741 Putney Iyengar Yoga Centre julieyogaputney@yahoo.co.uk Julie Hodges 0208 704 5454 Sarva Iyengar Yoga Institute www.sarva.co.uk Sheila Haswell or Ally Hill Tel: 01494 521107

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Letters Page Dear Editor

Dear Editor

I am writing to you with regard to the obituary “Goodbye and thank you to Pam Butler” published in Spring 2010 issue of Iyengar Yoga News.

Car-Free Teaching

Indeed, Pam was a sincere and hardworking teacher who never drew attention to herself; however, it should also be mentioned that she was the one who officially initiated the Iyengar Yoga Teacher Training Course in Greece in June 2008 under the umbrella of the UK association and with the blessings of Guruji.

Pam would inspire us with her kindness and generosity, going out of her way to help us progress in our practice.

Pam will also be greatly missed by the Greek trainees.

Yours faithfully, George Batistakis Trainee teacher Athens, Greece

PS: Following correspondence with Guruji, Penny Chaplin kindly offered to run the teacher training course as of May 2009.

Most Iyengar teachers would, I am sure, not allow smoking in their classes or in their car.

However, pollution from cars is just as bad for health and wellbeing – that's one reason why I live without one, and as yoga practitioners we can all relate to the importance of healthy living.

I teach six yoga classes a week, three of them in Sherborne, north Dorset, and three in Yeovil, five hilly miles from my house – I commute to all of them by bicycle.

Doing this takes only a small amount of planning. With two panniers and a luggage rack, I can carry most of the equipment I need on the bike: blocks, mat, belts and blanket, and occasionally a bolster as well. I also store some equipment, such as blocks, at the teaching venues.

For the local classes, I use an ordinary pedal bike, but for the Yeovil trip I have an electric bike, which does a great job of pushing me up the hills, though I still pedal as well.

The result is that I arrive fresh at each class, don’t have to worry about traffic jams, parking or the horrendous cost of running a car, or for that matter, contributing to the congestion and pollution that lead to stress and poor health.

Anna Finch Sherborne, Dorset

If you have any letters to the editor please email them to editor@iyengaryoga.org.uk Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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IYA(UK) ANNUAL CONVENTION - NOTTINGHAM 30 APRIL to 3 MAY 2010 Nottingham University is the ideal venue for our annual convention. It is easily accessible from all parts of the UK and only 10 minutes taxi ride from the station. The campus sits in lovely rolling green grounds with woods and a lake which you can enjoy in your breaks.

Accommodation is in modern student rooms, almost all with en suite facilities.

We anticipate putting everyone in en suite rooms unless there is exceptional demand for places, in which case they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

The food will be totally vegetarian. We have worked with the university caterers to provide nutritious and varied menus, and those with special dietary requirements should be able to find what they need on the menu.

ZUBIN ZARTHOSHTIMANESH, Mumbai.

I began yoga, when very young, thanks largely to my father. My father (who suffers from ankylosing spondylitis) met our Guruji, Yogacharya B K S Iyengar, in 1975 and realised right away that he had met a true healer. Although he was his last resort, Guruji was the first who gave him a glimpse of true health. My father not only stayed with yoga, but urged his family, including me, to take to yoga. This initial introduction helped to set me on the path of yoga. After completing my B.A, yoga became my calling and I committed to teaching it full-time.

Today, after 17 years of teaching and having learnt and travelled with my Guruji to participate in Conventions in Michigan (USA), Crystal Palace, (UK) and Paris (France), I am aware of the responsibility to help spread the ethos of yoga to our friends, families, communities and society in general. My teaching commitments have taken me to Canada, US, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Belgium, China and Rishikesh.

From 1998 - 2001, I wrote a fortnightly health column, ‘The Yoga Way,’ in Sunday Mid-day. Some of my other articles have also appeared in the Times of India, Indian Express, Asian Age, Sunday Review and The Afternoon Despatch And Courier.

At present, I teach and run my own yoga centre, Iyengar Yogabhyasa, at Matunga in central Mumbai, which imparts a yogic education to more than 400 students.

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ZUBIN ZARTHOSHTIMANESH – UK TOUR 2010 The Convention

Friday 30th April to Monday 3rd May Fri – Sun 8am to 6pm; Mon 8am to 1pm Nottingham University University Park Campus Iyengar Yoga Association(UK) www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

North East Institute of Iyengar Yoga

Wednesday 5th May 10am to 3.30pm & 6.30 to 8.30pm Park View Community Association Church Chare, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham DH3 3PZ. Contact: gaelhenry@btinternet.com

Dublin Iyengar Yoga Institute

Sat 8th & Sun 9th May 10 am to 4 pm Milltown Institute, Sandford Rd, Dublin 6 Annette Cahill, 45 Arnold Grove, Glenageary, Co Dublin. dubliniyengaryoga@gmail.com

Avon Iyengar Yoga Institute

Tuesday 11th May 11am - 5 pm & Wednesday 12th May 6 - 9 pm Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre Beehive Yard, Walcot Street, Bath BA1 5BT See www.bath-iyengar-yoga.com

Kent Iyengar Yoga Institute

Sat 15th & Sun 16th May 9am to 4.30pm Leigh Technology Academy Green St, Green Rd, Dartford LONDON DA1 1QE Louise Robinson weezrob@googlemail.com www.kentyoga.org.uk

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IYA (UK) Reports Chair

- Philippe Harari

Yoga Therapy Following Mr Iyengar’s statements about changes to the criteria for yoga therapy, we have drafted a statement explaining the new rules to our teachers. This has been approved by Mr Iyengar and sent to all our teachers. There is also a copy printed in this magazine.

Accreditation of Iyengar teachers Institutions that employ yoga teachers sometimes require a recognised national qualification, and our own Iyengar certificate does not count as that. We are seriously looking at setting up a system with City and Guilds whereby our teachers can gain a C&G yoga teacher qualification that will be recognised in the UK and overseas.

International Archive In September 2007 the IYA (UK) Executive Council agreed to put the sum of £10,000 from the Iyengar Yoga Development Fund (the 40% of teachers’ Certification Mark fees that comes to the IYA) towards a project to create an international Iyengar Yoga Archive.

This would involve scanning in the wealth of photographs and clippings that are currently sitting in boxes in RIMYI, and also making videos and audio recording available. The archive would be disseminated by means of a website. It has been hard to get this project off the ground but things are finally beginning to get going. We are in the process of setting up a committee to coordinate this project, with representatives from national Associations from around the world.

Republic of Ireland Mr Iyengar has asked us to try to encourage the formation of an independent Irish Association as soon as possible and also to hold Introductory Level 2 assessments in Ireland (rather than in the UK) as long as there are enough candidates to make this viable.

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Chanting booklet We have almost finished work on a booklet containing all the chants and invocations that Geetaji led at the convention in London last May. The booklet will be accompanied by a CD containing recordings of all of the chants.

Convention 2011 We have decided to hold next year’s convention in Glasgow and to invite Jawahar as the visiting teacher (subject to Mr Iyengar’s approval).

New honorary member Rayner Curtis has just been made an honorary member of the IYA (UK) in recognition of her 40 years of devotion to Iyengar yoga in the UK, to the sustained growth of Iyengar Yoga in her area of Sussex, and to her students.

Upgrading of Certification Following correspondence between Jeanne Maslen and Guruji about the possibility of upgrading some of our most senior teachers, Jeanne has prepared the following statement: At Guruji’s request, the following named teachers who have long-standing teaching experiences for the IYA (UK) are to be known as The Most Senior Leading Teachers of the UK: Tricia Booth, Penny Chaplin, Penderell Reed, Margaret Austin, Elaine Pidgeon, Silvia Prescott, Genie Hammond All Senior Level 3 teachers under the age of 60 who wish to be upgraded must send photographs to Guruji of their Advanced level practice and their teaching of the difficult poses with mature mind to test their calibre to Advanced level.

Youngsters who are below the age of 60 and are considering taking the assessment for Intermediate Senior Certificates can practice the Advanced poses as listed.

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Membership Secretary

Treasurer

- Pam Mackenzie

- Brenda Noble-Nesbitt

I have listed below the membership fees and assessment fees for 2010/11 that were previously reported in the Autumn IYN, together with the now published Euro fees.

New Teachers What is known precisely is that although there were fewer candidates than normal for the Introductory Level 2 assessments held in October 2009, by the end of November, 37 had joined IYA UK as teachers. This is at least 20 more teachers than by the same time last year, which is good news.

I reported in the Autumn IYN that the financial accounts for 2008/09 would be put forward to the Executive Council in September 2009.

However, the accounts were delayed and will be presented to the Executive Council in January 2010, with the financial accounts for the 2009 Convention. One item I am pleased to report on from the 2009 Convention is the amount of £4,027 which was raised for the Bellur Trust.

Together with all of the other donations we received from individuals, Institutes and Centres this year, we were able to send Guruji a total of £11,221. Well done and a big thank you to all who contributed.

Membership Fees Institute members Individual members Individual members – overseas supplement Individual teachers Teachers supplement Teachers concessionary rate Affiliated centres Assessments Fees Introductory I Introductory II Junior Intermediate Senior Intermediate

Teacher Training Registration

£ 6.25 16.50

16.50 16.50 36.00 21.50 100.00 60.00 95.00 95.00 95.00 35.00

The Certification Mark fee for 2010/11 is £31 (€34). The fee is currently based on US$50 and the exchange rate that was in place on 1 November 2009.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

Membership figures for 2009/10 Although we knew that the new database had tremendous potential waiting to be unlocked, by the end of November 2009 it was still not possible to be exact about the number of members. However, it was clear at the time that approximately 1000 teachers and approximately1500 non-teachers had renewed. Also it is pleasing to report that at least 700 teachers had renewed on-line.

Institute Membership There are now 18 Member Institutes and 9 Private Centres affiliated to IYA (UK). All members of Member Institutes do not join IYA (UK) directly because the membership fee is paid via their Institute. Members of Affiliated Centres must join and pay for IYA (UK) membership individually.

Spring & Membership Renewal time Renewal time will be with us again shortly and a big thank you must go for all those teacher and non-teacher members who renewed on-line last year and for the patience shown by those who had problems with this process. The plan is to ask all those who did renew on-line to continue to use this method of payment. Also it is important for teachers to renew their membership by the 31st March, annually and this is the most efficient and fastest method of renewal.

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Secretary Report

- Helen White

Hello!

Since my last report for the IYN, I have been contacted by the secretary of the Iyengar Yoga Association of South East Asia and East Asia, asking for help and advice about the work of the Secretary. They have just set up their brand new association, covering 12 countries in the region (see www.iyengaryoga.asia). In answering, I realised how lucky we are in the UK, with a well established Association, and the hard work of Jess, Jo and Katie to keep everything ticking over efficiently. I do hope they have every success with their new association.

The Iyengar Yoga Development Fund continues to receive enquiries. We will be supporting a teacher working with the homeless in Cambridge in the New Year, and have other enquiries in pipeline.

Following the Executive Council meeting on 23 January 2010, we are delighted to welcome the South West London and Surrey Iyengar Yoga Institute (SWL&SIYI) as a new member Institute of the IYA(UK). We send them best wishes for their launch and inaurgural event on 16 May 2010. For more information on SWL&SIYI, please contact Diane Drain on 01737 362655, email dianedrain@btinternet.com.

26

Membership Renewals

- Katie Owens

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR ALL MEMBERS OF IYA (UK)

RENEW ONLINE RENEW ON TIME!

It’s membership renewal time, please pay your membership fees online as soon as possible before the 31 March deadline

Renewing online is straightforward and will help us save time and paper. You can renew by visiting our website:www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

Log in using your email address as your username and your membership number as your password (unless you have already changed your password) and you will be given the option to renew. Please enter your card details carefully.

If we do not have an email address for you, you should have received a form through the post by the time you read this.

If you would prefer to renew on paper, please download a form from our website. If you need a form to be sent to you in the post, please phone us to request one on 07510 326997 and leave a message including your name and membership number.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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Area

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Professional Development Days

South West SWIYI Chagford DHIYI

West & South Wales AIYI Greater London & South East NELIYI IIYS

IYIMV IYISL

North West Region MDIIY & LDIYI

East Central & North SADIYA & BDIYI

North East & Cumbria NEIYI West Central MCIYI

South Central ORIY

Scotland Edinburgh Glasgow Ireland Dublin

County Sligo

Northern Ireland

Page 27

Organiser

Date

Moderator

Anita Butcher 0136 465 3012 peter.butcher@virgin.net Kim Trowell 01202558049 kimtrowellyoga@gmail.com

17 Oct

Jayne Orton

Edgar Stringer 01249 716235 (Office hours) edgarstringer@gmail.com

27 Nov

Penny Chaplin

Nancy Clarke 02084420617 nancyclarke@btinternet.com Brian Ingram 01444 236714 brianiyoga@tesco.net Barbara Norvell 02076243080 barbara.norvell@googlemail.com Glenys Shepherd 0208 6940155 iyisl@btclick.com

7 Nov

Sheila Haswell

20 Nov

Margaret Austin

25 Sept

11 Sept 23 May

Mary Heath (acting Moderator)

Richard Agar-Ward Judith Jones

Janice Yates 0161 368 3614 janice.Yates@sky.com

20 Nov

Judi Sweeting

Martell Linsdell 01943 870618 martell@talktalk.net

27 Nov

Tricia Booth

Dorothea Irvin 0191 3888593 gdirvin@talktalk.net

20 June

Julie Brown

Jayne Orton 0121 608 2229 jayne@iyengaryoga.uk.com

13 Nov

Brenda Booth

Sheila Haswell 01494 521107 sheila@sarva.co.uk

20 Nov

Elaine Pidgeon

Marianne Farish 0131 454 0334 mazvingo@hotmail.com Liz Sumner 0141 586 9677 liz.sumner@ntlworld.com

19 June

Dave Browne

Margaret Cashman 086 803 1885 margaret.cashman@gmail.com Helen Gillan 0719146171 helengillan@eircom.net Margaret Gunn-King 028 2586 1202 mcgk120hotmail.com

5 Sept

Sallie Sullivan (acting Moderator) Marion Kilburn

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

27 Nov

7 Nov

6 March

Diane Coats

Pen Reed

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Teacher Trainers NAME Kirsten Agar Ward Richard Agar Ward Gordon Austin Margaret Austin Rosamund Bell Brenda Booth Tricia Booth Alan Brown Julie Brown David Browne Joe Burn Sophie Carrington Gerry Chambers Penny Chaplin Diane Coats Lyn Farquhar Helen Gillan George Glen Helen Graham Sheila Green Aisling Guirke Cecilia Harrison Sheila Haswell Julie Hodges Dawn Hodgson Frances Homewood Judith Jones Marion Kilburn Meg Laing Susan Long Alaric Newcombe Christina Niewola Jayne Orton Laurence O'Toole Sasha Perryman Elaine Pidgeon Silvia Prescott Lynda Purvis Pen Reed Judith Richards Ursula Schoonraad Judith Soffa 28

Italics indicate those still training to be Teacher Trainers.

AREA Bath & North East Somerset Bath & North East Somerset Tyne and Wear Tyne and Wear London Kent Derbyshire West Yorkshire Cheshire Tyne and Wear Aberdeen London Bristol London Tyne and Wear Perthshire Co.Sligo Midlothian Glasgow Herefordshire Co.Dublin Nottinghamshire Buckinghamshire London County Durham South Yorkshire Berkshire Manchester MidLothian Essex London Cheshire West Midlands Region tbc Cambridgeshire MidLothian London Bristol Cheshire Surrey London Merseyside

EMAIL TELEPHONE office@bath-iyengar-yoga.com 01225319699 office@bath-iyengar-yoga.com 01225319699 yoga.austin@talktalk.net 01915487457 yoga.austin@talktalk.net 01915487457 r.j.bell@open.ac.uk 02083409899 brendaboothkent@aol.com 01892740876 tricia@booth1.plus.com 01663732927 alan@dianalan.plus.com 01535637359 julie.brownie@virgin.net 01625879090 davebrowne100@yahoo.co.uk 01915213470 joe.burn@virgin.net 01224591271 sophie_am_carrington@yahoo.com 02087787640 office@yogawest.co.uk 01179243330 pennyyoga@btopenworld.com 02076244287 coats@ukonline.co.uk 01914154132 01786823174 helengillan@eircom.net 00353719146171 georgeglenok@yahoo.co.uk 01875320765 helengraham88@mac.com 01416420476 sheilagreenyoga@hotmail.co.uk 01981580081 aislingguirke@eircom.net 00353872891664 cecilia.harrison@ntlworld.com01159857692 Sheila@sarva.co.uk 01494711589 julieyogaputney@yahoo.co.uk 02087045454 01325721518 franceshomewood@hotmail.com 01142335753 jjyoga@btinternet.com 0148871838 marionkilburnyoga@hotmail.com 01614429003 m.laing@ed.ac.uk 01316677790 01245421496 alaricnewcombe@yahoo.co.uk02072819491 chris@niewola.com 01260 279565 info@iyengaryoga.uk.com 01216082229 laurence-otoole@online.de 0049264179921 sashaperryman@yahoo.co.uk 01223515929 elaine.pidgeon@virgin.net 01315529871 02076244577 office@yogawest.co.uk 01179243330 penreed24@aol.com 01614271763 judithrich@btinternet.com 02083981741 enquiries@iyyoga.com 02086727315 mail@yogastudio.f9.co.uk 01517094923 Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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Teacher Trainers NAME Sallie Sullivan Judi Sweeting Elizabeth Tonner Judith Van Dop Sue Vassar Ros Wakeford

Italics indicate those still training to be Teacher Trainers.

AREA East Sussex Gloucestershire West Yorkshire Cornwall Somerset Hampshire

EMAIL sallie.sullivan@virgin.net ciyc@talk21.com liztonner@hotmail.com judithvandop@hotmail.com susan.vassar@btinternet.com ros@slomotion.com.au

TELEPHONE 01273478271 01285653742 01484315736 01736360880 01643704260 07860189099

All teachers who are working towards Junior or Senior certificates or who are teaching others need to be familiar with the up-to-date syllabuses for the relevant level. This information is available on the IYA website in the ‘Policy Documents’ section or from the IYA office.

Assessment Passes

Congratulations to all those who gained success in their assessments Intermediate Senior Assessment Intermediate Senior Level 1: Katie Rutherford Intermediate Senior Level 3: Alicia Lester

Introductory Level 2 Harry Ades, Sarah Alexander, Zara Austin, Hannah Benham, Ann Berry, Claire Best, Tristan Binns, Michael Bird, Margaret Blythe, Julie Bolton, Claire Bonnet, Eilish Boyle, Naomi Braybrooke, Catherine Bryan, Leonora Bunyard, Karen Calder, Ailbhe Caliendo, Siona Cameron, Johanna Cartini, Miriam Chambers, Joanne Cook, Sue Cresswell, Tanya de Leersnyder, Jackie

Douglas, Michael Farr, Claire Ferry, Aisling Friel, Rebecca Fullick, Charlotte Gantlett, Sally Ann Gardiner, Victoria Gilroy, Eileen Gogan, Kate Gray, Suzanne Gribble, Alex Gunn, Alaina Halford, Mikey Hall, Joanna Harrison, Sue Hartley, Celia Henebury, Shel Hesketh-Mare, Simon Hill, Peter Hodgson, Kathy Howard, Maria Igual Aparici, Niall Jennings, Liz Kavanagh, Val Kenmir, Jane Lane, Louise Leonard, Tom Logan, Janet Lush, Michelle Mangeolles, Jill McDonald, Jelka Milic, Jenny Mo Ha Wong, Concepta Morrissey, Neeta Naidoo, Ann Nicol, Janine Noblett, Catherine Otway, Neslihan Sine Ozsoy,

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

Honor PenningtonLegh, Louise Percy, Claire Redwood, Jenny Reynish, Rossella Riccoboni, Ivan Robinson, Ralf Russow, Jan Ryder, Nita Shah, Lindsay Shaw, Catherine Simpson, Siobhan Simpson, Lesley SmithLangridge, Saundra Stephen, Ann TookeKirby, Clare Tunstall, Jon Turley, Brian Walker, Louise Wallace, Joanna Willis, Maureen Wray

INTERMEDIATE JUNIOR and SENIOR ASSESSMENTS If you wish to take Junior Intermediate assessment, please contact Jess Wallwork (jess@iyengaryoga. org.uk), who will send you the relevant forms; your application form and fee needs to be returned by 30 September.

For Senior Intermediate assessments, please contact Penny Chaplin (pennyyoga@btopen world.com); the deadline for these applications is 1 May.

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Classes at RIMYI

If you wish to attend classes at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, Pune, you must apply through the IYA (UK). Individual applications sent directly to the RIMYI will not be accepted (people from some other countries with less well established national associations do apply directly to the Institute using a form that they download from the RIMYI website, but this option is not open to people from the UK, and definitely does not result in getting onto classes earlier). The application process is as follows: 1. Download an application form from the IYA (UK) website www.iyengaryoga.org.uk) or (w contact our Office Manager on 020 8269 2595 or at admin@iyengaryoga.org.uk

2. Fill out the form and send with a Bankers Draft for US$150 made out to Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute" to: Penny Chaplin, Flat 1, St. Johns Court, Finchley Road, London NW3 6LL Please do not include photos or personal mail. Please note: For admission, the RIMYI requests that the student’s practice of eight years reflects an understanding of the foundation of Iyengar Yoga. This would include the regular practice of inverted poses (8-10 mins. in the inverted postures), and the regular practise of pranayama.

Women should know what is to be practised during menstruation. All students should have read, at the minimum, the introductory chapter to Light on Yoga 30

and be familiar with the terms and principles covered in that chapter; RIMYI offers one or two months admission. No extensions beyond two months under any circumstances; The total cost is $US400 a month and a $US150 must be paid in advance, with the balance payable on arrival at the RIMYI. The advance deposit is part of the fees and hence not transferable to any other person or course. It is non-refundable. In additon to the balance of $US250 payable on arrival at the RIMYI, you will need to present your letter of confirmation and two photocopies of your passport and visa; Six classes are given per week, each for two hours duration. A schedule will be given on arrival; The last week of each month will be pranayama classes; The classes will be conducted by BKS Iyengar or his daughter or son or by staff members; When applying please include relevant bio-data with any health conditions; Certificates will not be issued at the end of the course; You will need to make your own arrangements for board and lodging; Applications are for individuals only - no groups. However, if you would like to go at the same time as a friend, you should both indicate this clearly on your application form.

3. If you would like a confirmation that your application form and bankers draft has been sent to

the RIMYI, please enclose a s.a.e..

All application forms are automatically forwarded to Pune and there is absolutely no selection process at this stage.

4. When the administrator at RIMYI, Mr Pandurang Rao, receives your application form he will automatically place you on the next available course and send you a confirmation letter.

Please note: The RIMYI receives many applications from all over the world; the waiting list for classes is around two years; You may have to wait from three months to a year to receive your confirmation letter; If your confirmation letter comes direct from India please let Penny know. You will know the letter has come direct from India by the stamp and postmark. If you receive a photocopied letter posted from London then your confirmation letter has gone through Penny and you don’t need to inform her. (Pandu sometimes sends a group of confirmation letters to Penny for her to forward to applicants); Do not ask to change the date you are given unless you have a serious need to do so on compassionate grounds. Please note that there is a $100 charge for changing the date you have booked.

Check the IYA (UK) website for more information, travel details, contact numbers for accommodation etc. www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

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Yoga Rahasya Yoga Rahasya is a quarterly Iyengar yoga journal published in India. Four issues a year are mailed to you, normally starting from the next available issue.

Back copies are sometimes available at £4.00 each.

All teacher members will be invited to subscribe to Yoga Rahasya as part of their renewal process. The cost for a year's subscription to this excellent publication is £16. If you are not a teacher and you wish to subscribe or renew your subscription please send your name, address with post code, telephone number and email address to: Tig Whattler address: 64 Watermoor Road Cirencester Glos. GL7 1LD. email: ciyc@talk21.com

Cheques for £16 payable to IYA (UK)

Please write a separate note listing any back copies you might require. If you need a receipt please include a self addressed and stamped envelope.

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

Corrections

In the last edition of the IYN there were a few omissions and errors and we would like to make the following amendments:

1. The article about Sri Ramanajucharya was written by Kirsten Agar Ward (not Richard Ward as stated). Kirsten would like it noted that the article was an accompaniment to the Guruji Profile of a yogi part 4 as this made reference to Ramanuja's connection with Guruji's family published in an early edition of the IYN.

2. In the article on Teaching Yoga in Mental Health Settings by Laura Potts we left out the references.

Laura refers to the following publication in the first paragraph of her article: Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health (2008) National Guidelines on Integrated Mental Health.

Available for free download at www.fih.org.uk from September 2009.

In the second paragraph of the article, the following words are a direct quote from Guruji and come from Iyengar, B.K.S. (2001). Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health. Dorling Kindersley: "...asanas tone the whole body. They strengthen bones and muscles, correct posture, improve breathing and increase energy. This physical wellbeing has a strengthening and calming impact on the mind."

3. In the article on Breast Feeding by Indira Lopez-Bassols the thanks were omitted. Indira would like to add: I am deeply grateful to Geetaji for her generous guidance and to all my teachers who have taken me from the darkness of ignorance closer to the light of the soul. I would also like to thank Richard Agar Ward for proofreading this article and Jawahar Bangera for all the Sanskrit spellings.

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Chairperson Treasurer Secretary Membership Sec. Vice Chairperson Chair of EC Chair of AT

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Rep.

AIYI BDIYI CIYI DHIYI ESIYI GWSIYI IIYS KIYI LIYI Deputy Treasurer MCIYI MDIIY MDIIY NEIIY NELIYI Constitution Off. ORIYI SADIYA SWIYI RoI Rep RoI Rep Hon Mem Individual Individual Individual Individual Individual

32

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IYA (UK) Executive Council

Name

Philippe Harari Pam Mackenzie Helen White

Email

Telephone

philippe.harari@runbox.com 01223523410 pammackenzie@live.co.uk 02083738356 white.helen@btinternet.com 01132746463 Brenda Noble Nesbitt b.noblenesbitt@gmail.com 01913884118 Ros Bell r.j.bell@open.ac.uk 02083409899 Judith Jones jjyoga@btinternet.com 0148871838 Alan Brown alan@dianalan.plus.com 01535637359 Edgar Stringer edgarstringer@googlemail.com 01249716235 Martell Linsdell martell@talk21.com 01943870618 vacancy Andrea Smith andrea@iyengaryoga.me.uk 02392466750 Linda Head head1@blueyonder.co.uk 01315552651 Liz Sumner lizsumneryoga@googlemail.com 01415869677 Mary Mulligan mulligan558@btinternet.com 01273604588 Brenda Booth brendaboothkent@aol.com Helen Green helengreen124@hotmail.com 01517287207 Prabhakara prabhakara@freeuk.com 01214497496 debrabartholomew@btinternet.com 01706841942 Deb Bartholomew Janice Yates janice.yates@sky.com 01613683614 Gael Henry

Tessa Bull Emma Pinchin

Wendy Weller Davies

Janice Chesher Aisling Guirke Eileen Cameron Elaine Pidgeon Patsy Sparksman Louise Cartledge Diane Goldrei Sharon Klaff Judith Richards

gaelhenry@btinternet.com

tessabull@onetel.com emz40@hotmail.com wendy@wellerdavies.co.uk janicechesher@waitrose.com aisling_guirke@hotmail.com eileencameron@eircom.net elaine.pidgeon@virgin.net patsyyoga@aol.com louise.cartledge@btinternet.com dianegoldrei@googlemail.com sharon.klaff@btopenworld.com judithrich@btinternet.com

01914775904

02083402091 01235820223 01142363039 01872552867

00353872891664

0035312841799 01315529871 02084556366 01428645825 02083981741

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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IYA (UK) Committee Members Committee chairs are in bold. Co-opted (i.e. non-Executive Council) members are in italics.

Management Committee

Philippe Harari, Ros Bell, Alan Brown, Helen White, Pam Mackenzie, Judith Jones, Brenda Noble Nesbitt

Planning

Ros Bell, Alan Brown, Louise Cartledge, Philippe Harari, Juidth Jones, Pam Mackenzie, Brenda Noble Nesbitt, Emma Pinchin, Prabhakara, Helen White

Ethics and Certification

Judith Jones, Elaine Pidgeon, Ros Bell, Penny Chaplin, Pen Reed, Judi Soffa, Judi Sweeting, Tig Whattler

Assessment and Teacher Training

Alan Brown, Debbie Bartholomew, Penny Chaplin, Sheila Haswell, Susan Long, Jayne Orton, Sallie Sullivan, Elizabeth Tonner

Communications & Public Relations

Philippe Harari, John Cotgreave (IYN), Diane Goldrei (PR), Judith Jones (IYN), Mary Mulligan (PR), Lucy Osman (IYN), Tehira Shafiq (IYN).

Moderators

Richard Agar Ward, Margaret Austin, Brenda Booth, Tricia Booth, Julie Brown, Dave Browne, Penny Chaplin, Diane Coats, Sheila Haswell, Judith Jones, Marian Kilburn, Meg Laing, Sasha Perryman, Elaine Pidgeon, Jayne Orton, Pen Reed, Judi Sweeting,

Professional Development Days Co-ordinator

Judi Sweeting

Senior Intermediate Assessment Organiser

Penny Chaplin

Junior Intermediate Assessment Organiser

Elizabeth Tonner

Introductory Assessment Organiser

Sheila Haswell

Archives/Research

Debbie Bartholomew, Suzanne Newcombe, Janice Yates

Conventions/Events

Patsy Sparksman, Tessa Bull, Judith Richards

Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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Iyengar Institutes & Events Listings

Avon

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

Bradford and District

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

Cambridge

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

Dorset and Hampshire

Please contact the events organiser, Kim Trowell on

Dublin (DIYI)

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

East of Scotland

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

Glasgow and West of Scotland

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

Sussex

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

Kent

6 Feb 2010 Marion Kilburn 24 April 2010 Judi Sweeting

Bob Philips yogabob@homecall.co.uk 0117 9639006

Alan Brown events@bdiyi.org.uk 01535 637359 www.bdiyi.org.uk

Sasha Perryman sashaperryman@yahoo.co.uk 01223 515929 www.cambridgeyoga.co.uk Elaine Rees 01202 483951 www.dhiyi.co.uk

Eileen Cameron 00353 12841799 eileencameron@eircom.net www.eastscotlandyoga.org

www.gwsiyi.org

Brian Ingram brianiyoga@tesco.net 01444 236714 www.iiys.org.uk

Angela Hulm angelahulm@hotmail.com 020 8462 5868 www.kentyoga.org.uk 34

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

01202 558 049 for details of events and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

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Iyengar Institutes & Events Listings

Liverpool

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

Midland Counties

27 February - Saturday morning Iyengar Yoga workshop 20 March - Saturday morning Iyengar Yoga workshop 22 May - Saturday morning Iyengar Yoga workshop

Manchester and District

27 February - 10 am – 12 noon – Yoga event just for

Judi Soffa mail@yogastudio.f9.co.uk 0151 7094923 Prabhakara prabhakara@freeuk.com 01214 490413 www.mciyi.co.uk Janice Yates janice.yates@sky.com 01613 683614 www.mdiiy.org.uk

students with Jacky Taylor

12 June 2010 - First Aid course with Elaine Martin 26 June - 10 am – 12 noon – Yoga event just for students with Carolyn Ferguson

Munster (MIYI)

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

North East

Please contact the events organiser for details of events

North East London

28 February - Judith Richards March 14 - Sharon Klaff 9 May - Kirsten Agar Ward 13 June - Chris Swain (Anatomy)

Dorothy Walshe, dorothy.walshe@gmail.com

Gael Henry 0191 477 5804 gaelhenry@btinternet.com Nancy Clarke

nancyclarke@btinternet.com

0208 44 20617 www.neliyi.org.uk

Oxford and Region

O . R . I . Y. I .

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

Jenny Furby jenny.yoga@btinternet.com 01264 324104 www.oriyi.org.uk

Sheffield and District

Dominic Batten dominic.batten@btinternet.com 0114 264 9418 www.yogasheffield.org

South West

Jean Kutz jean_kutz@hotmail.co.uk 01872 572807 www.swijengaryoga.ukf.net Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

Please contact the events organiser for details of events and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

Please contact the events organiser for details of events and classes, or see the ‘events’ page on the IYA (UK) website: www.iyengaryoga.org.uk

27 March – Richard Agar Ward – Penryn, Cornwall 28 March – Kirsten Agar Ward – Penryn, Cornwall 16 May – Judith Van Dop – Penryn, Cornwall 24 July – Richard Agar Ward – Penryn, Cornwall 25 July – Kirsten Agar Ward – Penryn, Cornwall 35

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Advertising in the Iyengar Yoga News We only print quarter page adverts (80mm wide by 118mm high); you can either send the completed artwork (as a ‘press quality’ PDF, a high resolution JPEG or a QuarkXpress document) OR you can send the images (as high res. JPEGs) and wording and we will make the advert up for you. Please note:

Yoga Supplies Inexpensive

INDIAN YOGA BELTS, BANDAGES, BOLSTER SETS, PRANAYAMA SETS, ROPES. Call: 01225 319699 or E-mail: kirsten@bath-iyengar-yoga.com for prices

· Advertisements for yoga classes, events, holidays etc. - will be only be accepted from certificated Iyengar Yoga teachers · Advertisements for Yoga Centres will only be accepted from official Iyengar yoga organisations · Where yoga equipment is itemised in an advert, this will only be accepted for equipment which is used within the Iyengar method. The name ‘Iyengar’ must not be used as an adjective attached to specific items of equipment e.g. use ‘blocks for Iyengar practice’ rather than ‘Iyengar blocks’ etc. · Goods or services which are not used in yoga and/or which are not acceptable within the Iyengar method will not be advertised in IYN · Advertisements for other goods (e.g. Books/CD ROMS/videos) will only be published if they concern the Iyengar method or have otherwise been approved by the Ethics & Certification Committee of the IYA (UK)

If you wish to advertise in the next issue of Iyengar Yoga News, please send all text, photographs or artwork by the next issue deadline of 1 July 2010 to jbcotgreave@hotmail.co.uk

Advertising rates Circulation: 2800 Quarter page: £40; Small ads: 50p per word NB. the Editorial Board reserves the right to refuse to accept advertisements or parts of advertisements that are deemed to be at variance with the stated aims of the Iyengar Yoga Association (UK). IYA (UK) does not necessarily endorse any products etc. advertised in this magazine.

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Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre Classes at all levels Children, Pregnancy & Therapy Teacher Training - Introductory. Junior, Senior Iyengar books & equipment 1 0 TH A N N I V E R S A R Y C E L E B R A T I O N 1 5 TH – 1 7 TH J A N U A R Y 1 5 TH – 1 6 TH J A W A H A R B A N G E R A TH 1 6 ( EV E) I NDIA N CLASS ICAL MUSIC P ERFOMA NCE 1 7 TH Y O G A D A Y W I T H L O C A L T E A C H E R S F O R B E L L U R FORTHCOMING WORKSHOPS INTENSIVES & RETREATS 4/5 Apr; 28/29 Aug; 6/7Nov 5 - 8 April

Working on the Senior syllabus (for teachers) with Richard Agar Ward Easter Intensive (Richard)

9 - 12 April 11 - 12 May

BIYC Retreat, EarthSpirit, Glastonbury Zubin Zartoshtimanesh

28 - 30 May 24 - 26 September

Karen Wilde – pelvic floor workshops Ali Dashti

Beehive Yard, Walcot Street, Bath BA 1 5BT 01225 319699 www.bath -iyen gar-yoga.com

Instructional Iyengar Yoga DVD/Video

DO YOU NEED HELP TO PRACTICE YOGA AT HOME? ‘Practice and Enjoy’ with Julie Brown

Designed to help you practice yoga at home as well as in your class. For beginners and experienced students alike.

5 sessions of 15-20 minutes each.

Includes a relaxation session, plus limbering-in poses for the beginning of each session.

To order ‘Practice and Enjoy’ with Julie Brown or for fur ther information : 01625 879090 julie.brown61@o2.co.uk £12.99 each plus P&P (Discounts for bulk orders) Julie Brown has taught for over 25 years and is a Qualified Senior Teacher of Iyengar Yoga Iyengar Yoga News No. 16 - Spring 2010

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YOGAWEST

Established and thriving Iyengar yoga centre in the heart of Bristol is for sale.

Freehold property with 2 yoga studios – approx 3500sq feet in total.

For sale to Iyengar yoga teachers with or without attached three bedroom house.

Contact Gerry Chambers or Lynda Purvis office@yogawest.co.uk www.yogawest.co.uk 0017 924 3330

Yo g a H o l i d a y s 2 0 1 0 at Penpont, Brecon with Sasha Perr yman

DHIYI YOGA

JOSE MARIA VIGAR Senior Teacher from Malaga Sat 26th June 10am - 4.30pm Sun 27th 10 – 1pm

The College Hall, Lansdowne, Bournemouth.

DHIYI Members Weekend - £45. Non Members - £52 Sat £30 & £35. Sun £18 & £21.

Cheques payable to DHIYI. Enquiries to - Kim Trowell, 29a Spencer Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3TE, Telephone 01202 558049. Or Beth 01202 525874.

Details at www.dhiyi.co.uk **Special weekend price for bookings before 1st April 2010**

Kerikeri Yoga Centre and property for sale, in The Bay Of Islands New Zealand.(Northland)

Easter: 25 - 29 March - Cost: £355

Summer: 21 - 27 August - Cost: £475

6 acres of pasture land with river boundary and deep swimming hole.

6 bedroom open plan home.

Purpose built yoga studio fully equiped for Iyengar yoga, x7 classes opperating a week.

Contact : Sasha at tel. d ay time: 01223 515929 em ai l : s as haperr yman@yahoo. c o. u k 40

www.kerikeriyogacentre.com

For genuine interest please contact Louisa Potter 09)4074469 or kerikeriyogacentre@xtra.co.nz

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tel: + 353 87 639 5671 email: curracloeyoga@gmail.com website: www.curracloeyoga.com

CURRACLOE HOUSE YOGA CENTRE

OPPORTUNITY FOR YOGA TEACHERS TO ARRANGE HOLIDAYS FOR THEIR STUDENTS

Warm, purpose-built, fully-equipped Iyengar Yoga Centre in sunny south-east of Ireland available for hire.

Accommodation for teachers and students at and near the centre.

Ideal location beside sandy beaches and forest, 5 miles from Wexford town.

Easy access by rail/boat via Rosslare and by air from London to Dublin/Waterford.

Weekly or week-end rates available. Suitable for up to 15 students.

Curracloe Yoga Centre is owned and run by Christine Fiske, Intermediate Junior Level 3, teaching yoga in Wexford for 16 years.

For further information, please contact Christine: tel: + 353 87 639 5671 email: curracloeyoga@gmail.com website: www.curracloeyoga.com

IYENGAR YOGA STUDIO (Tooting) Eighteen Classes a week taught by Certified Iyengar Teachers in a fully equipped studio in South West London Range of classes - Beginner to Intermediate Pregnancy & Post Natal classes One to One Remedial Yoga Days & Workshops Guest Senior Teacher Events Weekends at Retreat locations – Kent Nov 2010 Holidays-2010, Turkey (June), France (Sept)

Visit our Website: www.iyyoga.com Email: enquiries@iyyoga.com Ursula Schoonraad, John Shirbon, Diane Drain Iyengar Yoga Studio (Tooting), Unit B006, Trident Centre, 89 Bickersteth Road, Tooting, London SW17 9SH

Tel: 020 8355 3498 5mins Tooting Broadway, Northern Line Underground

Workshop and Weekend with Annie Ciekanski Sat 6 - Sun 7 March 2010, 10am – 3.30pm Annie will be returning to teach us having just spent a month in Pune, where for many years she has assisted in general and medical classes.

Cost £60 weekend / £35 one day / £18 half day Workshop and Weekend with Firooza Ali Sat 5 - Sun 6 June 2010 To celebrate our 5th anniversary we are delighted to welcome Firooza Ali, one of the Mumbai Institute’s leading teachers, for a weekend of asana, pranayama and yoga philosophy. Details on website soon.

Summer School with Frances Homewood Fri 20, Sat 21 and Sun 22 August 2010 'An urban retreat'. Details on website soon.

Sheffield Yoga Centre 270 Burgoyne Road, Sheffield S6 3QF www.yogasheffield.org/sheffieldyogacentre.html sheffieldyogacentre@tiscali.co.uk 0114 2346475 / 07944 169238

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