Iyn 29

Iyengar Yoga News
Iyengar Yoga News No. 29
Autumn
2016
Issue
number
29
1 AUTUMN
I Y E N G A R® Y O G A ( U K ) Honorary president: Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar
www.iyengaryoga.org.
Iyengar Yoga News

Autumn 2016 Issue number 29
Editorial
This issue of IYN focuses on The Kripa Foundation, set up by Father Joe Pereira. As well as an extract from
the yoga programme they use to help treat addictions, we have a report on the conference he recently ad-
dressed in London.
We have a number of reports from our 2016 Convention with Raya Uma Datta in Harrogate and a report
on the Convention taught by Jawahar Bangera in Italy earlier this year. Jawahar will be teaching at our 2017
Convention in Birmingham and you can see details on page 28; by the time you are reading this, the online
booking for this convention should have opened. It promises to be a brilliant event, so don't hesitate to
book your place.
Next year's National Iyengar Yoga Day is scheduled for 14th January 2017 and this will be followed by the
International Day of Yoga on 21st June, the day of the summer solstice. You can read on page 30 about
some of the things we did to mark these two days this year and our plans for next year.
In addition to the regular Association reports, we pay tribute in this issue to two individuals. First, we present
a brief profile of Jean Dawson, still practicing Iyengar Yoga at the age of 100. Secondly, to Elaine Pigeon, who
is retiring from her roles within IY(UK) after many years of serivce.
As always, your articles, photos and comments are most welcome.
Membership and Office Manager Finance & Bookings Administrator

Editorial Board: Philippe Harari,
Andy Tait Jess Wallwork
Judi Soffa, Tehira Taylor, Sigute Barni-
Telephone 07510326997 Telephone 07757 463 767
skyte-Kidd, John Cotgreave
email offce@iyengaryoga.co.uk email jess@iyengaryoga.org.uk
Layout & Design: Sigute Barniskyte-Kidd PO Box 51698, London, SE8 9BU 15 West Grove,
Bristol BS6 5LS
Articles to: editor@iyengaryoga.org.uk PR & Website Manager Assessments Administrator

Katie Owens Kate Woodcock
Advertising: John Cotgreave email katie@iyengaryoga.org.uk Telephone 07914089360
cotgreavej@gmail.com email kate@iyengaryoga.org.uk
PO Box 1217,
Copy deadline: 30 November 2016
Bradford, BD1 9XF
This magazine is printed on paper that is
sourced under a scheme which ensures Photo credits: Kirsten Agar-Ward, Cath Barnes-Holt, Ros Bell, Gerry Chambers,
minimal environmental impact. Sheila Green, Abi Myles, Charlotte Rosser, Jasvinder Singh
2 AUTUMN
Contents
The Kripa Foundation
by Judi Soffa and Larissa McGoldrick page 4
Convention 2016
by Poppy Pickles, Alan Brown and Edgar Stringer page 18
Song of the Soul

page 24
Italian Convention with Jawahar

by Judi Sweeting p a g e 2 6
Convention 2017
page 28
International Yoga Day / NIYD

page 30
IYDF Report
by Cathy Rogers page 32
Profile of Jean Dawson

by Christine Tyson page 33
Maidstone IYC
by Lin Craddock page 34
A Big Thank You to Elaine Pigeon

page 36
Member information
I Y ( U K ) R e p o r t s page 38
I Y ( U K ) C o n t a c t s page 43
A s s e s s m e n t R e s u l t s a n d N o t i c e s page 45
I Y ( U K ) P r o f e s s i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t D a y s 2 0 1 7 page 46
I Y ( U K ) C o m m i t t e e M e m b e r s page 48
L i s t o f I n s t i t u t e s a n d C e n t r e s page 50
AUTUMN 3
Kripa
Guruji with Fr. Joe Pereira in 1968
The work of Kripa Foundation which began in 1981 has now become a global healing presence. Guruji
B.K.S. Iyengar and Mother Teresa have been the inspiration to create a very unique Method of healing
Addiction. I wish to acknowledge their major contribution in the field of Addiction recovery. This
booklet is a glimpse of the ongoing research in Addiction and Iyengar Yoga. The blessing of Guruji on
the celebration of the 25th Anniversary of Kripa Foundation was, "may this seed grow into a gigantic
tree, spreading hope and healing to the afflicted all over the world". So far this teaching has been used
in America, Canada, Brazil, Ireland, Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and soon to be presented
at the Yoga Summit in China July 2014.
Seeking Guruji's Blessings for the ongoing work of Kripa.
With deep respect and Pranam to him, Fr Joe Pereira
(This acknowledgement appears at the front of the Kripa leaflet that is published below. Please note that we have
reproduced the text lay-out and spelling of the original document.)
4 AUTUMN
FATHER JOE PEREIRA
Founder of the Kripa Foundation
by Judi Soffa
Father Joe Pereira, or Father Joe as he is known 1981 in a church in Bandra (Bombay). He went on
in the Iyengar Yoga community, is an Indian Jesuit to impart the Kripa system throughout India, where
priest and dedicated student of BKS Iyengar. These today, there are now sixty nine facilities in twelve
two very spiritual men came together by chance, Indian states and the programme is now spreading
or possibly fate and from 1968 endured a deeply to countries outside India. The Kripa Foundation has
respectful student/teacher relationship combined transformed thousands of people’s lives, Father Joe
with a strong friendship, until Guruji’s passing in has worked tirelessly and continues to impart the
2014. programme even today, at seventy four years of age.
Father Joe, as a result of his association with Guruji, The recovery programme has been further devel-
developed a programme and organisation to oped employing practical and psychological tech-
address the problem of chemical dependency and niques from a variety of sources but always with the
HIV. Known as the Kripa Foundation, it has become emphasis on the importance of asana and a strong
the largest NGO affiliated to the Indian Ministry spiritual base which Father Joe believes is crucial to
of Social Justice and Empowerment. Kripa is the the success of the programme.
Sanscript word meaning ‘Grace’.
In fact, he strongly believes that unless there is a
Father Joe Pereira, himself suffered at one time strong spiritual foundation to the recovery work,
with alcohol problems and his recovery came about it will be more likely to fail than to succeed. The
through a chance encounter with BKS Iyengar. importance of the spiritual aspect of yoga, he cites
Father Joe enjoyed singing and decided to attend when asked about modern Western yoga he says
a concert in Bombay, where Yehudi Menuhin, the ‘there is a old saying in the East…when the wise
world famous violinist was playing in 1968. Yehudi man points a finger at the moon, the fool gets
Menuhin, being indebted to Guruji Iyengar for preoccupied with the finger’.
restoring his health and ability to play his instrument
and having been on the verge of ending his career Father Joe Pereira was invited to London recently
due to various physical afflictions, brought Guruji where he gave a presentation at UKESAD, (UK
on stage. Father Joe was deeply impressed by BKS European Symposium for Addiction Disorders).
Iyengar and so began their journey. Larissa Mckendrick, attended this event on behalf of
the IY (UK) and you can read her report on Father
From that time on Father Joe became a dedicated Joe’s talk below.
student of Guruji, and created his unique recovery
programme with a healing asana sequence devel- We have also reproduced below most of the Kripa
oped by Guruji along with pranayama and medita- Foundation’s own leaflet that gives a flavour of the
tion. His understanding and honing of Guruji’s deep way Yoga is used in treating addiction. \
yogic knowledge, his own Catholic faith and his
work with Mother Theresea led to the founding of
the Kripa Foundation Iyengar Yoga. If you would like to find out more about the Kripa
Foundation, you can follow their blog here:
Father Joe began teaching just three students in kripafoundation.blogspot.co.uk.
AUTUMN 5
PADMA VIBHUSHAN GURUJI BKS IYENGAR'S GIFT TO RECOVERING ADDICTS
Since 1981 Kripa Foundation is one of the largest NGOs pursuit ("Antaratma Sadhana"). This is a journey from
affiliated with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empow- the periphery to the center, from the sympathetic
erment, Government of lndia. It primarily works in the nervous system to the central nervous system via the
field of Substance Use Disorders and Addiction related autonomous nervous system. In Iyengar Yoga we call
ailments particularly, HIV AIDS. The Kripa Model of it a journey from the outer body (Bahiranga) to the
Treatment offers an intensive care program for people transpersonal (Antaratma) via the Inner body (Anta-
addicted to various mood altering substances. ranga).
However, since 1991, Kripa Foundation has also In India, like globally, the disease of Addiction has
extended its services to people living with HIV AIDS. reached epidemic proportions. It has afflicted both the
It is an extremely debilitating disease closely associated rich and poor. One-dimensional efforts to treat this
with Addiction. On the occasion of its 25th anniver- illness, globally have failed since 1931. Men of Medicine
sary, Guruji BKS Iyengar gifted this work with his holistic and the renowned Psychologist, Dr. Carl Gustav Jung
approach to health. Kripa Foundation has now spread openly acknowledged the inadequacy of psychology
across 12 states in India through its 16 residential facili- alone to handle Addiction. Many a religious attempts
ties and 77 projects. It has been integrating Iyengar Yoga also has proved counterproductive. Religion too does
as part of its holistic treatment model. This is now become the “opium” of the people[2].
recognized as the third dimension of the Self Help
Programme. Hence when the self-help programme came to be the
decisive answer in 1935 with the founding of the Alco-
The twelve step programme of the Alcoholics Anony- holics Anonymous, the solution was sought to be a
mous has both, the psycho-spiritual and the psycho- holistic one. However, all such teachings have been "left
social dimension in it. However Guruji's teaching has brain" in nature. St. Paul in the Bible says, "I know what
added the third dimension, called the Psycho-somatic. is good and I know what is bad; I know good has to be
It integrates what Behavioural medicine calls the "Faith done and evil avoided, yet, I end up by doing the evil
Factor"[1]. which I hate''[3].
The practice of the postures (Asanas) is not restricted The same person also speaks of grappling with what
to the mere "exercise" of the Body, but is done with he calls "a thorn in the flesh''[4]. It is supposed to have
the original goal of the "Eight Limbs of Yoga': (Ashtanga been some persistent disability that rendered his life
Yoga). It culminates in what is known as the spiritual unmanageable and an embarrassment .The same is
true with all Addictions. People who are very talented
and have held respectable positions become victims of
Addiction much to their embarrassment and that of their
families.
Addiction is a kind of human disability that cannot

be tackled only on the physical plane. As Guruji BKS
Iyengar emphasises; “it has ·multiple dimensions such as
physical, psychological, emotional, social and spiritual” [5].
Hence the triple dimensions of the Eight Limbs of Yoga
(Ashtanga Yoga) ideally suit the recovery programme in

all the stages from "Detoxification" to the person being
reintegrated into the society.
As it is well known, the person who seeks help for the

treatment of Substance Use Disorders mostly comes
into treatment with many physical ailments. The primary
need here is the management of "withdrawal symp-
6 AUTUMN
toms''. In the case of underprivileged persons from hospitalization are provided with sophisticated medical
lower socio-economic backgrounds, hospitalization is not interventions. The latter has often been counterproduc-
an affordable option. Therefore, many such persons go tive since after treating the body, the person becomes
through what is called a "cold turkey': i.e. going through dependent on other substitutes and the person does not
the painful process of withdrawing from the chemical address the dimension of the Mind as well as the Soul.
without the aid of withdrawal pain management medica- The fact that there is no Chemical solution for Chemical
tion. dependency[6] has made the one-dimensional Medical
Model obsolete. It is here that Iyengar Yoga responds
Often, there is an occurrence of death in the process of to the whole person recovery that the World Health
such withdrawals. Many affluent people who undergo Organization (WHO) speaks about.
THE DETOXIFICATION PROTOCOL
The first encounter with the person intending to seek help is always that of love and acceptance. Here is the
beginning of the common denominator of Mother Teresa and Guruji BKS Iyengar. It is "Compassion"; just
as Mother Teresa has inspired me to reach out to the poorest of the poor, Guruji has helped me to reach
out to the poorest of the poor in health. Most of the entrants even though they may have not been on the
street, have experienced rejection. Hence as soon as the person is admitted he is given the first Asana that
helps one to experience the invitation of the Master, "Come to me all who labour and are overburdened
and I will l give you rest''[7].
So the first restorative Asana is
Savasana (Corpse Pose) with the
bolster supporting the diaphragm.
There is always a need to support
the head as it serves as an introduc-
tion to the Jalandhara-Bandha (Chin-
Lock). The very next day the person is
introduced to enhancing one's cardio-
respiratory area.
It is again a restorative posture that needs assistance to keep the deltoids pressed against the floor in order
to feel the inhalation into all the three compartments of the diaphragm. It is the first introduction to
what I term "the psycho-somatics of the Prayer of the Heart"! With the belt on the femur and legs in a
'Supta-Tadasana stretch' (Supine Mountain Pose), the energy of the spine is made to move towards the
heart. It is a gentle sense of the Mula-Bandha (Root Lock) and then Uddiyana Bandha (Abdominal Lock).
AUTUMN 7
The third asana is Viparita Karani (Inverted Lake
Pose) a semi inversion pose that interfaces
the cardio respiratory system with the cardio
circulatory system. This posture can help as a
diagnostic posture. If within a few minutes the
patient has a breathing problem, one knows
that the damage done by the drug and alcohol is
severe. However if one can stay in this asana for
over ten minutes, one experiences a great inner
sense of "samatolatva" (inner balance). With the
help of this asana, many have been able to even
gradually discontinue the use of medications
prescribed for "withdrawals" and in the case of
Alcohol dependents particularly, it reduces the
'Delirium tremens’.
Our final restorative asana for the detoxification

phase is "Calves rested" Savasana (Corpse Pose).
Our calves are the second heart and so with
this posture, one comes into a "hypo-metabolic"
condition and experiences the slowing down of
the breath, heart rate and also the brain waves.
The simplicity of this protocol has baffled many a
person of Science. Thanks to the openness to the
wisdom of Guruji BKS Iyengar our medical team
is working on a pilot research. The other regular
forms of detoxifications will be the 'control
'group.
8 AUTUMN
IN HOUSE RESIDENTIAL YOGA PROTOCOL Patanjali Yog sutras, Meditation is the seventh limb of
Ashtanga (Eightfold Path) to wholeness and holiness.
The optimal time for an in-house residential The practice of Iyengar yoga for such a journey is
programme is three months. Then one gets an what we term a "work in''. In the West unfortunately
opportunity to use the Body as the temple of God's Yoga has been mostly made into a "work out ''.
Spirit. Many patients do not like any reference to
God. However, the self-help modeI of the AA, The journey into wholeness, in Guruji 's often
always refers to the Higher power as the God of repeated teaching is "from the periphery to the
one's understanding[8]. This reference to a source of Centre, ie. from the sympathetic nervous system
help other than one's own Ego or self-will is experi- to the central nervous system. This happens via
enced by living in a community. There is also much the autonomous nervous system: hence in Kripa
teaching on the use of Psychology and in particular foundation Iyengar Yoga is the bias is that all
REBT (Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy). Many yoga practice is done with. The aim of integrating
other psychological tools both individual and group the 'Antaratma'(Transpersonal) dimension into the
therapy are made available. 'Asana' practice using the 'antarang' (Inner Body) all
the time. The latter emphasis on the 'breath' makes
However all this requires the use of the "thinking the practice more "feminine" rather than "masculine''.
brain" or the "left brain hemisphere''. As quoted by
St. Paul, the addict knows "...what is good and . .. what The word for the Spirit in the Bible is "Ruah" also
is bad ....good is to be done and evil avoided ' yet one meaning Breath[11]; and it is Feminine! Many of the
does the very evil that one hates: 'The best of moti- yoga practitioners who have not respected this
vation brings one to say that "the Spirit is willing but teaching of Guruji have ended up hurting themselves
the flesh is weak” [9]. Hence within the spirituality of and getting many ailments owing to a "hypertensive"
the twelve steps, the founding fathers of the AA have practice. As Guruji emphatically said at his discourse
made use of a word which helps us to link Iyengar on the 25th anniversary of Kripa Foundation, "An
Yoga with the recovery process. asana that is meant to heal Blood Diseases could
invite BP! [12].
The word in the eleventh step is 'MEDITATION':
"Sought through prayer and meditation to seek to The protocol begins with Adho-Mukha Virasana
improve one's conscious contact with God as (Downward-facing hero pose) to begin working on
we understood Him, praying only for knowledge the three major systems of the body, the nervous,
of His will and the power to carry that out"[10]. In endocrinal and immune. One needs to get into the
AUTUMN 9
process of Centering + Meditation (Dharana-Dhyana) from the very first asana. Hence, the instructor both
assists to reach the correct posture as well as explains the progressive stages from the beginning (Aramb-
havastha) till the state of Perfection in (Nishpattiavastha).
The next posture helps the recovering person

to spread ones awareness through the Pancha-
Tatva (five elements) in the Body. Adhomukha
Svanasana (Downward-facing dog stretch) gets
the person to work on the Prithvi-Tatva (Element
of the Earth) by working on the pressure on the
limbs, both legs and arms. The withdrawing
lower abdomen helps them to use the water
element (Aap tatva) along with the hip joints to
align the entire spine. The Solar Plexus (Manipur area) helps to bring in the Tejas (light) into the body. The
breath (Vayu-tatva) receives a deep sense of amplifying effect. Finally the area of the throat (Vishuddhi) area
and the Brain experiences the element of Ether (Akasha-Tatva).
We work now on the cleansing process of remnant toxins. It is a three stage process.
Uttanasana (Intense forward stretch), culminating in bring the brain with its four lobes being kept parallel to
one another and perpendicular to the floor.
10 AUTUMN
Our next sequence helps to work on the spine and the brain . We activate the spine and calm the brain in
the practice of Viparita Dandasana (Inverted Staff Pose). This helps the person in recovery to work on the
Nervous system and address many mental health issues such as Dual Disorder.
We then have to address many emotional and stress related issues which are addressed in a holistic way by
working on the endocrinal system. Janu Sirsasana (Head -on-knee pose) and Paschimottanasana (Intense back
stretch) with support to the head, help to address the kidneys, liver, spleen and pancreas.
AUTUMN 11
The final stage of the Asanas for Addiction Recovery process is a preparation of the body for the Prayer of
the heart. In a semi-restorative way one is brought to experience the interfacing of the energy of life and
the energy of intelligence. With the restorative Setubandha Sarvangasana (Bridge pose) one is made to send
the energy of the spine upwards towards the heart. In the process one l earns the role of the Mulabandha
(Root lock) and the Uddiyana- Bandha (Abdominal Lock). While with the Jalandhara Bandha (Chin lock)
brings down the energy of the intelligence downwards to the heart. Both the energies meet at the heart, the
Anahata area (the Cardiac Plexus). Many a mystic such as John Cassian in the 4th century, Teresa of Avila
and John of the Cross, speak of the prayer of the heart. It is Guruji who has helped the recovering addict to
experience this centering in a psycho-somatic way. When the body experiences this on a cellular conscious-
ness level, it is more authentic. The Body never tells lies. This is the peak experience for a recovering addict
who can now understand the essential of recovery, viz. CONVERSION. The Greek word is META-NOIA
(beyond the mind). For a person in recovery, it is a shift in the locus of control from the Ego to the Self.
In Indian philosophy, the Self is the “Antar-Yamin" (the Inner Controller). For Christians it is the indwelling
presence of the Risen Lord.
After the prayer of the heart posture we get into Brahmacharyasana/Paschimottanasana (Intense back
stretch).This is indeed the final purpose of addiction recovery. Literally the word means "to dwell or to walk
in the presence of the Lord ''. To do this again on the cellular consciousness level is to reach the
innermost core of one's being called the Anandamaya cosha (the blissful body). The posture done from the
height of the chair is to help those who have spinal stiffness and especially lumbar spine injuries.
12 AUTUMN
Before the client is introduced to Pranayama (Prana is Energy/Breath and Ayama is the storing and distribu-
tion of that energy), it is necessary to have a short time of Savasana (Corpse pose). Using the bolster behind
the knees keeps the entire spine especially the lumbar area rested on the floor.
The use of Pranayama prepares the recovering person for the final stage of Antaratma Sadhana, the
(Transpersonal Dimension) which is a sense of oneness, wholeness and holiness.
In conclusion, Kripa Foundation Iyengar Yoga has played a major role in the area of Addiction Recovery. The
greatest challenge to recovery is the "no-cure" dimension of Addiction. The relapse syndrome of the disease
is on the rise with more sophisticated drugs being available. Hence the message of Iyengar Yoga is to address
the Person and not the chemical.
All one-dimensional efforts to help addiction have admitted their limitation. Hence the answer is in a holistic
response to this challenge, which is a combination of Science and Faith. While the self help model has psycho-
spirituality and psycho-social support components, the psycho-somatic dimension being introduced through
the eleventh step is providential indeed. With Kripa Foundation Iyengar Yoga being used in all collaborative
centers of Kripa Foundation, all over the world, the Iyengar Sadhaka (seeker) will have an opportunity to
reach out to the suffering humanity. Long ago Dr. Walter Cannon coined the phrase, "The Wisdom of the
Body"; Guruji has helped countless recovering persons to experience this wisdom latent within and know the
secret of healiong addiction. \
REFERENCES:
1. Bernie S. Siegel, 1990, 'Love, Medicines and Miracles: Lessons learned about Self-Healing from a Surgeon's Experience with
Exceptional Patients'.
2. Marx Karl, Preface to his 1843, 'Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right'.
3. Romans 7:15-20. The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica Inc.
4. II Corinthians 12:7-9. The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica Inc.
5. B.K.S. lyengar:'Twenty Fifth Anniversary of Kripa'2006. Ranga Sharada, Mumbai.
6. Mitchel Dale, 'Silkworth: The Little Doctor, Who Loved Drunks: 2002, Hazelden Publishing.
7. Matthew 11:28. The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica Inc.
8. Alcoholics Anonymous (February 2002). Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Hazelden Publishing.
9. Matthew 26:40-43, The Holy Bible, New International Version, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica Inc.
10. Alcoholics Anonymous (February 2002). Hazelden Publishing.
11. Elwell, Walter A. "Entry for 'Spirit". Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 1997.
12. B.K.S. Iyengar: 'Twenty Fifth Anniversary of Kripa' 2006. Ranga Sharada, Mumbai.
CREDITS: Photography by Tom Schroeter (Australia). Demonstrators - Karen Wilde, Mark Gibson and Fr.Joe Pereira
AUTUMN 13
Addiction: a spiritual paradox
Larissa McGoldrick reports on a talk by Father Joe Pereira in London earlier this year
It was my great honour to hear a talk - Addic- pray over him. In her wisdom she refused and
tion: A Spiritual Paradox - by Father Joe Pereira at instead asked him to pray over her. So began his
UKESAD (UK European Symposium for Addiction faith in the ability of people to help themselves.
Disorders) at the Royal Garden Hotel in London on Mother Teresa subsequently asked him to help
May 3, 2016. a few alcoholics in her house to rehabilitate. He
took three from her and seven from the streets to
He started the talk with a prayer to collective a centre that she gave him in Calcutta and there
consciousness, and then a prayer that his inspiration began the process that ended with the establish-
Mother Teresa said everyday: ment of Kripa in 1981, 10 years later. He has
Make me worthy Lord, to serve our fellow human referred to Mother Teresa and Guruji as being
beings, who live and die in poverty and hunger, in his Yin and Yang, or in the yogic terms Guruji
addiction, and addiction related ailments such as suggested, Mother Teresa is his Ida Nadi, Guruji his
HIV/AIDS, give them through our hands, the daily Pingula Nadi and Jesus his Shushumna.
bread that they need, the care that they need, and
through your love and mercy grant us peace. Amen. The Kripa Institute is a revolutionary model of
addiction treatment. It was the first Indian centre to
Father Joe Pereira, popularly known as The Singing treat HIV and both male and female addicts. The
Priest due to his famously beautiful voice, is an approach to addiction recovery is multifaceted. It
Indian Roman Catholic priest, social worker, one is a Therapeutic Community Model with a Kripa
of Guruji’s most senior students/teachers and the Model of Recovery that is a blend of the self-help
founder of the Kripa Foundation, a Mumbai based of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics
NGO working for the rehabilitation of HIV patients Anonymous (NA) with the addition of Iyengar
and people affected by substance abuse. Yoga. He also incorporates Jungian psychology.
He comes from a village 60 kilometers away from He spoke about the addict mind in a very illumi-
Mumbai. His Portuguese name comes from old nating way;
Portuguese settlers to Goa, and his family has been • Addicts have a high transcendence drive but a
Roman Catholic for four centuries. He took his first low faith apparatus, likening an addict to a super
yoga class at the age of 11, was ordained in 1967 fast car with a blocked fuel line
and first studied with Guruji in 1968 in Mumbai, • Addicts tend to live in a population of one,
after the famous visit of Yehudi Menuhin. When himself and himself
Father Joe asked if he could take a class, Guruji after • Life must be an I-Thou relationship whereas an
learning he was a priest, agreed and asked him to addict lives in a relationship of I-and their addic-
help with some priests who were giving him trouble tion (whether it be drugs, alcohol, sex, pornog-
at the hall where he was teaching. Father Joe spoke raphy, shopping etc.)
to them and allayed their fears about conflict • You can always tell an addict but you can’t tell
between yoga and their religion; afterwards some of him much
them even joined in. He has been helping western • Addiction is like necrophilia, like an insect
religion to understand yoga ever since. knocking itself into the light (2% of addicts
commit suicide)
After a crisis of faith in 1971, Father Joe went to • a dry drunk is someone who can’t surrender (A
Mother Teresa to ask for help. He asked her to wife saying to Fr Joe about a difficult recovered
14 AUTUMN
husband, “Father we liked him more when he Throughout the talk his knowledge of history and
was drunk!”) science and overall his deep abiding faith was
clear. He gave a short history of AA, starting with
Father Joe spoke about what he saw as the missing The Oxford Group and ending with his treatment
link in the 12-step programme which is the somatic programme which adds to and enhances AA’s
aspect; the body. Incorporating Guruji’s Iyengar yoga 12-step programme. He also spoke first-hand about
addiction protocol and the Indian culture family his experiences with yoga, and how it helped his
orientated approach have created a 67% success father, who at age 68 had a heart attack and was
rate, far higher than in the West. given three to six months to live without bypass
surgery. Guruji gave him a sequence to practice and
He spoke at length to the mostly non yoga orien- he subsequently lived 18 more years without the
tated audience about the effects that Guruji had surgery.
on him and on the world. Like Mother Teresa who
took on the poorest of the poor, Guruji took on It was wonderful to see Father Joe again. I first took
the sickest of the sick and created infinite possibili- his classes in NYC at the Iyengar Yoga Institute
ties to reverse the worse conditions in the human of Greater New York where I studied and taught
body. He designed yoga as a scientist, an artist and under the tutelage of Mary Dunn in the 1990’s. It
a philosopher. His rationale was to rebuild a human was a profound experience for me as I was at the
being, and the end result of yoga is to know thyself, time trying to get over a relationship, and during
a lifelong study of the body from the periphery to the class I realized how to finally let go. Years later
the core. Not a “work-out” but a “work-in.” I spent two months volunteering at Kripa in Pune
He was critical of the West’s adoption of yoga into in 2009 and 2011 where I did acupuncture on
a purely physical exercise. The same concept said the recovering addicts there, including the NADA
by many sages through the ages: (National Acupuncture Detoxification Associa-
Socrates - Know thyself tion) auricular acupuncture protocol (started in the
Psalm 46 - Be still and know that I am God Bronx in the 1970’s to treat recovering addicts as
St Augustine - God help me to know myself so I an alternative to methadone). Culture necessitates
may know you separation of women and men at Kripa so it was
Guruji - The purpose of yoga is to know thyself very welcome to have a woman to be able to treat
the women. An overall sense of calm and tranquility
He then gave Guruji’s ideas on how to do this suffuses the grounds and the people there were
through yoga. The key being making the energy of safe and ready to move forward with their lives.
the mind meld with the energy of the heart. The Even though I was there for two months I was not
first yoga sutra states “Yoga Ciita Vritthi Nirodha”: able to meet him personally until Guruji’s funeral in
yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the 2013 due to his very busy schedule. He greeted me
mind. Guruji said that yoga goes further, it stops the then and at his talk with warmth and kindness. His
chatter in the cells, creating a cellular consciousness. work in the field of addiction and yoga has had a
Guruji’s teachings taught the psychosomatics of the profound impact on the world and I am grateful to
prayer of the heart. At the base of the spine is the have seen his work first hand. \
mula (base) bandha, and at the diaphragm is the
udiyana (flying up) bandha. Engaging these during

meditation and pranayama sends energy up to the
heart. Using Jalandhara bandha sends the energy of
the mind or intelligence downwards towards the
chest. Both meet in the heart and distractions are
eliminated. Listen to the breath.
AUTUMN 15
Iyengar
Conventio
Comments from t
16 AUTUMN
Yoga
on 2016
the participants
AUTUMN 17
18
AUTUMN
Views of a First-Timer The teacher
The Convention was led by a charismatic, handsome
by Poppy Pickles 37 year old teacher called Raya Uma Datta, sent from
the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI)
I have been practising Iyengar yoga for 6 years, and in Pune. He had been mentored from the age of 19
for the last few years I’ve been keen to take part in by the late, great B.K.S. Iyengar himself and he was still
the annual IY (UK) Convention . However, with two grieving for a man he had clearly had a loving bond with.
young children it’s never been quite the right time. This His teaching style was varied.
year I’m halfway through my yoga teacher training
course and, feeling that it would give me a boost, I was To begin with we went deeply into the details of some
basic poses then, later, we were jumping to keep up
determined to go. Here are my impressions of my first
with a fast and furious sequence of poses. ‘Iyengar
ever Iyengar Yoga (UK) Convention, up in the beautiful
yoga is not NOT jumping’ he told us, as we panted
spa town of Harrogate in May 2016. and puffed in our efforts to keep up. For one of a new
vanguard of potential teachers this was an exciting thing
The logistics to hear. He gave us permission to try any of the poses
On the first morning, after a blissfully, child-free night in Light on Yoga and not to be limited by our syllabus.
and morning, we were up early to register at the It was a great reminder that the journey we go on as
Convention Centre. We trundled down with our equip- trainee yoga teachers does not have to limit the parallel
ment, thinking we were nice and early, only to discover journeys we are going on as practitioners. As practi-
that there was already a queue snaking its way round tioners we are all equal.
the foyer. This wasn’t really surprising considering there
were over 400 attendees at the Convention in Harro- He also had a great way of describing yoga poses, which
gate. elevated them into the art form they are. Here are just
some of his poetic descriptions: ‘In Tadasana, the base
The thought put into the organisation of the event was of the pose are the roots and the skin is the blossom.’
impressive, but the process was time-consuming. We ‘In Uttanasana the upper body needs to fall down like
had to register, get a wristband, take mats and equip- rain.’ ‘In Virabhadrasana the back leg is in the past, the
ment up to the hall to stake our place, take our bags front leg is in the future and the body is firmly in the
back downstairs to one room, hand over our valuables, present.’ ‘Our bodies should be like musical instruments in
remove shoes and so on. It was a good hour and a half Asanas: once they are in the right place, they resonate.’
before we were finally in the hall and ready to begin.
However, despite the numbers, the volunteers and staff He came into his own when he communicated through
on the front desk were unruffled and polite and the yoga. Inspired by the demonstrations given by Mr
atmosphere was one of peaceful politeness. Iyengar in the West, on the second day we did a ‘group
practice.’ We gathered our mats in a horseshoe around
There were three top points I learnt from the experi- him, and began doing yoga poses all together. Gradu-
ence: ally, people began to reach their yogic limits and stood
1. Be prepared for a lot of waiting. "Forewarned is to watch Raya as he carried on performing with breath-
forearmed!" Bring a patient attitude. taking ease. By the time the hour was up, he was the
2. Be minimal. Make sure you pack the bare minimum only one still going, dropping gracefully into Bridge pose
to be comfortable as, if you're travelling up by public from a handstand. No one there could help but be
transport and lugging three bolsters, blankets and inspired.
clothes for all sessions you'll be exhausted before

you even arrive. The stories
3. Be organised. Make sure you book everything well There was an element of the convention that happened
in advance, including travel and accommodation. spontaneously, facilitated by Raya, and prompted by his
The annual convention is a big event, the best digs thirst to find out all he could about his teacher B. K. S.
will get booked early, and it makes a massive differ- Iyengar or ‘Guruji’, as he called him (meaning ‘respected
ence if you're a short walk from the venue. teacher’ in Hindi).
AUTUMN 19
He asked all the Senior teachers to come up to the front in our common role as students. This was humbling and
during a break, and to tell their stories to those assem- refreshing.
bled. Gradually the entire convention had returned
from their break and quietly joined to listen. By the end, The special bits
we were all wiping our eyes, or laughing, united in our There were a couple of moments where the true
enjoyment of the story-telling of such an inspiring, great meaning of yoga, ‘union’ became manifest.
and genuinely funny man. As Raya was bringing us out of Savasana on the second
day he said, ‘That’s it’. We all slowly sat up. No one
My favourite story was told by a senior male teacher. spoke. Over 400 people were still, no buzz, no chatter,
As a new teacher he had been asked to demonstrate no gathering of props. Raya had said it, ‘That’s it’ – or
Ardha Chandrasana on the stage at a huge event. He rather, ‘this is it.’ Everyone in that hall was united in the
was up there, doing his best, when who should walk in, quiet of the present moment.
but Mr Iyengar himself. He came over and began to
correct his pose, and every time he suggested some- The second moment was again felt through the quiet
thing, the chap would say, ‘OK’. This was repeated of Savasana, but the unity was expressed through word
several times, until eventually Mr Iyengar lost his rag and and song. At the very end of the convention Raya asked
said, ‘Stop saying ‘OK’!’. ‘OK’, replied the teacher. The one of the Senior Teachers, Sallie Sullivan, if she would
final twist in this tale is that Mr Iyengar then walked over read out the first two verses of the Atma Satkam, or
to his entourage, who asked him if he wanted to move Song of the Soul. He then sung them in Sanskrit.
on, he replied, ‘OK’ – paused – then turned to the chap "I am neither ego nor reason, I am neither mind not
on the stage and exclaimed, ‘You see, it’s a disease!’ thought,
I cannot be heard nor cast into words, not by smell nor
The yoga sight ever caught:
Conventions are different to any other time I’ve prac- In light and wind I am not found, not yet in earth and
ticed yoga, due to the sheer numbers of people all doing sky –
it at the same time. This can cause problems due to the Consciousness and joy incarnate, Bliss of the Blissful am I."
close proximity and sheer lack of space: trying not to The sound of those voices, one speaking in English, the
smack anyone in the face, trying to follow the directions other singing in Sanskrit, was a multi-dimensional unity
coming through a microphone from the front of a very merging cultures, time and space.
large hall, boiling in the sunny patch in the room, freezing
under the air-conditioning. The effects
By the time I got home I was literally spent. Mentally,
But the overall feeling I had is one of being one part of physically and emotionally. This may be because it
a greater yoga community. Yoga can be quite a lonely was my first ever convention and I didn’t pace myself
activity. The real yoga happens at home on my mat, and well enough, or it might just be that 6 hours of yoga a
it’s just me and my body. At a convention there are the day is exhausting! However, the effect of being away
communal grunts when being held in a pose for a long from home, away from any other influences and being
time, the collective gasps as we’re told to go into a diffi- taught alongside so many other brilliant, kind and posi-
cult pose, the united sinking into peace and stillness at tive co-yogis was truly inspiring and has given me a real
the end of the sessions. Senior teachers, who I look up boost. I can’t wait till the next one. \
to and admire, and little old trainees like me are united
20 AUTUMN
... then you watched Raya On the second day somebody asked a question about
sequencing and this led to another fast paced and vigorous
by Alan Brown session moving fluidly and progressively through a range
of asanas, many from the senior syllabus. Because of the
I have to start by saying this was one of the most enjoyable sequencing I felt a freedom I don’t usually feel and was able
conventions I have attended. I loved Raya’s relaxed and to move in ways I normally can’t and do some asanas I didn’t
seemingly improvised approach to teaching us. He said he know I could. I really enjoyed that and everybody I spoke to
wasn’t teaching us but rather acting as a tour guide of Guruji’s afterwards did. Although I did hear that some people strug-
works, which was a nice sentiment and commendably modest. gled and felt disheartened. Some of the participants being
But it was a very good guided tour with a well-informed guide newer to yoga would be unfamiliar with many of the asanas
and I felt like I learned something. and not know the sanskrit names. They would have to rely
on watching others and make their attempt before we were
What did I learn? Certainly a few things about alignment and quickly on to the next pose. Others were stiff and had to
positioning; how can you practice yoga for three days with an be careful with backs and knees. We were told to be careful
experienced teacher and not pick up a few handy tips? But and not to do more than we were able but that probably left
I’ve got drawers full of notes on which bit to put where so I’m some people not being able to do much.
not going to bore you with any more of that – anyway I only
remembered the ones that were useful for me and they may I don’t know what the answer to that is but I wouldn’t have
not be the ones that will help you. wanted to sacrifice any part of the lively and dynamic char-
acter of Raya’s teaching during the convention. There was so
Quite a lot about how to open up and move more effec-
much that was uplifting and transformative. It is only to be
tively. Raya said more than once that we shouldn’t be too
hoped that any who did feel disappointed at not being able to
rigid in our practice. He used the word ‘constipated’ which is
do more will get a slower paced version from their teachers
indicative of straining hard to little effect. He said ‘be lazy, but
later on.
don’t say I said that’ Ooops sorry Raya I gave you away! So
I’d better qualify that: he said be lazy in the sense of being
The last day was, for me, an object lesson in the importance
effective in the way we practice – practice intelligently and get
of the right state of mind for practice. If you have been to a
more for your efforts.
lot of conventions, as I have over the years, you learn that in
We worked very hard at times; on the first day we held out some ways they are predictable and that at some point there
our arms for ages and ages, while we rotated the shoulders will be a strong sequence of backbends. This usually carries
back and the inner elbows to the front. Not that you had to on to the point where three quarters of the hall have dropped
keep them up all the time, he stressed, but somehow most of out and the rest are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. If it
us did. Then we worked through a number of standing poses hasn’t happened towards the beginning of the convention you
that felt all the better for having well extended arms. That know you’ve got it to look forward to at the end.
first morning session was very intense work but seemed to
pass quickly as Raya kept us focused with interesting explana- But Raya seemed not to have been informed of this conven-
tions illustrated by flipchart drawings and kept us relaxed with tion on the organisation of conventions and when we
amusing anecdotes. wandered in for the last session after the break there was a
group of more senior teachers sharing anecdotes with him of
He was very good at keeping us relaxed, sometimes talking at Guruji in the old days. As more and more people filtered
great length, getting sidetracked and wandering off into telling in and the hall filled this turned into an entertaining series
stories. I have heard that some wondered when he would of stories enjoyed by everybody, we laughed and we were
stop talking and get us back to doing some work. At one moved.
point he compared compulsive practice to drug addiction so
maybe he felt we needed some rehab. “Ok, now go back to your places and lie on your backs –
place your hands over your head” – oh, here we go! No
I’m not complaining at all because Raya is an interesting and preparation, no messing about, just straight into Urdhva
entertaining speaker and when it came time to practice we did
Dhanurasana. But free of anxiety and anticipation, we didn’t

plenty. The memorable ‘practice for demonstration’ in place seem to mind, we just went. Half an hour or so of Urdhva
of the planned afternoon snooze - sorry, pranayama session Dhanurasana in various forms, Dvi Pada Viparita Dandasana,
- took us at a fast pace through progressively more difficult Eka Pada Viparita Dandasana and, for those able to do it,
asanas and kept going until Raya was left all by himself doing Chakra Bandasana. Then some other work, still challenging
a sequence of backbends that none of us could follow. You but not backbends. Then Savasana. A beautiful Savasana in
worked until you couldn’t do any more then you watched which Raya sang ‘The Song of the Soul’ in his beautiful voice
until nobody else could do any more – then you watched and after each Sanskrit verse Sallie Sullivan read the English
Raya.
translation so we understood. \
AUTUMN 21
Memories and reflections from Harrogate 2016
by Edgar Stringer
The IY UK annual convention is a great time for learning After lunch Raya announced that the British have taken
and catching up with friends and this year was no excep- yet another treasure away from India - before leading a
tion. The message that I brought home with is that there chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ to Uday Bhosale, his assistant
will always be more for me to learn. from Pune. Next he asked if there were any questions.
After an awkward no-show of hands I decided to ask
Throughout the weekend Raya conducted the classes him how to avoid the ‘mechanical’ feel of a familiar prac-
with warmth, humour and devotion. He shared many tice routine.
illuminating stories about Guruji and his own experiences
at RIMYI. He fondly recounted one about a time when I was handed the mic’ and then I wondered if it was
Abhijata had been practicing back bending with a rope such a good idea.
attached to the window grilles, not far from Guruji. He “Could you speak about practicing sequences, which
had amazed them both by rebuking her for ‘slacking’ involve ‘crossing’ between the different asana groups?” I
when there was no way he could have seen her easing asked, or words to that effect.
off. He had remained in Viparita Dandasana and, with his
feet pressed to the same grilles had observed the vibra- Raya looked at me and there was a long pause... ”Yes”
tions of her actions! he said, “I heard the question” and indicated that I
should sit down before I became any more embarrassed.
In class on Saturday afternoon Raya gave detailed Perhaps I hadn’t made my question clear; maybe I should
instructions for rotating the arms and shoulders in the have put it differently? After all, we frequently practice
standing poses, which brought life and lightness to the different asana types in various combinations, switching
chest. Working in conjunction with Adho Mukha Svana- between seated twists and forwards bends for example.
sana and Vashistasana, which brought firmness to the
arms, the sequence culminated in a sublime turning of “Any other questions?” A man near the stage asked
the trunk in Parivritta Trikonasana, where Raya likened about the arms in ‘Downward Dog’ Raya seemed
the feeling in the back ribs to ice being thawed by the pleased that someone had asked a practical question. He
internal heat until they flowed softly away from the invited the man to show the pose and then proceeded
spine. to adjust him and explain the rotations of the upper and
forearms from Saturday’s class.
This unusual combination reminded me that Guruji once
said ‘Never perform asanas mechanically for then the The Iyengars often answer such questions by adjusting
body stagnates” Whenever I learn a new connection I the person in the asana. They transmit knowledge to
rediscover the asana. There is an inspiring moment of their students directly, through experience. A theoretical
insight, which refreshes the beginner’s mind. In my prac-
tice it is tempting to replicate that ‘new point’ to re-live
the clarity; but surely, by trying to do that I am missing
the point. If the fresh understanding is repeated mechan-
ical it is no longer a discovery. The interest awakened by
learning is the opening of the mind to the unknown and
not forming attachments to favourite experiences.
On Sunday morning Raya led a lively, group demonstra-

tion and afterwards he spoke with feeling about the
huge impact that Guruji has made through his many
public performances and reminded us how significant
these were in presenting Yoga to the world. He also
explained how Guruji sequenced the different asana
groups for a breath taking show.
22 AUTUMN
The progression was new and completely captivating.
Each transition was unpredictable yet had a surprisingly
fluid feeling. The class continued with several more,
fast flowing and rhythmic sequences as taught in the
RIMYI children’s classes. One was the cycle of Tadasana
- Utkatasana – Malasana – Navasana - Ubaya Padangus-
tasana – Halasana – Navasana – Malasana – Utkatasana
– Tadasana repeated several times.
As we all tried to keep up with the pace and find the

agility the asanas demanded, I gave up trying to present
‘polished’ poses or make any mental notes to remember
later. The message, which the momentum carried with it,
question answered in this way gets transformed into an was to be playful.
understanding, which leaves a deep impression more
formative than notes in a book. Raya drew a simple spider’s web on the white board
illustrating the various asana categories represented by
Meanwhile the event organisers were seeking the volun- the radial ‘spokes’ the web. In our practice we usually
teers to go on the stage but had not found them. My keep the ‘sthitis’ distinct and navigate towards the centre
wife Lydia and I were invited to go instead. There was along one thread. However if we are to understand
no time to consider; without hesitation we stepped fully the linking actions, or connecting threads, he said,
up. Raya focussed on the leading arm in Trikonasana we need to cultivate a playful, inquisitive practice, to
adjusting it with rotation to access the shoulder blade. be more like children unafraid of making mistakes. Raya
We pressed the palm to a brick to open and turn the encouraged us to look in Light On Yoga as a practice
trunk. This action became the thread for the other guide and to see how Guruji’s Yoga was never held
standing poses. back. He was tirelessly inquisitive, always innovating,
adapting and discovering. He has shown us that what-
It was fascinating to learn from Raya’s hands-on adjust- ever we already know, we should use as a springboard
ments. My own internal narrative was suspended as my to make further discovery. After a lifetime dedicated to
attention was absorbed in each action unfolding as if for learning, teaching and writing on the subject even he did
the first time. not exhaust the well of Yoga: it is infinite. \
When we were in Parivritta Trikonasana Raya started

to reveal an answer to my question. We bent the front
leg and moved the pelvis forward into Parivritta Pars-
vakonasana; from there we bent the back leg, drew the
knee forward on the floor and sat on the foot for Ardha
Matseyandrasana I Next we tilted sideways, planted the
palms on the floor to enter the wrist balance Eka Pada
Koudinyasana I. We then retraced our steps back to
Parivritta Trikonasana in the reverse order and repeated
the same sequence to the left. (I think?)
AUTUMN 23
In a moving end to the 2016 convention, Raya sang the Song of the Soul, with Sallie Sullivan reading out the
English translation. Below are the translation and the Sanskrit transliteration.
24 AUTUMN
AUTUMN
25
Report on the 2016 Light on Yoga Italia
Convention with Jawahar Bangera
by Judi Sweeting
Some years ago, at the College of Domestic The Convention opened with the welcome and
Science in Pune, Guruji said "Jawahar Bangera is my introduction from the chair of the LOY Italia (Laura
senior-most teacher". So when the Italian Light on Lena) and the Puja. A video message from B.K.S.
Yoga Association advertised the fact that Jawahar Iyengar was displayed and all of us were silently
would be teaching their annual Convention in Flor- listening to that last interview. The atmosphere was
ence in May 2016, the opportunity to be taught by full of emotions.The pace of the classes was great,
him again, and see Italy, proved irresistible. translation from English to Italian was flawless and
strangely soothing. The combination of Jawahar’s
teaching and the translation process gave us a
special experience.
The Convention included a seminar given by

Federico Squarcini who presented an overview on
the ‘library’ of Patanjali. He explored the connection
and impact of some important political statements
on the meaning of Yoga and the declaration of the
International Yoga day. It was hilarious to learn how
some businesses use Yoga as creative marketing
tool to promote their products.
I would like to pass on to you what I took away

from my time in Florence and can assure you that
the 2017 IY (UK) Convention in Birmingham with
Jawahar will be something to look forward to.
Jawahar talked about the Yamas and Niyamas as the
foundation on which Iyengar Yoga is built and that
if we had to be "qualified in them" before practicing
Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, is a beautiful and/teaching it would have been a non-starter. He
city and Obihall a great venue with thoughtful, said that we should learn and absorb yoga, not with
friendly organisation from the Italian Light on Yoga the prime intention of becoming a teacher. The
Association. The food was very good indeed, the Yamas and Niyamas are important for all teachers
best I have ever eaten at any Convention! There as we need a moral and ethical approach. If
were 6 teachers attending from the UK and one everyone adhered to the Yamas and Niyamas, in
trainee teacher. The organisation of the prac- Jawahar’s opinion, no laws would be necessary as
tice area was very good; we were allocated to a they cover everything! He said that if we want to
different area each day, gradually working our way help ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually, we
to the front of the room. As well as this, Italian should read the Sutras.
teachers were designated to assist those who
required their help in each of the sections. Jawahar was wearing a t-shirt with the word Svad-
26 AUTUMN
haya on it which means "study of the self" and exemplified the message, not only on his clothing but in his
humble, patient clear teaching and humour (in Adho Mukha Svanasana our dog should be proud of us!).
Reference was made to Sutra 11.16 "heyam duhkham anagram" the pains which are yet to come can be
and are to be avoided. 11.46 "sthira sukham asanam" asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intel-
ligence and benevolence of spirit. Jawahar also said -
• "Legs and arms must work thoroughly, where they do not, arthritis sets in, skin to muscle, muscle to
bone. Bring ‘density’ to the knees and elbows ."
• "Unless you work your legs and arms thoroughly you cannot access the spine."
• "In standing asanas say, Utthita Trikonasana, Utthita Parsvakonasana and Ardha Chandrasana, the lesson
is learnt on the first side (the new actions) so repeat on the other side, though it's not so intense. We
go to the right side first generally as it is considered auspicious. However, we do start with the left
side occasionally. When repeating the asana on the second side are we holding the pose in the same
manner? Are we keeping the same lengths in the legs? We should be truthful and follow Satya, the
Truth.”
Jawahar used students of all levels to demonstrate problems in alignment and commented that they would
not necessarily "get it" instantly, it will take time. The Iyengar rigour was there, all the time, asanas had to
be practiced with full attention. \
More photos of the Convention are on LOY Italia website: www.iyengaryoga.it/galleria/show
AUTUMN 27
IY(UK) Annual Convention
with Jawahar Bangera
27th-29th May 2017
Birmingham International Convention Centre
We are delighted to announce that our 2017 yoga convention will be taught by Jawahar Bangera, and held at the
International Convention Centre, in the centre of Birmingham’s historic and vibrant cultural quarter.
Jawahar Bangera
It is an honour to welcome Jawahar to teach our 2017 convention, whose years of dedicated practice and study
have helped make him a teacher who inspires us to move deeper into our understanding of Iyengar yoga.
Jawahar is well known for his precision, dedication and his ability to make everyone feel included. He was originally
introduced to yoga by his parents, who were pupils of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar, then practised yoga directly under
Guruji's from 1969. He began teaching in 1980 and accompanied Guruji to many conventions over the years, and
has taught many classes throughout the world, including 3 very successful conventions for us here in the UK: Crystal
Palace 1999, Manchester 2006 and Glasgow 2011. Jawahar teaches classes in Mumbai where he is a director of the
Iyengar Institute Yogashraya which was inaugurated by BKS Iyengar in 2002. He is also a trustee and driving force
behind the Light on Yoga Research Trust (LOYRT), formed more than 35 years ago to promote the learning and
practice of Yoga in the Iyengar method, including the publication of RIMIYI journal Yoga Rahasya.
Join us for a special convention with Jawahar in Birmingham, an opportunity for all of us to experience Guruji's teach-
ings directly from one of Guruji's most senior teachers.
Birmingham International Convention Centre (ICC)

This year we have chosen the well-appointed ICC for our convention. ICC is situated in centenary square, a lovely
wide pedestrian space, next door to Europe’s biggest new Library, with it’s striking architecture, relaxing herb roof
garden, and housing the remarkable Shakespeare Memorial Room. ICC is a few minutes walk from Birmingham’s
landmark museum, and 20 minutes walk from the recently transformed New Street Station, taking 1.5 hours by train
from London, Manchester, & Bristol makes Birmingham one of the best connected cities in the UK and a wonderful
location for our 2017 convention.
28 AUTUMN
Accommodation
Accommodation in central Birmingham will be mainly in larger hotels, so we have appointed an accommodation
agent to manage the bookings for us. The link to their website is on our convention bookings page; or if you prefer,
their reservations line is +44 (0)1423 525577. We expect that some of the cheaper hotels will book up quickly, so
please book soon.
IY(UK) Convention Timetable

The convention will take place over three days (Saturday morning until Monday early afternoon) and works as a
developmental teaching experience, so we are not offering the opportunity to book individual days. Our event is
designed to include all students and teachers together rather than separating teachers and students. The whole
weekend will count as specialist training for teachers. Provisional timetable:
Saturday Sunday Monday
11.00am-2.00pm 10.00am-1.00pm 10.00am-2.00pm
5.00pm-7.00pm 3.00-4.00pm IY(UK)AGM
4.30-6.30pm
7.00-10.00pm meal/film
Yoga Social, Film and Food Evening

We’re delighted to be able to offer a social event on the Sunday evening of the Convention. We will be offering
an Indian vegetarian meal and showing the film ‘A Leap of Faith’ about Guruji’s life and teaching, converting our
yoga hall into a small cinema/reataurant for the evening. This 72 minute documentary spans 9 decades of the life of
Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar. For more Information visit: http://different-strokes.co.in/project-LeapOfFaith.html
Costs
All classes over 3 days £195. Optional evening meal/film £20. Please book online at www.iyengaryoga.org.uk.
Join the IY (UK) Birmingham Convention Marketplace

As usual we plan to organise a lively Market Place, a great meeting place, and opportunity to support small yoga
related businesses. The marketplace continues to add to the friendly atmosphere of the convention with a wide
range of related goods, exhibitions and services. We will be expecting between 500 – 600 yoga participants in
Birmingham, and will be providing space to include more stalls, so if you have yoga related items, hand made things,
art works, ethical products, or anything that would be of interest to yoga enthusiasts then why not consider joining
us by running a stall. For more information please get in touch with Jess at jess@iyengaryoga.org.uk.
AUTUMN 29
Celebrating Yoga
Two regular events have now established themselves in our diaries:
the International Day of Yoga on the 21st June, and our own National Iyengar
Yoga Day in the UK, scheduled for the 14th January in 2017.
International Day of Yoga National Iyengar Yoga Day
On 11th December, 2014, the United Nations Gen- Following the success of the first Ireland National
eral Assembly (UNGA) declared 21st June as the Iyengar Day in January 2015, the rest of the UK fol-
International Day of Yoga. lowed their lead. On Saturday 16th January 2016
Iyengar Yoga teachers from around the whole of the
The Summer Solstice was chosen as it is an auspi- UK joined the enthusiasm of the Irish event celebrat-
cious day of the year for yoga. In his address, the ing the work of BKS Iyengar by offering free classes
Prime Minister of India said “Yoga … embodies throughout the day. Institutes and Centres drew
unity of mind and body; thought and action; restraint together, allowing hundreds of people to experience
and fulfilment; harmony between man and nature; a the benefits of Yoga as practised with the Iyengar
holistic approach to health and well-being. It is not method. As more and more people are discovering
about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness the delights of the ancient art of Yoga and finding
with yourself, the world and the nature.” that it holds the key to a supreme sense of well-be-
ing, the National Day is a wonderful way to educate
175 nations co-sponsored the resolution; it had the the public about the Iyengar method.
highest number of co-sponsors ever for any UNGA
The day was celebrated in many other ways with
Resolution of such nature.
demonstrations, films and sharing of food. There
was a real sense of coming together and lots of hard
work was put into the day from Cornwall to North
Scotland. We would like to thank Katie Owens in
the IY (UK) office who tirelessly helped to pull all
the ideas together, send out promotional material,
and created a brilliant interactive map of events
across Britain.
We hope that 2017 will be just as special and I am

sure people will be thinking of new ideas for their
celebrations. If you are in, or know of, an area of
Britain that doesn’t have an Iyengar class, perhaps
you could organise an event there? Perhaps you are
not a teacher but would like to support your teach-
er in setting up an event? A small amount of funding

is available to support Institutes, Affiliated Centres
and Yoga Groups across the UK. As last year, pro-
motional material will also be available. More on this
to follow soon. Your local Institute will have a NIYD
co-ordinator, so do get in contact and let them
know how you like to be involved for 2017. \
30 AUTUMN
Reports from some of the events
On International Day of Yoga 2016, all of the classes that week in Bushey, Hertfordshire, were dedicated
to the memory of BKS Iyengar and to the International Day of Yoga. After the chant to Patanjali, the 'Guru
chant' was practised and learned in all classes, in the past they have only been practising this guru chant in
Intermediate classes. The guru chant was recently learned on a visit to the Yoganusasanam Conventions in
2014 and 2015 in Pune, with Geeta Iyengar leading the way, so it’s a relatively new addition to classes in
Bushey. They followed the chant with the forward bend class sequence as sent through by the IY (UK), and
sent from RIMIYI the previous morning! They found it inspiring to have a focus from India for the classes,
with the thought of being connected through our yoga postures to other practitioners throughout the
world.
The National Iyengar Yoga Day event with the Warwickshire Group went much better than hoped with
45 people turning up for a free class. Some regulars, newcomers, students in other methods. There was a
spontaneous round of applause at the end!
The Aberdeen event was really well received, with over 60 people coming through the doors and lovely
feedback. Thankfully, recent flooding had ceased and forecast snow hadn't arrived!
In Bath. three teachers gave a yoga session to yoga enthusiasts and those new to Iyengar method on Sat-
urday 16th January at Bath's Central United reform Church, sharing the teaching of the group which was
new and interesting. Watching each other teach was great fun and reinforced the shared methodology but
individual approaches. Students noted that they could see that they were all Iyengar teachers even though
they were different in style and manner because the level of precision and detail was always there.
Aberdeen Birmingham Bath
Newcastle Manchester Sheffield
AUTUMN 31
Iyengar Yoga Development Fund Report
by Cathy Rogers Evans (IYDF Coordinator)
The Iyengar Yoga Development Fund is a non-registered charitable fund. The fund came into being by arrangement
with BKS Iyengar, whereby 40% of the Service Mark fees paid by Iyengar Yoga teachers for the use of the Iyengar
Yoga registered trade mark is used mostly to assist disadvantaged groups in accessing Iyengar yoga classes. Cathy Rog-
ers has recently taken over the management of the IYDF and has written the report below.
In my role as the new Iyengar Yoga Development (IYDF) coordinator, I have created a questionnaire with the
purpose of collecting information on the scheme, and have received some interesting, satisfying and heart-warming
responses.
The teachers who conduct classes which are funded by IY (UK) through the IYDF are working with some of our so-
ciety's most challenged members. There is a wide range of people in classes throughout the country benefiting from
the Fund. Teachers receive £40 for teaching a class. They mostly have purchased and provide their own equipment,
which some carry around to the venue each week. Many have been provided with a storage space for their equip-
ment. Some have been provided with mats by the organisation/charity who usually also provides the room for free.
Some teachers have been successful in receiving funding from the organisation or government department which they
initially were funded by IYDF to provide a class for. These classes are now either better equipped due to intervention
from the charity or organisation or in one case two classes per week are completely funded without IY (UK)’s finan-
cial support.
Teachers have a regular group of students attending, mostly around 8 to 10; only one teacher is considering that the
groups’ numbers have gone so low recently that she feels it may be appropriate for her to give up the IYDF funding.
She is teaching women recovering from substance abuse and they are often struggling with keeping their lives to-
gether and yoga is not receiving the time it needs. This group are the most irregular attenders from those who have
responded to me. She does have some very emotional observations about the effects that the yoga is having. Positive
outlook, new relationship with their own body, physical strength, more open chest and better general posture. In this
case it has been decided to continue the class and the teacher will try to
encourage more people to come.
Other responses from students in funded classes include one autistic boy who usually remains silent, out of the blue
said ’Tadasana’ after his class, (one woman prisoner or she may have been in a refuge) said, on finally releasing her
previously stressed shoulders, that it is like Jesus’ teachings of
telling ‘to let go of their load, his load is light he said’. There are teachers giving classes for women who they believe
would not otherwise be allowed to leave their homes; these are women with no money of their own, not permitted
to mix with any groups unless guaranteed there will be no men there. It seems that the social experience here is as
important as the yoga in some situations. There are teachers who have been approached by a charity and a prison to
start another class, waiting for me to let them know if there will be sufficient funds to do this or to provide mats.
The teachers from whom I have had a response all intend to reapply to IYDF when their one year funding expires,
although there were a few who received indefinite funding at the beginning of the project. I plan to work closely with
our Treasurer to have a clear idea of the budget available for any future applications. An up to date eligibility criteria is
being refined as this popular project obviously has limited funds. Please contact us if you think you may be interested
in applying to the IYDF for funding. \
32 AUTUMN
Profile of Jean Dawson
by Christine Tyson
My name is Christine Tyson and teach Iyengar Yoga
in the Bradford area. My yoga class and I would like
to pay tribute to Jean Dawson who was 100 years
of age on the 20th February. Jean has been attend-
ing my class for just over 20 years but started her
first yoga class at the age of 67 with Lillian Biggs. She
is a remarkable lady and practises yoga every day. It
proves yoga gives back what you put in.
Jean says "I have met so many kind and lovely people
through yoga and made some good friends. I don’t
know how I’d be today if I hadn’t taken up Yoga. I
heartily recommend Yoga to all." Jean is quite a ce-
lebrity, promoting Iyengar Yoga in the Daily Express.
AUTUMN 33
The Maidstone Yoga Centre by Lin Craddock
Creating the Maidstone Yoga Centre has only been possible with the positive energy and hard work of-
fered by friends and family, from the very beginning.
The inspiration came unexpectedly whilst in India, listening to Guruji speak at his birthday celebrations, in
2009. His wise words inspired me to take that next step and somehow as the yoga penetrated deeper, the
decision was a natural one.
Finding suitable premises, debating costs and negotiating leases, all seemed part of an organic process from
my early teaching days in local village halls. However, once completed and receiving blessings from Guruji
in a personal letter, we were all set to get going.
We opened in April 2010, and since then the everyday running of the centre has become a way of life. My
own practice usually starts at 5am, (something I have managed to maintain ever since our children were
small), then it’s off to the centre by 8:30am. It’s a demanding schedule but somehow within the madness,
everything flows.
Like Yoga and the gate analogy, you have to go through the first gate to get to the second and once
through the second there is no jumping to the last gate; it’s a gradual process. But everything seems to have
slotted into its own pace and order.
34 AUTUMN
Located within 5 minutes walking distance of the
town centre, where the first veggie cafe arrived in
Maidstone around the same time as us, we are also
2 minutes from the Travelodge & Premier Inn Ho-
tels and walking distance to all major train and bus
connections.
We welcome all new visitors to the centre. For

further details of events and classes please visit our
web site www.iyengar-yoga.co.uk or call 01622
The centre has grown organically and runs on a 685864.
healthy dose of good will and continuous support
from students, teachers, my patient family and Anna,
who helps with the never ending admin tasks. We
all have a genuine interest in helping and caring for
others and as well as promoting the centre, we have
also enjoyed raising funds for the Bellur trust and
local charities.
It has been 6 years since we opened our doors and

looking back it was a daunting thing to do, but there
were no doubts, just the opportunity to indulge in
the subject of Yoga which has become an integral
way of life. Our centre has an extensive class time-
table, complimented by our new learning facility,
www.myyogatutor.co.uk and a recently published
ebook (taken from the online site), for the stiffer YOGA RAHASYA
body. I am hoping our centre will provide a profes-
sional space for the teaching and learning of Iyengar
MAGAZINE
yoga for years to come. Yoga Rahasya is a quarterly publication of the
Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI),
Pune and the Light on Yoga Research Trust
To encourage new beginners, we have spent a great (LOYRT), Mumbai, India. It is published on the
deal of time developing our website, to provide an occasions of the Annual Day of RIMYI, Hanuman
easy to use enrolment process, which has greatly Jayanti, Guru Purnima and Patanjali Jayanti.
enhanced the number of new students looking to The aim of Yoga Rahasya is to share the essence
understand the Iyengar method. of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar's teachings. This journal
contains original articles and transcripts of talks by
Guruji Iyengar, Geeta and Prashant Iyengar on philos-
ophy, psychology, science and art of yoga and life. It
also includes articles by his students on their experi-
ences, practical details on the practice of asanas as well
as treating chronic ailments through yoga.

If you would like to subscribe to Yoga Rahasya,
please tick the relevant box when renewing
your IY (UK) membership on-line and the £16
subscription will be added to your total.
Visit http://bksiyengar.com/modules/Referen/YR/yr.htm
for information about previous issues.
AUTUMN 35
A Big Thank You to Elaine Pidgeon
on her Retirement
After more than 40 years of and then Moderator in 1995. high standards of teaching which
dedicated involvement in the UK Guruji demanded. The CM was
Iyengar Yoga Association, Elaine During all these eventful and busy introduced in this country in 2004
has retired from her various roles years when Elaine was nurturing and has worked well to stop
to spend more time with her hus- the tree of Iyengar Yoga in Edin- fraudulent use of the name Iyen-
band Trevor and her family. burgh and Scotland, she had also gar which strengthens the good
become involved in the national reputation of genuine Iyengar
In 1981 Elaine first went to Pune association, the BKS Iyengar Yoga Yoga teachers and is a mark of
to attend an Intensive course at Teachers’ Association - BKSYTA. their authenticity.
RIMYI with a group of teachers She started as the Regional
and students from Scotland. She Representative for Scotland and Guruji, as the owner of the CM
remembers that there were only as a Moderator was part of the Trade Marks, granted a Master
25 in the class! It was the first decision making team. In 1998 Licence to the IYA (UK) and
time she had seen or been taught she became Vice Chair and then Elaine became licensee for the
by BKS Iyengar. She says that Chairperson 2000 – 2003 during UK with the additional responsi-
Guruji was so dynamic, he taught what turned out to be a rather bility for helping other European
with the speed and power of difficult period. Many changes Associations implement their
lightning and the experience of it were about to take place which own Master Licences. This job
changed her life. required much fortitude, steadi- involved learning about trade
ness, calmness and strength of mark law, legal terminology, how
Elaine had been attending yoga character, to administer the CM and how
classes in Edinburgh, where she to implement legal challenges to
still lives today. It was 1976 and The first challenge was the in- the misuse of the Iyengar name.
at that time, in the early days of troduction of the Certification Recently adjustments have had
what we now call Iyengar Yoga, Mark (CM) which all Iyengar Yoga to be made when the CM Trade
there was a need for teachers. Teachers have to buy each year Marks were re-registered, when
Elaine trained to teach, qualified and is the Trade Mark which the IYA became IY (UK) Ltd. and
in 1980, and started to teach shows that they are genuinely after Guruji died when the own-
classes at the newly established qualified. Many teachers ques- ership of the CM was transferred
Edinburgh Iyengar Yoga Centre. In tioned the need for this and there to Geeta and Prashant Iyengar. All
1983 she gained Intermediate Jun- was much heated debate— but this Elaine has been responsible
ior 3 certification. Soon after this it was something which Guruji for overseeing. Now she is stand-
in 1986 Bob and Kathy Welham, wanted in order to protect his ing down and |Y (UK) Ltd has
the owners of the Centre, moved name and methods of teach- become the recognised licensee.
away and Elaine took over teaching yoga. Guruji’s book ‘Light on
er training for them and became Yoga’ had become a worldwide The other big challenge at this
the Manager of the centre, which manual for yoga and people were time was the coming together
thrived. Later in 1998 she became using his name but teaching their of the two associations which
the owner. Meanwhile during the own methods of yoga which were existed in this country, the Teach-
earlier 1990’s she qualified to be- not his. This was both water- ers’ Association (BKSIYTA) and
come a Senior teacher, Assessor ing down and undermining the the Light on Yoga Association
36 AUTUMN
(LOYA), which was for teachers and students. Guruji wanted a united, single association to be formed in
the UK to embrace everyone and join the two “camps”, which had been a divisive situation. The process of
amalgamation involved intense work with many meetings to draw up a new structure and new Constitution
acceptable to both Associations. Meetings were held at least every month for a year and each stage was
reported to Guruji for his approval. The final outcome in 2004 was the inauguration of the IYA (UK) with
Guruji’s blessing.
Being Chair of the Association during such a disruptive period meant many, many long train journeys from
Edinburgh to London for meetings as well as travel to various other parts of the country for assessments,
teaching, and other association business. Elaine was often blazing a trail once or twice every month! Ad-
ditionally she was of course running her yoga centre, teaching, teacher training and moderating assessments,
and practicing, and having a family life apart from yoga!
One might ask “why?” Why would anyone choose to devote so much time and energy into a highly in-
tense but completely unpaid job with such an amount of determination and good will? The answer is, as
Elaine says, out of gratitude
for what Guruji gave her in
that life changing trip to Pune
and during the following years.
She modestly says that Guruji
inspired the same love and
devotion in so many people,
which is true of course. Many,
many people volunteer their
time with the same feeling that
they want to give something
back. Elaine’s work has been
demanding, and challenging
but she was happy to do it and
feels privileged to have had
contact with Guruji, to have
corresponded with him, met
with him, to have been able to
be of service to him.
Now Elaine has stood back

from all this and at 75 this
October she truly deserves to!
She is of course continuing to
teach in Edinburgh and per-
haps elsewhere and you may
even see her at Professional

Development Days.
May you enjoy many years of

happy retirement, Elaine. All
best wishes from the IY (UK)
AUTUMN 37
IY(UK) Reports
Chair - Jill Johnson
This is look forward to working with him. and offering free classes to many
my first people who would not otherwise
report as Executive Council (EX) Updates have the opportunity to be intro-
Chair of After much work by the Moder- duced to Iyengar Yoga. We had
IY (UK), ators, Assessors and Teacher some excellent feedback and Mike
having Trainers the new Assessing and Penny has again offered to co-ordi-
taken over from Emma Pinchin at Training Committee has become nate next year’s Yoga Day, which
the end of January. I would like to operational. We are very grateful to will take place on January 14th and
thank Emma for all the hard work Julie Brown for taking on the role of the details of which will be available
she put in over the last 4 years Chair, and Judy Lynn who is acting very soon.
as Chair and also for all the help deputy Chair. This large committee
she has given when handing over have organised themselves into 4 Assessments
this role. Please join me in wishing subcommittees – Assessments and In December 2015 the IY (UK)
her well for the future, both in her Timetabling, PD days, Manual and sent three of our Senior Teachers
home life with her family and in her Assessments Paperwork and Test - Penny Chaplin, Sheila Haswell
yoga career. Papers and Syllabus, with all Moder- and Margaret Austin to Pune to
ators working on a sub committee. attend the meeting with Geeta
Administration Update Four Assessors were elected to and Prashant about training and
At the end of last year Katie join the Moderators in this work. assessing. This was an international
Owens, our office manager, asked In the course of establishing this meeting with representatives from
to reduce her working days from new Committee Appendix D of over 38 countries, and 108 partici-
4 ½ to 1 ½ a week in order to the Standing Orders has been pants. Our representatives have
concentrate on building her busi- rewritten, and after being approved been able to give us an initial
ness. Katie now deals with PR and by the EX and ratified by the Board summary of the proceedings, and
website issues, and is still available these can be seen on the website. an official report from RIMYI is
to help with any problems in the awaited. Over three days details of
office. I would like to thank Katie The Board have approved a new how training courses and assess-
for all her work over the years, Harassment and Bullying Policy ments are run in each country
and I’m very glad she remains one which should also be viewed on were given; Geeta and Prashant
of the team. After advertising the the website, and is part of the listened to everyone’s views and
post Andy Tait was appointed and ongoing development of policies asked questions when clarification
began working as Office Manager and procedures which reflect the was needed. In their summary of
in March. Therefore Katie Owens increasing professionalism of the the meeting Geeta and Prashant
now works 1.5 days per week, Jess IY UK. asked for communication between
Wallwork 1.5 days, Kate Wood- associations to continue, and for
cock 2.5 days and Andy Tait 3 days. National Iyengar Yoga Day for the the older associations to help the
As this coincided with the renewals United Kingdom newer ones. Any changes to how
period and the introduction of the This year saw the first National the training and assessments are
new website (more later), it has Iyengar Yoga Day in January. This carried out will be communicated
been a difficult start for Andy but was a great success with many to the associations affected. Our
with the help of the rest of the teachers, centres and Institutes Senior Teachers noted how over-
team he is settling in well and we around the country taking part, whelmed Prashant was by the
38 AUTUMN
dedication of all those present and their devotion to Again, Sharon and her team did a lot of work but
Guruji. Due to Geeta’s recent illness no information the demands of Ofqual are very high. At the same
about potential changes has yet been communicated time we heard from the BWY that, having gained
to us. AO status, they have now dropped it on the grounds
that it is too expensive for them to maintain. Also, we
Website were waiting to hear about changes to the assess-
Last summer, having decided that the website would ment process from RIMYI and Sharon was no longer
have to be rebuilt we received notification from the able to put in the work that she had done and so the
existing provider that this would be a more compli- Ofqual application was put on hold.
cated process than first thought, as the platform it was
built on was being demised. and it was necessary to Nobody from the EX came forward to take this
find another company to design a new website and task on and so The Board proposed that we drop
provide ongoing support. After interviewing several the application at this stage. Currently, our Standing
companies Emma, Philippe and Katie selected 418, Orders reflect the Association structure that we set
their proposal was cheaper and their service and on up in order to apply to Ofqual. It makes sense to us
going support outstanding. The company worked to formally revert to a structure that actually reflects
hard, with the help of Katie, to build and get opera- how our Standing Orders operate. At the moment,
tional the new website in time for the renewals this our official structure includes a second branch of the
March. There have been some glitches but these are Association, called Iyengar Yoga Qualifications (IYQ)
being dealt with and hopefully the renewals process and this has never been put into practice, and there-
will be smoother next year. As is always the case we fore can appear confusing.
are learning as we go, but we hope that the finished
website will be a big improvement and work for us for We do not regret the attempt we have made to
the next few years. become an AO. A lot of the work that was done
in preparing the application has been very useful to
OfQual Application Update our Association. Of course, we would hold on to
At the latest EX meeting in April a proposal was put to all of our Ofqual application documents should we
the Executive to drop the Ofqual application process ever decide that the time has come to try again, but
for the time being. in view of the uncertainties mentioned we feel it is
difficult to justify further expenses to pursue this at
Over the years, we have made a number of attempts to the moment.
get our qualifications officially recognised by the govern-
ment, and we know that Guruji himself was keen for This proposal was accepted by the EX in April, and
us to do this, so that we would not be dependent on ratified by the Board in May. Subsequently work will
other organisations, such as REPS or the BWY (British begin to remove reference to Ofqual and IYQ from
Wheel of Yoga) for official accreditation. the Standing Orders in the summer.
The latest of these attempts started a few years ago 2017 Convention
when a team, led by Sharon Klaff, applied to Ofqual We have been informed by RIMYI that unfortunately
to become an Accrediting Organisation (AO). A great Navaz Kamdin will be unable to come in 2017 but it
deal of work was done to prepare our initial applica- is hoped she will be coming in 2018. The Events and
tion, which was turned down. However, we were Convention Committee have confirmed that Jawahar
informed by Ofqual that this was normal and that we Bangera will lead our Convention in 2017, and this
should re-apply. will take place in Birmingham. \
AUTUMN 39
IY(UK) Reports
Secretary - Treasurer -
Charlotte Velika
Everitt Krivokapic
Many of you were at May’s AGM, when Jill’s election The annual accounts for 2015 were presented and
as Chair was ratified and the Board re-elected for approved at the AGM in May 2016. 2015 was a good
another year. Jill’s election left a vacancy for a Consti- year for the association in financial terms. An overall
tution Officer, a role which is crucial in ensuring surplus of £15,288 for the year was achieved. The Bal-
that IY(UK) is operating in accordance with its own ance Sheet at 31 December 2015 showed net assets
agreed constitution. After a call to all members, Paul of £98,107. The 2015 Convention was once again
Taylor came forward and has now been co-opted by very well attended and showed a surplus of £38,694.
the Board into the role.
We are budgeting for an overall surplus of £15,124
We still have vacancies for Individual Representatives, in 2016 and are on track to achieve that. Overall the
so if any of you are interested in representing our Association is in a healthy financial situation and has
Individual Members please do get in touch. Kirsten sufficient reserves to underpin its ongoing activities.
Agar Ward has stepped down after several years on
the EX and our thanks to her for her work during The IY (UK) membership fees for 2017/18 have been
this time. Several institutes still have vacancies for agreed as follows. We have been able to keep our
a Representative to represent them on the national fees at exactly the same levels as 2016/17.
Executive Council, so if you are interested in getting
involved then please do ask – either me, or your local
Institute.
We have also recently advertised for a volunteer to

take on a lead role in marketing Iyengar yoga and our
organisation more widely; we received a number of
strong applications from members willing to put their
time, effort and skills into this. The selection process
is underway, though we hope all who came forward
will be involved in promoting Iyengar yoga to the
wider public. If you have any ideas or would like to
The Assessment fees for 2017/18 will be re-visited dur-
get involved, please do get in touch.

ing the summer for the presentation to the Board and
We marked Prashantji’s birthday in July by sending a Executive Council in September 2017.
card, along with cards marking Guru Purnima. \
The Certification Mark fee for 2017/18 is based on
US$50. It will be updated on 1st November 2016 to
reflect the exchange rate that is in place on that date. \
40 AUTUMN
Membership Secretary –
Anita
Phillips
We welcome Caroline Anschutz who kindly volun- that you will find a note of your new membership
teered to be Deputy Membership Secretary: thank number.
you Caroline! Caroline teaches at the Sheffield Yoga
Centre and is Member Institute rep to the EX from DBS updating was delayed due to the renewals
SADIYA. We’ve had a hectic time in the Membership issues. We understand that these checks can take
Office this renewal season and shall be very glad of up to 18 weeks and we’ll be working to give plenty
an extra pair of hands. of notice to those teachers who’ll need an update
before the next renewal season.
We were renewing teacher memberships and issuing
insurance certificates until well into July this year. This The www.bksiyengar.com website has now been
delay was due to a number of factors, including prob- updated. All UK and Irish teachers should be listed in
lems with upwards of 400 individual online renewals. ac-cordance with your wishes as indicated on your
Andy contacted each of these teachers directly and renewal form
in some cases several calls or emails were necessary
to resolve the issue(s). We’re amending the renewal Current Membership Figures
forms for next year in an effort to make them easier Teacher numbers are down slightly from last year
to complete, and adding safeguards to avoid some which might reflect Ethics and Appeals Committee
of this year’s common mistakes. Paper renewals are referrals and other issues delaying renewals. Non-
especially time-consuming and there will be an earlier teacher numbers have been affected by a later
deadline of 1st February for these in future renewal renewals and reporting issues; these will hope-fully
periods. We also hope to start online renewals perk up when we calculate the end year figures.
earlier than in the past, and to bring the deadline
forward for those to 15th March in order to avoid
issues with insurance.
We were helped immeasurably in our work by
having so many people renew their membership
online: a big shout out to CIYI, DIYI, and Foyle who
had all their primary members renew via the IY (UK)
website!
All members were issued with a new membership

number when the current database was introduced.
This can be found by logging into the IY (UK) website
in the usual way. In the top right hand corner will be
the message: “You are currently logged in as first-
name_lastname_old membership number.” Below
AUTUMN 41
42
AUTUMN
IY(UK) Reports
Contact Us
Membership and Office Manager – Andy Tait
Telephone: 07510326997
Email: office@iyengaryoga.org.uk
Address: IY(UK), PO Box 51698, London, SE8 9BU
Hours: Main Office day: Thursday 9-5pm;
remaining hours to be worked throughout the week (23.4 hours per week).
• Staffing the office: taking phone calls and responding to emails from IYA members and members of
the public. Andy should be your first port of call if you have a general query, or are not sure who to
ask.
• Membership: processing renewals and new applications; assisting Membership Institute Secretaries with
the renewal process. All queries about membership payments, insurance documents and certificates
should go to Andy.
• Teacher training: processing applications to become a teacher trainee.
• Communications and Website: Andy is the person to speak to if you are having trouble updating your
personal or class details. He can help you navigate through the process. Please take this opportunity
to log in to the website and make sure that we have your complete and correct contact information.
Andy will be able to assist you if you have trouble logging in. Liaising with Member Institutes for the
IYN mail out.

Finance and Bookings Administrator – Jess Wallwork

Email: jess@iyengaryoga.org.uk
Address: IY(UK), 15 West Grove, Bristol BS6 5LS
Hours: Most evenings (10 hrs per week)
• Finance: keeping the accounts, making payments, processing expenses etc. Most of this is behind the
scenes work; if you do have a query about a payment you have made to IY(UK), apart from conven-
tion bookings, it is best to go through Andy first.
• Bookings: taking bookings for Conventions and other events IY(UK) organises. Any queries about the
Convention or any other events should go to Jess.

AUTUMN 43
Assessments Administrator – Kate Woodcock
Telephone: 07914089360
Email: kate@iyengaryoga.org.uk
Address: IY(UK), PO Box 1217, Bradford, BD1 9XF
Hours: part-time through the week, not available on Thursdays
(20 hrs per week). On call during assessments.
• Assessments: taking bookings for assessments, sending out paperwork to candidates and assessors,
sending out pass/fail letters and small certificates, updating the database with results. All queries about
assessments should go to Kate.
• Timetabling: gathering Moderator and Assessor availability; finding and booking venues for assess-
ments; putting together the timetables for all assessments; dealing with all the timetable relevant issues,
all cancellations, requests for refunds, Moderator / Assessor emergencies and standbys etc; Kate will
be “on call” for emergencies during the Assessments. Please contact Kate in the first instance during
assessment times if you cannot make your allocated assessment date for any reason.
• Appeals after Assessment: Kate is the first point of contact for the formal appeals process following an
unsuccessful assessment result.
PR and Website Administrator - Katie Owens

Email: katie@iyengaryoga.org.uk
Hours: Fridays/Saturdays (11 hrs per week)
• Communications and Website: updating the website (behind the scenes data); collating and producing
publicity material, including promotional leaflets, for use by IY(UK) teachers and members, particularly
in relation to International Yoga Day and National Iyengar Yoga Day.
Book Your Assessment Online

Teachers and trainees can now download syllabuses, book and pay for assessments
online.
Please visit the IY(UK) website at www.iyengaryoga.org.uk.
Assessment deadlines
Applications will be available online as follows:
Intermediate Junior Levels 1, 2 & 3, 1st-30th September
Introductory, 1st-31st January
Intermediate Senior Levels 1, 2 & 3, 1st-30th June
44 AUTUMN
Assessment Passes
Congratulations to all those who gained success in their assessments
Intermediate Junior Level 1 Mira Shirley Corrina Norton

Julie Amers Svetlana Slepneva Svava Sparey
Sophia Argyris Ann Sutton Sharon Dawn Taylor
Robert Ashman Jenny-May While Jennifer Taylor
Gerda Bayliss Louise Williams Carol Thomas
Helen Blackett Sam Xenofou Nicky Vesper
Leonore Bunyard Pilar Vigus
Veronica Carroll Intermediate Junior Level 2 Deborah Wilkinson
Natalie Cliff Catherine Alison Moha Wong
Susan Collins Noa Arbel
Sue Cresswell Helen Ayling Intermediate Junior Level 3
Suzanne Dodd Julie Baker Suki Ali
Aimi Dunstan Craig Blake Peter Burnham
Diane Edward Margaret Blythe Hart Deborah Cadby
Louise Eisner Emma Catto Dave Dayes
Sharon Gleeson Samantha Davies Martina Durnin
Emma Harrison Sarah Delfas Ajipeleka Giddings
Lindsay Jones Billie France Lone Kristensen
Silvie Labatut Claire Hanrahan Lisa Morris
Anne Lawless Helen Henderson Roisin O'Shea
Bo Lee Celia Henebury Monica Rooney
Maxine Lunn Olivia Howden Aileen Slein
Denise Mehlman Jackie Kilcourse Lara Speroni
Fionnuala Ni Mhairtin Louise Leonard Lorna Kirsty Taylor
Nina Prodywus Toby Lockyer Caroline Turck
Louise Radinger Jo Lovell Audrey Walker
Jenny Reynish Georgia Marnham Greg Walsh
Roy Russell Catherine Morgan Lisbet Wikman
Agata Saltonstall Francesca Nixon
This table shows the statistics relating to the Intermediate Junior Assessments which took place in March 2016.
AUTUMN 45
IY (UK) Professional Development Days 2017
Please note: PD days run with the calendar year from 1 January to 31 December.
All the dates below are in 2017.
South West
SWIYI – 21 October with Lynda Purvis
Organiser: Gillian Kamali – 01736 360 559 / gilliankamali@hotmail.com
West & South Wales

AIYI – 1 April with Richard Agar Ward
Organiser: Julian Lindars - 07973 656132 / julian@lint-free.com
Greater London & South East

NELIYI – North East London – 8 October with Sheila Haswell
Organiser: Lisa Morris - 07963 833188 / lisa@morris.co.uk
IIYS – Sussex – date tbc with Cathy Rogers Evans

Organisers: Jenny Deadman – jenny@jcm.co.uk and
Cathy Rogers-Evans – cathy@yogasouth.com
IYIMV – North West London – 26th February with Sallie Sullivan

and 30th September with Gerry Chambers
Contact: Iyengar Yoga Institute Maida Vale office 020 7624 3080
Organiser: Marco Canavo - office@iyi.org.uk
IYISL – South London – 8 October with Susan Long

Organiser: Glenys Shepherd – 020 8694 0155 / iyisl@btinternet.com
Kent IYI – Kent – 23 April with Brenda Booth and 19 November with Brenda Booth
Organiser: Brenda Booth – 01892 740 876 / brendaboothkent@aol.com
South Central
ORIYI - Cirencester – 23 September with Judi Sweeting and 19 November with Cathy Rogers Evans
Organiser: Elaine Martin – iyakemblepdday@gmail.com
DHIYI - Bournemouth – 23 September with Judith Jones and 7 October with Patricia James
Organiser: Carol Batterson - 01329 832853 / carolbatterson@uwclub.net
46 AUTUMN
West Central
MCIYI - Herefordshire – 24 June with Sheila Green
Organiser: Sheila Green - 01981 580081 / sheila@herefordshireyoga.co.uk
East
CIYI, Cambridge – 22 January with Sasha Perryman
Organiser: Sasha Perryman – 01223 515 929 / sashaperryman@yahoo.co.uk
North East & Cumbria

NEIYI - Sunderland – 10 June with Margaret Austin and Diane Coates
Organiser: Dawn Hodgson – 01325 721 518 / dawnlesleyhodgson@btinternet.com
East Central & North

SADIYA & BDIYI - Sheffield and Bradford – 13 May with Julie Browne
and 14 October with Marion Kilburn
Organiser: Emma Rattenbury – 07837 811 967 / 01142 556 406
emma.rattenbury@blueyonder.co.uk
North West
MDIIY & LIYI - Manchester – 6 May with Marion Kilburn and 14 October with Tricia Booth
Organiser: Clare Tunstall - 07909 960599 / clare_tunstall@yahoo.co.uk
Scotland
ESIYI - Edinburgh – 26 March and 17 September with Elaine Pigeon
Organiser: Katie Rutherford – 0131 447 4708 / katie.rutherford@blueyonder.co.uk
Glasgow – 18 March and 10 September with Meg Laing

Organiser: Valerie Miller – 0141 339 0442 / vjmiller7882@gmail.com
Ireland
Crumlin, Dublin – 29 April with Aisling Guirke
Organiser: Aisling Guirke – 00353 87 289 1664 / aisling_guirke@hotmail.com
Phibsboro, Dublin – 12 November with Eileen Cameron

Organiser: Margaret Cashman – 01882 8858 / info@iyoga.ie
MIYI - Munster - 18 February with Eileen Cameron

Organiser: Aileen Slein - 0860 399358 / Aileenslein@gmail.com
AUTUMN 47
IY (UK) Executive Council
Officer Rep. Name Email Telephone
Chair Jill Johnson chair@iyengaryoga.org.uk 01619299462
Treasurer Velika Krivokapic
Deputy Treasurer Vacancy pammackenzie@live.co.uk 020 8373 8356
Secretary MDIIY Charlotte Everitt secretary@iyengaryoga.org.uk 07812122617
Membership Sec. Anita Phillips anita.phillips@btinternet.com 020 8675 1631
Deputy Mem. Sec. SADIYA Caroline Anschutz anschutz_knowles@btinternet.com
Deputy Chair Philippe Harari philippe.harari@runbox.com 01223 523 410
Constitution Officer RoI Paul Taylor ptaylor@les.ie 0035361924236
Chair of AT Julie Brown julie.brown61@live.com
Chair of Therapy Judi Sweeting therapy@iyengaryoga.org.uk
Chair of Ethics and Appeals Sasha Perryman sashaperryman@yahoo.co.uk
AIYI Julian Lindars julian@lint-free.com
BDIYI Vacancy
CIYI Shaili Shafai shshaili@yahoo.com
DHIYI Vacancy
DIYI Martina Durnin martina.durnin@yahoo.co.uk
ESIYI Agnes Matthews cmtpartner@aol.com
iY Glasgow Brian Stewart brians@chem.gla.ac.uk 0141 334 3834
IIYS Cathy Rogers Evans cathyrogersevans@gmail.com
KIYI Sarah Delfas sarahandnick@hotmail.com
LIYI Judi Soffa info@yoga-studio.co.uk 0151 7094923
MCIYI Annie Beatty yoga@anniebeatty.com
MDIIY Charlotte Everitt c_a_everitt@yahoo.co.uk
MDIIY Joan Abrams joanabrams@hotmail.com
NEIIY Jeannie Adams jeannieadams63@gmail.com
NELIYI Larissa MacGoldrick larimcgoldrick@yahoo.com
ORIYI Clare Bingham bingham_c@hotmail.com 01844212770
SWIYI Judith Higgins jsporik@hotmail.com
SWLSIYI Diane Drain dianedrain@btinternet.com
Individual Anna Macedo annamacedo@clara.co.uk 01903 242 150
Individual Richard Agar Ward, richardhagarward@yahoo.com

Individual Vanessa Allen vmcnaught@hotmail.com
Individual Isabel Jones-Fielding, events@iyengaryoga.org,uk
Individual Vacancy
Individual Vacancy
48 AUTUMN
IY (UK) Committee Members
Board Finance & Membership
Julie Brown, Charlotte Everitt, Philippe Harari, Jill Caroline Anschutz, Velika Krivokapic, Pam Mac-
Johnson, Velika Kripokavic, Sasha Perryman, Anita kenzie, Anita Phillips, Andy Tait, Jess Wallwork, Kate
Phillips, Paul Taylor Woodcock
Ethics & Appeals Archives/Research

Gerry Chambers, Aisling Guirke, Larissa McGoldrick, Suzanne Newcombe, Brian Stewart,
Sasha Perryman, Amparo Rodriguez Janice Yates, Gael Henry, Joan Abrams
Lara Speroni, Randall Evans
Assessing & Training
Richard Agar Ward, Margaret Austin, Debbie Conventions/Events
Bartholomew (Communications Officer), Brenda Philippe Harari, Isabel Jones Fielding,
Booth, Tricia Booth, Dave Browne, Julie Brown Vanessa Allen, Charlotte Carson
(Chair), Penny Chaplin , Diane Coats, Sheila Green,
Sheila Haswell, Tricia James, Judith Jones, Marion Kil- Therapy Committee
burn, Meg Laing (Secretary), Susan Long, Judy Lynn Penny Chaplin, Judith Jones, Susan Long,
(Acting Vice-Chair), Jayne Orton, Sasha Perryman, Lynda Purvis, Judi Sweeting, Tig Whattler
Elaine Pigeon, Sallie Sullivan, Judi Sweeting, .
Committee chairs are in bold. Co-opted
Communications & Public Relations (i.e. non-Executive Council) members are in italics.
Joan Abrams, John Cotgreave (IYN), Philippe Harari,
Judi Soffa (IYN), Lucy Joslin (PR), Katie Owens,
JIll Johnson, Sigute Barniskyte-Kidd (IYN), Tehira
Taylor (IYN).
AUTUMN 49
Member Institutes
Please contact your local Institute for details of events and classes.
If you are a member of IY (UK) and you have any queries or issues about policies or
practices of the IY (UK) please contact your Member Institute Rep.
Avon (AIYI) Kent (KIYI)

www.aiyi.org.uk Kathy McCarthy
Kirsten Agar Ward kath@oakhillmail.co.uk
kirsten@bath-iyengar-yoga.com 0779 6936754/01732 465241
www.kentyoga.org.uk
Bradford and District Liverpool (LIYI)
(BDIYI) Judi Soffa
Alan Brown info@yoga-studio.co.uk
events@BDIYI.org.uk 0151 7094923
01535 637359, www.bdiyi.org.uk
Manchester and District
Cambridge (CIYI) (MDIIY)
Sasha Perryman Janice Yates
sashaperryman@yahoo.co.uk janice.yates@sky.com
01223 515929 01613 683614
www.cambridgeyoga.co.uk
Midland Counties
Dorset and Hampshire (MCIYI)
(DHIYI) Prabhakara
Helena Chiu, chiuhasang08@gmail.com prabhakara@freeuk.com
www.dhiyi.co.uk 01214 490413
www.mciyi.co.uk
Dublin (DIYI) Munster (MIYI)
Beccy Cameron Aileen Kingerley
00353 860620660 (text only)
www.iyengaryogainstitute.com
North East (NEIIY)
East of Scotland (ESIYI) Gael Henry
www.eastscotlandyoga.org 0191 477 5804
info@iyengaryoganortheast.co.uk
Foyle Institute of Iyengar yoga

North East London
Northern Ireland (NELIYI)
evelynyoga@hotmail.com Louise Leonard
Evelyn Donnelly leonard.louise@blueyonder.co.uk

07738 067290 07939 901515
iYoga Glasgow Oxford and Region

Valerie Miller (ORIYI)
vjmiller7882@gmail.com Mary Fitzpatrick
07970 681 425 maryfitzpatrick@ntlworld.com
iyogaglasgow.co.uk O.R.I.Y.I.
50 AUTUMN
Sheffield and District South West London & Sur-
(SADIYA)
Lorraine Bonete rey (SWLSIYI)
lorraine.bonete@gmail.com Jane Howard
0114 236 2115, www.yogasheffield.org 07504 126078, swlsiyi@gmail.com
South West (SWIYI) Sussex (IIYS)

Jane Lane Cathy Rogers Evans
janelaneyoga@btinternet.com cathyrogersevans@gmail.com
01326 319809, www.swiyengaryoga.org.uk
Affiliated Centres
Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre iYoga Centre The Iyengar Yoga Studio
www.bath-iyengar-yoga.com www.iyengaryogamanchester.co.uk East Finchley
Kirsten & Richard Agar Ward Carolyn Ferguson, www.theiyengaryogastudio.co.uk
01225 319699 07763 346332 Genevieve Dicker, Patsy Sparksman,
carolyn@iyoga.org.uk Wendy Sykes
Congleton Iyengar 020 8815 1918
Yoga Centre iYOGA Dublin
www.congletonyogacentre.com Iyengar yoga Centre West Suffolk Iyengar
Christina Niewola of North Dublin Yoga Centre
01260 279565 / 07970186109 www.iyengaryogacentre.com www.iyengaryogasuffolk.co.uk
Roisin O’Shea, 00353 1882 8858 Jane Perryman, 01440 786228
Cotswold Iyengar
Yoga Centre Knutsford Iyengar Iyengar Yoga Centre
www.cotswoldiyengar.co.uk Yoga Centre for Essex
Judi Sweeting, Tig Whattler www.knutsfordyoga.co.uk www.iyce.com
01285 653742 Margaret Carter, 01925 758382 Susan Long , 01245 421496

Edinburgh Iyengar Maidstone Yoga Centre Iyengar Yoga Studio Tooting
Yoga Centre www.iyengar-yoga.co.uk www.iyyoga.com
www.yoga-edinburgh.com Lin Craddock, 01622 685864 John Shirbon, Ursula Schoonraad
Lesley Johnston, 0131 229 6000 020 8355 3498
Putney Iyengar
Iyengar Yoga Institute Long Wittenham
Yoga Centre
of Birmingham Yoga Centre

julieyogaputney@gmail.com
www.iyengaryoga.uk.com www.longwittenhamyogacentre.com/
Julie Hodges, 0208 704 5454
Jayne Orton, 0121 608 2229 Evelyn Crosskey
07786 065253
Sheffield Yoga Centre
Iyengar Yoga Institute www.sheffieldyogacentre.co.uk
Maida Vale Frances Homewood, 07944 169238 Peak Iyengar Yoga Centre
www.iyi.org.uk www.peakyoga.org.uk
Alan Reynolds, 020 7624 3080 Sue Lovell, 07851 195208
AUTUMN 51
NEW SITE
OLD FAVOURITES
mats props books gifts clothing wholesale
YOGAMATTERS.COM | 020 8888 8588
52 AUTUMN
Yoga Holiday in Kerala, India
with Sue Lovell
8 – 22 January 2017
IYENGAR YOGA RETREAT

GOA
Palm Tree Centre 3 – 13 JANUARY 2017
Yoga Holidays
Kovalam, South India LYNDA PURVIS and GERRY CHAMBERS
Relax, unwind in exotic, tropical Kerala
Cost: £395
From £750 13 nights in beautiful spacious houses next to www.eastwestyoga.org.uk
the beach, breakfasts after yoga & 8 delicious evening meals 01395 266616
included. 2 yoga classes a day with weekend off
All levels of students welcome
Transfer from Trivandrum airport (about half an hour) included
Contact Sue 07851195208

www.peakyoga.org.uk
& for more details & to book a place
www.freespirityogaholidays.co.uk
B A T H I Y E N G A R Y O G A C E N T R E
Directors:
Directors: Richar
Richard
hard & Kirsten Agar W
Ward
ard
IIntensives:
ntensives:
New Year
New Y Weekend
ear Weekend IIntensive
ntensi with
s ve w Kirsten
ith Ki Agar
rsten Ag Ward
ar W January
ard 7 & 8 Ja 2017
nuary 2 01 7
Easter
Ea ster IIntensive with
ntensive w Richard
ith R Agar
ichard Ag Ward
ar W April
ard 8 & 9 Ap 2017
ril 2 0 17
Arnside
Arn Weekend
side W with
eekend w Kirsten
ith Ki Agar
rsten Ag Ward
ar W April
ard 8 & 9 Ap 2017
ril 2 01 7
Teacher
Te Training:
ac h er Training :
Junior
Ju Teacher
ni or T Training
eacher T 19
raining - 1 9&2200N November
ovember 2 2016, February
016, 4 & 5 F 2017
ebruary 2 0 17
Senior
Se Teacher
ni or T Training
eacher Training ffor 2017
or 2 commences
017 co 18
mmences 1 19
8&1 February
9February
14 Charlotte Street, Bath BA1 2JP 01225 319699 w w w.

w . b a t h - i y e n g a r-
r- y o g a . c o m
AUTUMN 53
Advertising in the Iyengar Yoga News
You can order a full page advert (170mm wide by 246mm high), a quarter page advert
(80mm wide by 118mm high) or a half page advert (170mm wide by 118mm high.
Either send the completed artwork (as a ‘press quality’ PDF, a high resolution JPEG or an
Adobe InDesign document) OR you can send the images (as high res. JPEGs) and word-
ing and we will make the advert up for you.
Please note:
· Advertisements for yoga classes, events, holidays etc. – will only be accepted from certifi-
cated Iyengar yoga teachers
· Advertisements for Yoga Centres will only be accepted from official Iyengar yoga organi-
sations
· 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 ad-
jective 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 IY (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 31st December 2016 to
cotgreavej@gmail.com
Advertising rates
Circulation: 2800. Quarter page £50; Half
page £100; Full page £180. Small ads 60p
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 (UK). IY (UK) does not necessarily endorse
any products etc. advertised in this magazine.
54 AUTUMN
Charity Yoga
Notebook
by Prithi Irani
Available now: a beautiful 300 page lined

hardback notebook with illustrations by Prithi
Israni and quotes on yogic living and practice on
every page, approved by B.K.S. Iyengar.
This is a perfect yogi’s notebook for
practice notes or personal writing.
Prithi Israni is a close devotee of B.K.S. Iyengar

and spent time with him during his last years.
He guided her with his wisdom and love in her
practice as well as in life.
Practice is a mirror of life and Guruji was an

example to us all. He never stopped his practice
till his last breath. He practiced Savasana till his
last day and shared his knowledge with everyone.
The quote on the front of the book is from
Guruji a few months before his passing. Prithi
hopes that it is a quote that will help us continue
with the love, commitment and determina-
tion that Guruji had within himself to spread his
teaching and continue
our practice with faith and truth.
All the profits from sales of this book will be

given to the Bellur Trust, to aid the uplift
of Guruji’s place of birth.
You can buy this book for £14.50

(including postage and packing)

from our website:
https://iyengaryoga.org.uk
Or, to place a large order please email:
PrithiD@aol.com
AUTUMN 55
56
AUTUMN

Iyn 29

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Iyn 29

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Iyengar Yoga News

Iyengar Yoga News No. 29

Iyengar Yoga News

As always, your articles, photos and comments are most welcome.

Membership and Office Manager Finance & Bookings Administrator

Articles to: editor@iyengaryoga.org.uk PR & Website Manager Assessments Administrator

Song of the Soul

Italian Convention with Jawahar

International Yoga Day / NIYD

Profile of Jean Dawson

A Big Thank You to Elaine Pigeon

Guruji with Fr. Joe Pereira in 1968

Seeking Guruji's Blessings for the ongoing work of Kripa.

With deep respect and Pranam to him, Fr Joe Pereira

Addiction is a kind of human disability that cannot

(Ashtanga Yoga) ideally suit the recovery programme in

As it is well known, the person who seeks help for the

THE DETOXIFICATION PROTOCOL

Iyengar Yoga News No. 29

Our final restorative asana for the detoxification

Iyengar Yoga News No. 29

The next posture helps the recovering person

Iyengar Yoga News No. 29

udiyana (flying up) bandha. Engaging these during

clothes for all sessions you'll be exhausted before

Dhanurasana. But free of anxiety and anticipation, we didn’t

On Sunday morning Raya led a lively, group demonstra-

As we all tried to keep up with the pace and find the

When we were in Parivritta Trikonasana Raya started

The Convention included a seminar given by

I would like to pass on to you what I took away

More photos of the Convention are on LOY Italia website: www.iyengaryoga.it/galleria/show

Iyengar Yoga News No. 29

Birmingham International Convention Centre (ICC)

IY(UK) Convention Timetable

Yoga Social, Film and Food Evening

Join the IY (UK) Birmingham Convention Marketplace

Iyengar Yoga News No. 29

International Day of Yoga National Iyengar Yoga Day

We hope that 2017 will be just as special and I am

er in setting up an event? A small amount of funding

Aberdeen Birmingham Bath

Iyengar Yoga News No. 29

Newcastle Manchester Sheffield

Iyengar Yoga News No. 29

We welcome all new visitors to the centre. For

It has been 6 years since we opened our doors and

as treating chronic ailments through yoga.

Now Elaine has stood back

even see her at Professional

May you enjoy many years of

We have also recently advertised for a volunteer to

get involved, please do get in touch.

All members were issued with a new membership

• Teacher training: processing applications to become a teacher trainee.

Finance and Bookings Administrator – Jess Wallwork

tion bookings, it is best to go through Andy first.

PR and Website Administrator - Katie Owens

Book Your Assessment Online

Intermediate Junior Level 1 Mira Shirley Corrina Norton

West & South Wales

Greater London & South East

IIYS – Sussex – date tbc with Cathy Rogers Evans