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It was a big day. Will write later, but in the meantime here are some photos. The venue has these quotes hanging from the ceiling. So here are a few.

I did go out, and here are a few from that ‘adventure’!

Well, what a good night sleep can do for a good attitude and overall energy. The air pollution is really challenging, even with mask on. Both John (Schumacher) and I are of the few wearing masks except for the Chinese. I can feel the tickle in my chest and it’s not good.

That being said, I am trying not to dwell on it.

Class was taught again by Prashant. Since I am not taking notes, as I want to be fully present to absorb his words, it’s difficult to relay the power of the class. One of the main focus of the morning class was using the breath to serve the body and mind. It was a different approach than when I might say, find your breath or relax your breath. He directed us to work first from the breath in the abdomen and see what the impact was on the body and mind. He talked about the importance of breath and agni, fire, and the abdomen being a seat of power in the body. And he noted that three of the main chakras (wheels) that exist are in the abdomen.

Though he did not go into detail, to share with you briefly:
The Root Chakra is called Muladhara, meaing ‘root and groudning’ and yes, it is what grounds you to the Earth.

The Sacral Chakra is called Svadhishana, which translates to ‘the place of the Self’ and gives you your identity.

And, the third is the solar plexus, called Manipura, and it means ‘lustrous gem’. It can be described as a place of personal power, identity, and self confidence.

It’s really all about directing your attention, right? And this class was a really interesting, way to feel your asana through the breath. Again, we did many, many Utthita Trikoṇāsanas. We did Śīrṣāsana, Pārśva Śīrṣāsana, Parivrttaikapada Śīrṣāsana. We also did Sarvāṅgāsana and variations.

I wanted to mention, that we are in quadrants that move around the room, and I am meeting interesting people. Though we don’t have time for talking (of course) during class, it’s nice to be with familiar faces. I hope to meet some of them. There are two Iyengar yogini’s in my group: Marla Apt and Manju Vachher.

The afternoon session included a powerful talk by B.K.S.’s grand-daughter Abhijata. She is an excellent speaker. It was powerful: funny and poignant.

OK, so it is 4 am in California; 5.30 pm in Pune. I am going to have some quiet time.
I hope to make it out for some City life tomorrow

The pictures are: Morning sky from my hotel room; a totally picture perfect Indian truck. Check out the wood door. And on our way to class, there was a group of locals doing yoga!

Good morning. It’s 6.30 am here in Pune, 8 pm in DC, and 5 pm in California. I had a good and interesting day though I woke at 3 am and was not able to go back to sleep which is quite difficult. You can see from the photo of our walk to the Venue the haze in the air. At the end of the day, my scarf smelled of smoke. It’s just really thick. Pune isn’t nearly as bad as Mumbai or Delhi.

Prashant led classes again. He was gentle in his demeanor, humorous and insightful. We worked mostly on Utthita Trikoṇāsana. In between each triangle pose we did another pose and observsed it’s effects on Trikoṇāsana. It was fun and interesting. Everybody is in good spirits and open minded. There is a large contingency of Chinese participants, a whole quadrant full. They have a translator and all wear earphones to hear the class. They are so beautiful. Next to them is a group of Russians, also a large group. They also have a translator. Each day, we move to a different spot in the arena, except for the Chinese and Russians who will stay in their spot.

I sat with Lois Steinberg for lunch. It was casual, and we talked of things other than yoga mostly.

In the afternoon, Geeta appeared finally. She is using a walker. It brought tears to my eyes. She and Prashant talked some about the future of Iyengar Yoga, and mostly expressed their opinion against having teacher training programs that push out teachers fast. They prefer a traditional mentorship or what I call an apprenticeship which is exactly how John trains his teachers at Unity Woods, and how I have learned to teach yoga.

I am just getting settled into the rhythm of the day. I have been tired, but I have now had a solid nights sleep, I should be more functional. I haven’t taken a lot of photos to share but more will come as I venture out into Pune in the next couple of days.

Peace to you all.

Namaskar. I’d like to begin with the Centenary Message that we received in our packet:

“Yoga is for one and all”, this was the conviction that led
B.K.S. Iyengar to undertake the journey of yoga for himself,
and make yoga available to anyone who sought it.
Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar stood graciously like a lighthouse
for all those who came to yoga. The year 2018 will see
the 100th birth anniversary of this great being.

Maharshi Patanjali postulated that ashuddhikshaya
(destroying impurities) and vivekakhyati
(sense of discrimination) are achieved
by the anushthana (devoted practice) of yoga.

Along with these two, Guruji radiated two things –
unconditional love for creation and everything in it,
and gratitude for whatever life offered to him. In this sense,
Guruji has effortlessly woven gratitude as an effect of yoga.

Throughout his life, Guruji wove the two-pronged sadhana-
accepting the exuberant creation as a part of oneself and
simultaneously surrendering oneself into creation. He gave
much more than what he received -this was his character.

Guruji’s palms folded in namaskar, denote his warmth for
fellow beings and thankfulness for life itself.
The zeros in the hundred appear in the form of infinity
suggesting that we move from the finite figure of the ‘100’
towards the Infinite. Guruji’s teachings being eternally
contemporary goad us in that direction.
_____________________________________________
There are approximately 1300 students participating from 56 countries!
Prashant Iyengar led the day. We did not see Geeta yet.
Our practice was not very physical today. It was interesting in how Prashant talked about the body, mind, and breath.
And how the body can work for the body, for the mind, and for the breath;
the mind can work for the body, mind, and breath; and
the breath can work for the body, mind and breath.

He continued with the body can work in the body, mind and breath.
… with the body, mind and breath, etc., etc.

There was a break where lunch was served. I did not eat the Indian lunch today, but I did get a fresh coconut which is always a treat after class.

The afternoon session was mostly a lecture. It was fascinating to hear stories about Guruji and the developing of his practice and teaching. Some of the highlights, briefly and interestingly:
Prashant discussed how Mr. Iyengar thought in his native language, but had to use English to teach and to write, and what a difficult task that was for him. He discussed how tireless Iyengar was in exploring the effects of asana on the body, mind and spirit. He shared how Light on Yoga came about and the years it took to capture the asana in photos. Guruji would start a practice, and if it was a good forward bending day, he would quickly go to the photographer’s studio to capture those asanas. It took about 5 years to take those photos.

He used not a timer, but a stop watch in his practice, so he could observe how long certain effects of the same pose would take: when the body was warm, when the body was stiff; when he was fatigued. He would do a certain practice on a particular day of the week and see how the different state of the body and mind would manifest in his asana. On Thursdays he would start with a thirty minute Paschimottānāsana!

Well, my mind and body are tired from absorbing and still getting accustomed to the time difference.

Until tomorrow.

Greetings from my hotel in Pune. Well, it was a smooth trip and I’m in good spirits despite the 11 hour, then 7.5 hour plane rides; and a three hour car ride. I slept. I meditated. I watched one movie only. The seats were small. I met interesting people traveling the world.

I arrived at my hotel at 6 am. The photo above is my driver who met me and delivered me safely Pune. The air pollution from Mumbai in the middle of the night left a hazy glow. I will be wearing a mask walking around town. It’s just not worth the stress on the lungs.

I slept thankfully for a few hours and took an Uber to RIMYI, the Iyengar Institute. I immediately saw Jocelyn Yee a Unity Woodser; Brian Hogencamp from San Francisco, James Murphy from the New York Institute, and Winnie Au also from Unity Woods. It’s good to see familiar faces and get some warm welcomes. I registered and picked up my prop kit.

I was told 1300 hundred students will be participating! Incredible. I’ll know more when classes start. Tomorrow is Monday and class begins at 9.30 am. The rest of the Intensive, classes begin at 8.30. Asana will go until 11 am each day; Pranayama from 11.30- 12.45. We will have a break and return at 2.30 – 4 pm.

I decided to come back to Pune for the Centenary celebration to go back to source which has given me so much inspiration. Though B.K.S is not here, I feel his spirit around me. He was such an energetic force in life, why not in the spirit world too? Many of you know I have worked with a Shaman, Rose Khalsa, for over a decade, and she talks of spiritual guides. I have my spirit animal; and a spirit guide. I have also at times, journeyed to ask for guidance from Guruji.

I am so looking forward to taking classes with Geeta. She’s a powerful teacher, and her teaching resonates with me. I love her. I was never one to hang posters of idols on my walls as a kid, so when I say I love Geeta or was in awe of B.K.S. Iyengar – it’s deserving because of the life they lead/led. The dedication, knowledge, hard work (tapas), intellect, discrimination, clear thinking and instruction, and so many wise words that have spoken to me.

There may not be another person like B.K.S Iyengar to walk this earth for centuries to come. He changed Yoga across the world. He lived a life of purity and devotion.

So, that’s why I am here.

Oh, and look who I had lunch with today! John!