Guidance from Geetaji: Realise the Prakrti Geeta Iyengar in natarajasana NEWSLETTER SPRING-SUMMER 2021 IYENGAR YOGA CENTRE OF VICTORIA NEWSLETTER Submission Deadline for Fall issue: In this Issue August 7, 2021 EDITOR Roger Champagne NEWSLETTER COMMITTee Roger Champagne, Lauren Cox, Anne 3 16 Glover, Johanna Godliman, Leslie Hogya, Reflections Prashant Iyengar as Hilary McPhail By Shirley Daventry French Motivator DeSIgn & PRODUCTION Cady Graphics By Leslie Hogya IYCV LOGO Charles Campbell, Lauren Cox 6 Guidance from Geetaji: phOTOGRaphy Lynn Bowsher, Laine Realise the Prakrti 17 Yoga Makes One the Canivet, Leslie Hogya, Barbara Young COVER ILLUSTRATION Lauren Cox By Ann Kilbertus Master of Circumstances PROOFING Roger Champagne By B.K.S. Iyengar 8 Our Teachers Gather: ADS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Hilary McPhail MEMBERSHIP/MAILING LIST Hilary A Pro D Day 18 Our Time on Zoom McPhail By Leslie Hogya By Heather Haxo Phillips IYENGAR YOGA CENTRE OF VICTORIA SOCIETY is a non-profit society incorporated under 11 Pro D Day 2021: Introductory 19 Guruji on his books the Society Act of the Province of B.C., Words to Teachers whose purpose is “to encourage the physical, mental, and spiritual growth of 20 IYCV Calendar By Shirley Daventry French its members and other interested persons of the society at large by the study and discipline of Yoga.” The Society owes its 12 Annual General Meeting inspiration to Mr. B.K.S. Iyengar. The Newsletter, published regularly by the Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria Society, 12 President’s Report provides current information on events concerning Iyengar Yoga in the Victoria area. 12 General Manager’s Send contributions, articles, photographs Coronavirus (high resolution), drawings, information or Report suggestions to: the Iyengar Yoga Centre Notice of Victoria Newsletter, 202-919 Fort Street, Victoria BC V8V 3K3. 14 Treasurer’s Report Please refer to our website Permission is hereby granted to reprint any for current information of our material, except that copyrighted on events. by the author or artists. When reprinting, 15 Slate Submitted for 2021 please credit this newsletter and send us Board Membership two copies of the publication containing our material. Copyright material is available only with written permission. The editor/newsletter committee holds the right to publish or edit all articles at its discretion. Newsletter Advertising Policy 1. Advertisements must not conflict with the aims of the newsletter of the IYCV. 2. Advertisements must be only for Iyengar Yoga. 3. Priority will be given to advertisements regarding IYCV events, IYCV-sponsored events, and IYAC-ACYI events. REGISTER FOR CLASSES & WORKSHOPS Please visit our website: www.iyengaryogacentre.ca for full information on classes and workshops. 202-919 Fort Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 3K3 Phone: (250) 386-YOGA (9642) Due to space limitations at the Centre, we regret we cannot accept past issues of the IYCV Newsletter, Yoga Journal, etc. Screen shot during Jawahar’s workshop 2 VICTORIA IYENGAR YOGA CENTRE NEWSLETTER Reflections By Shirley Daventry French Mind is garbage and in the midst of that heart of Guruji’s exposition were the five and then in others. Although I wrote garbage is pristine core mind. vayus or vital energies and how to access notes soon after class ended and referred – Prashant Iyengar, Pune, December 2003 them in asana, pranayama and life. to them many times over the years, it An added bonus was that because was as if they were written in a foreign he above words, were uttered by many of his local students had daytime language. In fact at that time yoga was a Prashant Iyengar one evening occupations which prevented them foreign language! Tat the Institute in Pune. To be from attending this course, each evening As a student it took time and practice honest I am not absolutely sure whether Prashant (who was present throughout to expand my awareness of the flow of this was Prashant’s interpretation of the week) went over the thrust of Guruji’s this vital energy within my own body: an Guruji’s teaching earlier that day or a teaching that day. Those of us who had essential first step in being able to observe direct quote of words spoken by Guruji been there in the mornings were offered this in others. This learning continues to himself that morning as he concluded an the chance to deepen our understanding, this day. extraordinary week of teaching prior to ask questions and fill in some of the gaps Guruji never spoke of training his 85th birthday. It was December 2003. in our understanding. teachers. He always spoke of guidance. From the 1970s onwards, Guruji’s The last evening, full of energy and If you asked about something taught approach to yoga attracted students from gratitude for being part of this very previously you might be told: “I gave all over the world. I was going to Pune special week, we sat and waited for you the clue!” Often he would remember regularly plus travelling to conferences in Prashant. He arrived promptly, smiling, where and when (such as “I taught you the States and Europe as often as I could and stood there quietly for a while before that last year in London!”) and ended whenever Guruji was slated to teach. I announcing that he felt like a lame man with the statement: “but you didn’t get it!” seized every opportunity and have never standing at the foothills of Mount Everest I had my first experience of teaching regretted a minute. whose task was to act as our guide to the in front of Guruji when he stayed in my The course in December 2003 summit! We all laughed gratefully and home during a visit to Canada in 1984. was unique in many ways. Generally appreciatively. Prashant did a masterful It was like an adult experience of Show notebooks were not allowed in classes job, and we savoured every moment: sad and Tell. One challenge I faced was that except in rare circumstances when that the course was coming to an end, but since he was staying in my home I had to someone was specifically selected to be happy to have been there. sharply change roles from hostess to pupil. the notetaker. This time we were not Eighteen years later, I still look upon That day I went ahead leaving Derek to only permitted but instructed to bring my notebook from this course as one of drive Guruji once everything had been a notebook and pen into the Institute’s my most precious resources. It guides my set up at the Victoria “Y” for the three main yoga hall. Each day when class daily practice and reflection. simultaneous classes we had organised. ended we were sent away to do our During the course Guruji selected When Guruji arrived I had already personal practice in our flats or hotel a few longtime pupils, most of them begun to teach a large class in the main rooms. Indian, to demonstrate the flow or lack gymnasium. He entered the room very Today, as I continue to digest the of flow of this vital energy, showing quietly and stood there listening to my incredible amount of learning Guruji where it was blocked and how to free instruction while taking in what was managed to instill into these classes, its flow. Sometimes the energy and the going on. I would not have known he the hard cover notebook I used for transformation in the student was clear was there were it not for the entourage this purpose is one of my most prized to see and sometimes it was not. It was around him who did not have his skill possessions. I have only to pick it up, reminiscent of my first experience of of becoming invisible whenever he chose open at any page and something useful Guruji’s teaching when he did his best to to. Becoming aware of this disturbance for that moment in time leaps out. At the show us where energy was flowing and around him I looked up and paused. where it was not, first in our own bodies “Carry on!” came an instant response. SPRING - SUMMER 2021 ISSUE 3 And so I did! Guruji wasted no time going to do next?” Without a pause she in yogic teachings but it requires regular picking up where I was going and in a answered: “I was thinking of going home!” practice to convert life (whatever its very short period of time showed me He laughed heartily and then spent current circumstance) into something how to line up the students to get the time guiding this teacher and teaching worth living. best viewing point, how to scan what everyone in the room more about this Certainly I dislike not being able to was happening, issue general instructions fascinating subject of Yoga. spontaneously do many things and see whilst picking out those most in need of What a memorable day that was! people who enrich my life face to face. I adjustment, and how to do this whilst But what is its relevance for this Spring/ do not love the computer although I am at the same time keeping everyone Summer 2021 newsletter? forced to use it. But I have no need to working. We were almost running from Roger Champagne, our newsletter Zoom to sustain my practise, although I wall to wall, student to student. When editor, sent out a series of suggestions can see its use as a means of learning and he decided to leave there was a collective around the hot topic of Covid-19 and the refreshing what to practise. exhalation from everyone in the room! unrelenting wily pandemic now over a During this pandemic I have come Afterwards I accompanied him to year old.