IYENGAR YOGA IN SUSSEX

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1 January 2014 IYENGAR YOGA IN SUSSEX The Newsletter of the Institute of Iyengar Yoga in Sussex FROM THE EDITORS A Happy New Year to all our members. We hope that this newsletter arrives at an opportune time, serving to both strengthen those waning resolutions and to inspire you with recollections from last year s yoga days led by Mel and Cathy. Helen regales us with her recent experiences at the Yoga Show. We hope to see as many of you as possible at the AGM in April. Please drop us a line if you have any yoga related photos or articles that we could include in the Autumn Edition. hazel493@hotmail.co.uk or post to Hazel Johnson, 10, Hayes Close, Ringmer, East Sussex BN8 5HN Namasté, Hazel and Mira Yoga AFTERNOON WITH ANNA MACEDO Don t Forget Your membership renewal due on 31 st March Sunday 9th March pm 5.00pm Venue: Brighton Natural Health Centre, 27 Regent Street, Brighton BN1 1UL 12 IIYS members 15 non-members Rather than focussing on one aspect, Anna will plan a sequence to balance the 5 elements in the body. These will build up to guided Pranayama and relaxation. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon! BNHC is a fully equipped venue so you can enjoy a morning in Brighton without having to carry your equipment around! All abilities welcome. There is equipment at the Centre, including blocks, bricks, belts and mats, but feel free to bring your own mat or blanket if you prefer. AGM & Yoga MORNING WITH ANDREA SMITH Sunday 27th April am 1.30pm It will be followed by the AGM with a free buffet lunch Venue: The Steyning Centre, Fletcher s Croft, Steyning BN44 3XZ 12 IIYS members 15 non-members NB: please bring your yoga kit as this is not an equipped centre SEE OVER FOR DETAILS OF ANOTHER FORTHCOMING EVENT SEE BACK PAGES FOR APPLICATION FORMS OR VISIT Andrea became a teacher in 1987, taking classes with Kofi Busia while doing her Introductory and Junior certificates. She did Senior training with Jeanne Maslen, passing level 3 in Her first visit to Pune was in 1992 and she has attended general classes there several times since. She became an assessor for the IY(UK) in Her teaching is lively and well-structured, with a good mix of basic poses and more challenging ones for the well-practised students. Students are encouraged to work through the asanas at their individual level, with adaptations to suit their capability.

2 YOGA DAY WITH KIRAN CHOTHE Saturday 14th June am 4.00pm Venue: University of Sussex Sports Centre, Dance Studio, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9RB 22 IIYS members 27 non-members NB: this event is suitable for practioners with at least one years experience Kiran had studied in Pune-based Iyengar Institute (RIMYI) since Following a two-year beginners course he started the advanced course in 1993 and participated at the teacher training course in Since then he has been working as an assistant teacher on regular and medical classes as well. Kiran spent the last 6 years in Hungary, teaching general and advanced classes as a certified teacher for Intermediate Junior Level 3. He relocated to the UK in February 2013 and has been holding classes and workshops throughout London since then. SEE BACK PAGES FOR APPLICATION FORMS OR VISIT AN AFTERNOON OF YOGA Mel Palmer, a Junior Intermediate level 3 teacher kindly agreed to teach an afternoon workshop for IIYS in Worthing on Sat 2 November. Mel was on home turf as she lives and teaches in Worthing. The workshop had been delayed a couple of weeks as Mel had recently been the victim of a car accident which knocked her off her bike and broke several feet bones. Despite being still on crutches and with a 1/2 leg cast she taught a lively and spirited session, with clear instruction and careful sequencing, using various students to illustrate poses and instructions when too hampered to do so herself. The overarching objective of the class was to work towards EKA PADA SIRSASANA (no NOT headstand with one leg brought straight down) - instead the rather more challenging pose of the same name, where from DANDASANA one leg is rotated outwards and with the knee flexed the foot is gradually drawn up and back behind the ear and eventually moved behind the back of the head and the hands planted down alongside the outer hips! A challenging target indeed and Mel approached it with careful preparation with emphasis on incrementally more challenging hip openings via Supta Padangustasana variations, Utthita Hasta Padangustasana free standing in the room (holding toe where possible) and sideways version, Parivrtta Trikonasana and Parivrtta Parsvakonasana (done with outer edge of back foot to wall and not revolved inwards as in classic pose to give a deeper rotation to rear leg hip joint). A lot of seated poses including Swastikasana, Janu Sirsasana, Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana and Baddha Konasana followed so that when we came to attempt the final poses, our hip joints were as ready as they were ever going to be! The final pose was done with bolster support in the back body so that the considerable effort of attempting to take the foot behind head was (somewhat) mitigated and the hardening of the abdomen was minimised. The session was highly appreciated by around 15 students, including many of Mel s loyal local students. Thanks also to JUST YOGA which provided as always a light, hospitable and generously equipped space.

3 YOGA DAY WITH CATHY ROGERS EVANS It was a quiet Sunday morning at the tail end of November, chilly and overcast, when the students began to gather warily in the car park of a new and unfamiliar venue in South Portslade. I arrived with an extra heater in my arms, having spotted the beautiful high ceiling of our practice room and the huge arched window facing West and feeling wary about how it might be heated in time for a day of yoga. But soon it all changed, Cathy arrived beaming with enthusiasm like a ray of sunshine in cheerful pink yoga leggings and tee shirt and soon we were gathered happily for a day of energizing and challenging postures. We started with the invocation to Patanjali which resounded wonderfully due in part to the acoustics of the arched room. We were 25 in all, most of whom stayed for the whole day. The workshop had a steady momentum building to Kapotasana, a truly wonderful pose which only the brave were able to perform but which we all enjoyed attempting, with suitable props to guide us in the direction of the final goal. We had prepared our minds and spirits and our spines with a beautiful sequence of twisting poses and hip and shoulder work which lead naturally towards this finale, after which quieter poses drew the yoga day towards a quiet and peaceful conclusion, with a wonderful colourful sunset in the Wintry sky outside. Midway through the day we had a brief but very significant interlude when we were able to sing not one but two rounds of Happy Birthday Dear Guruji in honour of Guru Iyengar s 95th birthday. We shared a slice of Ali s delicious cake and in our minds wished Guru BKS Iyengar a long and happy life with many happy returns of the day. It was encouraging to have in the class a couple of yoga students, who were new to the adventure of a yoga workshop, who took the step and came for a half day. I can confidently say the work was enjoyable and challenging for students and teachers of all levels of confidence, experience and expertise. Jenny Deadman

4 GURUJI S 95TH BIRTHDAY A magnificent card was made by Brian to send to Guruji to wish him a Happy Birthday from all the members of IIYS. A photograph was swiftly taken of as many students as possible remaining at the end of Cathy s Day so that this could be attached, as Cathy said that Mr Iyengar appreciates receiving pictures of his students from across the globe. What a sight, all dressed in their British winter regalia quite a change from Pune... PD DAY FOR TEACHERS Date: 21st September 2014, 10.00am pm (Finish time may vary depending on the program) Venue: Community Base, top floor studio, 113 Queens Road, Brighton BN1 3XG. Dave Browne will be the moderator for our 2014 PD day. This is a professional development day which is for teachers only. The organisers are Cathy Rogers Evans and Jenny Deadman. All applicants must book in advance. For an application form cathyrogersevans@gmail.com or download from ASSESSMENT PASSES Congratulations go to IIYS members Mira Shirley, Hazel Johnson and Trina Requena on successfully gaining their Introductory Level 2 Teacher Certificates recently. IIYS WEB-SITE TO BE REDESIGNED Our web-site is currently undergoing an early springclean. It will still have it s current features but will have more information on teachers and classes, and have a fresher, more modern look. So don t forget to visit:

5 OM YOGA SHOW OCTOBER 25/26/27 TH 2013 This year I volunteered to be on the stand and help with open classes and stage demonstrations for IY (UK) at the Yoga Show. I was interested to promote the Iyengar method of Yoga and wanted to give something back to the Iyengar Yoga Association (UK) in giving my time for a valuable cause! The Yoga Show is a hubbub of stands and open yoga classes, along with workshop areas that charge for classes with specific yoga instructors. I was surrounded by yoga equipment, tea, incense, henna painters, juice bars, the odd fortune teller, bajans, yoga music (?) and nutritious health bars and snacks. Every time I walked down the aisles I was stopped to be asked to buy something or by yoga teachers selling Teacher Training Holidays! Some new Yoga methods were being introduced through large and consumerist advertising, one such anomaly was (dare I say it) boxing Yoga. My mind was boggling! The Iyengar stand was very busy with people asking about Iyengar Yoga; all we had for sale were brightly coloured T-shirts at extremely modest prices (compared to the many yoga clothing stands) and dedicated volunteers talking and explaining to enquirers about the Iyengar method of Yoga. I was impressed by my fellow Iyengar colleagues who informed and welcomed people. Hannah and Rachel Lovegrove conducted classes and stage demonstrations on Friday and Saturday where participants were receptive, engaged by their teachers. Most were keen to find out more and where their nearest Iyengar teacher was based. We helped many through showing them the find a teacher on the home page of the Iyengar Yoga (UK) website. I enjoyed helping alongside Kiran Chothe who was looking forward to teaching for the IIYS next year. In this materialistic and consumer environment I was glad that I was with an association that does not have money making as its forefront. Mr Iyengar does not lay claim to the many props that he invented to help people in their path of yoga, he does not even wish for this yoga to be known as Iyengar Yoga but instead he says it is Patanjali s yoga or Astanga 8 limbed yoga. This was made clear to me when a girl turned to me saying where do I do Astanga Yoga near me? Kiran Chothe had said to her that this was Astanga! The depth of Guruji s teaching was evident in comparison to the gimmicks and fast track paths of yoga offered around us. Another man came to me and told me he had tried some yoga classes having read a lot about yoga but he felt that those teachers were not properly trained as they did not seem to teach the whole yoga that he had read about. He said that it was fast paced and like exercise. After chatting a while he said that he felt that Iyengar Yoga was what he was looking for! I am hopeful that my efforts to inform and guide people at this year s Yoga Show will result in more people finding the Iyengar way and benefitting, for it seems to me that in the popularisation of yoga and its place commercially in a throw away consumer society has in fact led to more people questioning and looking for a stable and health giving Yoga method. By my experience I was more than convinced that the IY(UK) has a place at the Yoga Show and has much to do there. Helen Ayling

6 NOTICE BOARD EQUIPMENT FOR SALE Members Prices Foam Blocks (up to 10) 3.50 Mats: Thick Mats: Thin Belts 3.50 Cork Bricks 6.50 Note the 3.50 price also applies to Members and Non-Members buying more than 10 blocks. To purchase contact Jenny Deadman, on I am in central Hove. Non-Members Prices Foam Blocks 4.00 Mats: Thick Mats: Thin Belts 4.00 Cork Bricks 7.50 USEFUL WEB LINKS Institute of Iyengar Yoga in Sussex (IIYS): See our site for IIYS event information, membership details, many more iyengar links,and our new Gallery. The Iyengar Yoga Association UK (IYA UK): The Official BKS Iyengar website: For classes visit: Brighton & Hove Yoga: Lewes Yoga: The Brighton Natural Health Centre: Just Yoga, Worthing: Honorary member Mike Bliss also has a site with a yoga page: THE FINAL WORD We welcome any comments, contributions and articles relating to Iyengar Yoga in Sussex - reflections on workshops, classes, poems, photos, drawings... By to: hazel493@hotmail.co.uk or by post to 10 Hayes Close, Ringmer, East Sussex, BN8 5HN A huge thank you to all the contributors who helped to make this newsletter possible. Photo of A Sussex Yoga Studio in Festive Apparel THE IYENGAR YOGA CERTIFICATION MARK This mark is only awarded to fully qualified and approved teachers of Iyengar Yoga. In order to qualify for this mark they have to undergo rigorous training, continually update their skills and have the necessary insurance in order to teach. BSK Iyengar B.K.S. Iyengar was born in 1918 and lives at his institute in Pune, India. He has spent more than 70 years studying and practising yoga, has taught on all five continents, and won global respect and admiration. His books on yoga have become classics and he continues to set the standards for his teachers and students. Iyengar Yoga has become a widely practised form of yoga with teachers and organisations in more than 40 countries around the world. Sussex was one of his first bases. IYENGAR YOGA IN SUSSEX The Institute of Iyengar Yoga in Sussex (IIYS) is affiliated to Iyengar Yoga UK and is a non profit-making membership organisation committed to promoting the practice and philosophy of Iyengar Yoga.

7 EVENT BOOKING FORM (PLEASE MAKE ALL CHEQUES PAYABLE TO IIYS ) Yoga AFTERNOON WITH ANNA MACEDO I wish to attend the Yoga Afternoon with Anna Macedo on the 9th March 2014 I enclose my cheque for 12 (IIYS members), 15 (non IIYS members) Name: Address (with Postcode): I am a member of IIYS: Yes No Tel No: Date: Signed: Please send completed form with cheque payable to IIYS to: Sallie Sullivan, 21 Sun Street, Lewes, BN7 2QB Further enquiries to Sallie on or sallie.sullivan8@btinternet.com IMPORTANT NOTE: If paying for more than one event or for an event and membership together enclose SEPARATE cheques. Cheques will not be banked until just before/after the event. Tick box if you require an receipt, OR enclose a SAE if you require a printed receipt or map (please state which or both). For info on other IIYS events visit: If you are experiencing financial hardship please write to: Brian Ingram, 51 Meadow Lane, Burgess Hill, RH15 9HZ with details. AGM AND Yoga MORNING WITH ANDREA SMITH I wish to attend the Yoga Morning & AGM on the 27th April 2014 I enclose my cheque for 12 (IIYS members), 15 (non IIYS members) (delete as appropriate) Name: Address (with Postcode): I am a member of IIYS: Yes No Tel No: Date: Signed: Please send completed form with cheque payable to IIYS to: Mary Mulligan, 9 Islingword Street, Brighton BN2 9UR Further enquiries marytmulligan@me.com IMPORTANT NOTE: If paying for more than one event or for an event and membership together enclose SEPARATE cheques. Cheques will not be banked until just before/after the event. Tick box if you require an receipt, OR enclose a SAE if you require a printed receipt or map (please state which or both). For info on other IIYS events visit: If you are experiencing financial hardship please write to: Brian Ingram, 51 Meadow Lane, Burgess Hill, RH15 9HZ with details. IYENGAR YOGA IN SUSSEX The Institute of Iyengar Yoga in Sussex (IIYS) is affiliated to Iyengar Yoga UK and is a non profit-making membership organisation committed to promoting the practice and philosophy of Iyengar Yoga.

8 EVENT BOOKING FORM (PLEASE MAKE ALL CHEQUES PAYABLE TO IIYS ) YOGA DAY WITH KIRAN CHOTHE I wish to attend the Yoga Day with Kiran Chothe on the 14th June 2014 I enclose my cheque for 22 (IIYS members), 27 (non IIYS members) Name: Address (with Postcode): I am a member of IIYS: Yes No Tel No: Date: Signed: Please send completed form with cheque payable to IIYS to: Mary Mulligan, 9 Islingword Street, Brighton BN2 9UR Further enquiries marytmulligan@me.com IMPORTANT NOTE: If paying for more than one event or for an event and membership together enclose SEPARATE cheques. Cheques will not be banked until just before/after the event. Tick box if you require an receipt, OR enclose a SAE if you require a printed receipt or map (please state which or both). For info on other IIYS events visit: If you are experiencing financial hardship please write to: Brian Ingram, 51 Meadow Lane, Burgess Hill, RH15 9HZ with details. IYENGAR YOGA IN SUSSEX The Institute of Iyengar Yoga in Sussex (IIYS) is affiliated to Iyengar Yoga UK and is a non profit-making membership organisation committed to promoting the practice and philosophy of Iyengar Yoga. Design & Artwork by Keith Boorsma. keithboorsma@sky.com Phone: