Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada Newsletter/Les nouvelles de l'acyi

Transcription

1 April 2013 Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada Newsletter/Les nouvelles de l'acyi In This Issue IYAC/ACYI AGM The Unsung Hero of Good Spirit Yoga Assessment News Reflection on Injury Q & A with Marlene Mawhinney Practice from Pune Submission Guidelines for IYAC News/les nouvelles de l'acyi Welcome to the IYAC/ACYI April Newsletter! Happy Spring, and Happy Volunteering! At the end of our February teachers' meeting someone shouted, "Please put your props away neatly! Jane is sick." Jane is the Iyengar Yoga Centre of Victoria's volunteer prop manager. She deftly, and quietly, creates order out of chaos when it comes to tidying the many blankets, mats and blocks (along with straps, chairs, sandbags... ). When she is not there, she is missed. We all know - and in some way rely upon - people like Jane who embrace 'service,' with a smile. Karma yogins, who work quietly, tirelessly, and without expectation of reward. (A rare and blessed thing these days!) BKS Iyengar, too, had such a person in his life; his wife, Ramamani. She cared for their five children, cooked, cleaned, and took care of the daily duties while Guruji practised and taught and struggled to make a living to support his family. The Iyengar Institute in Pune is named in her honour. 1 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

2 April is National Volunteer Month; a good time to sing the praises of our unsung heroes; those people who selflessly make our work a little easier, our day flow a little more smoothly. Hilary Phillips' account of the unsung hero of Good Spirit Yoga does so charmingly. I thoroughly enjoyed her story. I think you will, too. Also in this issue, Carla Ramirez explores the nature of injury, the mind/body link, and the wisdom and compassion we can develop by listening to our bodies. We conclude with a Q & A with a Senior Teacher; this time Marlene Mawhinney from Toronto. Marlene kindly shares with us some of the pearls of wisdom she has gathered from more than four decades of practising and teaching Iyengar Yoga. (Marlene also shares with us a practice from her most recent visit to RIMYI in Pune.) Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the 'unsung hero' of this Newsletter, Eve Johnson, who spends hours formatting the text and photos and getting it to you in a beautiful and timely fashion. Eve very recently lost her dear sister, Ann. I know you will join me in sending her compassion and strength at this time of deep sorrow. With gratitude to all 'unsung heros,' for your work, for your willingness, and for your inspiration. Namasté, 2 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

3 Karyn Woodland A note to our readers: if you can't see the photographs in this newsletter, please check that your program is able to view remote images. In Mac's Mail program, for example, go into "Preferences," then into "Viewing," and then place a tick in the box beside "Display remote images in HTML messages." Interweaving the Threads of Practice: IYAC/ACYI AGM and Conference May 23-26, 2013 Victoria, B.C. This year B.K.S Iyengar will celebrate his 95th birthday. He has spent his life exploring, corroborating and illuminating the Yoga Sutra's, Patanjali's treatise on Classical Yoga. He himself describes his system as Patanjala Yoga. Sutra means thread! Over these four days we will gather together many of the threads of technique and meaning in Iyengar's teaching on asana and pranayama that contribute so exceptionally to the vast tapestry of Yoga. Please join us! Click here for Conference Information Click here for the AGM & Conference Schedule Click here to view our latest Registration Packages, including one-day and weekend For more information The Unsung Hero of Good Spirit Yoga By Hilary Phillips Iyengar Yoga classes in Flesherton, Ontario, are held in an old brick church built in The ceiling of the church is over 20 feet high - keeping it cool in summer, but making it hard to heat in winter. Flesherton is in the Lake Huron/Georgian Bay snowbelt, where cold winter snow storms blow in from the lakes. The historic church studio, aptly named Good Spirit Yoga, is heated with wood. In fall the wood arrives and is dumped on the front parking area. Then our unsung hero 3 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

4 meticulously piles the wood into three long, even stacks, which he covers with a plywood roof to keep out the snow (a task of about two weeks.) The wood arrives; stacking begins Wood neatly stacked for winter In winter, students arriving for the morning class are not aware that long before they enter the building, our unsung hero has lit the fire at 5:30 a.m. and shoveled the pathways to the door. If the storm is from the East, the doorway has to be cleared before it will open, and the windows cleared of snow to let in the daylight. 4 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

5 Studio doors must be cleared before classes can begin During class, the Good Spirit unsung hero often enters, unnoticed by the diligently practicing students, to add another log to the fire. One day a log slipped out of his hands and crashed onto the wooden floor. He recovered the log, placed it on the fire, and quietly left the room. No-one spoke, until the teacher said, "It is very difficult to get good help these days!"... whereupon the whole class burst into laughter. 5 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

6 Wood stacked and drying by the central fireplace Our hero performs other, less routine, duties. Once he had to remove a live groundhog from the engine of a student's car. The student must have driven from her home (15 kms) with the groundhog under the hood. The groundhog resisted, so he pulled harder, whereupon it came free - and quick as a flash, turned and bit him right through his gloves! (Fortunately, the bite was not too severe.) Students who arrive by bicycle will find that while they have being practicing trikonasana, our hero has pumped up their tires, oiled their chains and made any mechanical adjustments necessary. He attaches a small label to the handlebars stating exactly what work has been done. He also donated and maintains the Flesherton community bicycle (free for anyone to use), so students may ride to the shops and back without using their cars. 6 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

7 The Flesherton community bicycle The yoga classes at Good Spirit Yoga, the maintenance of the building, the snow clearing, the heating - none of this would be possible without this man. Not only does the Good Spirit unsung hero provide all these services, he also comes to yoga classes. Who is this man, you ask? The Good Spirit Yoga unsung hero is my husband, Peter Ryan! The students and I say, "Thank you Peter for all that you do for us. Without you the Iyengar Yoga classes in Flesherton could not continue." The Unsung Hero of Good Spirit Yoga, Peter Ryan Hilary Phillips has always participated in outdoor physical activities, including teaching horseback riding, bicycling safety skills, sailing, and skiing. She was introduced to Iyengar Yoga over 20 years ago and 7 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

8 realized that this was exactly the practice she needed. After many years as a yoga student at Yoga Centre Toronto, she enrolled in the teacher-training program and acquired her Intro/I/II Certification. She opened Good Spirit Yoga in 2004 to teach Iyengar Yoga to the rural community of Grey Highlands and the surrounding area. The village of Flesherton has a population of 700, and Grey Highlands 9,520 many of whom are farmers, Mennonites, artisans, artists, teachers, retirees, skiers and cottagers, making a up a diverse rural community. Hilary Philips Assessment News Assessors, left to right: Louie Ettling, Judith Mirus, Teddy Hyndman, Donna Fornelli, Krisna Zawaduk Congratulations to the successful candidates in the Intro II Assessment in Edmonton, March 8-10, 2013: Jane Kruse Jenn Reck Maryon McClary Cathy Allen Leanna Parker Darcy Harpe-Lesperance Barbara Ballachey Linda Walker Toronto Toronto Edmonton Edmonton Edmonton Winnipeg Calgary Brentwood Bay, B.C. 8 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

9 Three of the happy candidates, left to right: Maryon McClary, Cathy Allen and Leanna Parker Reflection on Injury By Carla Ramirez Around three weeks ago, I was walking to the metro on the way to my yoga class, and I suddenly slipped and fell. I mean, flipped down hard, and fell with all my weight landing on the inside of my left knee. After one big #$%?& to the air, I stood up and continued walking. I was mad, not only inwardly, for my little moment of distraction, but also outwardly, towards winter and everything about and around it. Despite my knee, I went to class as usual. I tried to be careful, but my knee was talking to me during class. I listened to it and I took care of it. Then another week went by, and with it, more practices came; my own classes to teach, walking to the metro again (this time a lot more carefully). But, inevitably, there were plenty of little moments where my knee was talking to me, even during my sleep. Ultimately, I had no other option: I needed to change my practice. So I did. My practice is quite different now as a result. For example, from being very comfy before without support in Supta Virasana, here I am now, with a rope, two blocks, one bolster and three blankets! 9 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

10 Carla Ramirez, taking care of her injured knee in supported Supta Virasana Since all this happened, I've been thinking of all the people I know who live in some sort of pain and may be able to do something about it but are blocked for some reason. They may see their pain as normal, and believe they just need to live with it. I could not stop thinking, why do they do that to themselves? This reflection permits me to see the beautiful meaning that yoga practice has for me. Yoga is about union, and love cannot happen without it. Yoga is about awareness, and love cannot happen without it. Yoga is about learning about compassion, and love cannot happen without it. Yoga is about developing patience, and here again, love cannot happen without patience. All of these beautiful qualities will develop within, which is what yoga asana practice is about. Yoga asana is about finding your limits and learning within those limits. When you are reaching your own limits, which happens often in yoga asana practice, 'true yoga' would result in greater self-compassion: allowing you to love yourself a little more, regardless of any 'progress' you make or don't make. If during a yoga class you push beyond your limits to where you cannot breathe or are in pain, or you compare yourself with others, if you find yourself here, then my friend, you are not doing yoga at all. In fact you will be using yoga like you 'use' your life: disconnected, depleting your life energy instead of investing it sustainably. In the end, can we really prevent injury in life? I am not sure. The key is: observe yourself, find your own limits, work within them and take very good care of your body! After all you have just one - no less, no more. Carla Ramirez is a professional photographer. Her strong interest in health and harmony lead her to study Reiki, Johrei, somatic movement, as well as various techniques of meditation. She has been an ardent yoga practitioner for the past 10 years, and recently passed her Intro I Assessment. She continues her training with Marie Andrée-Morin at the Centre de Yoga Iyengar de Montréal, working towards 10 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

11 Introductory II Certification. Q & A with Marlene Mawhinney Marlene Mawhinney is a founding member of IYAC. She has taught yoga for 40 years and is the President and Senior Teacher at Yoga Centre Toronto. She has served as a Board Member and Chair of the Professional Development Committee. Marlene has been to Pune 16 times (her most recent visit in February of this year), as well as studying with BKS Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar in Canada, USA and South Africa. In addition to teaching regular classes at all levels, Marlene has a special interest in training teachers, and in teaching students with health challenges. 1. Please tell us a little about your yoga background. As a young mother with five small children, running a home and going to university, I was on meds to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. One day a family friend showed up at my door and insisted on taking my children for the afternoon to give me a bit of a break. As she left, she said to me, "You must do yoga." I took her advice and started to follow a teacher on tv; it worked right way! I felt better and was able to come off the medication. I continued on my yoga journey by trying every kind of yoga that was available, and it all worked for me. I took a teacher training program offered at Georgian College in 1975 and received my first certification - 80 hours! I was practicing and teaching, but was unable to find answers to my yoga questions. Then, in 1977, Esther Myers came to Yoga Centre Toronto to give a demonstration of Iyengar Yoga, and as soon as I heard the instructions I knew it was for me. I studied with Esther, and then with Barbara Landsberg (she had been to India to study with BKS Iyengar and I felt the work more directly). I began to teach Iyengar Yoga in 1979, and with Esther, went to Pune for the first time in of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

12 2. Do you have a favourite story, or anecdote, about BKS Iyengar? I have two stories. I was in class in Pune and Guruji was teaching Virabhadrasana I. Because of the fusion in my back I couldn't get all the way around. He put his hands on me to guide me into the correct position and I said, "I'm trying!" To which he responded, "Don't try. Do!" This is a guiding principle for my life. When I 'try,' I do from my intellect; when I 'do,' it comes from a deeper understanding. In 1986 Guruji was at Harvard University for a conference and had called all of the Canadian teachers to meet with him. I was struggling on how to deal with students that were doing Iyengar Yoga, mixing it with other methodologies and complaining about the results. I asked, "Sir, what do we do when someone takes your work and mixes it with other methodologies?" He responded, "As Patanjali says, let those people go without animosity, with indifference." Practicing discriminating indifference has been an ongoing practice for me. My personal struggle and my personal strength. It's a tapas - the very struggle strengthens me. 3. What is some of the best advice you have received from BKS Iyengar for your teaching? Teach only what I know. Some people are born teachers and some have to be taught to teach. Teaching comes naturally to me. My journey has been about ethics. Don't go past what I know. Don't assume that I know. Go back to the source. Back to the mat. 4. What advice would you give junior teachers? Practice. Practice for yourself. Practice for your students. Practice to teach. Don't 12 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

13 teach anything you haven't practiced and explored on your own mat. Keep it simple. Outside the classroom, students can be your friends; inside the classroom they are students. Don't compromise the work to keep the student. It takes a lot of time to learn this - it's a process. 5. Do you have any recommendations for: -those preparing for assessment? You can't pass a test by rote; you have to do the time. Teach under many circumstances. The month before assessment, take care of yourself. If you don't know it by then, you don't know it. Be honest with yourself. Go into assessment and teach like you teach your own classes. -those travelling to the Ramamani Institute in Pune? Go with an open mind and open heart. In the practice sessions, be sure to practice what you have learned in the previous class. Use these times to develop the understanding of what you have just been taught. Absorb the wisdom of the source. 6. What is your vision for the future of Iyengar Yoga in Canada? I think it's in good hands; there are enough teachers committed to the source. The systems we have in place for assessment, for supporting our teachers, for teacher training are excellent. More senior teachers are coming along and the future looks good. I have just returned from Pune where the classes had many younger teachers and many young students from Russia and Asia. It was a joy to see. In Canada, I think we need to encourage more younger students to participate in Iyengar Yoga classes. As teachers we need to understand that younger students can move and do not need to be 'propped up.' Their energy has to move. The asana may not always be perfect, but the yoga experience can be! Practice from Pune (courtesy of Marlene Mawhinney) This Practice was taught by Geetaji on February 9th, 2013 Adho Mukha Virasana Dandasana Paschimottonasana Janu Sirsasana Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana Urdhva Hastasana in Dandasana to Janu Sirsasana to Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana to Janu Sirsasana Dandasana Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottonasana Paschimottonasana Adho Mukha Svanasana Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana 13 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM

14 Adho Mukha Svanasana Uttanasana Urdhva Prasaritta Eka Padasana Uttanasana Sirsasana (ladies with periods, Parsvottonasana) Eka Pada Sirsasana Uttanasana Adho Mukha Virasana Sirsasana with Urdhva Dandasana Sarvangasana Chatuspadasana Sarvangasana dropping back to Setu Bandha Sarvangasana Savasana IYAC News/les nouvelle de l'acyi Submission Guidelines We welcome IYAC news, updates, articles, workshop reviews, interviews, recipes, and RIMYI practice sequences. Submission deadline for the September issue is August 23. SEND TO: * Please keep submissions to 500 words or less. (Single space between lines and single space after periods.) * Please include your name, and a brief bio. * Photos submitted in jpeg format (please identify subjects of photos). * This newsletter is published in January, April, September and November. * We currently do not have a classified section. Forward This was sent to journeytotheheart@shaw.ca by info@iyengaryogacanada.com Update Profile/ Address Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe Privacy Policy. Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada 50 Cambridge Street Victoria BC V8V 4A8 Canada 14 of 14 4/18/13 9:19 AM