Yoganusasanam 2022

Marlene and teachers from Yoga Centre Toronto used to make frequent pilgrimages to the Iyengar Institute in Pune to study with BKS, Gita or Preshant, and come back inspired by the teachings and "full of India," as Andy Orr liked to say. We all looked forward to their return to infuse our practices with revitalized insight.

This year RIMYI streamed Yoganusasanam 2022, making the teachings more accessible to those of us practising at home. Another example of how Covid and technology combined to create/accelerate opportunity. 

The in-person event took place over 6 days, with 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. Abhijahta Iyengar led the session. My teacher Niron was among the international students in the crowded hall. 

I got to avoid the flight and rickshaw strike! Participating remotely from home wassn't the same experience - especially as I worked through the 30 hours of online sessions over 2 weeks, versus 6 days. Even so, I find myself cycling through the familiar emotions I would experience during the thirty day sadhanas here in Toronto... Eagerness! Resistance! Resentment! Determination! Openness! Curiousity! Insight! 

Verse 1 of the Patanjali yoga sutra is 'Atha Yoganusasanam' or 'now begins the study of yoga.'

Day 1 - practice to refresh after long journeys

Day 2 - arms and legs as organs of action in standing poses and pranayama

Day 3 - twists (make space in trunk!) 

Day 4 - backbends (keep tailbone in)

Day 5 - pranayama before asana inversions and twists

Day 6 - pranayama before an integrated practice 

Balance and equanimity.... Courage and caution must go together. Do not overdo, do not underdo.

Aging is a fact of life, but don't use it as an excuse. Keep practising. Although you might not physically 'do' as well as in your youth, maintain the sense of direction in the asana. (i.e. if abdomen does not touch the thighs in uttanasana physically, keep that intention in the movement).

Props can be used to make a pose more attainable, or more challenging, or be used to sensitize (is my back straight? buttocks in?)

Yoga is 90% emotion. Feel the effect on the body. The aura and expanse of the energy. 

The imprint of one pose in the next pose (i.e. moving from sirsana to ustrasana to dondasana). The horizontal block placed at the buttocks imprinted the feeling of buttocks going into the body that was echoed in headstand.

Don't forget revolved versions of poses! Not just triangle, but also janu sirsana, sirsana, ardha chandrasa.

Preshant taught a couple sessions emphasizing how breath, body and mind are intertwined. A 'simple' pose provides tremendous opportunity to explore breath and mind. Placing blankets under buttocks, then lumbar, then chest producing different effects. The subtleties and differences in thinking about 'taking' a breath or 'receiving' a breath. Perspective of doing/being done, object/subject.

For depression and anxiety, pranayama in supported asana can be helpful. Support the head to quieten the brain. Remove discomfort. The subconscious mind will come to the surface rather than retreat into dullness.

There may be initial resistance to daily practice, but commit to 15-20 minutes. Usually after 4 or 5 asana resistance is gone. Practice! Practice! Practice!

Pranayama can precede asana for practitioners. Pranayama before asana on Days 5 and 6 for 45-60 minutes, with a 10-15 minute pause before asana. In my morning practice, do I want to incorporate a few longer sessions into the week, or 5-10 minutes at the start each morning?

Mahamudra - don't be overly aggressive in the posture, if bent leg is popping up sit on a height. Keep the back concave; relax the throat and diaphram. Exhale and press down on thigh; inhale, sides of the trunk lift up and elongate; then tilt head down to bandha (but don't round back!); inhale; pause and engage abdominals to press back into to spine; exhale; release bandhas and breathe normally for a few cycles. Repeat.

"After pranayama, the breath wants to stay with you a little longer. I hope you are able to taste that." (Abhi)

For me, this is the magic of shapeshifting.