T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I CAT I O N O F T H E I Y E N G A R YO G A C E N T E R M A N I L A

T he Fla vor o f Yo ga

GURUJI
CONQUERS
CHINA
The yoga master
at the China-India
Yoga Summit

B.K.S IYENGAR
ON YOGA,
THE ETERNAL
LIGHT

The ‘system’
of Iyengar
Yoga
Is it good
pain or
bad pain?
TECHNICALITY
'GURUJI': THE EXHIBIT TOWARDS
COMES TO MANILA PROFUNDITY
September 2011 1
Our road less traveled CONTENTS
THIS journal is a shoot sprouting from the seed of YOGA, THE ETERNAL LIGHT 3
B.K.S. Iyengar’s love, guidance, and wisdom. It is B.K.S. Iyengar expounds on the
watered by the affection of many teachers who have endurance and consistency of yoga
dedicated their time, effort, and for some, their lives
to learn and understand Guruji’s method. This is all TECHNICALITY TOWARDS
in the effort to be able to preserve and share it in as PROFUNDITY 5
pure a form as possible. It is further enhanced by the Geeta S. Iyengar reveals the deeper
warmth and light of our growing community here in meaning beneath the precision
the Philippines, by the willingness of people to give
of themselves, and most of all, to entrust themselves THE ‘SYSTEM’ OF IYENGAR YOGA 7
to the system built up by Guruji for the last 75 years. Prashant S. Iyengar explains why
If you had asked me 15 years ago if I could foresee Iyengar yoga’s essence lies beyond the
all this, I would have definitely told you no. Not in mode of teaching
my wildest dreams. But that is the point precisely. Guruji’s system brings you
beyond the borders that you build, beyond what you think is possible. THE EXHIBITION–AN EXPERIENCE 9
One can quickly get a feeling of possibility and going beyond our natural Abhijata Sridhar-Iyengar writes about
borders by looking at the exhibit on the life and work of B.K.S. Iyengar, which the 90th birthday surprise that became
the Iyengar Yoga Center Manila (IYCM) has put up in the Power Plant Mall a worthy tribute to a ‘simple’ master
of Rockwell. Guruji’s life and work are a testament to growth, evolution, and
involution. Of taking the road less traveled and venturing into the unknown, GURUJI CONQUERS CHINA 11
in search for light. This may sound a bit esoteric for some, but have a look and Filipino Iyengar devotees witness how
see for yourselves. We are hoping that the exhibit will entice you to come and B.K.S. Iyengar leads the China-India
experience yoga. As our Guruji has so rightly said, “No amount of explaining can Yoga Summit in Guangzhou
describe yoga, it must be experienced.”
I want to thank all those who made this possible, either through time given, GOOD PAIN, BAD PAIN 14
ideas and personal stories shared, or even just giving a smile. Always remember, Elena Laguinia reflects on lessons from
you never know when you can inspire or lift a person. the 2011 Baguio Residential Retreat

Light and Love, LESSONS FROM MY BIG TOE,

PLUS SOME 16
Rina P. Ortiz gets some insights
while learning from Guruji himself

Rina P. Ortiz Cover photo: B.K.S. Iyengar arrives in

Founder and Director, Guangzhou, China.
Iyengar Yoga Center Manila Photograph by Rina P. Ortiz

UPCOMING EVENTS INTRODUCTORY COURSE

Sept 16-18, 2011 – Guruji – A Photo New students, regardless of experience in

Exhibit on the life and work of yoga other kinds of yoga, are required to take at
master B.K.S. Iyengar at the Power least 20 introductory sessions before joining YOGA RASA: The Flavor of Yoga is published by
Plant Mall, Rockwell, Makati City, the regular class.  IYENGAR YOGA CENTER MANILA
Philippines The next introductory course schedule is 4/F Joya South Tower, Rockwell Center,
Sept 17-19 – Yoga Workshop September 22-December 15, 2011, Tuesdays Makati City, Philippines
Tel. nos. (02) 798-0070
with Ramamani Iyengar Memorial and Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 pm.        
or (0917) 535-9711
Yoga Institute (RIMYI) senior teachers Trial Classes are open to new students, E-mail: [email protected]
Abhijata Sridhar-Iyengar and regardless of experience in other kinds of yoga, Website: www.iyengaryogamanila.com
Navaz Kamdin who want a sample class before joining the
Introductory Course. MARINA P. ORTIZ
Founder and Director
Schedule:  Sept. 22 and 27, 2011  (call
Lay-out: Joan Soro
to confirm if there is class), Tuesday and Special thanks to Rajvi Mehta, Editor of Yoga
Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm Rahasya, published by YOG, Mumbai

2 yoga rasa
Yoga, the Eternal Light
‘I am certain in my heart of
hearts that yoga is going to
remain pure and noble forever’
By B.K.S Iyengar
Excerpted with permission from
Yoga Rahasya, Vo. 15 No. 2, 2008

Y
oga is as old as civilization,
whose conception, growth,
and practice was nourished
in India. It has withstood
the onslaught of invasions
of rulers from alien countries. There-
fore, I am sure it is going to remain a
transcendent subject that will guide
and transform future generations by
uplifting those who follow it to learn,
understand, and live truly like hu- the five organs of action (arms, legs, upon desire and desire for their
man beings. I am certain in my heart mouth, excretory, and generatory fulfillment.
of hearts that yoga is going to remain organs), and the five elements (earth, Because of these various facets of
pure and noble forever. water, fire, air, and ether) with their the consciousness, yoga begins with
We all know that yoga has been potential qualities (sound, touch, form, the restraint of thought waves in the
defined as citta vrtti nirodha, taste, and odor). consciousness, so that it shines in its
or restraint of consciousness. All these move around the qualities pristine purity, and opens its door for
Before going into the restraints of that are inherent in nature, namely the sight of the soul to dwell upon the
consciousness, let me explain what inaction (tamas), vibrancy (rajas), and practitioner.
consciousness is. Actually, the aim of yoga is to unite
illumination (sattva), as spokes of the
Consciousness shoots or sprouts the individual soul with the Universal
wheel of nature. Though nature and
from the first principle of nature Self are eternal, the parts of nature Soul: samyoga yoga ituyktho jivatma
(prakrti) as mahat or cosmic constantly move and change, whereas Paramatmana.
consciousness. As this becomes the Self eternally remains constant, To bring this samyoga or union, one
more particularized, it is called without any change, like the sun that needs to develop knowledge (vidya),
individualized consciousness or citta never fades. using direct perception correctly or
in man. Mind, intelligence, and ego or Consciousness stands for thought, through correct inference or from
emotion, intellectual reasoning, authoritative books on the subject or
“I am-ness” (ahamkara) are encased
disposition, vision, heart, soul, and from qualified and experienced persons.
in the consciousness. When any one
of these is active, the other two get Brahman. These may be on the Knowledge (vidya) is of two types:
compressed and remain quiet. The physical, mental, intellectual, and one is laukikajnana (worldly or
consciousness or citta that sprouts spiritual levels, waxing and waning material knowledge) and the other is
from moment to moment. Often these vaidikajnana (spiritual knowledge).
from mahat is further extended and
thoughts multiply themselves, building Practice of yoga makes one harmonize
expanded with other principles of
up disparities between word, thought, worldly knowledge with spiritual
nature: the five senses of perception
and deed, which in turn create desire knowledge, so that both are balanced
(eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin),

September 2011 3
 ‘As lamp, wick, and oil are needed for a flame to
be lit, pure thought, speech, and action need
to mingle to illumine the light of knowledge and
wisdom to silence the consciousness’
while dealing with the things of the Yoga, which covers the eight aspects
outside world as well as the inner of yoga, namely: yama, niyama, asana,
world. pranayama, pratyahara, dharana,
Though Patanjaii defines yoga as the dhyana, and samadhi, These eight
restraint of the waves of consciousness, petals of yoga help to bring the
he later expresses the latent, hidden wavering or doubtful understanding
meaning of yoga. It is the union of the into a stable state. These can be
head with the heart (inner conscience), practiced compartmentally to start
the union of the intellect and with, and as one progresses, then
intelligence. If the intellect of the head all eight petals are to be practiced
is acquired knowledge or jnana, the concurrently as well as consistently.
intelligence of the inner heart (inner If one leaf or petal in these eight
conscience) is the essence of that aspects is attended to explicitly, you
knowledge (vyavasayatmika buddhi). have to see that the other aspects are
We know that the brain has four implicitly involved in the practice.
hemispheres and the heart has four The practice should be steadfast, long,
chambers. Patanjali divides these four Guruji leads prayers at the Iyengar Yoga uninterrupted, and alert to still and
hemispheres of the brain into four Center in Hong Kong, which he visited silence all the thought waves that arise
parts for the intellectual development. en route to China for the summit. from the consciousness.
These are the analytical part or vitarka, As the farmer waters his field
the part that reasons this analysis as as a battlefield, it is the kurukshetra by constructing bunds, wetting the
synthesis is vicara, the part of bliss is in man. Here one likes to establish land, softening the soil for ploughing,
ananda, and the last part is the seat of dexterously, using varying language removing the weeds, and sowing the
the individual self, asmita or sasmita. to establish one’s superiority or fertile seed, fertilizing with manure
All these parts make the intellect grow inferiority complexes. The four and tending the seedlings to get the
vertically so as to reach the highest chambers of the heart are the field best of crops, the practitioner should
level in acquiring knowledge. of righteous duty (dharmaksetra). If practice these eight petals of yoga to
Patanjaii speaks about the four the head is the seat of psychology, gain knowledge (jnana), in order to
chambers of the heart for horizontal the heart is the abode of spirituality. understand nature (prakrti) as well as
progress: friendliness (maitri), It is this abode that helps, through acquire knowledge of the Self, for the
compassion (karuna), gladness right understanding, in balancing the Self to establish on its own without
(mudita), and indifference to good or vertical intellect of the head with the depending upon the principles of
horizontal intelligence of the heart to nature (prakrti).
bad, virtue and vice (upeksa).
work in concord between psychology …As lamp, wick, and oil are needed
If the coming generation pays
and spirituality. To maintain this union for a flame to be lit, pure thought,
attention and studies yoga sutra 1.7
between psychology and spirituality, speech, and action need to mingle to
and 1.33 to understand the union of
or the intellect of the head and the illumine the light of knowledge and
the head and the heart, and practices
intelligence of the heart, needs wisdom to silence the consciousness.
the eight principles of yoga as
discipline. This is what yoga teaches. As Lord Krishna says: “As the flame
enumerated by Patanjali in clear terms,
In order to study and understand does not flicker in a windless place, but
the spiritual aspects are maintained as
the concord of these two beams all these aspects, Patanjali advises remains stable and steady, the sadhana
of light radiating the real Self to shine anusasanam. This means advice, too has to be such that it does not
brightly. direction, instruction, or laid-down allow the mind or the ego or the ‘I’ to
If one gives a thought to these four rules or disciplined practice as oscillate, but makes the consciousness
hemispheres of the brain, which acts sadhana. And that sadhana is Ashtanga remain like a non-flickering lamp.”♦
4 yoga rasa
Technicality
towards profundity By Geeta S. Iyengar

Asana have to be done in such a manner that

every portion of the body, every aspect of the
mind, and every ray of intelligence is penetrated
to bring about a transformation in yourself
Excerpted with permission from Yoga Rahasya, Vol. 17 No. 2; 2010

L
n our daily practices, we deal to be done in such a manner that every and conscience have to take active
with several minute techniques portion of the body, every aspect of the part and be dynamically involved.
on how to do the asana and mind, every ray of our intelligence, is These aspects have to mature so as to
pranayama. We have to watch penetrated. control and restrain themselves. These
very carefully while doing the Here, the methodology is very days, we see advertisements claiming
asana and pranayama and know the important. The detailed method or that one teaches this yoga and that
subtle techniques. The gross tech- techniques come into the picture so yoga. They do not treat yoga as one.
niques will convey how to go in to the that you lead yourself to calmness Original yoga does not require such
asana or do pranayama. For example, and quietness. This is antara-kriya. advertisements. Advertisements do not
to do Paschimottanasana, you sit down, The inner technique begins here. prove the authenticity of yoga. Why
stretch out both the legs, keep the legs The consciousness, citta, has to be divide yoga into parts for the sake of
together, extend your arms towards the awakened. advertisements?
feet, hold the feet with your hands, and None of the eight aspects of yoga Here I would like to explain how
lower the head down. That is the outer can be treated merely by outer and why Guruji brought props into
technique. It is called bahya-kriya. It technique or bahya-kriya. The the picture. He saw people who could
doesn’t stop there. It should not stop practitioner has to involve himself/ not perform the asana because their
there. That is just the starting point. herself totally. The body, senses of bodies were not trained. They were
If you are to bring about a perception, organs of action, mind, not properly toned to do some asana.
transformation in yourself, if you intelligence, I-ness, consciousness, The weakness, stiffness, and disease
have to calm your anger, if you have to
eradicate the enemies of mind, then
the asana like Paschimottanasana has

Done properly,
Paschimottanasana can help
extinguish the fire of anger.

September 2011 5
were their hindrances. There was
unwillingness and
lack of will power to put efforts. Take
the example of Paschimottanasana. The
effect of the asana is well-known. It
calms you down. If you are very angry,
do Paschimottanasana so that fire of
anger begins to gradually extinguish.
If that is to happen, there has to be a
method so that anybody or everybody
can do it. Obviously, you are not going
to derive the benefit; your anger is not
going to subside or extinguish if your
head does not reach the knees or you
are not able to extend your trunk even
if you try to do it very sincerely. Then,
something has to be done.
And this is where the question
of props comes in. Guruji said, “Use
the bench or use the chair, rest your
forehead; rest a particular part of
the forehead.” The change begins
when you rest the head. It is not just
about resting the whole forehead,
but a particular area of the forehead
has to be rested. When you rest it
on the bench, then you begin to feel
the calmness. When you put the area
The author, Geeta S. Iyengar, has led workshops and conventions the world over to
between the bottom forehead
spread the deeper meaning of Iyengar Yoga.
region and the eyebrow region on the
chair, you find that not only do you
become free of migraine, but the angry so that through your practice you the morning or the evening, then you
mind also cools down. It cools down imbibe good nature; you imbibe the begin to feel the change. The rest of
with Paschimottanasana. right nature, the required nature, the your daily routine is more disciplined.
…What we call our weakness is also required prakriti. We need to deal with The mind, behavior, attitude begins to
nature. The desires are never-ending; all the weaknesses and change. Then there is a time when you
the greed is never-ending. How can we conquer them. That is the whole idea realize you don’t have time to waste on
manage this? How do we lessen the behind practice. other unwanted or unimportant things
problems? These problems which come That is how it has to be introduced. because your practice helps your
our way don’t allow our consciousness You begin to do asana and pranayama nature. It cultures your nature. You
to be clear and pure. In order to bring every day for an hour or two, or can’t just waste your time anywhere.
this change, the asana and pranayama whatever time is available to you. If you You want to be in it. You remain with
have to be done in the right manner begin to practice for an hour or two in yoga. You remain in yoga. ♦

6 yoga rasa
 The ‘system’
of Iyengar Yoga
By Prashant S. Iyengar

Excerpted with permission from

Yoga Rahasya, Volume 9 No. 2;
2002

The asanas
do much
more than
work on the
In Iyengar Yoga, there can be a myriad different ways to teach a pose like Trikonasana,
depending on the sequence, the climate, and even the student’s state of mind. joints and the

T
oday, the way Guruji teaches teaching in the 1930s and 1940s. It muscles…And
yoga is identified as “Iyengar
Yoga.” It has evolved from its
has evolved over a period of time.
Guruji commenced his practice and the process
rudiments in 1930s and start-
ed getting crystallized after
also teaching on a very rudimentary
plane. His dedication, involvement, and
to evolve the
the publication of Light on Yoga. This most importantly, his grace led to the
complete evolution of the system. This
asanas from
system is such that it can benefit any-
one and everyone, irrespective of class, system now conforms to scriptural, a skeletal-
caste, creed, gender, status, stature, textual yoga.
stage of life, ethnic background, ethos. You all recognize this as an Iyengar muscular-
Yog System, a system implies that it
That is why this yoga is multi-faceted.
Most people take to yoga for certain must be a science, whereas the so- physical plane
material gains, such as remedial
expectations or something very
called Iyengar Yoga is getting dissemi-
nated not as a system, but as a mode or
to a meditative
mundane, such as a sense of physical
and mental well-being. A raw beginner
a form of yoga.
If you come across a board stating
plane to
does not even know what a sense of Iyengar Yoga Studio/Centre, and if it
has the wall and ceiling ropes, belts,
a plane of
well-being is, but he still expects it and
therefore takes to Iyengar Yoga. chairs, trestlers, and bricks, then one religiosity is very
…This system was not so thinks that this is Iyengar Yoga. If you
comprehensive when Guruji started see some displays of Guruji’s postures profound
September 2011 7
from Light on Yoga, then you identify on all the constituents of the human body to the pranic body, mental body,
it as Iyengar Yoga. This is not a ratio- body. and the so-called spiritual body. So,
nal way of identifying Guruji’s system …The asanas do much more than you will have to write volumes of Light
because all these are modes. work on the joints and the muscles. on Yoga for just one Trikonasana to
…In the early days, Guruji taught How many times has Guruji said, describe the different modes taught to
on a one-to-one basis. He naturally “Asanas are my meditation. Asanas are children, taught to teenagers, youth,
used his own body, his hands, legs, my prayers”? And the process to evolve adults, old, diseased; taught to the
head, everything from the toe to the the asanas from skeletal-muscular- rajasic, the tamasic, sattvic; taught
head to make the student do the physical plane to a meditative plane to to someone who is very empirical,
asana. Guruji developed physical a plane of religiosity is very profound. material minded, profane, and to
precision in the posture and conveyed someone with a highly evolved
Light on Yoga cannot give the
that to his students. He used his own religious consciousness. There would
technicalities of performing asana in a
body as props. Guruji would adjust be 25 volumes on just one Trikonasana
meditative state, but Guruji has taught
Trikonasana with his legs, with his with so many differences with
these aspects, too.
hands, gripping between his two reference to sequencing, the various
…So, if the system is to be
thighs, he would adjust the back. Like climatic conditions, various states of
articulated, then you will have to
we do Setu Bandha Sarvangasana on mind. How many modes are you going
explain how asanas touch every aspect,
a brick, he used to make them do it to describe in a book? ♦
from the skeletal, muscular, physical
on his knee. He would place his knee
under the tailbone of the student
and make him do all the variations of
Sarvangasana…
…I hope you are no longer
surprised with my statement that
Light on Yoga is not a book on Guruji’s
system. Guruji’s system is not so
limited. It has different perspectives,
it has hierarchies which cannot be put
forth in the form of a book. Light on
Yoga was written in 1960s. Do you
mean to say Guruji now teaches exactly
what he taught in the 1960s? There is a
book on the Iyengar system not written
by B.K.S.Iyengar or any of the Iyengars.
The system is articulated in the ancient
text of yoga, the Patanjali Yoga Sutras.
This text was his direction.
In this system, the asanas are not
just done on the skeletal and muscular
systems or just the anatomical or
physiological systems of the human In the early days, before the advent of props, Guruji would use his own body to
body. The asanas are effectively done
teach his students precision in the pose. Today, props are considered a hallmark of
the Iyengar system.

8 yoga rasa
The Exhibition
—an experience
It is about the process of a
simple man evolving into a
legend, and still remaining a
simple man

By Abhijata Sridhar-Iyengar

Excerpted with permission from Yoga

Rahasya, Volume 16 No. 1; 2009

E
verybody was eagerly await-
ing Guruji’s 90th birthday
celebration, and December
2008 was drawing near. For
the students in Pune the
eagerness could well be converted into
action, as the celebration was to be
held in Pune itself. We put our heads
and hearts together, and what ensued
was a barrage of suggestions and con-
victions. For a handful of us, this was
an opportunity, an occasion to show
our respect and gratitude to our guru.
A large panel showing a young
We hit upon the idea of organizing
an exhibition that would speak about B.K.S. Iyengar in Vrksasana
Guruji and his teachings. All of us (Tree Pose) is one of the rare
unanimously agreed that through this visuals on exhibit in “Guruji.”

September 2011 9
exhibition, we wished to share with as That was our theorem, and we clichéd to state that Guruji’s mighty
many people as possible the glorious started opening it out. People have contribution to yoga is his designing
wisdom that Guruji has imparted to been asking how the exhibition came of props. Compassion is the seed of
us. For a few sessions, we thought about, and this is the story. the development of props, and that
we knew it all. For a few sessions, The exhibition was aptly named is evident, as a prop can help the
there were some questions and some “Guruji.” It was made bilingual, as beginner, the disabled, the aged, the
answers. we wanted to reach out to a wider maturing, and the matured. Keeping
For a few sessions, there were community—the general public. this in mind, the structure of the
many questions and no “ready-made” The exhibition started by declaring exhibition was designed such that
answers. that it is a story of a simple man, his midway through the journey of this
Some of the questions that came up relentless efforts, and his journey exhibition was the section on props. A
were: towards conquering the body, mind, stage was set up where various props
We may talk about our system being and intellect. were on display, and the visitors were
different from the others. There was a timeline at the bottom welcome to handle and use those props
What is the difference? end of most panels that chronologically under the supervision of the teachers
What is “our system”? mentioned some incidents, like a prize from the institute.
Do we truly attempt to understand for his first ever demonstration, his …Guruji was the first person who,
the system? wedding at Tumkur, etc. His life not being involved in the creation
Are we trapped in a formal structure history is a very popular story by now, of it, saw it. After inaugurating the
of our system, and how rarely do we and we wanted to go one step further exhibition, Guruji remarked, “I was
stop to reflect? and probe the core and infer things kept in the dark during the creation
Do we limit the formal structure from the happenings in his life and of this exhibition. AIl I knew was they
within a rigid boundary? Or can hence, his thinking… were going to set up an exhibition.
the structure be a tool to transcend? One of the initial panels in the A few of them would always be in
Are Guruji’s teachings aphorisms exhibition reads, “Can an art be ‘meetings’ regarding the exhibition,
themselves? Are we being taught? Or is the art to be learnt? and I was wondering what they were
students enough, to decipher his Guruji teaches the art and makes the doing. They kept telling me, ‘It is a
teachings? seeker sensitive to learn.” There is so surprise.’ Today, having seen this, I can
Are we shaping the system to our much to read between the lines here understand how well they used their
convenience, or is the system that it might well be an exhibition in time. This exhibition is beautifully
helping us to enrich our being? itself. This served as the threshold to presented and they have done a very
All we had to do was to dig for the move from his early days towards his good job. It reflects this generation’s
answers! A few sessions were then teachings… potential for interpretation and I am
spent on each of us thinking aloud on: The exhibition included many very happy.”♦
How the system reaches us visuals of Guruji in different asana.
How the system enriches us The impact that the visuals of Guruji’s
How do we look at the system now? asana have is beyond words,
Guruji: A Photo Exhibit on the life and
How are we going to contribute to as Guruji’s asana is poetry,
work of yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar will
the system? mathematics, and philosophy blended
be at the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell
At the end of that session, the theme together. The impact of this is left to
Center, Makati City, Philippines on
was born: Guruji is a simple man and a the reader’s insight…
Sept 16-18, 2011. It is brought to you
legend in our midst—the process of a …A man’s greatness lies not in his
by the Iyengar Yoga Center Manila, in
simple man evolving into a legend, and individual supremacy, but in his will
cooperation with the Power Plant Mall.
still remaining a simple man. to make the others progress. It is

10 yoga rasa
 Guruji
conquers
China
‘Ours is a
legendary
friendship, and
we are here to
recharge this
friendship’

By Alya B. Honasan
Guruji arrives to join the momentous photo shoot with all the course participants outside
the Guangzhou Gymnasium. Second from left is one of the summit’s tireless organizers,
Mr. Chen.

W
OW,” said Iyengar by his regular entourage and a faculty feet, a sight that warmed our hearts
Yoga Center Manila’s of 11 “distinguished tutors” he had and tickled us pink at the same
(IYCM) resident law- especially chosen for the trip, led time, especially when unceasing
yer and long-time stu- by his own granddaughter, Abhijata flashes from hundreds of cameras
dent Patty Clemente. Sridhar-Iyengar; Birjoo Mehta, Zubin practically blinded him (although
“They’re like Korean pop stars!” Zarthostimanhesh, Raya UD, Rajvi it didn’t show; typical Guruji, in a
We were standing in the Mehta, S.F. Faeq Biria, and Amit manner of speaking, outshone them
humungous Guangzhou Gymnasium Pawar from India; Manouso Manos all with that characteristic twinkle in
in Guangzhou, China, where Iyengar and Patricia Walden from the United his eyes). It was a sight that wouldn’t
Yoga Center Manila (IYCM) Founder States; Riana Singgih of Indonesia; cease to amaze us in the four days
and Director Rina Ortiz, four of us and, to our eternal pride and joy, Rina of the summit and the workshop, as
IYCM teachers, and a few other Filipino herself. the teachers—Rina included—had to
students had gathered to attend the The IYCM teachers had been contend with constant requests for
momentous China-India Yoga Summit privileged to meet many of these pictures and autographs.
last June 16-19. We were among 1,300 senior teachers on our trips to the Pop stars, indeed—yoga’s time had
students, teachers, and Iyengar yoga Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga come in China, and B.K.S. Iyengar was
devotees from all over the world who Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, India and leading the charge.
had converged for this momentous elsewhere abroad for training. The organizers faced the formidable
occasion, a milestone so significant Now, we stood at a distance, jaws task of housing, feeding, and
that our Guruji, B.K.S. Iyengar, all of gaping, as Guruji and the teachers transporting the lot of us between
92 years old, had been prevailed upon were—there is no other word for hotels and venues for the event, which
to travel all the way from India to lead it—mobbed. Human cordons had to began with a Summit and was followed
the course. keep hordes of enthusiastic students by a three-day workshop. The Summit,
He was accompanied on the trip from throwing themselves at Guruji’s held at the Baiyun International
September 2011 11
 ‘I bring you to the summit of the
pose, so you can reach the summit
of perfection’

has stuck to me like a leech” since energetic hours in the mornings

he began learning it many years ago, (some technical glitches with the
going on to innovate the style that mike notwithstanding), and the tutors
bears his name. “Yoga was a chance, reviewing the lessons in the afternoon.
not a choice…The invisible hands of It was a lesson in humility, as the
destiny kept my mind open.” He spoke tutors, senior teachers with their own
of yogic philosophy and the journey of followers, fetched objects, rolled out
the seer to liberation through union, mats, held the mike, and were willing,
and reassured, in the most poetic pliant bodies to be whacked and
words, that the rewards of faithful slapped into place by the master. Our
practice would be rich. There will be eyes were popping when Rina had to
“unalloyed and everlasting spiritual stay in Parsvakonasana and Virasana
bliss,” he concluded. “If we remove the for so long, we thought she would have
clouds of distraction and anxiety, we to be carried off the stage! Guruji used
will feel the sun…If yoga is practiced a wooden pole to poke her back ribs
with inspiration and observation, then into place for Paschimottanasa before
the goal is near, not far.” declaring to the world, “Ah, now this is
IYCM’s own Rina Ortiz and the other For the course, each participant alignment!”
“distinguished tutors” were besieged with had been assigned a section and a Naturally, Guruji brought his own
requests for autographs and pictures. number, and it was a minor miracle to wry humor and incomparable way
be able to find a mat with your number with words to the experience. “Tears
on it amidst the hundreds on the are rolling from my eyes,” he lamented
Convention Center, was highlighted
floor. The course was conducted with when some of his senior tutors
by Guruji’s talk, ably translated by
Guruji teaching for three enthusiastic, couldn’t get a point. “I am dynamic,”
the young man who was to be his
shadow for the rest of the event.
“Ours is a legendary friendship,” he
addressed the Chinese hosts, “and we
are here to recharge this friendship…
Keeping aside geographical divisions,
we as human beings face the same
emotional and physical problems…
We may speak different languages and
have different colors, but we have the
same physiological imbalances and
psychological ills, such as greed and
pride.” This, he pointedly said, is where
yoga came in—to teach us “to live with
joy, friendship, compassion, kindness,
and the cultivation of indifference to
gossip and backbiting…We become
one human race through the yogic
gathering.”
He spoke, to continued applause, Some of the 1,300 course participants mill around during a break at the huge
of his own journey, and how “yoga Guangzhou Gymnasium.

12 yoga rasa
 The closing ceremonies were both
colorful and poignant, as performers
paid homage to Guruji, and the
tutors were acknowledged amidst
loud cheers. An emotional moment
was when Guruji rewarded his
hardworking young interpreter with
clothes he had worn “so you can be a
good student, like me”—and the young
man crumpled to his knees, sobbing.
Guruji asked the ladies among the
tutors to lead the closing prayers for
“added sweetness,” and exhorted all
to “live in the sweetness of life.” The
event ended with the Chinese crowd
singing a song with the words “I love
you 10,000 years” ringing across the
huge venue.
Then B.K.S. Iyengar folded his hands
Some of the distinguished tutors and other guest teachers are acknowledged at the
closing ceremonies. Left to right, standing: Nanda Kumar, S.F. Faeq Biria, Zubin in a gesture of goodbye, and was gone.
Zarthostimanhesh, Amit Pawar, Nivedita Joshi, Rina Ortiz, Rajvi Mehta, Abhijata The yoga master had conquered China,
Sridhar-Iyengar, Patricia Walden, and Manouso Manos. Not in picture are Birjoo with only infinite wisdom and grace as
Mehta, Riana Singgih, and Raya UD. his gentle weapons.♦

he almost growled when they tried

to give him a mike stand. “I don’t go
to the mike, the mike goes to me.” He
threw around the metaphors, using a
leaf to illustrate perfect symmetry of
two sides. “I bring you to the summit
of the pose,” he said, “So you can
reach the summit of perfection.” Then,
when he unexpectedly dropped in one
afternoon and distracted the crowd, he
crowed, “Look at the teachers—don’t
look at me, I’m the ugliest man in the
world!” Most memorable, though,
was when he asked the students
to follow him with their gaze in
Bharadvajasana—and proceeded to
walk in one direction, and then the
other, forcing all of us to twist our Ori fictum estrudea
Some of IYCM’s ownetteachers
Cupioruand
mervigina,
studentscon te, condacie
attended non vivagit
the summit. Left toadright:
aude-Patty
torsos as we never had before to keep ludam de nos
Clemente, addum
Saree adhucipte
Kaluag, inti, dum
Gigi Bermejo, Alya B. Honasan, Audrey Shih, Amelia Co,
him in our sights! and Elena Laguinia.
September 2011 13
Good pain, bad pain By Elena Laguinia

Good pain is conquering fear of change for a promise of

a more authentic existence. Bad pain is maintaining the
status quo, because we’d rather stay with the familiar

L
lie here waiting for the next years, and as the elders say, “Babawian only was I able to do a headstand, but
prick of my doctor’s medica- ka din ng katawan mo.” (Your body will a handstand, as well (with support,
tion to help heal my problem- get back at you.) Of course I didn’t use to of course). I never was able to do any
atic back, and I cannot help but listen to them, so now I have pain here of those while I was young (despite
think of good pain and bad pain and there. I continue everyday to learn attempts) and now, in my 40s, it was
again. There are simply so many pains and listen to my body, to develop body suddenly a possibility. When I am on my
in my life that I have to psyche myself intelligence. I am learning to quiet the head, I feel exhilarated and powerful, like
up for with each prick, and I have to tell mind and let my body do the thinking, anything is possible. I still get that feeling
myself, “This is good pain, good pain, allowing it to direct my next movement. each and every time I go up.
good pain…” I have ignored body cues for so long that The best part of the retreat was when
What is the difference between good I feel like a child learning to walk again. the teachers were all lined up doing the
pain and bad pain then? To me, good I started doing Iyengar Yoga because flow sequence, and afterwards supporting
pain is pain you endure today for the I was searching for a teacher who could everyone who attempted to do it. I was
promise of a better tomorrow. Good work with my anatomical challenges, challenged to try something new, but I also
pain are these pricks from injections and not aggravate them. I felt the yoga felt the love and support of a community.
to help heal my back, or pain in my I was doing at that time was allowing It felt like home.
hip as I turn my leg out doing a better me to overstretch my muscles so I was The biggest challenge for me is
Trikonasana, hoping that over time, actually doing more damage to my body accepting the limitations of my body. We
there will be less pain and more than helping it heal. I knew that Iyengar were doing so many things in the retreat,
alignment. Good pain is conquering teachers were well-trained, and I and there were so many poses I wanted to
fear of change for a promise of a more experienced the precision of instruction do. The most challenging thing for me is
authentic existence. from my first class. accepting when I should not do it.
Bad pain is simply pain for the heck The Baguio Retreat last February My biggest learning was that doing
of it. Like foot pain you get from a 2011 was an inspiration for me. Not “nothing” can be powerful—at least
shoe a size too small, or a toothache
you get from eating too many candies.
I think of bad pain as suffering, a pain
that we endure because we think we
have to. We think we have to wear that
shoe because it looks good, or eat that
many candies because it’s our favorite.
Bad pain is maintaining the status
quo, because we’d rather stay with the
familiar.
I am no expert on pain, but I have Rina Ortiz teaches the finer points of Urdhva Danurasana, as demonstrated by
had a lot of experience with it. I have Audrey Shih, at the IYCM Residential Retreat last February 9-13, 2011 at the Baguio
been abusive to my body in my younger Country Club.
14 yoga rasa
 that was what I felt in the pranayama
session. Simply lying there and
breathing can be as exhilarating as a
challenging asana class. I am a doer
by nature, so I have a natural affinity
to favor asana over pranayama (which
originally felt like resting to me). But
the pranayama session totally changed
that thought!
I have barely scratched the surface
of my practice. I still struggle to find
time everyday to do my asanas. Because
of health challenges, I am made more
aware of my body dictating to me what
asanas I should and shouldn’t do.
I feel endless possibilities in the
headstand, but am reminded by my
teacher to find my Tadasana in every
The author (standing and peeking through, fourth from right) and the other partici- pose. Yoga has opened my life to
pants pose for a picture after the first IYCM Residential Retreat in Baguio. possibilities, but I am also to remain
grounded in the here and now. ♦
(continued from page 16)
artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, to the mat and started with Utthita At times it may even feel as if one is
the mathematicians Pythagoras and Trikonasana (Triangle). Pressing the ball starting all over again. Yet the fear of the
Euclid, musicians, even architects of of my big toe brought me back to the fall can be addressed as one builds up
the Parthenon used it as a means for bull’s-eye of this circular exploration. inner strength during the discipline of
creating symmetry, proportion, balance. Contact of the rounded mound below practice.
Researching further, I came across my big toe allowed me to balance, and In the process of molding the body,
Adolf Zeising who, in 1854, wrote: “The created an anchor from which I could we can broaden the consciousness
Golden Ratio is a universal law in which extend and expand the base of my foot and illuminate the conscience—a
is contained the ground principle of all the way to my entire leg, hips, torso, conscience often numbed by our current
all formative striving for beauty and arms and head. circumstances and the stress of modern
completeness in the realms of both This ball below my big toe, small as it daily life.
nature and art, and which permeates, is in comparison to the rest of my body, This light given us by our practice
as a paramount spiritual ideal, all gave me equilibrium from which I could enables and empowers us to listen to
structures, forms and proportions, work the rest of my body with more our conscience and act upon it. Like
whether cosmic or individual, organic intelligence and awareness. a child’s game of connect-the-dots,
or inorganic, acoustic or optical; which I have come to accept and embrace conscious— connected acts learned
finds its fullest realization, however, in this circular yogic journey. After on the mat create a momentum of
the human form.” practicing yoga for some 10 years now, will, discipline and insight that can be
It was all I needed to know that I’ve become a little more aware that integrated into our daily life, until our
circles as well as lines were definitely each new opening, each new high, can entire day becomes the practice of yoga.
part of the anatomy of a spiritual life. come with a deeper new low that keeps And that much I have learned from
With these thoughts, I ventured back the ego in check. my big toe. ♦
September 2011 15
Lessons from A yoga teacher and

my big toe, practitioner gets

detailed instructions
plus some from her guru—
directions that
inevitably apply to
everyday life
By Rina P. Ortiz

Reprinted from the Lifestyle

Section of the Philippine Daily
Inquirer, 29 June 2010

The author in
Vasisthasana

L
ines, circles, angles, and spaces—the geometry of seemingly basic concept of standing up straight gains a whole
the yogic spiritual path is often described in linear new meaning in this practice.
terms as a road, a journey giving us a visual image I thought about the notion of circles for many days. I keep
of distance, length, curves, bends, gradual ascents, bumping into circles all around me. Healthy cells are circular,
sharp descents, and flat planes. the ripples of a pebble splashing into water are circular, atoms
Less frequently, though, is the idea of a circular spiritual are circular, planets and stars are circular, even the abdomen
path ever mentioned. This is what I learned from my Guruji, of a pregnant woman is circular. Full stops are circular.
my teacher BKS Iyengar, one hot mid-morning last March, as I started to think about life and this journey as being
he called my attention to “circularize” the heel of the palm circular, as opposed to linear. Where did it really begin, in
of my hand in the pose Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward this life or the last one? If within this one, then at what exact
Facing Dog). point?
It was my annual visit to learn at my teacher’s feet in And, as if on cue, just when one thinks one’s learning is
Pune, India, and he would often interrupt the students in complete, it begins all over again—only this time, with more
the institute’s large practice hall to give pointers or render clarity, less angst, and more compassion than one thought
instruction. possible. Like a ripple in the water, each time broadening,
So here I was doing my Adho Mukha Savanasana when widening, covering more surface and space.
I heard his voice directly above me say, “Rinah, circularize Spiritually speaking, circles and spirals are not unfamiliar
your palm... ha! What do you feel? Is there a break in the to us. Disney, through its feature film The Lion King,
energy now?” introduced us gently at an early stage of life to “the circle of
I have heard that instruction many times before for other life.”
poses, intellectualizing it but never actually feeling it. But As Christians, we have faith that hinges on the belief that
this time, it was different. Jesus died for our sins so that we may be born again. So when
It felt as if the heel of my hand, rooted firmly on the floor, I came across the Hindu belief of Moksha (freedom from the
did not only broaden, but transmitted the idea of wholeness cycles of life and death), it was not remote.
to the rest of my body. Iyengar yoga teachers speak often It made me curious. I looked at science. There’s the
about “grounding” yourself to Mother Earth, and even the “Golden Ratio,” which had within it the Golden Spiral. Great
(continued on page 15)
16 yoga rasa