The Quest for Art in Yoga

 

The first part of the book, The Art of Yoga, Mr. Iyengar titled it Yoga - My Art. He always brings it back to his understanding and experience through his dedicated years of practice.  Everything he writes is from his experiences and personal exploration.  This book, he writes, highlights the artistic presentation of the asanas.  To do this one must focus their attention on the details of the action of the muscles, the holding of the joints, the spacing of the limbs, the movement of the skin and the way these all integrate and transmit expressions of delicate balance, comfort, grace and poise, beauty and charm.  Patanjali describes this in Yoga Sutra II.46 - Sthira sukham asanam - asana is perfect firmness of body, steadiness of intelligence and benevolence of spirit.  

Mr. Iyengar writes how he was quite a sickly child and had not been born into a household of artist.  Therefore the practice of yoga was taken up first to improve his health.  He had to train to become the artist he did in yoga.  He went to temples and caves to study carvings, He studied by watching the world around him, he became more and more sensitive within to notice slight changes in body, breath and mind to become the master he was.  He writes, “Thus I laboured hard to synchronize the movements of limbs, carefully feeling the extension, expansion and creation of space for the intelligence to pervade the entire body and allow the energy to flow freely and rhythmically.  Through my own thinking, assiduous practice and self-control, I analyzed every movement and adjusted every fibre and muscle of my body.  I developed flexibility and achieved integration.  With religious fervour in my practice, a spirit of introspection and surrender to God, which Patanjali considers necessary for yoga, and a liberal and non-fanatical mind, my hard-won and carefully cultivated talent took the form of an inborn gift.”

B.K.S. Iyengar’s practice elevated his thoughts and purified his mind.  So beyond physical health, I hope your practice also transforms your breath and mind to one of beauty and grace and a radiant light of yogic knowledge.  

Namaste,

Pam 

The Lion’s Roar 

This pose is not only said to help with sore throats, but also flexibility in hips and strength to arms and shoulders.  It also gives a nice toning to the internal organs.  I have been exploring this pose this past week.  A good roar every morning is a great way to start the day.  

The Art of Yoga - pt. 2

 It always amazes me how much can be said in the preface of a book.  When I was younger I often skipped the preface to get right to the book.  Once I started to read the preface, I realized how much was said in just those first few pages that really sets the tone for the rest of the book.  

In the preface to The Art of Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar says that, “Any action done with beauty and purity, and in complete harmony of body, mind and soul, is art.  In this way art elevates the artist.  As yoga fulfils the essential need of art, it is an art.  It starts as a basic art and shows the way of striving for and emulating the divine, with the help of the divine spark within, to reach spiritual quintessence.”  Mr. Iyengar continues, “Thus the essence of yoga cannot be imparted by language since its basis falls within the same framework as any other disciplined art, calling for imagination, repetition, precision, attention to detail, and creation.  Only ceaseless practice and endless striving for perfection engenders skill, understanding and wisdom and forms the subtle body of the ineffable which is art.” 

“Yoga is a disciplinary art which develops the faculties of the body, mind and intellect.  Its purpose is to refine man.  It is a commitment to a life’s pattern and a way towards right living.”  B.K.S. Iyengar says that it led him to explore and observe the hidden, unknown, parts of his body and movements of his mind and helped him attain the high purpose in life of exploring the self while living as a householder.  

My. Iyengar also writes, “It was Patanjali whose work inspired me to see and develop the artistry of yoga, and to study its philosophy, spiritual values and powers.  I also found in his treatise guidelines to the yogi-artist for living in society. He advocates friendliness towards all, sympathy for suffering people, kindness to those who are not blessed with essential needs, and the cultivation of delight on seeing those who are better placed than oneself.”  This is Yoga Sutra 1.33 and B.K.S. Iyengar often talks about this sutra.  It is one I try to mediate on daily.  

About this book, he writes, “This book, therefore, is based on three main strands: first, the interpretation of yoga in the light of Patanjali’s philosophy, with extensive quotations to show the relevance of his work in the field of art; second, my own yogic study, reflections and experiences of a lifetime; and third, the painstaking, diligent and delicate labour which transformed my yoga practices into a work of art.  I have availed myself of thirty sutras from Patanjali which have a bearing on yoga as an art.  The meaning of these sutras is based on my own interpretations of my work in the art of yoga.”

As you can see, from the foreword alone we have learnt much about B.K.S. Iyengar and his process to transform and inspire us to preform the asanas critically and in a studious manner. 

As we proceed to delve more into The Art of Yoga. I will share a few more images from the book.  

“The siesta” is one to explore when mind is quiet and serene.

The Supta  Padangustasana poses are ones I do almost daily.  They have such subtle nuances and are a great way to give feedback on other asanas. 

Stay well ,

And as B.K.S. Iyengar writes in his book Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, cultivating friendliness, compassion, joy, and indifference to pleasure and pain can lead to a serene and benevolent consciousness.

Pam

The Art of Yoga - BKS Iyengar

 

“Any action done with beauty and purity and in complete harmony of body, mind and soul, is art.  In this way art elevates the artist.  As Yoga fulfils the essential need of art, it is an art.”

                                                                                                    - B.K.S. Iyengar

The Art of Yoga by BKS Iyengar 

The introduction to The Art of Yoga states that BKS Iyengar is world renowned for his study, practice and teaching of Yoga.  He brings attention to the artistic interpretation of body, mind and soul through Yoga.

The Art of Yoga is a book I don’t take out nearly as often as Light on Yoga, but every time I do, I see something new and when I start to explore for myself I learn something new.

The forward was written by Yehudi Menuhin in 1984.  Yehudi was an artist with the violin and once he started yoga he claimed that B.K.S. Iyengar was the best violin teacher.  I am sure I have written other posts on Yehudi, who was instrumental for helping bring Iyengar Yoga to reach many others.  In the foreword he writes, “This extraordinary man, Yogacarya B.K.S. Iyengar, has understood that the one inexorable dimension of progress is from the crude towards the subtle.  He has equally experienced the power of utmost refinement and the extended gift of bliss and ecstasy as opposed to the transient values of pleasure.”

Over the next few blogs I will incorporate some of the wisdom B.K.S. Iyengar has shared with this supplementary book to Light on Yoga. 

Currently some of the poses I am exploring are padmasana in sarvangasana.  The back arching ones express openness and freedom in the chest and front groins and pindasana in sarvangasana induce a relaxing and soothing feeling.  I like the title - knots of contentment for the pindasana asana.  I find these poses give a unique stretch to areas often not reached and also very relaxing and centering for the body, mind and breath.  

Every time I open one of the yoga texts I learn.  It is almost like opening a new book each time. 

What are you currently exploring?

In the light,

Pam 

East month I send out a short newsletter with current and upcoming classes or workshops.  Please message me if you’d like to be added to the newsletter.  

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There’s no time like November Fall is one of my favorite seasons, mostly early fall when the leaves are all turning and the temperatures are still pretty good.  Another good thing in fall 🍁 is that I don’t actually have to stay up later to view the night sky 🌌. My husband took this photo of the wonderful Aurora Borealis that lit up the sky in October and I was still awake to see it 😀. As there is no time like the present  - there is no time like November! This newsletter is just a quick update of current or upcoming classes. I’d like to invite you to check out my blog.  I have had a blog since about 2010 that I was very active at posting to, but over the past 4 years I didn’t as much.  I am back posting quite regularly and finding many great essays to share.   Please check it out and let me know your thoughts. Www.plnyoga.blogspot.com Monday online classes continue until mid-December.  If you are interested in joining there is still time and you’ll have access to my full video library. Monday noon classes in Prince Albert at the Margo Fournier Centre on Central Ave. continues with an NEW afternoon class added starting November 18th.  You can register online through the City of Prince Albert website or at the Centre. Tuesday evening classes in Christopher Lake continue into December.  You can join anytime and use the CPL Rec punchcard. I also have a Wednesday evening restorative online class that ends this week, but I plan to include it as an option with the online session in the new year.

Weekend Workshop I am hoping to lead a weekend workshop in Saskatoon in January or early February. I am looking at a few locations and would love to know if there is some interest. The workshop would have 3 sessions.  Saturday 9-11:30 & 1-4 and Sunday 9-12.

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Yoga and the Modern Life

 

 Yoga and the Modern Life is an essay in Yoga Rahasya vol.25, no.4;  2018 written by Srineet Sridharan.  I hope you enjoy reading it and please share your thoughts.  

Lifting the Sternum - Samadhi and the Yoga Sutra-s of Patanjali - Part 4

 In this final part of the essay by Lynn Holt, she writes about the Yoga Sutra-s in our practice.

Patanjali wants us to discover this silent space that is possible in samadhi where we discover tranquility.  In our practice of asana and pranayama we need to cultivate our brain to obtain the sensitivity and stability to respond to this change.

Not commonly in his teaching did Guruji explain the connection of asana and samadhi that leads to the inner bliss that awaits us all.  In “Light on Pranayama” he does explain why in savasana the extension of the cervical neck and the moving of the back of the head away from the trunk is important.  The tilt of the head upwards takes the mind into the future and if the head tilts down it broods in the past.  If the head leans to one side, this affects the inner ear that in turn affects the mid-brain inducing drowsiness and we lose awareness.  If the head is kept in level with the floor in savasana the mind is present, peaceful and at rest and in a type of heaven.

It is this correction of any apparent tilt of the head which is important as it will help balance between the two hemispheres of the brain and the body opening the gateway to samadhi.  As previously discussed earlier, a type of bridge is formed between the head and the torso and space is created.  

For teachers this is an important point to know.  Geetaji reminded us that we need to know why the platform neck curvature is important for students when the cervical spine is affected and why the head has to be straight.

While practicing asana one studies vitarka-vicara.  Being the gross part of the intellect, it encourages the subtle energy of the heart to blossom with bliss ananda that is gladness.  Similar in all respects to the stages of the blooming of the lotus flower.  This process reverses in pranayama as we begin with asmita, then move to ananda then to vicara and vitarka.

What Guruji teaches us in every asana is that you have to learn to keep our brain quiet but alert.  How we uphold ourselves in our asana and pranayama practice is important.  When we are instructed to open the chest and release the chin away this is to release any tension from the brain.

 If we are to become one with our asana we have to observe that our brain has to become quiet; observing in but passively as far as the brain is concerned but actively with awareness, attentively looking within and not looking somewhere outside.  Samadhi is a state of experience where the concept of self disappears Guruji has explained to us.  It is now up to us to take that journey.