In the recent Yoga Rahasya there is many great articles and in particular in this volume many tributes to the late B.K.S Iyengar, or Guruji and many students called him. He was not always Guruji to everyone, he earned the name after many years of personal practice and teaching.
One article by Lynn Holt talks about how one of the greatest gifts Mr. Iyengar gave us was to teach how to control the mind with the breath. He did this first by having a strong pranayama practice himself and understood "that the absolute prerequisites to reach the highest state in yoga are peace in body and pose in mind."
As I delve more and more into my own pranayama practice this quote becomes more and more meaningful.
"The practice of pranayama is not merely the act of inhalations and exhalations. It is instrumental in removing the veil that covers the intelligence of the self."
Savasana is often the beginning of pranayama, because one can gain quietness of the mind. But, in saying that without an asana practice it is hard to find that quietness in savasana. From that quiet state in the mind, through steady practice, then comes quietness in the consciousness as we let go of the ego.
I will write more as I continue to explore.
Namaste.
Pamela Louise Nelson
Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor
PLN Yoga Studio
#3-3800 5th Ave. E., PA
S6W
0A1
"Helping Unite Body, Breath and Mind"
(Has class information on it)
