Light on Yoga - Day 6

Tribute to Guruji and Light on Yoga - Day 6

No, this isn't a repeat of yesterday :)  It is kind of a preface to the original preface.  My edition is a newer edition, so here Mr. Iyengar gives his reflected thoughts on his book Light on Yoga many years after it was first published.

This preface to the new edition is actually much longer, now that he has had time to reflect and gives a bit more history into the writing and publishing of the book.  At the time of this publication the book has been around for 34 since the first release!

Some interesting facts we learn from this preface:

- Mr. Iyengar was practicing up to ten hours a day when photos for this book were taken. 
- Many friends and admirers injected fear and discouraged him, even his own guru
- He was approached in 1958 to write a book with full information of all the asana and pranayama
-At that time he had been a student and teacher of yoga since 1934 but had not written a single article on yoga
-He requested the help of Mr. B.I. Taraporewala, a pupil and editor to help his with the format for the book
-when showed the book to the first editor he rejected the book saying it was to large
-in 1954 Mr. Iyengar began travelling up to 3 months of the year abroad and was at first travelling as the teacher to Mr. Menuhin who believed the book was important and introduced him to publishers
-it was another student, Beatrice Harthan, though that led him to the publisher Mr. Yorke who also felt the book was worthwhile and gave helpful suggestions.  He credits Mr. Yorke as his guru in literary work.
-Mr. Iyengar felt many of the photos were not good so most were redone again at this time with the help of students to hold lights to improve the lighting.
-He tells the story of how Mr. Yorke had friends in India insure Mr. Iyengar was a genuine teacher and when he was satisfied edited the book free of charge.

Mr. Iyengar gives many more wise words in this preface and you can feel his true dedication and honest approach to yoga in these words as he expresses his hopes that the book will enrich the practitioner for a worthy and meaningful life.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.BlogSpot.com