Wednesday, November 13, 2024

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 


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.