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
