Yoga with Guy

I was thrilled to hear that Abhijata Iyengar was going to be coming to the UK for our annual Iyengar Yoga convention in 2024. Although my family and I have recently moved to Lisbon in Portugal, I was planning to return to London for the convention and combine it with a visit to friends and family. When the tickets came out, I sadly missed out on getting an in person ticket to the event and after some deliberation, I decided to attend the convention online. I had attended a convention with Abhijata in Harrogate in 2014 (a year after Mr Iyengar’s death) and it had been wonderful to be a part of. I remember being adjusted by Abhijata and feeling the effects of the adjustment long after in my practice.

Photo credit: Iyengar Yoga UK

I am fortunate to have a very supportive wife and son, who make space and time for me to engage in my yoga practices at home or in a studio. As the weekend of 4^th May began and I turned on the computer and set up my mat and props. There was some sadness when I saw so many of my old yoga buddies in the video at the convention this year as I felt that I would have loved to be there to connect with the community. However, I was grateful for the opportunity to take part in the teaching and what a wonderful weekend it was. 

Abhijata’s teaching was insightful and fully grounded in the reality of our lives and needs. She took so many opportunities to connect with the students in front of her, that it felt like we were being invited into her front room as a colleague and co-practitioner. She listened, she watched, she shared her experience, without ever seeming arrogant or judgemental. Every instruction was given with generosity and strong will. Even though I was practicing online, I felt her voice penetrating my body and the beautifully sequenced lessons brought back awareness where I had forgotten it existed. Once of my key take-aways was the reminder that the only way to combat stiffness is through movement. Sometimes we get too static in Iyengar Yoga practice and the presentation can mask what is actually going on in the body. Abhi’s teaching, whether in the standing poses or in baddhakonasana and padmasana reminded me to work with the body, for the body before working with the body for the mind. 

It was also a pleasure to listen to the Q&A sessions with Abhijata. I enjoyed her ability to turn the questions around and reflect them back at us. She didn’t give any simplistic answers but offered ideas and suggestions based on her experience. As a teacher myself, I respect this skill and appreciate her willingness to have a conversation that opens the subject up. 

In the coming month I will be returning to the recordings and re-visiting the rich teaching that occurred during this convention in my home city. Even though I wasn’t there in person, I felt like I was a part of it. Thank you to all involved and especially to Abhijata!