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Yoga in India Top 24 RIMYI Free Chapter
Yoga in India Top 24 RIMYI Free Chapter
Iyengar yoga is a worldwide phenomenon. In Pune, the and even then a personal introduction from a senior
living legend B.K.S. Iyengar is still running his institute Iyengar yoga teacher is needed. After this hurdle is
and teaching his students. Well, in a way teaching his jumped, there is still a two to three-year waiting list to
students. In an interesting twist on a yoga session, it finally begin the curriculum. This arduous admissions
is actually his granddaughter Abhijata who leads the process is somewhat easier for locals however, and as
class, while Guruji watches over the room, quietly well as finding it faster and cheaper to participate, there
giving instructions to Abhijata who then relays them to are also beginner’s classes available for those who are
the students. Think of this as a living reincarnation of fortunate enough to be an Indian living in India.
B.K.S. Iyengar and the slightly odd feeling will subside.
The benefit of this approach to the institute is long- B.K.S. is well guarded by the lion lying in his path,
reaching, as Geeta (B.K.S. Iyengar’s daughter) is regaining Pandurang Rao, the institute’s secretary. Rao is ruthlessly
her health, and although B.K.S. himself is a sharp and effective in his task of shielding the guru from the kind
extremely fit man, his long years may not prove to be of adoration that can only come from being one of the
infinite after all. This hands-on extension of Abhijata’s world’s best-known yogis.
training means that future generations of students will be
learning Iyengar in a purely Iyengar way. B.K.S. Iyengar studied under the great Krishnamacharya,
his brother-in-law. Although Iyengar was not the only
This is no touristic institute. New admissions are only notable name taught by Krishnamacharya, he was noted
taken from students who have studied Iyengar for years, for being the most creative. His use of props like chairs
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and ropes to help students achieve more accuracy in their About the area
poses is unique in the yoga world.
In many ways Pune could be any large city anywhere
The institute itself is an architectural metaphor for in the world. Despite its age, this is a major modern
the basic principles of yoga. Three floors, representing commercial and IT hub of the country, replete with
the mind, body and spirit, fronted by eight columns shopping malls and high-rise buildings. Like Bangalore,
representing the eight limbs of yoga. The library is well- the climate is fairly mild, sitting as it does on the plains
stocked and the shalas are high-ceilinged, airy places of beneath the Western Ghats.
tranquility mixed with a powerful devotion to practice.
Email info@rimyi.org
Website www.bksiyengar.com
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