May Newsletter

In our sanctuary in the heart of the city, things are blooming - Primulas, Ajugas (bronze colored leaves and blue flowers), Hens and Chicks and Siberian Bugloss.

Our workshop committee continues to delight us with monthly opportunities to ignite and energize our Iyengar yoga practice. Read on for more about our recent and upcoming events.

Join us in June as we celebrate our volunteers with a free community class, in the studio, on June 5 and we commemorate International Yoga Day with free classes, online and in the studio, on June 14. Read on to learn more and register.

Living in De-Light

In April and May we had two de-lightful workshop experiences in the Living in De-light series of monthly online yoga workshops. It is always inspiring to learn new ways of experiencing our bodies and ourselves with these wise and wonderful teachers.

In Ann Kilbertus’s workshop, the Path to Wise Action on April 24^th, Ann instructed us through poses to maintain action and attention in the external body and strive towards absorption and quietude in the inner body. A cone shaped blanket under the sacrum in Supta Baddha Konasana or a vertical brick under the outer edge of the calf of the extended lateral leg in Supta Padangustasana 2, created more openness in the poses, as we moved from stability to fluidity exploring the absorption within. A theme to keep the back ribs broad whether in standing poses, twists, inversions or backbends helped to free the diaphragm, connecting freedom in the body to freedom in the breath and mind. Thank you Ann for your gracious and wise teachings!

In Marlene Miller’s workshop, Balance: Evenness is Harmony on May 15, Marlene invited us to explore movement to and from balance and find the median line of each asana to properly distribute the energy . We started in Tadasana, Mountain pose with the feet together to observe how the inhalation and exhalation create movement in the pose from front to back and side to side. We ended in Sarvangasana, shoulderstand, moving from one leg Sarvangasana with one foot on the chair and flowing to one leg Setu Bandha with the opposite leg foot on the wall behind us finding balance in the shoulders and hips. Marlene’s teaching and the 30 poses in the morning workshop exemplified balanced presence in the body which leads to balance in life.

The series continues on May 29 with our own Melissa Perehudoff and Ty Chandler, from Victoria, on June 12. See upcoming events below or visit the KYH website to learn more. A recording of each online workshop is available for one week following the workshop, if you are not able to attend "in person".

Props in Iyengar Yoga

We continue with our exploration of the use of props in Iyenagar yoga with a look at the use of the yoga strap or belt. At the studio, we use cotton belts with fixed metal loops that make it easy to form loops and adjust their size. They also come in various lengths for different body sizes and uses. Away from the studio, there are many possibilities if you don’t have a traditional yoga strap – a regular belt if you want a loop, a bathrobe belt or even a tea towel if you don’t need a loop.

Props can help you achieve the shape and form of a pose that would otherwise seem beyond reach. For example, Melissa shows the use of a strap if you’re not able to clasp your hands around your bent leg in Marichyasana 1. The strap provides a firmer clasp so you can get your knee into your armpit and experience the compactness and stability in the pose.

A prop can help develop sensitivity – to understand what needs to move or stay put, to feel the action in the skin and senses, or to understand what may not be working as we thought. Krisna demonstrates using two straps in Supta Padanghustasana I. On the raised leg, pressing the foot into the strap helps straighten the leg. The strap on the lower leg develops sensitivity in the pelvis and sacrum.

A prop brings a feeling of lightness. Terry uses a strap on her wrists in Urdhva Hastasana arms to help lift and straighten the arms, bringing an uplifting feeling from the feet to the tips of the fingers. Janice shows how you can use a strap at the back of the thighs for support in Paripurna Navasana. Once your legs are up, pressing the thighs into the belt actually makes the legs and the pose feel lighter.