Unit 7 of Geeta Iyengar’s Yoga a Gem for Women: Pregnancy and Advanced Yoga Practice

Geeta Iyengar’s treatment of yoga practice during pregnancy represents a paradigm shift from the prevailing attitudes of her era. Writing when pregnant women were commonly advised to cease yoga practice altogether, Geetaji courageously advocated for the continuation of thoughtful, adapted practice throughout pregnancy. Her approach was groundbreaking in its recognition of pregnancy as a time when yoga could be particularly beneficial rather than dangerous.

The foundation of Geetaji’s prenatal approach rests on intelligent modification rather than wholesale elimination. She systematically demonstrates how classical asanas can be transformed through the strategic use of props to accommodate the changing body while preserving essential therapeutic benefits. This approach creates space without compression, extending the spine and broadening the pelvic region while ensuring unrestricted breathing.

Remarkably, Geetaji’s approach encompasses not just the physical but the psychological and spiritual dimensions of pregnancy. She acknowledges the profound connection between the mother’s mental state and the developing child’s wellbeing, positioning yoga practice as beneficial for both maternal health and the child’s development. Her month-by-month guidance provides flexible frameworks adaptable for women with varying levels of experience, while her selection of pranayama practices focuses on techniques that soothe the nervous system and prepare for labor.

Challenging Gender Limitations: The Case for Advanced Practice

The chapter on advanced asanas represents Geetaji’s most radical feminist statement. Writing when women’s participation in challenging physical practices was actively discouraged, she boldly asserts that advanced postures are not only within reach of all women but essential for their complete development. Her direct challenge to misconceptions that complicated postures should be avoided after marriage or with advancing age constitutes a revolutionary declaration of women’s capabilities.

Geetaji’s argument extends far beyond physical achievement. She positions challenging poses as superior tools for comprehensive development because their intensity creates more profound effects throughout the entire system. The character development aspect receives particular emphasis—confronting physical and mental challenges cultivates strength of character, stability, intellectual clarity, and a “poised personality.” Her example of Vrschikasana teaching humility through placing feet on head illustrates how physical practice embodies philosophical teachings.

Her systematic categorization includes extreme contractions like Yoganidrasana, arm balancing sequences such as Urdhva Kukkutasana, and intensive backbends like Kapotasana. The eight specific advanced asanas she presents serve as inspirational examples, directing serious students to her father’s “Light on Yoga” for detailed study after mastering foundational work.

Most significantly, Geetaji’s advocacy represents a complete rejection of gender-based limitations in yoga. Her core philosophy emphasizes that physical challenge and spiritual development should not be constrained by gender, marital status, or age—a perspective that was revolutionary for its time and remains relevant today.

Exploring the Sacred Journey: Prenatal Yoga and Advanced Practice in Geeta Iyengar’s Revolutionary Vision

In our seventh reading unit of Geeta Iyengar’s groundbreaking work “Yoga: A Gem for Women,” we embarked on a profound exploration of two seemingly contrasting yet deeply interconnected aspects of women’s yoga practice: the nurturing adaptations required during pregnancy and the empowering challenge of advanced postures. This session revealed the revolutionary nature of Geeta’s teachings, particularly when viewed through the lens of the social and cultural context of the 1970s and 1980s when her book was written.

Challenging the Fear: Yoga During Pregnancy as Revolutionary Act

When Geeta Iyengar wrote about prenatal yoga practice, she was addressing a world where pregnant women were actively discouraged from maintaining their yoga practice. The prevailing wisdom of the time suggested that yoga might be dangerous during pregnancy, potentially harming both mother and developing child. Geeta’s approach was nothing short of revolutionary as she systematically dismantled these fears while providing practical, safe guidance for continuing practice throughout pregnancy.

Her methodology emphasized modifications rather than limitations, demonstrating how traditional asanas could be adapted using props like blankets, blocks, and wall support to create space for the growing child while maintaining the core benefits of each pose. This wasn’t simply about making poses “easier”—it was about intelligent adaptation that honored both the woman’s need for continued practice and the developing life within her.

The session revealed fascinating insights into Geeta’s approach to common pregnancy challenges. Her recommendations for managing nausea, for instance, included a carefully curated selection of postures that might seem counterintuitive at first glance. From supported backbends like Supta Baddha Konasana to the grounding forward fold of Uttanasana and even the reclining position of Supta Virasana, each pose was chosen for its specific therapeutic effect on the digestive and nervous systems. This selection demonstrates the depth of Geeta’s understanding of how different movements and positions affect the body’s internal landscape.

The Spiritual Dimension of Maternal Practice

Perhaps most intriguingly, Geeta connected the mother’s practice to the spiritual development of the unborn child. Drawing from ancient wisdom traditions, she suggested that the mother’s mental and spiritual state during pregnancy profoundly influences the developing consciousness of the child. This perspective finds echoes in traditional practices like Garbha Sanskara, where pregnant women are encouraged to engage with spiritual literature, music, and practices that cultivate peace and positive mental states.

Our discussion participants shared contemporary experiences of these ancient practices, revealing how traditional wisdom continues to influence modern prenatal care in Indian communities. The idea that the child in the womb can be influenced by the mother’s exposure to spiritual teachings, exemplified in stories like that of Ashtavakra who learned sacred knowledge while still in utero, bridges ancient understanding with contemporary research on maternal-fetal connection.

Reclaiming Advanced Practice: The Revolutionary Feminist Statement

The second major theme of our session focused on Geeta’s passionate advocacy for women practicing advanced postures throughout their lives. Here again, we see Geeta challenging prevailing misconceptions of her era. The common belief that complicated postures should be avoided after marriage or discontinued as women age was met with her firm assertion that these beliefs were completely unfounded.

Geeta’s argument went far beyond physical capability. She positioned advanced postures as essential tools for developing not just physical strength and flexibility, but also strength of character, intellectual clarity, and what she termed a “poised personality.” This holistic view of advanced practice aligns with the deeper philosophical understanding of yoga as a complete system for human development, not merely physical exercise.

In her later article “Why Practice Difficult Asana,” Geeta elaborated on this theme, explaining that advanced postures serve as powerful means for confronting our mental limitations, fears, and attachments. The physical challenge becomes a vehicle for psychological and spiritual transformation, forcing practitioners to cultivate qualities like forbearance, faith, and surrender that extend far beyond the yoga mat.

The Wisdom of Progressive Challenge

What emerges from Geeta’s teaching is a sophisticated understanding of how challenge and support work together in yoga practice. Her approach to advanced postures often involves the intelligent use of props to make seemingly impossible poses accessible while maintaining their transformative potential. This isn’t about making practice “easier” but about creating pathways for practitioners to safely explore their edges and expand their sense of what’s possible.

The discussion revealed how this approach challenges practitioners to examine their self-imposed limitations. As one participant noted, shifting from “I can’t do this” to “I can’t do this yet” opens up possibilities for growth and learning. This reframing represents a fundamental shift in relationship with challenge and difficulty, viewing them as opportunities for development rather than obstacles to avoid.

Integrating Ancient Wisdom with Modern Understanding

Throughout our exploration, we witnessed how Geeta Iyengar’s teachings bridge ancient yogic wisdom with practical modern application. Her understanding of how different postures affect the body’s systems, her recognition of the mind-body connection during pregnancy, and her appreciation for the psychological benefits of challenging practice all reflect a sophisticated integration of traditional knowledge with keen observation and experience.

The session also highlighted how context matters in reading these texts. Understanding the social and cultural climate in which Geeta was writing helps us appreciate the courage required to advocate for women’s full participation in yoga practice. Her work represents not just technical instruction but a form of feminist activism, challenging restrictive beliefs about women’s capabilities and advocating for their right to access the complete spectrum of yogic practices.

The Continuing Relevance

As we concluded our session, it became clear that while some of the specific cultural barriers Geeta addressed may have shifted, her core messages remain profoundly relevant. The invitation to maintain practice during pregnancy with intelligent adaptation speaks to contemporary discussions about staying active during pregnancy. Her advocacy for advanced practice challenges ongoing assumptions about aging, capability, and the purposes of yoga practice.

Most importantly, her holistic approach—seeing each pose and practice as an opportunity for comprehensive development of body, mind, and spirit—offers a counterbalance to contemporary trends that might reduce yoga to mere physical exercise or relaxation technique.

Our exploration of these chapters revealed Geeta Iyengar not just as a master teacher but as a visionary who understood yoga’s potential to support women through all phases of life. Her work continues to inspire practitioners to approach their practice with both courage and wisdom, embracing challenge while honoring their body’s needs and limitations.

This session reminded us that reading yogic texts isn’t merely an intellectual exercise but a form of practice itself, one that can deepen our understanding and transform our approach to the physical practices we know and love. As we continue our journey through “Yoga: A Gem for Women,” we carry with us Geeta’s revolutionary spirit and her unwavering belief in women’s capacity for growth, transformation, and spiritual development through the profound practice of yoga.