A Special Online Session for the Iyengar Yoga Association of New Zealand
Sunday, 18 May 2025 | 5:00-7:00 PM (New Zealand Time) | via Zoom
“The pose begins when you want to leave it.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
I am delighted to invite you to join me for an immersive exploration of B.K.S. Iyengar’s wisdom through a close reading and discussion of Part 2: Practice from his seminal work, The Tree of Yoga.
In this 90-minute session, we will journey together into the heart of what Guruji meant by “practice” – not merely as physical exercise, but as meditation in action. This event continues the mission of YOGA READERS, my online “yogic book club” dedicated to deepening our understanding of the Iyengar tradition through thoughtful engagement with its foundational texts.
What We’ll Explore Together
This session will illuminate how The Tree of Yoga offers us a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern practice. We’ll examine several key themes:
- Asana as Meditation in Action: How precise alignment and awareness transform physical postures into vehicles for consciousness
- Paschimottanasana as Embodied Inquiry: Using Iyengar’s own reflections on this pose (p. 42) as a window into how practice becomes self-study
- The Bridge of Pranayama: Understanding breath work not as a technique, but as a transformative threshold between outer and inner practice
- Pratyahara in a World of Sensory Overload: Cultivating internal resilience and the capacity to direct attention inward
- The Mythic Dimension: Exploring Iyengar’s use of the “Ocean of Milk” metaphor to illuminate the alchemical nature of yogic practice
Through close reading, group reflection, and interactive discussion, we’ll unpack how Iyengar’s unique voice – urgent, compassionate, and deeply human – continues to guide practitioners toward greater depth and clarity in their yoga journey.
Why This Text Matters
The Tree of Yoga holds a unique position within the Iyengar tradition—not just as a book to be read, but as a companion in one’s sadhana. Unlike more technical texts, it distills the core philosophical and practical teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar in language that is clear, direct, and rooted in lived experience.
What makes this book even more compelling is its form: transcribed talks given by Guruji to students in various settings. We hear not just his ideas, but his voice. The reader can almost perceive his tone, his rhythm, his emphasis. It’s informal but precise, moving seamlessly between the philosophical and the physical, the Sanskrit term and the anatomical detail, the mythological story and the personal anecdote.
About Me
As a scholar-practitioner of yoga, I bring scholarly and experiential perspectives. My two decades as a yoga practitioner, certification as an Iyengar teacher, and academic background (PhD from Hebrew University of Jerusalem with focus on Hinduism, Yoga, and Gender) inform my approach to these texts. My published research explores topics such as Iyengar yoga and women, the effects of Western media on yoga’s image, and analysis of classical yoga texts.
YOGA READERS emerged from my belief that community reading and discussion can profoundly deepen our practice and understanding. Together, we create a space where intellectual inquiry meets embodied wisdom.
Practical Details
- Date & Time: Sunday, 18 May 2025, 5:00-7:00 PM (New Zealand time)
- Format: Zoom session (link provided upon registration)
- Registration: Through IYNZ <<<Click here to register<<<
I look forward to sharing this journey with you as we explore the living wisdom contained in Guruji’s teachings. Together, we’ll discover how these insights can transform and deepen our relationship with yoga – not just as a practice on the mat, but as a way of being in the world.
