Pandoraspace

Preparing for Shicharan Faeq Biria’s workshop

Since the beginning of this year, I have not been practicing yoga as much as I should. My excuse: work, travel and getting the flu thrice. The real reason: I did not have the will to attend classes or practice on my own.

A few weeks ago, on that rare occasion when I willed myself to go to class, I was reminded that Sricharan Faeq Biria will be visiting the Philippines to teach our yoga classes for two days.  According to the Iyengar Yoga Manila website,

“Sricharan Faeq Biria is the director of the Iyengar Yoga Centre of Paris, and Chair of the Technical Committee of the Iyengar Association of France. For almost 30 years, he has studied directly with B.K.S. Iyengar. He teaches regularly all over Europe, Israel, Japan, Hong Kong, Southern and Northern Africa, Russia, and South and North America. Faeq Biria’s integrity and devotion to B.K.S. Iyengar’s philosophy are manifest in his teaching. His courses are a source of dynamism and inspiration for all yoga practitioners.”

Of course, I want to attend the classes of Sricharan Faeq Biria.  The question is, will I survive the classes.

I have two weeks to get my act together, i.e., pull myself out of this lethargy, attend classes regularly and get my mind to focus on yoga.

Wish me luck!

Star posted a comment about my 29 April 2009 article, Borobudur has taught me Buddhism. I was about to reply to her comment and post several pictures. Alas, this dinosaur does not know if it is possible to post pictures together with a comment and does not have time to learn about it now.  I am, therefore, posting my reply (with pictures) to Star.  You may find this bit of information interesting as well.

Star -  Wow!  I did not realize there is so much one could learn from a lotus.  Incidentally, I learned a pose in my yoga class some time ago.  The pose is called Padmasana.  Padma means lotus and asana means pose.  In his book, Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar says that Padmasana ”…is one of the most important and useful asanas.  It is the posture for meditation and the Buddha is often depicted in it.”  While the position of the hands of the buddhas in Borobudur change depending on the direction they face, all of them sit in Padmasana.  This is yet again another reason for me to believe that Borobudur takes its inspiration from the lotus.  

Incidentally, I find Padmasana very difficult to do.  I always feel as is my legs would get stuck in that position and I would not be able to untangle myself.  As a result, I have yet to be able to meditate in this pose.

 

Asana

Perhaps I am one of those people who likes to do things with a purpose.  Perhaps this is why I took a liking to Yoga as each asana (pose) has a purpose.

When I execute an asana, I am aware that I am not merely moving my body but that I am also trying to make myself feel better or determine my state of mind.  I first came to know that each asana served a purpose when Rina told us that, after doing a proper salamba sirsasana (head stand), one can tell whether one is tired.  According to Rina, a salamba sirsasana could perk you up when you feel sluggish or lethargic but in reality have a lot of stored up energy.  A salamba sirsasana could also make an active you realize that you are tired and your body needs to rest.  A salamba sirsasana is also an instant cure to nasal congestion.  Having done salamba sirsasana on several occasions, I can attest that what Rina said is true.

In his book Light on Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar says that the asanas that could provide relief for some ailments.  I was told by my other Yoga teachers that many people visit the Yoga center in Pune, India on Saturdays to get treatment for various ailments through execution of asanas.  Evidently, Yoga transcends mere physical activity.

In the CNN interview of B.K.S. Iyengar, I recall him saying something to the effect that, when one runs on a treadmill, the body does work but is abused because there is no real purpose to the activity. You keep running but you are going nowhere. In Yoga, the body works to get into the pose because it serves a particular purpose like curing a cold, stomachache or backache, or perhaps, even teaching one how to live.

Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar

On living Yoga, Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja (B.K.S.) Iyengar says “When I practice, I am a philosopher. When I teach, I am a scientist. When I demonstrate, I am an artist.”

B.K.S. Iyengar is Guruji.  He is also a person who developed a means by which Yoga could be taught in a scientific manner that allows ordinary people like me to get into, and sustain, the asanas (poses). Although Guruji has never taught me Yoga, and probably never will, learning Yoga from people he had nurtured makes me believe that Guruji had so much consideration for his students. He recognized that each person has his or her own strengths, weakness and limitations. Through the guidance of Guruji, my Yoga teachers are able to determine when to push me further and when to be compassionate. The recognition by BKS Iyengar of the needs of each student of Yoga and his apparent and sincere desire to help us achieve the benefits of Yoga is what endears me to this practice.