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Welcome to Season 2 of  "On the Light". I’m very happy to be releasing this special episode of an interview about Guruji given by his daughter, Geeta Iyengar. This interview took place in 2003. Kristin and Lee were in Pune for Guruji’s 85th birthday celebration. Our region was busy preparing for the 2004 convention that would be held here in Saint Paul. Neither Geetaji nor Guruji were able to attend, so Kristin and Lee had the idea to ask Geeta for an interview that could be shown at the convention. She generously accepted. You will only hear Geeta’s voice in this interview. Kristin and Lee wanted it to be that way. I think you’ll find as I did that hearing the questions isn’t necessary to be able to follow along with what she is speaking about. 

What you are hearing today is just the audio of the interview. Perhaps at some point we can release the video in some format. 

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Welcome to this episode of  "On the Light" a podcast dedicated to illuminating the profound teachings and legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar. 

Today we acknowledge Guruji’s 10 year Punyatithi. Lee and I were able to sit down with Prashant, as he tried to impart the greatness of his father and his life’s work. At one point in our talk he says that Guruji was as lofty as the Himalayas, and that if we can realize that it will increase our gratitude multi-folds. 

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In this final episode of season 1, I have a very rich conversation with  the grandson of BKS Iyengar, Srineet Sridharan. Srineet talks about how the practice of yoga was always in the family and how he remembers as a child going to Model Colony to take the children's classes at RIMYI. Srineet also talks about the scope of his own learning of the philosophy of yoga and the importance of culturing the mind.

Episode notes

Yoga Sutra Sessions at RIMYI

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light. #iyengarpractice #iyengaryoga #bksiyengar #yogaphilosophy #yogainspiration#prashantji #prashantiyengar #rimyi #iynaus #onthelightpodcast 🕉️🪷🧘🏽‍♀️

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In this episode Prashantji tells us the colorful story of Guruji’s first flight on an airplane in May of 1954 . Guruji was going to Switzerland for a month to teach Yehudi Menuhin. Prashant recalls that day when the whole family went to the airport to see him off and what it was like for them. He was just 5 years old at the time. 

Prashant also explains to us how everyone can come under the tree of yoga. 

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In this episode I start out asking Prashant a question on Karma. I wanted to know if we are able to pick - up where we leave off from this life - in terms of our progress on our yoga spiritual journey. His answer is unsurprisingly profound and thought provoking. He explains … “if you have taken something from Adyatma - it will not betray you.”

We also hear Lee share a story of Guruji’s first experience traveling to the United States which gives us some perspective of the challenges he faced, especially in the earlier years of his teaching.

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light. 🧘🏽‍♀️🕉️🧘🏼‍♂️🪷 #iyengaryoga #bksiyengar #yoga #geetajiiyengar #prashantiyengar #yogatherapeutics #rimyi #austinyoga  #iynaus #yogaphilosophy #bksiyengar

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In this episode I have a captivating conversation with Devon Dederich. I first met Devon when she, and other teachers, spoke on a panel to share their experiences around working with students in trauma. I also see her every Saturday morning during our Interactive Sessions with Prashant Iyengar on the Philosophy of Teaching Yoga. Both of these events hosted by IYNAUS. 

Devon is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor and has been studying yoga since 1978. She  developed a neurological disorder which causes a vocal and respiratory tremor. In 2018 Devon went to Pune to study with Geetaji and Prashantji. Each of them had a unique and profound way of working with Devon which was transformative in her life and her yoga practice. Today Devon shares this fascinating experience and the lessons she learned, which are applicable  to all of us. 

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In this episode Lee starts out by posing the notion that just because we call something yoga, doesn’t mean it is yoga. Prashantji address this and points out that there is “unyoga” and “non-yoga”. He further goes on to explain that yoga must be learned from life conditions, and it should be for life conditions. 

You will also hear Prashant address my question about the teacher’s responsibility in preparing the students for the essential teachings of yoga. 

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In this episode Lee and I are honored to meet with Prashant Iyengar again. Here you will hear Prashant talk about Guruji’s approach to teaching the students from the west, including how he taught violin player, Yehudi Menuhin, and other luminaries. He also discusses how when Guruji was practicing he would observe and experiment. He would make himself like a novice student so that he could better understand how to teach them. 

You will also hear Lee talk about how Guruji was the best host and the best guest. 

And, if you listened to episode 1, this is the episode where we hear why Krishnamacharya told Mr. Iyengar not to allow Prashant to read the Mundaka Upanishad.

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In this episode I am joined by Firooza Razvi. Firooza began studying with Yogacharya BKS Iyengar in 1977, and with Geeta and Prashant Iyengar in 1979.

Firooza recently wrote the book titled, “Yoganjali, Quotes from the teachings of Prashant S. Iyengar”. You’ll hear us talking about the book and how she came to write it in the beginning of this episode. 

Firooza goes on to tell us about how she came to Iyengar Yoga, and what qualities she believed BKS Iyengar had that made him a Guru. 

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Thank you all for listening. I can’t tell you how overwhelming it is for me to see that people from all over the world are listening … but of course, considering the person we are speaking of, that is how it should be. I consider myself very fortunate to be in this position bringing these interviews to you.

These interviews with Prashant, like the one you’re going to hear today, started a year ago in March 2023. I am presenting them to you in the order that they were taken. The one you will hear today was given on July 30, 2023. When I started the interviews I didn’t know how I would use them. I was thinking maybe a documentary would come out of them, or maybe a podcast. It was after this interview that I decided on a podcast and I sort of sat on that idea for a while. Then at the end of 2023 I told Prashantji that I wanted to start a podcast and he gave me his blessing.

In our conversation today, Prashant begins by addressing a question I posed to him about metaphysics. And then he goes on to tell Lee and I about how it came about that Guruji would be turning out teachers. Listen and hear why Prashant tells us why he says that Guruji was an underprivileged yogacharya. 

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.  

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