BARBARA BORIS Yoga

Greetings Yogis & Yoginis,
We arrived safely in Bombay. After Satsang with Ramesh Balsekar and a small dental emergency (a crown came off, but I got it reglued at 9 am on Saturday morning for $12) we are now at a beach cafe in Goa. Typing on Mohan’s laptop, which is wired to his cel phone attached to the bamboo fence pointing north… we have internet connection. Right now it’s lunch with the Woodstock Satsang: Sophia & Ira, Nancy & Bernie w/daughter Sandra all waiting for our food with an amazing view of the Arabian Sea. Arriving last night, Swamini & I had a sunset swim. Yes, swimming in January at sunset. Quite different from Woostock winters. Martin and I are practicing yoga in our room, getting ready for Pune. This is the program for the week. The food just arrived: margharita pizza, so I’m going off line. More later. -B

Namaste Yogis & Yoginis,

I’m off to India for this year’s excursion: a month’s study at the Iyengar Institute in Pune, a private retreat, and teaching a two week intensive course in Rishikesh. Classes will resume in MAY 2006.

Joe Bartusis will be teaching the SUNDAY MORNING IYENGAR CLASS at MT. VIEW STUDIO while I’m away. 10-11:30. Please keep up your practice with him. Joe & I will be in constant communication about sequencing and teaching. Call him at 518 537-2059 to confirm if class is happening if it’s a snow day.

Joe will also be teaching the TUESDAY EVENING IYENGAR CLASS at SATYA YOGA, RHINEBECK, 5:30-7:00.

BIG NEWS!  I finally have a web site up! (your’e on it now.) It is still a work in progress, so be patient and keep checking back. I will be constantly (hopefully!) updating it from India. It is a BLOG (a web – log). For those who don’t know, this is a type of on-line diary, there are multiple pages, and lots of scrolling down. I hope to be uploading pictures, sharing class sequences from Pune, posting movies (?!?), etc. There is a book list, a link of where to get yoga props, Sanskrit Invocations and Mantras, local and far away retreats to go to while I’m away, etc. I hope to make it super interactive: so you can also post your comments back to me and share with our yoga satsang (community).

I wish you all a safe and warm winter. And I look forward to resuming classes in the spring. Go to the site for further updates.

All the best,

Barbara

At NY City Center. Senior Iyengar Teacher Faeq Biria of Paris in the background.

Teaching Uttitha Parsvakonasana: softness and space. That’s Usha Devi behind me with crossed arms.

Teaching Uttitha Parsvakonasana with Pillow. Thighs back Barbara!

Usha in the backbend we affectionately call “Prashant-Asana” after Prashant Iyengar. Notice that the room has all the standard Iyengar props.

A nice view of the practice room. That’s Patanjali in the background and Ganga through the windows. The room has morning light and holds around 28 people. Surya Namaskars facing the rising sun and the Ganges. What more could you ask for?

Tools for Yoga
My main supplier in New Jersey.
They have backless chairs.
I buy my mats from her.

Bheka Yoga Props
Another great resource.

If you need some extra yoga inspiration while I’m in India, I suggest the following workshops.

Jawahar Bangera
Iyengar Yoga
February 10-14, 2006
Iyengar Yoga Institute of NY

Jawahar began his study of Iyengar Yoga in 1969.  He started teaching in 1980 in Mumbai. He has accompanied Guruji on numerous teaching trips within India and abroad. He has a wonderful ability to convey the teaching with authenticity and humility.

Bobbie Fultz
Level I/II Iyengar Yoga
March 17-19, 2006
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Saylorsburg, Penn.

Bobbie is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor and has been teaching Iyengar Yoga since 1991. She is the resident yoga teacher and yoga director at AVG. This is a perfect workshop to refine your Iyengar yoga practice.

Stephanie Quirk
Iyengar Method Teacher Education
March 29- April 3, 2006
Yoga 301, Cambridge, Mass.

Stephanie is the Number One Assistant to Guruji and Geeta Iyengar in Pune. She LIVES there year round, and has the most intimate knowledge of Iyengar’s teachings. This is a rare workshop for teachers and Level III students only.

Mira Mehta
Philosophy and Practice
April 7-12, 2006
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Saylorsburg, Penn.
Mira, that yogini in the red leotard on the cover of Yoga the Iyengar Way , returns to AVG for another year of intense practice and teachings. THIS IS NOT A RETREAT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. But you will learn a lot and your practice will be inspired. Level III students only.

If you aren’t joining me in Rishikesh, and you still need an excuse to escape the Woodstock winter, consider one of these Yoga Vacations. All are fantastic Iyengar Yoga teachers who I know very well. Let me know if you go!

Joan White
Omega Institute, Sueño Azul, Costa Rica
Feb. 25- March 4, 2006

Jeanne-Marie Derrick
Anguilla Yoga Studio & Retreat Center
March 1-8, 2006

Bobby & Lindsey Clennell
Yoga for Everyone
March 11-18, 2006
Yelapa, Mexico

Kevin Gardiner in South America
April 7-14, 2006
Buenos Aires or Uruguay, your choice.

Please check this out if you have been practicing Turbo Dog instead of Adho Mukha Svanasana.

It REALLY isn’t very good for your shoulders!

INSTEAD:

Index finger mound DOWN firmly.

Fractionally bend your elbows if you tend to hyper-extend them.

Externally rotate the upper arm. Triceps down.

Pull all the muscles to the bone, and then EXTEND the arms up towards the buttocks. Lengthen the side body.

I leave for India on Tuesday, January 17.

LAST CLASS AT MY HOUSE is LEVEL II, FRIDAY, JANUARY 6th. 10-12. It will be a strong class with standing poses and backbends.

LAST CLASS AT MOUNTAIN VIEW STUDIO is GENERAL LEVEL, SUNDAY JANUARY 8th. 10-11:30.
Joe Bartusis will continue the Sunday Class at Mountain View Studio and the Tuesday 5:30 class at Satya Yoga in Rhinebeck in my absence.