BARBARA BORIS Yoga

Hello yogis, I have finally got on line again, and have started posting things from Pune. Sorry for the long delay. Please scroll down for some pics and comments from Pune days.

In Rishikesh, I have taught 2 classes so far for Usha. And otherwise I’m savouring my last week of solitude before the course starts. There are 43 people registered, many more than expected. It looks like a good strong group (and a VERY full room!). Already I have met some of them, and they have wonderful practices.

I’ve been spending my time here at Omkarananda Ganga Sadan, in my lovely yellow room that looks out over the Ganges, mostly reading and resting. I have been inspired by Ashok Banker’s retelling of The Ramayana. He has rewritten the story in a ‘fantasy’ mode (a la ‘The Lord of the Rings’) with yogic wisdom interspersed. It is totally irresistable! I devoured all 5 books that are available here in India. The 6th and final book isn’t avaliable until the summer. It has also moved me to start reading one of the original versions, Sant Tulsidas’s Ramachitramanas. I have developed much love for Lord Rama. And admiration in a new key to dear Hanumanji.

And many thoughts about the state of our Kali Yuga.

The other day I had an amazing Ganga Snan (bath). The sun is very hot during the day, and Ganga is very cold. I stayed in for a long time, and had a peaceful sit on the ghat afterwards. Jai Devi Gange!

Shown here outside RIMYI, Pune with Martin after class on the way to lunch.
Note the absolute unimpressiveness of the entrance to the greatest temple of yoga on earth!

NOTE! Stephanie will be coming to IYI-New York as well as Boston. Contact them directly for registration at Iyengar Institue of New York. The classes are for teachers as well as students and there will be public lectures on Prakriti and The Hatha Yoga Pradipika. If you are not here in Rishikesh with me you should be THERE with Stephanie.

Stephanie Quirk

Monday April 3-Wednesday April 5, 2006

Stephanie Quirk worked as a psychiatric nurse and graduated from art school in her native New Zealand before beginning Iyengar yoga in 1987. Making her first trip to Pune in 1991 and, inspired by the Iyengars she returned again and again before finally moving to Pune. She has spent many years assisting the Iyengars in general and therapeutic classes.

Barbara text messages me from India, and asks me to post that she is alright, nowhere near the bombs. If you are interested in knowing more, the NY Times online has it on the home page of the international section online, if not on papyrus.

-judy schmitz

While in Pune I had my hair touched up at Sheela’s on FC Road. Lord Krishna, unfortuately, did not come to me that day. Lots of ladies were dropping by in fancy sari (it was a Saturday night) to have their eyebrows threaded. I was fascinated. Everyone was sitting around in a circle on couches: waxing, pedicures, manicures, etc. Never had my roots done while sitting on a couch!

The Picture is from some tv serial we captured quickly. Imagine THAT! Lord Krishna comes to the Hair Salon in a TV Soap!

In the practice room, Guruji is mostly working with his granddaughter Abby. Last week hw was working also with Gayatri from Chicago and Chennai. Note his foot on Gayatri’s back outer thigh, and note that her toe and heel are off the ground on the ends of the trestler horse. I tried this. The toe in the hole really makes the foot work.