Help with information on Pranayama

[Guest guest]

Dear Harsha,

 

I haven't spotted your question before so I am not sure if someone hadn't

already suggested it or perhaps you are familiar with B.K.S Iyengar's "Light

on Pranayama". I think it is the most complete compendium on the subject.

There is also a section on pranayama in his "Light on Yoga".

Unfortunately I am not familiar with Theos Bernard's

"Hatha Yoga".

 

Namaste

Liliana

 

Hi Lilliana. I am familiar with Iyengar. Lot of people love him but I find

his Hatha Yoga style to be overly physical which makes inexperienced people

or older people more prone to injury if they are not careful. When I taught

Yoga a few decades ago, I discouraged the students from pushing too hard and

too fast. I read most of the books on Hatha Yoga and Pranayama in the 1960s

and 1970s and a very few in the early 1980s. Someone had mentioned Theos

Bernard to me as being an author who based his book on personal experience

of pranayama. This is pretty rare. It piqued my interest since I had not

heard of him. There are so many books on these things that one cannot read

them all. The main thing in this line of course is simply practice. There is

no substitute for that.

 

Harsha

[Guest guest]

>Dear Harsha,

>

>I haven't spotted your question before so I am not sure if someone hadn't

>already suggested it or perhaps you are familiar with B.K.S Iyengar's "Light

>on Pranayama". I think it is the most complete compendium on the subject.

>There is also a section on pranayama in his "Light on Yoga".

>Unfortunately I am not familiar with Theos Bernard's

>"Hatha Yoga".

>

>Namaste

>Liliana

>

>Hi Lilliana. I am familiar with Iyengar. Lot of people love him but I find

>his Hatha Yoga style to be overly physical which makes inexperienced people

>or older people more prone to injury if they are not careful. When I taught

>Yoga a few decades ago, I discouraged the students from pushing too hard and

>too fast. I read most of the books on Hatha Yoga and Pranayama in the 1960s

>and 1970s and a very few in the early 1980s. Someone had mentioned Theos

>Bernard to me as being an author who based his book on personal experience

>of pranayama. This is pretty rare. It piqued my interest since I had not

>heard of him. There are so many books on these things that one cannot read

>them all. The main thing in this line of course is simply practice. There is

>no substitute for that.

>

>Harsha

 

Dear Harsha,

 

I had done asanas Iyengar way for 3 years some time ago. It definitely was a lot

of work and effort but sorry to disagree with you, Harsha-ji, I wouldn't call it

physical. Extremely precise, yes, demanding constant concentration and

attention. Of course, one may say, the same goes for every assana-practice but

the few times I saw lessons in other places and with other teachers (not Iyengar

method I mean) it wasn't that...I think "intense" would be the word. That was my

impression... And, you are right, Iyengar style yoga can be easily made into a

gym. I have seen that too.

As for the injuries, inattentiveness may definitely lead to them, big job for a

teacher in this method - to notice and correct potential mistakes "beforehand".

 

It is true Iyengar has a difficult immage. The way the classes are run is also

adding to it. Mainly the physical details are discussed and "physical"

directions given. I had been pondering on it for a short time at the very

beginning of my practise. Later I understood. Or rather experienced it. I would

say spirituality is not discussed or explained there, it's done. Kevala Kumbhaka

happened frequently to me at the end of classes.

 

As for pranayama, Iyengar did an incredible job. If you have not seen the book,

(it was published it the 80's, I think) please, take a look and you will know

what I mean. It is based on his personal experience and thorough study and

covers, I believe, most pranayama technics (although I can't be an expert here,

perhaps you could comment). And can be used and be of help to any(tradition)

yoga teacher, IMO.

 

I hope you won't find my comments too "offensive". I feel a little strange

"arguing" with you, a yoga teacher and a Jain on such topics. Just trying to

share and present the superb means for the work with the gross that I was lucky

to have been given at the right time. For this as well as for his personal

medical instructions to me I will

be always grateful to B.K.S. Iyengar.

 

Namaste

Liliana

 

 

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