Light on Life

At work today, I managed to slip out for an early lunch to attend a book signing by B.K.S. Iyengar at Stacey's Books downtown. In case you are not aware, Mr. Iyengar is the most influential yogi alive today - he was the first to teach yoga to Westerners (in the fifties) by developing the Iyengar method, which focuses on principles of alignment (often by using props). A fair analogy is to say that he is to yoga what Julia Child is to French cooking. When I first starting taking yoga, I took Iyengar classes. The majority of the classes I currently take are Vinyasa, which can (rather loosely) be discribed as a fusion of Ashtanga ("Power") and Vinyasa, but I still take an Iyengar class every so often.

Mr. Iyengar is quite spry, especially considering that he's nearly 87 years old. Although he is slight of stature, his aura is hugely compassionate and joyful. He spoke of yoga as a lifestyle, not just in a physical aspect, but mentally, emotionally and intellectually. Afterwards, we all waited in line for him to bless us. It was a momentous occasion - I just wish I had remembered my camera.

Oh, and that dude sports some serious eyebrows. He's got Sandy Cohen beat, hands down.