Alan's Visit to Pune Blog 2

Studying Yoga in Pune: Monsoon rain to authentic Indian food

The monsoon has reasserted  itself for most of the past week, sudden prolonged heavy showers soaking everyone and everything.  The magnificent ferns in the little park through which we walk to classes every morning appreciate it, standing bolt upright and turning a very deep shade of green.  In the evening there is an extraordinary chorus from the thousands of birds that live there too, a deafening crescendo as dusk falls.

The classes tend to have a thematic approach, emphasising the depth of studiousness that is required to explore the wholeness of yoga, through the postures. Mindless repetitions, or long holds without observation and exploration are shown to be superficial or 'pop yoga' as it is sometimes described here.

The teaching is delivered by members of the Iyengar family. Most of the classes are given by Prasant, son of BKS Iyengar, whose pre-eminence in the subject has just been acknowledged by a prestigious award from the Indian government.

By observing and experimenting with different patterns of breath, stiffness's can be unlocked and the process of internal observation sharpened.

In another class, pratyahara - the process of drawing in the senses to allow a deeper understanding of what is actually going on in a posture, was illustrated through making a sharp point about the inattentive nature even of people who are keen to learn.  In this explanation, the need for the eyes to become fully absorbed in the pose was pointed out and graphically demonstrated.

Plenty of time is also given to personal practice, as well, allowing the opportunity to put new learning into practice. This is not a place to come to be pampered and praised by your teacher, rather the onus is on you to channel the

great energy that is generated here into a more refined and profound understanding of the subject.

Incidentally, we are also learning a great deal about the reviving qualities of chai, how to cross busy Indian roads, and the culinary delights, and perils, of adapting to authentic Indian food.

Alan's first blog on his month of Iyengar Yoga in Pune, India

Cranleigh, England to Pune, India

Alan Cameron is part of Yogabody and teaches classes from time to time at Cranleigh Arts Centre. He lives in Cranleigh and is a long standing student of BKS Iyengar and a Yoga teacher. On Saturday he left for India, to spend a month doing Yoga at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Pune. A dream come true for many. It may have been the early 1980's since he was there last.

Hot of the press- here is Alan's First Blog

We're now halfway through our first week at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, so we're beginning to develop our 'Indian legs' and of course our yoga postures .

Settling into a warm climate allows the body to stretch more readily of course. Even the challenges of lotus and other knee bending positions seem a little less daunting! The theme of the first few classes has been concerned with working deeply from inside, often using extended exhalations to increase that inner awareness and to reduce the resistance to new movement which is often present for most people.

There are approximately 60 people in each class, but the asana hall is set out to cope well with this number. Approximately half of any given class is made up of overseas visitors - instruction is frequently given in both English and Marathi, but quick fire instructions and differing accents can lead to confusion occasionally! The atmosphere is serious and demanding but punctuated by bursts of good humour. High energy levels and humility are needed in equal amounts most of the time. It feels a privilege for me to be able to be here again.