On day seven, Geeta gave us a surprise party for her real
birthday. Hundreds of children from the children’s program took the center
stadium. The energy of the entire space changed when the children ran into
it. It became so light.
To celebrate her birthday, Geeta wanted us to feel what it was like to take a
children’s class. We marched like soldiers. We flapped our arms like
birds. We moved through poses quickly
and my energy lifted. We played and had fun. I loved every minute of it. I wanted
to do more. I wanted to be in that energy more.
Before Mr. Iyengar passed, he wanted to be sure Geeta knew
his wishes for the children’s program. There have been several books written on
it now. Teaching children is very
different than teaching adults. Children are not as attached to their bodies as
adults are. Children are willing to take risks. It’s easier to build courage
and remove fear complexes.
The lesson for adults taking a children's class is the value of movement. Geeta wanted us to see how
moving quickly can also break through stuck places – even for adults.
Personally, I believe the sense of playful movement is a value to
adults as well as children. I witnessed
the energy of the room change. It lifted
so many of us out of the heaviness of adulthood and ignited the smrtti of our
inner child with its belief in endless possibility.
It felt like Geeta wanted to share that feeling with us.
There was lightness. There was laughter.
Geeta’s sense of humor came out so lightheartedly with quick quips about the camera’s watching.
It was such a playful morning and yet I learned a lot. Once again, she used
experience to teach us - along with the element of surprise.
The second session began by breaking down Sirsasana,
headstand and Sarvangasana, shoulder stand complete with physical supports,
adjustments, and strong verbal cues for teachers. These two poses are the two
most important poses in Iyengar Yoga.
They are considered the King and Queen of Yoga poses, because of all of
the benefits these two poses offer.
However, students have to be ready to do them. Geeta
impressed upon us the fact that Yoga does not harm anyone. Doing the poses wrong is what harms
people. No student should go into
Sirsasana if they haven’t practiced Sarvangasana.
No student should go to backbends or more advanced poses unless they have
learned Sarvangasana and Sirsasana.
Strength and courage are developed systematically. Teachers
can’t just let a student say they’ll “manage” in Sirsasana. That will not do. The upper back actions have to be developed. The interlace of the fingers and the
extension of the upper arm and armpits have to be developed. There’s a system to Iyengar
Yoga. If you follow the system of
teaching, the students gain the strength and courage they need for these
wonderful poses.
The understanding that Geeta seemed to be expressing during
the day is that adults are so attached to the body – whether they are working or
playing adults tend to quickly turn to excuses that are attached to the body –
my knee, my neck, my hip. They will say they “can’t” do this or that because of
being stuck in places that are attached to the body or fears and the biggest fear is abhinivesa, fear of
death. BKS Iyengar taught us how to live, work, and play through yoga. He also taught us how to die. His system of learning yoga develops the body
and the courage and mental awareness to release our attachment to it. When
it is time to live, we know how to live. When it is time to work, we know how to work. When it is time to play, we know how to play. So that... when it is time to die, we are ready to let
go and move to whatever is next.
Happy Birthday Again, Geeta.
Thank you for the surprise.
Namaste.
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