From Portland to Pune 2014

"I’m all ready to go.  Really??!!  I need a visa to go with you to India?"................Rusty

This was the easiest trip to India ever……..a mere 28 hours door to door!  Along the last leg of our trip we were reminded that the major highway linking Mumbai and Pune is a relatively novel concept.  The “Observe Lane Discipline” sign reminds drivers to stay in their own lanes.  See my “Pune Traffic” post from my 2011 trip for a bit of back story on this.  See side bar for previous posts.

Arrived!  Jet lagged, but thrilled that we finally arrived at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, Michael and I just sat for a very long time in the courtyard that is situated between the Iyengar’s private residence and the yoga practice hall.  Just taking it all in…..

Pune to Portland

When in India, I read Indian authors.  This time it was Chitra Banerjee, One Amazing Thing and Amitav Ghosh, Sea of Poppies and The Glass Palace.  Toward the end of my stay, I traded books with my friend Elise and, for a change of pace, I read Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck.

“Once a journey is designed, equipped, and put in process, a new factor enters and takes over.  A trip, a safari, an exploration, is an entity, different from all other journeys.  It has personality, temperament, individuality, uniqueness.  A journey is a person in itself: no two are alike.  And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless.  We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip: a trip takes us…….......…..Maybe understanding is possible only after.”   

~ Steinbeck

After a mere 36 hours from door to door I arrive home.

During my last flight from Seattle to Portland all the mountains from Baker to Bachelor stood highlighted by the sunshine to welcome me home.  Our moist, verdant city feels comforting…………….ah, back to my own bed!

Practice Tip for just about anyone:

Make it a habit of putting yourself in unfamiliar positions and situations.  Observe your reactions, resistances and insights.  Does it change you?

Asana, life, asana, life.

Pune Traffic

Pune traffic circa 1989.  Notice the two camels and the number of bicycles.

Pune traffic with pollution, 2006.  This photo is not very clear, but I couldn't resist showing you the elephant in the street along with the motorcycles and cars.

Pune traffic 2011.  Motorized vehicles only.


There used to be only one traffic light in Pune.....and I am talking about during my lifetime.  Now there are not only many traffic lights but also many busy, crazy intersections.  

When Geeta Iyengar was in the USA for the very first time in 1996, as the chair of the Estes Park Iyengar Yoga Convention, I asked her what surprised her the most about the USA.  She replied that the cars all stay in their own lanes!!  This is unheard of in Pune and most of the rest of India.

On Sunday we witnessed a most amazing drama unfold in front of our eyes.  We were in the rickshaw with Nana doing a tour of some temples in Pune.  We pulled up to an intersection, the light turned red and one car went speeding through anyway.  Nana pointed out a policeman at this intersection and he explained that the traffic policeman was using his mobile device to send the license plate ahead to the policeman at the next intersection who would pull the speeding motorist over and give him a ticket.  When we reached the next traffic round about, it was just as Nana had predicted. Policeman was busy writing a ticket the chagrined driver was arguing with him.  Portland take notice!

Pune Practice Tips for our Portland Iyengar Yoga students:

Level 1 students:

Bring the spirit of Savasana to an upright, seated position such as Sukasana.  What does this teach you?

Level 2 and 3 students:

The movements of the shoulder blades and the spine are important elements in both Salamba Sirsasana and Salamba Sarvangasana.  In one of these poses, the spine ascends easily and the shoulder blades require considerable concentration and precision to engage.  In the other pose, the opposite is true (the shoulder blades ascend more easily and the spine needs more attention in order to lift in and up.) Practice these two poses.  What is your experience?  Figure out which is which.

My Typical Day

7 am – 9 am:  Class with Prashant Iyengar  (4 days a week)

9 am – Noon:  Open Practice

Noon – 4 pm:  Lunch with friends, rest, visit Institute Library (Guruji is usually there), or shopping, etc.

4 pm – 6 pm:  Assist in the Medical Class

6 pm – 8 pm:  Class (The Indian teachers rotate teaching the class.)

8pm……….Dinner and fall into bed!

Most hours of my typical day are spent in the practice hall above.  Notice the photos on the walls from B.K.S. Iyengar’s definitive book, Light on Yoga, the ceiling ropes (similar to JLYC’s pelvic swing) and the variety of wooden props against the windows.  Imagine this room filled with 120 people doing yoga…......mat to mat!

The Language of Asana

In the practice hall yesterday, I overheard a conversation in an unfamiliar Eastern European language.  Although I could not understand what they were saying, at least I knew they were discussing yoga poses.  Let’s say it was Czech…………make up your own translation!

Myslim ze Sirsasana je netezci prace.  Kdyz nejdriv delam Gomukhasana, pak je to lechtci.  Jak je to pro tebe?  Mam rada kdyz delam Prasarita Padottanasana jako preparace na Sirsasana. A pak muzu nekdi stat na hlave s Sarvangasana. Delat Savasana na konce mam nejradsi!

Pune Practice Tips for our Portland Iyengar Yoga students:

Level 1 students:

In Utthita Trikonasana, Virabhadrasana II and Utthita Parsvakonasana do the pose by concentrating primarily on taking the front of the back leg thigh back to its hamstring as you bring the front leg groin forward toward the front of the room.  From there ascend the spine.

Level 2 and 3 students:

In Baddha Konasana practice the pose with one strap around each thigh.  Place the strap high up on the thigh and in the external rotation position.

Then practice the pose with one strap around the back of the sacrum, between the knees and around the feet. 

What is your experience of the difference?

Bangle Shopping

My mind got boggled while bangle shopping!

Light on Guruji

There are sculptures of B.K.S. Iyengar that are attached to the sides of the Iyengar Institute building.  As I was coming out of class today, I caught the morning sunlight reflecting on this one of Guruji doing Padmasana (Lotus Pose).

The word “Guru” (gu=darkness and ru=light) means the person who takes one from darkness to light.  The Guru takes one from the darkness of ignorance to the light of wisdom.

The suffix “ji” indicates a personal respect.

Guruji translates as my esteemed teacher.

Pune Practice Tip for our Portland Iyengar Yoga students:

Practice any simple pose.  Let the body, mind and breath communicate with each other.  Prashant Iyengar says "Let body, mind and breath have a conference call."