Monday, December 15, 2008

Last Friday Practice for the Year!!

In honor of B.K.S. Iyengar's birthday and the last Friday practice of the year, Devon and I thought we'd do a sequence from the back of the book in Light on Yoga. We are going to do the sequence for weeks 45-50 (this being the 50th week of the year). Look on p. 470 in Light on Yoga.

We'll start with virasana, adho mukha virasana, Adho mukha svanasana, Adho Mukha Vrksasana, Pincha, and the start in with the sequence which is pretty much the sirsasana cycle, the sarvangasana cycle, some forward bends a bunch of padmasana things, twists and ending with Urdhva dhanurasa 6 times then savsana.


We'll resume practices on January 2nd of the new year.

Come Join in the Fun! As always, donations cheerfully accepted to defray cost of studio rental.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Sarvangasana Workshop with Anne January 3rd 2009

Start the New Year Off Upside Down!

A Fun-filled workshop on the Sarvangasana Cycle!


B.K.S Iyengar writes, “The importance of Sarvangasana cannot be over-emphasized. It is one of the greatest boons conferred on humanity by our ancient sages. Sarvangasana is the Mother of asanas. As a mother strives for harmony and happiness in the home, so this asana strives for the harmony and happiness of the human system.”



What? Sarvangasana Workshop.
With whom? Anne-Marie Bowery, Certified Iyengar Yoga Instructor

When? Saturday, January 3 3:00-5:00 PM

Where? Clear Spring Studio, 605 Copeland Street
Copeland Street is just off South First Street, across from The Texas School for the Deaf. Directions are also online at www.clearspringstudio.com

How much? $25


For information and registration please contact Anne directly at
AnneBowery@yahoo.com or 254-744-7157

Monday, December 8, 2008

Practice Sequence for this Friday 3:30

Hi Everyone, Devon and a good friend of hers Jane created this sequence to help them prepare for Junior Intermediate III assessment. We'll work through it on Friday. Come join in the fun. I'll be there by 2:45. Cost is free but Devon will accept donations to defray the cost of studio rental.

Utthita trikonasana
Utthita parsvakonasana
Padangusthasana
*Parivrtta utthita hasta padangusthasana
*Ardha baddha padmottanasana, classical pose
*Jathara parivartanasana, legs straight
*Bhujapidasana
*Malasana
Upavistha konasana
*Parsva upavistha konasana
*Parivrtta (parsva)upavistha konasana
*Parivrtta janu sirsasana
*Kurmasana II
*Parivrtta paschimottanasana

Adho mukha svanasana
*Adho mukha vrksasana (palms back, 1.5 ft)
*Pincha mayurasana, palms down and up
Salamba sirsasana (also *sirsa II?)
Parsva sirsasana
Ekapada sirsasana
Parsvaikapada sirsasana
*Parivrttaikapada sirsasana
[Adho mukha virasana]

Matsyasana flat on floor in padmasana
*Dwi pada viparita dandasana without chair
Elbows against wall, feet on blocks
Away from wall, feet on floor, bent knees
*Urdhva dhanurasana I from ground

Salamba sarvangasana
Ekapada sarvangasana
Sarvangasana II
Parsvaikapada sarvangasana
*Urdhva Padmasana in sarvangasana
*Pindasana in sarvangasana (blocks under
Knees
*setu bandha sarvangasana coming up to sarvangasana

*Ardha matsyendrasana I (arm to foot)
*Marichyasana II (pl. 145-7)
paschimottanasana full pose

B.K. S Iyengar Birthday Celebrations

Hi Everyone, BKS Iyengar will be 90 years old on Sunday. There are two celebrations in honor of his birthday. One is Saturday at AYS and the other is Sunday at CSS (Details on that one, forthcoming soon, I've misplaced them). Double Dip on the Celebratory Fun.


he 90th Birthday Celebration for Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar

Date: 13 December 2008, Saturday
Time: 3-6 pm
Location: 1122C South Lamar Boulevard
Information: 923-4643
Admission: free will donation to the Bellur Trust*

Schedule of Events:
3-4 pm Showing of "The Ultimate Freedom" a dvd recording of Iyengar's lecture/demonstration in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1976.

4-4:45 pm 108 Surya Namaskars in Honor of Guruji Iyengar

5-6 pm Cake and Chai

Please Come and bring a tealight candle holder!

*ABOUT BELLUR
Proceeds from this weekend's festivities will be donated to the Bellur Trust, established by BKS Iyengar for the benefit of the village of Bellur.__BKS Iyengar was born in the rural South Indian village of Bellur in 1918. Over the years, the people of Bellur have had to endure poverty, lack of education and sanitation, illnesses, and drought.__In 1967, Guruji built the first primary school in the village, dedicated to the memory of his parents (his father was a teacher). In 2003, he established the Bellur Trust, with the aim of addressing the educational, social, health, and cultural needs of the people of Bellur._Recent achievements of the trust include the construction of a water storage tank to provide clean drinking water, the establishment of a special high school for girls, the building of the Yogacharini Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Hall (used for yoga classes, as a classroom, and for social gatherings), the opening of the Smt. Ramamani Sundararaja Iyengar Hospital, and the building of the first temple dedicated to Sage Patanjali. Plans for the future uses of the funds from the trust include establilshing cottage industries so that the villagers can better support themselves. The Trust will also create medical camps for screening villagers to help them maintain better health. Bellur has become a model for the reformation and development of rural villages in India. In the spirit of maitri (friendliness) and karuna (compassion), we invite you to honor BKS Iyengar by donating generously to this important project.

Shanti,

Peggy Kelley

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Practice Sequence for this Friday 3:30

Hi Everyone, We'll be practicing this Friday at 3:30. Anne will be there hanging on the ropes around 2;45 if you want to come early to prepare yourself. This sequence is mostly from a Patricia Walden class at from Feathered Pipe aug 1, 2008 the scorpion stuff is added in but since we looked at those last time I thought it would be good to look at them again.

Next week we will be working with a practice sequence Devon wrote that works in most of the poses on the Junior Intermediate III syllabus. I'll post that one next week.

As usual, there is no cost for the practice, but Devon will happily accept donations to defray the cost of reserving the studio space for us.


AMS
Uttanasana
Ams
cataranga dandasana
urdhva mukha
repeat 2x
ams w/ heels on blocks at wall
vira 1
supta padangustasana
ams middle palm on edge of blocks at wall
vira 1 to 3 w/ pams together
abdomen balanced and up, armpits down, leg up
sirsasana
virasana
eka pada virasana reaching leg back
parivritta eka pada
AMV working w legs together and straight
pinca mayurasana- balance
+++Add in some scorpion poses here and other assorted arm balances
lunge w/ 1 leg in virasana (eka pada raja prep)
resist virasana leg back
viparita dandasana on chair, feet flat on floor, arms over head, legs
straight
ekapada viparita dandasana chair
Urdhva dhanurasana 3x from chair
ekapada u. dhanurasana 2x
down leg hip lifts up and up leg hip draws down
ustrasana drop backs to wall
arms coming to shoulder blade level
ekapada viparita dandasana
sirsasana drop backs and coming up w/ wall
ustrasana drop backs to floor
hanumanasana
ekapada rajakapotasana w/ back leg at wall
ekapada raja II
hanumanasana
sarvangasana
eka pada
parsva eka pada
badda k
padmasana
savasana

Monday, November 24, 2008

No Friday advanced practice this week, but next week we are on

The Friday Advanced Practice was tons of fun.

Lots of people from a variety of yoga traditions showed up for the fun filled backward bending sequence.

Anne, Gillian, Rachel, and Devon from Iyengar Land, Terry and Mike and Gigi from Ashtanga land, and Pam, Jeremiah, Jeff from Anusara land. It was really great fun! Just what an advanced practice should be.

No practice this Friday due to Thanksgiving Holidays, but we'll resume the following friday with a backward bending practice largely a Patricia Walden sequence from feathered pipe with a few additional arm balances added in.

I usually am there by 2:45 hanging on the rope wall if you want to come a bit early to "warm up/ prepare yourself as Prashant would say," but the sequence itself will start right at 3:30.

Here it is Patricia sequence from Feathered Pipe aug 1, 2008
AMS
Uttanasana
Ams
cataranga dandasana
urdhva mukha
repeat 2x
ams w/ heels on blocks at wall
vira 1
supta padangustasana
ams middle palm on edge of blocks at wall
vira 1 to 3 w/ pams together
abdomen balanced and up, armpits down, leg up
sirsasana
virasana
eka pada virasana reaching leg back
parivritta eka pada
AMV working w legs together and straight
pinca mayurasana- balance
+++Add in some scorpion poses here and other assorted arm balances
lunge w/ 1 leg in virasana (eka pada raja prep)
resist virasana leg back
viparita dandasana on chair, feet flat on floor, arms over head, legs
straight
ekapada viparita dandasana chair
Urdhva dhanurasana 3x from chair
ekapada u. dhanurasana 2x
down leg hip lifts up and up leg hip draws down
ustrasana drop backs to wall
arms coming to shoulder blade level
ekapada viparita dandasana
sirsasana drop backs and coming up w/ wall
ustrasana drop backs to floor
hanumanasana
ekapada rajakapotasana w/ back leg at wall
ekapada raja II
hanumanasana
sarvangasana
eka pada
parsva eka pada
badda k
padmasana
savasana

Friday, November 21, 2008

Changes at Castle Hill

Hi Everyone,

As many of you know, Heide Grace is moving back to New Orleans. We'll all miss her greatly. She's a great teacher, great student, great person to practice with, and super fun to boot.

Gillian is taking over most of her classes at Castle Hill. I went to Gillian's class for the first time yesterday. I really enjoyed it. Gillian has a very warm teaching presence and uses great imagery, like making yourself into a wine bottle opener to pop up the cork of your chest. I also enjoyed her sequence. She interpersed various standing poses with a return to Adho Mukhasvanasana and Uttanasana and it was a good practice to see how the standing poses influence those poses.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Sequence for Practice on Friday

Hi Everyone, We are practicing this Friday at 3:30.

Here's the sequence we'll be working with.


Adho mukha svanasana 5min
Adho mukha vrksasana
one legged
two bent legs
two straight legs
pincha mayurasana wall and free balancing
prep only for vrschikasana I
vrschikasana II
salamba sirsasana 5 min
variations 5 min
vrschikasana I, full pose, 5-10x
urdhva dhanurasana over chair backs at wall 5x
drop over preparation on chairs at wall 5-10x
urdhva dhanurasana 5-10x
dropping over to urdhva dhanurasana from tadasana 5-10x
dropping over to urdhva dhanurasana from adho mukha vrksasana 5-10x
supta virasana on blocks, going toward kapotasana
kapotasana 5x
eka pada rajakapotasana preparation or full pose with chairs and belted foot and walls 2-3x each side
natarajasana on stools or with help 3x each side
hanumanasana 2-3x each side
upright
forward bending
parsva uttanasana, cooling down
bharadvajasana I
pasasana

supported halasana

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Sequence for Practice on Friday

Joan White’s class, Austin, 2005

NB: poses in brackets are not in the original sequence Joan offered us.]

Supta padangusthasana I, 2x

SPG II

First , side leg at 90 deg angle, then up toward ear, foot level with floor

SPG III, 3x each side

SPG II, now leg even higher to ear level

AMS

Upavistha konasana

Move toward samakonasana

Baddha konasana

Bharadvajasana I, 2x

[Bharadvajasana II]

Upright eka pada virasana at wall

Ardha baddha padmottanasana, by stages:

Bring foot up and hold; press padma foot on standing thigh; then facing wall, ardha uttanasana concave back; then going down to full pose facing wall; then full pose facing into room . Standing leg straight always, always.

AMVrks 2x

Sirsasana I and any variations we want

Supine prep for Akarna dhanurasana I

Eka pada sirsasana

Akarna dhanurasana I

Akarna dhanurasana II

Janu sirsasana, urdhva mukha and adhomukha, 2x each

Upavistha konasana to all sides: r, l, center

Parivrtta upavistha konasana

Prvt. Janu Sirsasana variant: from upavistha konasana, bend torso straight forward into the angle between thighs and then walk it around to bent leg side; then roll the chest open as you move to the straight leg side: Parivrtta janu sirsasana.

Parivrtta janu sirsasana classical

Kurmasana and variations

[Marichyasana I and III, Ardha Matsyendrasana I and II, Bharadvajasana II, Pasasana, any and all of these we like]

[Urdhva dhanurasana, 5 x, to clear the spine]

[Sarvangasana and variations]


Wednesday, October 29, 2008

New Iyengar Class Saturdays 12:30 Starts Nov 8

Yoga Yoga is opening a new location. Actually, they are taking over where Joy Moves is. It will be called YogaYoga 360.

I'll be teaching an all levels Hatha class there Saturdays at 12:30.


Very Exciting.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Advanced Practice Session Starting Friday Oct 31 3:30

Starting on Friday Oct 31 3:30 to 5:45 Devon and Anne will be co- hosting an advanced practice at Clear Spring Studio. This Advanced Practice is open to advanced students of any tradition, though the sequences we will practice are from the Iyengar tradition.

This is not a class or an open practice in the sense that you just come and do what you want in the studio. It is open in the sense that everyone is welcome and no registration or reservation is necessary. Just show up and do yoga every Friday afternoon.

How does the advanced practice work? Each week, Devon or Anne or another regular participant, will select a sequence from Pune or from a recent workshop or make a sequence and we will all do the sequence together. We are there to help each other and to motivate each other to work hard and to keep a sense of humor while working on difficult poses. We'll post the sequences here.


What does advanced mean? You should have a regular inversion practice, be able to do padmasana or be working toward it and be able to do Urdhva Dharusana and other unsupported backbends, and be interested in working on arm balances.

There is no cost for the practice, though Devon would gratefully accept any donation you cared to make to defray the cost of reserving the studio space.

Some Upcoming Events at the Austin Yoga School



October 25-27, Iyengar Yoga Assessment at Austin Yoga Institute


We need volunteers! Our National Iyengar Association conducts assessments at centers like ours during assessment season, approximately August through November. We are the lucky ones in Austin this year. As a volunteer in 40 minute classes, you will receive excellent instruction from teachers from far and near who have been teaching for at least 3 years. They have been preparing diligently for a long time for this test. Also, you will have an opportunity to snack on organic fruit, nuts and juice. We like for volunteers to do TWO of the forty minute classes, and not to do two SESSIONS in a row, so you are fresh for the teachers. You may, however, volunteer for Saturday morning AND afternoon, or for a session Saturday and Sunday both. Please contact Peggy to sign up:
info@austinyoga.org or 512-440-1269.

November 8, Texas Yoga Retreat at Barsana Dham

Peggy will teach on Sunday, two sessions
Early?10:30 to noon, Applying Ayurveda and Ecology to Yoga Practice, a combination of lecture, demonstration and practice (Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation), open to all levels.
Later?2-4 pm, Advanced arm balances and back bends. Experienced students only. No wrist, elbow, shoulder or low back problems, please!
For more information, see http://www.texasyoga.com

Saturday, December 13?Iyengar?s Birthday and
Austin Yoga Institute Re-naming Party


Come celebrate B.K.S. Iyengar?s birthday a day early, but not early according to international time! He will be 90, a very auspicious year for yogis. Most importantly, he is still practicing yoga! We will do 108 sun salutations in his honor and view the film ?Ultimate Freedom?.
Also, we will be re-naming our Institute the Austin Iyengar Yoga Institute. For decades our teachers have been devoted to his teaching, and it is time to let our name reflect that devotion. Please join us anytime between 3 and 7 pm. Sun salutations at 4.

Ongoing Events:


Two Beginners Series in November!


Patti Gagne on Saturdays 10:15-11:45. November 1 through December 13, no class on Thanksgiving weekend.
If you are new to yoga, this is a perfect series for you, and if you have let your practice lapse, please bring a friend and you BOTH get 10% off the fee.
Call Patti for more information?415-0743.

Beth Heffernan on Mondays, 6 ? 7:30 pm, November 3 through December 8.
If you are new to yoga, this is a perfect series for you, and if you have let your practice lapse, please bring a friend and you BOTH get 10% off the fee.
Call Beth for more information?563-4439.

Restorative Yoga on Thursdays from 4 to 5:30 pm by donation


Peggy has re-dedicated herself to a weekly restorative class on Thursdays. Pay is by donation. Restorative yoga is essential to a balanced practice, especially at this time of year, when life can become so frenzied!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Devon is teaching a backbend workshop tomorrow

Hi Everyone, Devon is teaching a two hour backward bending class tomorrow, Saturday October 18th from 1-3 at Clear Spring Studio.

It will be tons of fun!

Check it out.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Lift the Contents of Your Brain!

Lift the Contents of Your Brain!

Special Inversion Workshop Suitable for All Levels.

I'll be teaching a 2 hour workshop on INVERSIONS at Clear Spring Studio.

Saturday November 1, 2008 2-4 PM.

$25.00


To register Contact Anne at AnneBowery@yahoo.com or 254.744-7157

Friday, October 3, 2008

A Week of Iyengar Yoga in Austin

Monday afternoon, Christina and I went to Peggy's advanced class at AYS. We worked on restoratives and pranayama. Peggy was working from a sequence that BKS Iyengar had given at the 1993 convention in Ann Arbor. That's really one of the things I love about Iyengar Yoga. Having access to that kind of history/continuity about practice. This was my first time taking Peggy's class. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. Peggy started the class reading from BKS's commentary about the sutras relating to Pranayama. We spent a nice amount of time upside down and a heck of a lot of time in kapotasana, supported in various ways by various chairs. Peggy is a dedicated long term practicioner and it is clear she is very dedicated to bringing her students to deeper levels in their own practice. It was also nice because so many people in the class had been at the Lois Steinberg workshop, there was a bit of a group share about various salient points in the poses we looked at.

Wednesday Afternoon I went to Devon's Hard Work class at Clear Spring. I normally go to this class, though lately since I've been doing Christina's Anusara Class at Seventh Street and going to the Happiness Class on Mondays. The hard work class is just that, two hours of hard work in yoga. We did a few standing poses utilizing the ropes, really working on getting openness in the chest. and some inversions, full arm balance, sirsansa (where we reinforced some of Lois' points about the actions of the fingers). Then we had a very long foray into the vasisthasana group of arm balances. (HARD WORK) and ended with a lovely sarvangasana.

Thursday and Friday Morning I went to Heide's class at Castle Hill. She taught pretty much the same sequence both days. Standing forward bend work really working on the concave back extension of the front body and then carrying that action into the seated forward bends. An added bonus of taking classes there, the great prop wall. We used all sorts of belts and bars which greatly facilitated the necessary upward extensions.
I really liked the repeated sequence, another chance at cultivating the various actions in the poses. I kind of liked knowing what was coming up. Heide has excellent pacing. There's enough time to have your own experience with the pose, but not so much time that you feel bogged down with mastering every extruciating detail.

I also subbed Christina's class Thursday afternoon and we worked on inversions (see teaching philosophy and yoga blog for a description).

And still the weekend coming up. I'm teaching at YY South Saturday at 9 and I plan to make Heide's advanced class on Sunday.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Seva's Classes at St. Edward's University

I just found out that Seva teaches several classes at St. Edward's which are open to the public.

Mondays 12noon-1:00pm Gentle Opening Relaxing
Tuesdays 12noon-1:00pm Mixed Levels
Wednesdays 12noon-1:00pm Beginner's Series
Thursdays 12noon-1:00pm Mixed Levels

The Monday and Wednesday classes meet on Racquetball Court #1 in the new Gymnasium on Andre Street and the Tuesday Thursday classes meet in the Woodward Office Building Room 146 on Moody Street. People could contact Seva (heroldesta@yahoo.com) for Directions and Parking Information.



Upcoming posts on Peggy's Advanced Class and the Lois Workshop.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Devon's Yoga for Happiness Class

Yesterday, I subbed for Devon at her Yoga for Happiness Class. I attend this class pretty regularly. It is an absolutely transcendent restorative experience. Typically, she starts off each class with a supported savasana, three blocks, two under chest, one under the head, sand bags on shoulders (supported by two additional blocks), sandbags on palms and on thighs. We stay there about 20 minutes. Lovely. Then, she does varied sequences. I always feel so much better after that class. It is where I just give myself permission to slow down. Devon is incredibly knowledgeable about the effects of these poses. I also learn a lot by watching her work with the students and their special needs of various sorts. There are anywhere from 5-10 people in the class. Most people are in their late forties to mid sixties..

A truly wonderful experience. Come check it out.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Anne's Saturday Class at Yoga Yoga South

I teach an ongoing Hatha Class Saturday mornings at Yoga Yoga South. I just started the class in September. Prior to that, I had been teaching the same class up at Yoga Yoga Northwest. Well, not the same class, but the class at the same time slot. Yoga Yoga has four different locations and really pretty much serves very different sets of students at each location. There are the north people and the south people.

SO somewhere between 6-10 people show up. My boyfriend, Jeff, some of Christina's students like Jeremiah, Lisa, Ari come and then people just showing up for an early hatha class with a range of experience from 6 months to 6 years. There is not much Iyengar Yoga at Yoga Yoga since Jessica Montgomery left and so even people who have practiced for a while are new to Iyengar. I follow the first week standing poses, second week forward bending, third week backward bending, fourth week pranayama/restorative/ things that support a pranayama practice schedule.

It is a fun low key class with lots of individual attention, instruction. the class would be great for beginners though it is small enough that I can give refinements to advanced students as well. I look forward to seeing how the class grows.

Come check it out.

Lois Steinberg Workshop Next Weekend

Yoga in the Iyengar Tradition

With Lois Steinberg

September 26-28, 2008

Austin Yoga Institute and Clear Spring Studio welcome Lois Steinberg, from Urbana, Illinois, an advanced level certified Iyengar Yoga teacher for her first workshop in Austin.

Lois has nearly 30 years of yoga study, practice, and teaching experience; she has studied extensively with the Iyengars in their general and medical classes. She organized the International Women's Intensive with Geeta S. Iyengar, and is the author of numerous articles and manuals. Her most recent book, "Geeta's Guide to a Woman's Yoga Practice", is the first of a two-volume set that provides comprehensive instruction for the study and practice of Iyengar Yoga. This inspirational book includes over 800 photographs and detailed notes on the use of props, positioning, actions, and benefits for each pose. It is an essential reference for all teachers and serious practitioners. Lois travels annually for two months' study at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institue in Pune, India. For more information about Lois visit her website at www.yoga-cu.com

Workshop Schedule: Note different location for Sunday classes

Note: Friday and Saturday classes to be held at Austin Yoga Institute, 1122C South Lamar in Lamar Plaza;

Sundays classes at Clear Spring Studio, 605 Copeland off South First south of Barton Springs Road. See maps at www.austinyoga.org/about.html and www.clearspringstudio.com

Friday 4-5:30 pm Using Iyengar Yoga to rest the Knees, Low Back, Neck and Shoulders

6 - 8 PM Asana . These classes held at Austin Yoga Institute.

Saturday 8:30 - 9:30 AM Pranayama

10:00 - 12:30 Asana

4:00 - 6:00 PM Asana. These classes held at Austin Yoga Institute.

Sunday 9:00 - 11:30 AM Asana

Noon - 1:30 PM Recuperative/Pranayama, Sunday?s classes held at Clear Spring Studio.

Cost: Entire workshop: $280, $260 if paid by 9/1/08

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Heide's Class at Castle Hill

Hi Everyone, One of the things I plan to do on this blog is post descriptions of Iyengar classes that I attend and teach. I want to check out other Iyengar classes besides the one or two I typically go to. I do want this blog to convey a sense of all that is out there with Iyengar yoga and I welcome anyone to send me a description of a particular Iyengar class they teach or take.

Here's an example:
This morning I went to Heide's All Levels Class at Castle Hill. What fun! It was everything that traditional Iyengar Yoga has to offer. Great sequencing. We worked on backward bends lots of attention to getting the chest and shoulders open and the legs engaged. Detailed instruction and good solid corrections. Lots of props.. we used blocks, the rope wall, chairs, blankets. Heide has a forceful, yet very friendly, teaching presence. She did a great job giving students at various levels options that were appropriate and she was also very skillful at giving instructions about the inner body and the physiological effects of poses.

Castle Hill has a lovely yoga room. The rope wall has easily adjustable ropes, inversion swings and even cushy handles so your fingers don't get crushed in the ropes. I even liked the chairs though they are a bit oddly shaped. Very tall backs which made for a very intense backbend on the chair top but a bit smaller than usual seats so I actually felt like I fit better in the chair for dwi pada.



I thoroughly enjoyed the class and recommend it to anyone looking for a great yoga class . I love that back bending adrenaline rush in the morning.

Peggy Kelley workshop in Corpus Oct 10-11

Hi Everyone, Peggy Kelley, founder of Austin Yoga Institute, is offering workshop in Corpus. Sounds like a great opportunity.


Iyengar Yoga Community News

The Next Step:
Developing a home practice & staying inspired to continue


an Iyengar Workshop with Peggy Kelley

Friday-Saturday, October 10-11

5830 McArdle @ Airline, Corpus Christi TX 78412

Peggy Kelley is a certified B.K.S. Iyengar yoga instructor since 1986. She began studying yoga in 1967 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1970, she began teaching her own classes while attending college in British Columbia, Canada. On moving to Texas after finishing an English and Biology B.A., Peggy continued teaching yoga.

In the late seventies as Peggy's interest in B.K.S. Iyengar's approach grew. Peggy studied at the San Francisco Iyengar Institute, at Feathered Pipe in Montana with Angela Farmer, and at various workshops with Judith Hanson Lasater, Ramanand Patel, Patricia Walden, and Gabriella Guibilaro. Peggy was certified to teach the Iyengar method in 1986, and has continued her studies at Iyengar's Institute in India in 1989, 1996, 2000, 2004, & 2007.

In 1990, Peggy and other yoga teachers incorporated Austin Yoga, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public in the qualities of life that yoga embodies in its practice and philosophy. When the B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga National Association of the U.S. was formed in 1991, Peggy served on the initial board of directors, and continued to serve in that capacity after a national election. Today she serves on the regional Iyengar Yoga Board. Peggy appreciates and teaches the precise approach and therapeutic benefits of the Iyengar method. Her teaching is enhanced with the influence of other teachers with whom she has studied (Swami Sivananda Radha, Sri Pattabhi Jois, & others).

Since living in Austin, Peggy has completed a master's degree in English, a teaching certificate, and a law degree. She is also a registered massage therapist.

Please register as soon as possible as spaces for this fabulous event are limited.

Class Times:

  • Friday, October 10: 6-8pm
  • Saturday, October 11: 10am-12:30pm and 2-5pm

Registration Fees:

  • Entire Workshop $95 if registered by October 1.
  • Entire Workshop $115 after October 1.
  • $40 per class if not registering for entire workshop.
The registration form can be found here.

For any questions please call Paula or Gretchen at Crossroads Yoga (361-992-1111), or email Paula or Gretchen.





Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Heide Grace Upcoming Events at AYI

Heide Grace, Iyengar teacher extraordinaire, will teach an Iyengar Yoga Immersion workshop
Monday October 6 through Friday October 17, from 7:00 to 8:30 AM. Cost is $150, $135 if paid by September 30. Calling all earlybirds!


AND she will teach an Advanced Beginners' class for those wanting to step up their practice on Fridays from noon to 1:30, beginning on September 26 through November 7. This will be a six week series for $99, $89 if paid by September 20.


The above classes will work best for those with some Iyengar background. If you have a strong practice, however, and no Iyengar training, come along anyway! For more information, call Heide at 504-427-7993 or Peggy at 512-923-4643.


Heide Grace, a certified Iyengar Instructor, began her practice of yoga in 1998. She has twice attended the Ramamani Memorial Iyengar Institute to learn directly under the guidance of the Iyengar family. She also continues her studies under several Senior Certified teachers. Between a strong practice and a balance of humor, support, and precision she easily shares her energy and knowledge.


Friday, September 12, 2008

Iyengar Workshop in Alpine Texas


Okay, this is not Iyengar Yoga in Austin, but Randy Just is a good friend of mine, owner of BKS Iyengar Studio of Dallas, and a great teacher really dedicated to the Iyengar method. This workshop he's doing in Alpine looks to be really fun. Consider making a weekend get away out of it.


Thursday, September 11, 2008

Joy Moves has Iyengar Yoga

Yesterday I went to practice with Heide, Gillian, and Christina. Gillian just moved to Austin from San Diego, so welcome to Gillian.

Gillian and Heide both teach at Castle Hill and I found out that Gillian also teaches at Joy Moves as does Eleanor Harris, another Certified Iyengar Teacher. So, there are now four more class offerings listed on the Public Class Schedule.

Joy Moves looks like a lovely space to practice yoga in. I plan to check out the Intermediate Class on Friday.

Christina Sell, my sister, is an Anusara teacher. Her classes are great. I'd highly recommend her for the Iyengar Yoga enthusiast as she has extensive background in Iyengar Yoga. You can find her schedule at christinasell.blogspot.com

Monday, September 8, 2008

Upcoming Workshops and Events in Austin

Iyengar Yoga with Lois Steinberg
September 26 - 28
at Austin Yoga Institute and Clear Spring Studio
for more information call Peggy at 440-1269


Lois specializes in therapeutic Iyengar Yoga and is especially gifted at working with women's problems.


Iyengar Yoga workshop with Jaya Waters Clear Spring Studio October 18. For More information, see the Clear Spring Studio Website.

Jaya returns before returning to India for another six months of direct study and practice with the Iyengars. A fountain of information and insight!


Iyengar National Association of the United States Assessment
October 24 - 26
at Austin Yoga Institute

Regular classes will be cancelled Friday and Saturday. Contact Peggy at if you would like volunteer, to be a student in these classes or to help out the teacher training process. For more information call Peggy at 440-1269

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Looking for Public Iyengar Yoga Classes in Austin? This blog is for you.

This blog is dedicated to listing ongoing public classes in Austin taught in the Iyengar Tradition and also to keeping the public informed about workshops and other events related to Iyengar Yoga in the Austin community. If you know of other Iyengar classes or events in the area, please let me know and I will add them to this listing.