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Today's episode is a little different. This is a recording of a special live session I organized with Prashant Iyengar, bringing students together for an opportunity to ask questions directly and engage with him in a conversation about yoga and their practice. I had initially intended to make this recording available only to those who attended, but the depth and richness of Prashantji's responses made me feel that it was simply too valuable not to share with the larger On the Light audience.

Prashantji begins with a reflection on why people ask questions. From there, he explores the relationship between mind and brain, the deeper significance of invocation, the potential of our seated position, and the preparation required for pranayama.

I'm very grateful to Prashantji for his generosity and for sharing his insights with us. I hope you enjoy this special conversation.

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.

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Welcome to On the Light, a podcast dedicated to illuminating the profound teachings and legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar and the auspicious subject of Yog. I’m your host, Susan Johnson.

Today, I’m joined by Alan Goode, an Australian Iyengar Yoga teacher whose practice began in 1975 and whose first visit to Pune to study with Guruji in 1983 became a turning point in his life.

In our conversation, Alan reflects on what it means to look beyond the techniques of asana and engage with the deeper subject of yoga. He shares a memorable analogy from Geeta Iyengar about an envelope: we can admire the writing and the stamp, but unless we open it, we miss what’s inside.

I think you’ll find this conversation both challenging and thought-provoking. It invites us to ask a fundamental question: Are we simply practicing asanas, or are we using our practice to understand ourselves?

Please enjoy this episode of On the Light

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to On the Light, a podcast dedicated to illuminating the profound teachings and legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar and the auspicious subject of Yog. I’m your host, Susan Johnson.

In this conversation, I speak with Prashant Iyengar about a book Guruji published on the occasion of his 60th birthday in 1978, titled Body the Shrine, Yoga Thy Light. Prashantji helps us explore the significance of this title and what it reveals about Guruji’s understanding of yoga as a spiritual pursuit.

Our conversation moves beyond the physical practice of asana into some profound questions. What does it mean for the body to become a shrine? How is contentment different from happiness? What might we discover when we turn our attention inward rather than continually seeking fulfillment outside ourselves? And how might we begin to understand asana not simply as a posture to be perfected, but as a means of cultivating the mind and consciousness?

Prashantji also challenges us to reconsider familiar ideas about yoga practice, from the role of prayer and invocation to Guruji’s teaching of “pose and repose.” He offers a great deal to contemplate about the deeper culture and purpose of yoga.

If you haven’t yet registered for our live Zoom conversation with Prashantji on Sunday, October 18, there’s still time! We’ll have an opportunity to continue the conversation and ask questions about this episode or any of Prashantji’s previous appearances on On the Light. You can find registration details at iyengaryogawithsusan.com/on-the-light. I hope you’ll join us.

Thank you for listening. 🙏🏼

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