On the last Monday in August, I entered the yoga studio for the Iyengar Yoga Intensive in Victoria, BC. I noticed my spot at my “First Hello.” Nobody wanted this last row position under the window. I seized it and set up my yoga nest for the next five days.
“My Body Is My Temple And Asanas Are My Prayers” B.K.S. Iyengar
First and foremost, I set a personal intention for this intensive. I knew that magic happens if you know how to ask. My goal was to decide if I am ready to resume yoga travel. This includes attending the Canadian Yoga Convention in Montreal in 2025. I needed to examine my recovery process. I wanted to see if I caught myself in yoga conditions akin to those before pre-covid time. I closed my eyes and surrendered it to the Divine.
“I am here and now!”
Soon after, our two instructors, Ty and De, took command. They settled us all in, both in-person and via Zoom. They provided basic information about the week and housekeeping. Yoga practice began with the “ground up to heaven” motion. Legs-hips first. All standing poses were a challenge. Thanks to my knee sleeves and chair support, I got through with grace and ease.
Upon returning home, I discovered a letter from INDIA HARIDVAR ASHRAM. It reminded me of my study time in 2016. I also found another email from PARAMANAND YOGA about my search for yoga therapy studies in 2018. I began collecting moments to watch and think on these mails timing, “Mother India is calling my name again?”
India, 2016
DAY 2
STEADY ~ HAPPINESS ~ POSTURE was addressed in the second part which focused on yoga philosophy and pranayama. I felt a strong connection with the teachers. They came to impart the philosophy and wisdom of the 8 Limbs of yoga and yoga way of life. It brought me a flashback to 2018 when I was in the same shoes. I was presenting the 8 Limbs of Yoga to a Baby Boomers group with limited yoga experience. They had a desire to have all right away. It was my “rite of passage” as a facilitator/ presenter – intensive time!
FORWARD FOLD is one of my domains. During practice, I heard a phrase that sparked my internal awareness: “Become the person you want to follow.” This sparked a wave of self-talk (VRITTIS) because “I follow no guru, only the wisdom of my soul.”The challenge of PANCHA VRITTIS – mental fluctuation was on!
DAY 3
It marked an epic moment of the week, I was delighted to learn that it would be an Inversion Day. Health Benefits of Salamba Sirsasana (Headstand), Pincha Mayurasana (Feathered Peacock Pose or Forearm Balance), and Adho Mukha Vrksasana (Handstand) are well known. Those inversion asanas can boost energy levels and get rid of brain fog fast. Poses are amazing but practice of poses requires complex skills that I am still lucking now.
Everything was served after a special routine designed to prepare us for the summit. At the end, I bit the bullet and kicked my legs. I engaged my core. My strong forearms supported me in the air. I focused my mind to control my breathing. I held a supported handstand for three minutes! Voila!
“I slaughtered my inner dragon! “The last time that happened was in 2018 -19. It was before my retirement from nursing, knee replacement surgery, and then COVID-19 time. I returned home feeling motivated and excited.
My side note:
At home, I was inspired to start writing this post as a personal reflection. Furthermore, I collect all my thoughts from kleenex tissue notes made in the studio. It marked a moment when YOGA MICHELINE STARS concept idea was born in me. ( more details at the end)
DAY 4
Thursday was the day we began our descent flow from the mountain. The second teacher, Dee, revisited 5 Pancha Vrittis and introduced new pranayama/breath practice. Restorative poses provided us with healing time to achieve overall balance. So we be ready to finish the week strong.
DAY 5 – GRAND FINALE
TIME PRACISE is called a Graduation day. It can be simple if you are prepared for this flow. We observed a few empty mats in the morning. A few people were missed. Obviously, not everybody was ready for this challenge. The final yoga practice came as a summery of the week study. It requires an action, no more talking; instead, you show what you know. I felt challenged, and my focus and willpower increased. Ty was directing the flow. Pose’s names were called out in Sanskrit (often with a brief English name on the side). An alarm clock was clicked on. You “breathe the pose” – you show your best pose embodiment. One by one final protocol was followed, and we received self – evaluation based on our current yoga knowledge/skills.
I did OK.
Once I knew what to do ~ smile ~ I was capable of doing it. At the end of 1.5 hour practice, I started feeling fatigue. I missed a few steps, so I got slightly behind. But I caught myself in the next round. Time alarm kept buzzing, we kept moving in precise moves/ forms all in silence.
I passed my inner test roughly for 80%, which sounds decent for me with some room for development. Maybe by the end of this year, I’ll manage to totally catch my past “fitter/ younger” me! Only time will tell.
DIVINE SURPRISE arrived on last day of the intensive. When I returned home, I received an email informing me that my application had won IYAC membership. Divine spoke clearly to me. I got a clear guidance on my steps ahead as I asked in my intention.
Thus,
AU REVOIR AT MONTREAL 2025. Canadian Iyengar Yoga Convention. April 24-27th 2025. I look forward to seeing all my current yoga friends and meeting all new yoga friends-to-be!
To conclude my Iyengar yoga summer intensive, I must admit. I worked intensively in the studio and at home. Iyengar Yoga and my Healing Arts”healped so “I got what I came for” at the end of the week. Smile!
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Now I am changing my hats, read more only if you are interested in reviewing yoga practice.
WHAT IS YOGA MICHELIN STARS REWARD?
On day 3, I created my own yoga performance award system inspired by MICHELIN STAR AWARD system in my mind. Was it a food aroma from the BLUE FOX Cafe – The funky breakfast restaurant just below the studio? Did the aroma trigger my senses?
YOGA MICHELIN STARS is awarded to yoga studio/ modality offering outstanding yoga performance. I took into account five universal criteria:
Using quality products/ ingredients
Mastery of flavor and cooking techniques
Personality of the chef in the cuisine
Value for money
Consistency of food / products
1) QUALITY OF INGREDIENTS ( 1 star given) – Sanskrit language, once spoken in India became the language of yoga. They teach the mane of poses, meaning, pronunciation, and embodiment. The eight limbs of Yoga were presented as a source of wisdom.
2) THE MASTERY OF TECHNIQUES ( 1 star given) – Teachers use a metaphor of a human body as a temple, keeping blueprints of a human body in their minds. Great mastery is demonstrated using a yoga belt as a measurement tape, yoga block sizes, and props to support alligments.
3) THE PERSONALITY OF CHEF / TEACHER IN CUISINE, class/ event ( ½ star given) – Yoga modesty is obvious in the room, also presented in their outfits — in comfortable but not attractive Indian shorts worn by instructors). No background music before or after class to set the tone, and there is no originality, aliveness or uniqueness observed. All is unified by a teaching protocol.
4) VALUE FOR MONEY (1 star given) – The studio offers fair prices – good money returns. A PAY AS YOU CAN choice for all in financial needs is extra bonus.
5) CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE ENTIRE MENU AND OVER TIME. ( ½ star given) Every class, no matter where is taught starts with opening ritual/ chanting/ gratitude. On the same token, there is no closing ritual with the same vibration power after class. This does not set up a clear cut – the end.
OVERALL REFLECTION:
Iyengar Yoga is a form of yoga as exercise with a focus on the structural alignment of the physical body through the practice of asanas. It differs from other styles of yoga in three ways: precision, sequence and use of props per Wikipedia.
My biggest concern for this yoga style is aging out pool of practitioners and teachers. Baby Boomers created a strong foundation in the 70 – 80’s. Nowadays, you hardly see millennium or x-generation practitioners in the room. I hope they find a solution. This will avoid the incoming issues of not having enough followers. These followers are needed to carry on the legacy of B. K. L. Iyengar and this yoga modality. I wish it will keep flourishing for many years to come.
Yoga Michelin Stars for Iyengar Yoga – Overall score: 4 from 5
At this moment, my work is done as a reviewer. I placed my “invisible sticker” on their studio entry door as a blessing for their work.But it is only YOU – yoga practitioners, readers who can score your personal experiences with this yoga lineage. Please share it in comments, thanks.
Namaste, Veronika
Written by VERONIKA PRIELOZNA, MA, C-(IAYT), RYT500 ” she “walks her talk” both on and off the mat. She is a former nurse, Hatha yoga instructor, certified yoga therapist, wellness programme facilitator, and seasonal travel writer. She inspires her friends to practice yoga for healing. She does this by integrating life lessons from yoga with her passion for life, travel and the healing arts.
YOGA and TRAVEL 