What has the pandemic brought to light for you personally?
- Norma Colon: Where there’s a will there’s a way. When I step up, I can surprise myself with what is possible, what I can do, how I can help others, and contribute. Also, yoga is the way!
- Sharon Cotugno: How much we are all globally connected. What we do, or don’t do, matters. It has also shown me that I can live with limits, with less.
- Kavi Patel: To go within and rebuild spiritually.
- Meg Wlash-Sinkel: The acceleration of change, and the need to adapt even more quickly- with regard to making a living, but also as to what makes a life meaningful. My gratitude for Iyengar Yoga is unending! I’m so grateful for the opportunity it gives us to find the stillness among all the motion.
What pose/poses are you currently exploring?
- Norma Colon: I’m not exploring much right now in asana, just making sure I get some practice time in and just do yoga! I’ve been working on pranayama since 2020.
- Sharon Cotugno: It truly depends on the day, and my conditions. I am working on seeing how the poses affect me. Abhijata recently began a class by saying, “let us see how asana can make it a better day for us.” I guess that would be the hypothesis I am exploring.
- Kavi Patel: Parsvottanasana
- Meg Walsh-Sinkel: Urdhva Dhanurasana II, arching back from standing, into Urdhva Dhanurasana and all the Parivritta variations in Sirsasana.
What is your favorite quote from the Iyengar’s?
- Norma Colon: “The sun shines everywhere. It does not shine only here and there. In the same way, yoga is for everyone.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
- Sharon Cotugno: “You have to create love and affection for your body, for what it can do for you. Love must be incarnated in the smallest pore of the skin, the smallest cell of the body, to make them intelligent so they can collaborate with all the other ones, in the big Republic of the body. This love must radiate from you to others.” – B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Yoga p. 59
- Kavi Patel:” heyam dukham anagatam – the pains which are yet to come can be and are to be avoided.” – B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
- Meg Walsh-Sinkel: “The study of asana is not about mastering posture, but about using posture to understand and transform yourself.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
What words of encouragement do you have for new students?
- Norma Colon: Every little bit helps/matters, practice what you remember. You don’t have to do an hour. I’d add a quote from a health posting —“Yoga: No pill has the power to improve so many areas of your life at once.”
- Sharon Cotugno: It’s worth the effort! Don’t expect instantaneous connections. It may take lots and lots of Adho Muhka Svanasanas, repeated over and over and over again, until you actually press your thighs back.
- Kavi Patel: Practice, application with steady patience.
- Meg Walsh-Sinkel: Find a teacher that you connect with, and just do it! Yoga is profound self-care. It’s absolutely the best gift you can give yourself!
What is your favorite: ice cream, work of art, place in the world, book or movie?
- Norma Colon: Hard to pick! “Miracle of love” by Ram Das. This book gave me a real, live experience of Maharaji, Neem Karoli Baba, my guru too, along with Guruji iyengar.
- Sharon Cotugno: Favorite place is New York City.
- Kavi Patel: Book
- Meg Walsh-Sinkel: My favorite place in the world is on my yoga mat! I love the daily journey inwards, the depth of well being that follows practice, and the opportunity to be a better human…each and every day.