The Yoga Temple : Teachers

TEACHING

SHRI LAKSHMI RAMANUJA

Born in Adelaide, Shri is a Professional Certified Senior Level Iyengar Yoga Teacher and has been a yoga practitioner since 1978. In this time she has made many visits to India and to B.K.S. Iyengar's Institute in Pune, where she has studied directly with her teachers, B.K.S. Iyengar, his daughter Geeta Iyengar and son Prashant Iyengar.

In 1988 to 1990 Shri lived and taught Iyengar Yoga in Chicago, USA and in 1994 she was the founder, director and principal teacher of The Bondi Beach Iyengar Yoga Institute in Sydney. In 2000 she was the director and principal teacher of the Iyengar Yoga Centre, Queensland, and in 2005 opened The Yoga Temple on Sydney’s north shore. From 1995 to 2009 she ran Iyengar yoga teacher training courses plus she has a Batchelor of Nursing and is a registered nurse.

Shri studied for many years with a Vedic priest, the Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Teachings of Sri Ramanuja, Yoga & Sri Vaishnava Philosophy before getting initiated into the Ramanuja Tengalai Vedic lineage. Shri is assisted at The Yoga Temple by an experienced initiated male yoga teacher.

www.bksiyengar.com

Certified Senior Level
Iyengar Yoga Teacher

Shri Ramanuja

IYENGAR YOGA

Iyengar Yoga is a unique yoga system that originates from traditional Hatha Yoga, which is the practice of asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breathing techniques). The Iyengar teachings are well known for their precision and body alignment which strengthens, realigns and balances the flow of energy to the body and mind. B.K.S. Iyengar is the originator of yoga props used in the world today which include mats, blocks, belts, chairs, blankets etc which are used when needed to support and facilitate correct understanding of the postures.

SRI B.K.S. IYENGAR

One of the world's greatest living yoga masters, B.K.S. Iyengar has had a profound effect on all yoga systems throughout the yoga world. Time magazine quoted Sri B.K.S. Iyengar as one of the top 100 influential people in the world. His book "Light on Yoga" is the encyclopedia of all yoga poses, referenced by all serious yoga practitioners. His teacher training system, which is run through the various Iyengar Yoga Associations around the world is regarded as having the highest standards in the Yoga community. At the age of 86 he toured America and released his new book (Light on Life), once again blessing us from the heart with his knowledge, wisdom and insights into a lifetime of devotion to this beautiful sacred subject known as Yoga.

SMT GEETA S. IYENGAR

Daughter of Sri B.K.S. Iyengar, Geeta Iyengar is a highly respected yoga master in her own right. She has been teaching yoga for over 40 years under the guidance of her father, who is also her guru (teacher). She has travelled all over the world running yoga conventions and has also released her own book called "Gem for Women" which is considered a classic book catering to the needs of women in modern life. She has many DVD's available which can be purchased through the Iyengar Yoga Association of Australia.

SRI PRASHANT S. IYENGAR

Son of Sri B.K.S. Iyengar, Prashant Iyengar is a very learned scholar of the ancient Hindu texts known as the Vedas. He has been teaching yoga for over 40 years and is one of the main directors running the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Pune India.

For more information about Iyengar Yoga in Australia:B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Association
of Australia
www.iyengaryoga.asn.au
Iyengar Yoga Institue India click here

YOGA PHILOSOPHY

YOGA PRINCIPLES

yama

Yama is social behavior, how you treat others and the world around you. These are moral principles. Yamas are :

Nonviolence (ahimsa). Do no harm to any creature in word, deed or thought. ( Do not eat meat, eggs or create any violence, on any level, to any living being )

Truth and honesty (satya). Tell no lies.

Nonstealing (asteya). Do not steal.

Non - possessiveness (aparigraha). Free yourself from greed. Make your life as simple as possible.

niyama

Niyama is inner discipline and responsibility, how we treat ourselves. These are sometimes called observances;

Purity (shauca). Purity is achieved through the practice of the yamas, which help clear away the negative physical and mental states of being. Keep yourself, your clothing, and your surroundings clean. Eat fresh and healthy food. The body is a divine gift and must be treated like a temple of the divine,
which it is.

Contentment (santosha)

Cultivate contentment and tranquility by finding happiness with what you have and who you are. Seek happiness in the moment, take responsibility for where you are, and choose to grow from there.

Austerity (tapas)

Show discipline in body, speech, and mind. The purpose of developing self-discipline is not to become ascetic, but to control and direct the mind and body for higher spiritual aims or purposes.

Study of the sacred text (svadhyaya).

Study sacred texts, which are whatever books are relevant to
you and inspire and teach you. Education changes a person’s outlook on life. All creation is divine and there is divinity within oneself. The energy which moves one, is the same that moves
the entire universe.”

Living with an awareness of the Divine (ishvara-pranidhana).

Be devoted to whatever you consider divine.

asana

Yogis use asana’s to strengthen and cleanse the body and mind. If you are free of physical distractions, you can control the body, you can also control the mind. Many westerners consider the practice of asana or postures as an exercise regimen to stay fit, but this is just one of the many aspects of yoga practice.

pranayama

Prana is the life force or energy that exists everywhere and flows through each of us through the breath. Pranayama is the control of breath. The basic movements of pranayama are inhalation, retention of breath, and exhalation. “The yogi’s life is not measured by the number of days but by the number of his breaths,” “Therefore, he follows the proper rhythmic patterns of slow, deep breathing.” The practice of pranayama purifies and removes distractions from the mind making it easier to concentrate and meditate.

pratyahara

Pratyahara is withdrawal of the senses. Pratyahara occurs during meditation, breathing exercises, or the practice of yoga postures — any time when you are directing your attention inward.

dharana

Concentration or dharana involves teaching the mind to focus on one point or image. “Concentration is binding thought in one place,” says Patanjali. The goal is to still the mind — gently pushing away superfluous thoughts — by fixing your mind on some object such as a candle flame, a flower, or a mantra. In dharana, concentration is effortless. You know the mind is concentrating when there is no sense of time passing.

dhyana

Uninterrupted meditation without an object is called dhyana. Concentration (dharana) leads to the state of meditation. The goal of meditation is not unconsciousness or nothingness. It is heightened awareness and oneness with the universe. How do you tell the difference between concentration and meditation? If there is awareness of distraction, you are only concentrating and not meditating.

samadhi

The ultimate goal of the eightfold path to yoga is samadhi or absolute bliss. This is pure contemplation, super consciousness, in which you and the universe are one. Those who have achieved samadhi become enlightened, which is the aim of all yoga practices combined together. Yoga “ a state of Divine-Union “.

The eight limbs work together: The first five steps — yama, niyama asana, pranayama, and pratyahara — are the preliminaries of yoga and build the foundation for spiritual life. They are concerned with the body and the brain. The last three, which would not be possible without the previous steps, are concerned with reconditioning the mind. They help the yogi to attain enlightenment or the full realization of oneness with the divine eternal spirit.