For a few days between Xmass and New Year I had the privilege to visit Pune and spend some time with the BKS Iyengar, also known as the Lion of Pune. At 92 years of age, his bark is certainly not as loud as it used to be and his bite definitely less harmful. Having had the privilege to practice with him on a number of occasions and received some invaluable insights into the various aspects of yoga I always make a point to go and visit him if I can while being in India. He is and ocean of knowledge and has certainly been one of the greatest ambassadors to yoga in the modern world.

At the ripe age of 92 you will still find him doing his practice every day at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI), which is also right next to his home in Model Colony, an area in Shivaji Nagar in the city of Pune. After an hour of Pranayama practice in the morning he usually comes out of his room to greet the many Iyengar Yoga practitioners that has come to practice at the institute and for about ten minutes he normally sits and receives a long line of Iyengar students that just want to bow down to him in respect for his many contributions to yoga, or perhaps in hope of receiving a blessing from this legend of yoga that has been referred to as a modern Patanjali by some of his close students. BKS Iyengar needs little introduction and one of his many sayings read:

            "When I practice, I am a philosopher,

            When I teach, I am a scientist,

            When I demonstrate, I am an artist!”

As a philosopher he has written a few dozen books on yoga. For his teaching and scientific inquiry he’s been awarded numerous doctorate degrees and distinguished titles from numerous universities in India and abroad. His many demonstrations around the world have displayed elegance, strength and flexibility of the highest order and have shifted the modern perspectives of what we think is physically possible to achieve. Now, although his elegant postures are not quite like they used to be and his strength perhaps of a different order, his mind is still as vibrant as ever and he just recently published a book called: “Yaugika Manas” on of how to know and realize the yogic mind. This he claims was made possible from all his years of dedicated practice and deep inquiry into the philosophy of yoga according to Patanjali. Although some people feel he has gone too far in projecting many philosophical terms regarding the fluctuations of the mind upon a physical practice, Iyengar continues to explore new horizons of how to interpret and relate to the many aspects of yoga. As long as he lives he will continue to practice yoga and he says, “Yoga is the golden key which unlocks the door to peace, tranquility and joy”.

Benjamin, my son is particularly fascinated by his eyebrows, but finds equal fascination with his composure. After practicing with him in the mornings during the “self-practice session” some Iyengar students were giving us looong looks because we were practicing the series of Asthanga Yoga. BKS Iyengar has told me on a few occasions that I’m doing it all wrong, but it is always with a twinkle in his eye. So whenever I approach him with some questions regarding the postures he’s always ready to instruct me regarding further improvement, and without going too much into the details of instruction, it is definitely old school. Every time he breaks me down to build me up again if I can stomach the cure. Yes it is hard work, but if you ever wondered what the BKS stands for it is for Beat Kick and Slap Yoga that will whisk you into shape.

All humor aside. BKS may be fierce and fiery, but he’s a distinguished gentleman that deserves the highest praise for all his contributions to yoga. Once the morning class is finally done and lunch is completed you will always find him in the library from 2-5pm. Here he sits working on his various projects, answering mails from students all around the world and finding time to chat with visitors that come to see him.