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Each Year, over summer our program alters from the usual schedule and most years we run the summer intensives. Summer 2024 (December-January) will be a little different. We close for Christmas on 21 December 2024 and reopen 6 January 2025 on a reduced timetable. During this period Alan will be teaching the Retreats in Udaipur & Varanasi, India and we all take a well-earned moment to stop and reflect.
This summer students who wish to support the school by continuing to purchase a monthly membership will be given access to our Summer Antarayas subject on Yoga Vidya https://study.yogamandir.com.au/courses/ant-01/ . Monthly memberships cannot be extended so this will allow you to continue your membership and class attendance and gain access to the wealth of material delivered in this subject. Summer Antarayas has recordings of classes across all levels of the school from Foundation Level to Mature Levels along with Restorative and Slow Paced recordings and class notes. Articles, book extracts and a selection of Lectures by the Iyengar family are included. So weather you are away or in Canberra you can still be connected to Yoga Mandir
Christmas gifts & Holiday reading
Some of those preparing to commence the certificate of Yoga Studies in 2025 have been asking about reading lists. The following texts are necessary for the program and there may be an opportunity to pick up some of these titles over summer or as a Christmas gift. These books are available through https://iyogaprops.com.au/
Book list
The following books are required for reference throughout your study\
- Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar
- Light on Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by BKS Iyengar
- Path to Holistic Health by BKS Iyengar
- Tree of Yoga by BKS Iyengar
- Light on Life by BKS Iyengar
- Yoga a gem for women by Geeta Iyengar
Further reading
- Yoga the Iyengar Way by M Mehta
- Iyengar Yoga for healthy aging by R Keller
Yoga Vidya summer
If you’re joining the Certificate of Yoga Studies or simply wanting to open up the Yoga Vidya world then we highly recommend that you start with these 2 subjects over summer.
T-Ph01. Iyengar and Patanjali. This subject considers Iyengar’s relationship to classical Yoga as outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It is in 8 parts and is a wonderful introduction to Yoga Vidya content. T-Ph01 lays out the basis for Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar says, “The Yoga I teach is purely Astanga Yoga, known as the eight limbs of Yoga, expounded by Patanjali in his 196 terse sutras, each of which reflects profound experimental knowledge, supplemented with Hatha Yoga texts, the Gita and others.”
P-01. Introducing Pranayama. this is the place to start if your new to Pranayama and is delivered in the Learn? Study? Practise mode to deliver information, insights and practical examples and recording for you to follow.
Iyengar writes. ‘In the third chapter of Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swatmarama states that as long as the breath and prana are still, the chitta is steady and there can be no discharge of semen. In time the sadhaka’s increased vigour is sublimated for higher and nobler pursuits. He then attains the state of urdhva-retas, one who has sublimated his sexual energy and his chitta to merge in pure consciousness’.
Delving more deeply on Yoga Vidya
T-Ph27 The Bhagavad Gita. Over 15 years ago I began to study the Bhagavad Gita.
Reading, listening and practicing to understand the content and its nuance. I recently completed this subject and it is now presented as a lifetime subject on Yoga Vidya. The subject contains many voices and perspectives on this wonderful text as well as 45 audio lectures by Geeta Iyengar on the Gita. The subject is presented in the main themes of the Gita and looks at its connection to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
T-Ph17 Yoga Sutras. An introduction. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are highly relevant today as they provide a comprehensive guide to mental and physical well-being through the practice of yoga. They offer practical steps for achieving inner poise and self-control, which are crucial in managing life’s pressures. Patanjali describes the 8 disciplines which align with contemporary mental health practices, promoting emotional stability and clarity. The Sutras define a harmonious approach that fosters discipline, self-study and surrender making them a valuable resource for anyone seeking to improve their overall quality of life.
Students often struggle to engage with the yoga sutras of Patanjali finding the text dry and uninteresting. This subject introduces the sutras by covering their main themes to build a picture for those wanting to explore the subject in closer detail.