This is an out-take from a yoga history lecture given at LuluBhanda’s in Ojai, California on May 29, 2011.

The lecture (on Swami Vivekananda) began by giving background on today’s yoga styles.

Camera duty credits to Kira Ryder.

In the midst of a lecture, one sketches things. In publishing this talk for a wide audience, allow me to sharpen my words:

1) I say Iyengar was an orphan here, but that’s not wholly true–his mother was living, but widowed.  Widows have almost no social position in Indian society, so–though his mother was alive–Iyengar had little more social standing or financial support than an orphan (see Iyengar Life and Work, p. 3).  He was in a tragic condition at that time (1934–when he was not yet 15).

Still, It’s my mistake to call him an orphan. Apologies for the error.

3) Also, when I say Anna Forrest stands on her hands for hours, I meant that as  hyperbole, not fact, please understand.  She can stay up a long time, but probably not for hours (I don’t think!).

Anna Forrest’s new book is titled Fierce Medicine and I highly recommend it.

4) I also use hyperbole when I say that Iyengar lived on “tea and bread” for 40 years. He struggled financially for a very long time, but the strict “tea and bread” phase of his yoga career lasted “only” twenty-six years (i.e. 1934-1960.  He often went hungry even during his years with Krishnamacharya (1934-1937) and things were extremely tough for him until ’46. (See Astadala Yogamala, I, p. 26, and Iyengar Life and Work, p. 71). Though he began traveling the world in 1954, he didn’t attain world fame until Light on Yoga was published in 1966.  Greater fame and fortune came after 1973 when he began visiting America regularly.

Iyengar’s statement about practicing ten hours a day throughout his life is often repeated in his writings. (See his Yoga Wisdom and Practice, p. 13, 52 and Iyengar:  His Life and Work, p. 30).

5) Iyengar’s phrase “like honey” is not “mandukam” but “madhupakam.”  Apologies for the error.  See Astadala Yogamala I, p. 52

TAGS: Yoga History, Yoga Philosophy, Eric Shaw Yoga, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Abhedananda, First Yoga Teaching, Modern Yoga, Yoga in America, Prasana Yoga, Early Yoga, History of Yoga, Modern Yoga, Yoga in America, Prasana Yoga, Early Yoga,  Yoga Styles, K. Pattabhi Jois, Anna Forrest, Baron Baptiste