Veggie Blog

The practice of ‘Yoga” which originated in India more than two thousand years ago was little known to the Western world until recent times. In the past few years there has been a renewal of interest in Yoga in the land of its origin and the reported and much publicised benefits of Yoga for physical health and mental peace have attracted many in the present day stressed out world. Numerous yoga practitioners have been seen spreading their wings in advanced countries like U.S.A. and trying to teach different versions of yoga – needless to say that commercialisation of any skill has become part of today’s money-centered world and there is no dearth of gullible public ready to hang on to any magical mantras which they believe will give them health and peace. There are, however, a few who sincerely try to pass on to the general public the knowledge and wisdom of the sages of the past in the matter of physical fitness, mental well-being and spiritual advancement through the medium of ‘Yoga’.
Among the few purists in the field of yoga as enunciated by the sage ‘Patanjali’ in India 2200 years ago, B.K.S. Iyengar stands out as the real stalwart. In his book “Light on Life” (published in 2005) we can clearly see that he practiced, taught and wrote on the principles, philosophy and physical practice of Patanjali’s original teachings with unalloyed purity, stressing the aliveness and relevance of this philosophy and practice to the modern world.
Iyenger has always practiced what he preached. The story of his own yogic journey from a weak and sickly child to a master of yoga and a yogi in a very real sense, is indeed impressive. Time and again he stresses the need for a wholesome yoga practice (as opposed to a mechanical physical exercise) where every part of our body, every cell is consciously involved in the ‘asanas’ performed; where the physical fitness is not the only purpose, and where our mind, body and soul are all in unison. Yoga has to be also a kind of meditation. This indeed was the underlying philosophy of ‘yoga’ (meaning ‘union’) as originally developed by the Indian sages.
Going into the basics of the meaning and philosophy of yoga, he has explained in his own inimitable style the external and internal components which combine to make a unique human being and how to go about achieving the goal of final union with the soul energy. Iyengar then very lucidly explains how to methodically translate this goal into practical action by learning to live in the natural world, strving at the same time to progress step by step towards the higher goal.
Iyengar not only emphasizes the benefits of yoga practices but also tells us how to find joy in their performance. The perfectionist that he is, he enjoyed teaching others too the aesthetics of yoga practices. No wonder, therefore, that the BBC Television once hailed him as “The Michelangelo of Yoga”.

This is a book of immense benefits for the beginners and serious practitioners of Yoga.