Yoga Shala Pinhais

15/07/2025

12/07/2025

🕉️Guru Purnima🙏🏻

“Yoga Is my Guru. Yoga alone taught me Yoga.”

Guru is one who is full of knowledge, full of light. Purnima is a full moon day. The Sun throws the light and the Moon receives it. Guru too who is full of knowledge , pours that knowledge for his disciples to receive it. Therefore, this day is called Guru Purnima. It is a very significant full moon day on which to celebrate the Guru-Sisya relationship.

My parampara is traced back to God. This Yoga is presented to us by Patanjali, who is also my Guru. Patanjali says that God is the first, foremost and absolute Guru, unconditioned by time and ever present, who guides us from within. He is also my Guru. This Guru is nearest and dearest to me. He dwells in my heart and speaks to my heart, and I salute him who is within me.

When I look back myself, I feel surprised how the Lord residing within guided me! I never thought that the tree of Yoga would grow like the Banyon tree. I never thought that the hidden knowledge will sprout in such a gigantic manner. I am grateful to my Guru, who sowed the seed of interest in me. The seed survived and grew into a tree giving me a magnanimous fruit.

It was my fate that I had to go to my teacher at Mysore for domestic help. But through fate I was fortunate enough to receive this knowledge. I got converted to Yoga; and the faith in it uplifted me to this level.

In those days I was like a person possessed. I was possessed by Yoga. There was nothing but a single thought ‘Yoga’ in my wakeful, or sleepy or dreamy, or aware or unaware states. I was haunted by Yoga consciously, unconsciously, subconsciously and perhaps even supraconsciously.

Another meaning of Guru is weight or heaviness. It is a weight of knowledge that the Guru puts on you. Guru Purnima Is the day of dedication where the pupil surrenders himself to the Guru. He follows the words and works of the Guru. He works selflessly and gains self-respect.

While practicing or teaching, I am not Iyengar. Something inside kindles me to forget myself and makes me an impersonal entity.

Yoga is the practice and Yoga is the soul. When sadhaka, Sadhna and Sadhya (aim) become one, it is union , it is Yoga. You are Yoga and Yoga is you. Kindle the light of Yoga, so that Yoga enlightens you to become a wise man.

B.K.S Iyengar
Astadala Yogamala Vol 3

05/07/2025

Due to tight hamstrings, hips, or lower back, forward bending can be really challenging! I struggled with this a lot in the early period of my yoga journey.

Standing forward bends are a bit more accessible than seated and supine variations, as the legs aren't fixed. However, without proper form, the body will compensate in incorrect ways—usually taking the path of least resistance—which creates lasting imbalances (e.g., bending the knees or rounding the back).

Forward bending requires surrendering—letting go of what feels comfortable and leaning into more challenging and uncomfortable sensations. These poses offer the perfect opportunity to observe your mind and your internal dialogue. Become aware of your thoughts, habits, and tendencies. Once identified, you can address your inner dialogue and make changes to go beyond where you usually stop.

26/06/2025

23/06/2025

A student reflects
Utthita parsvakonasana has been a study since watching AG poke the top of the back leg into the centre line of the body, to drive the bent knee further.
It was mind-blowing/ hilarious to observe this one point be identified in so many presentations of the asana, and to observe the effect. Feeling this adjustment has taken my practice of parsvakonasana to a very internal space, even though the spark was from a very visual adjustment

https://study.yogamandir.com.au/courses/t-ph04/

23/06/2025

The block against the wall and the knee helps drive the connection of the femur bone into the hip and in this supported way, I can focus on the extension and length of the back leg.

The block in between the hands and belt around the wrists helps unify the arms and supports the connection of the upper arm bone back into the shoulder socket. A perfect way to practice if the shoulders are tight or stuck.

Virabhadrasana 1 is the first backbend we teach to beginners in as it’s easier to support the back arch of the spine when you can build momentum and action in the legs that is achieved in the standing poses.

This is a great Segway into backbends. Next up for me is !