Posture names are sometimes difficult to remember for a beginner. By learning a few basic Sanskrit words, one can easily decipher the names of the most common asanas and thus better understand and remember them.

1. Hasta – हस्त = hand, arm

Example: Urdhva Hastasana – उर्ध्व हस्तासन​ = Arms upward/raised up

2. Pāda = leg, foot

Example: Urdhva Prasarita Padasana – उर्ध्व प्रसारित पादासन​ = Legs extending upward

3. Mukha = face

Example: Adho Mukha Śvānāsana – अधोमुखश्वानासन = Downward-facing dog

4. Śīrṣa= head

Example: Śīrṣāsana – शीर्षासन​ = Head posture

5. Aṅga – अङ्गा = limb

Example: Sālamba Sarvāṅgāsana – सालम्ब सर्वाङ्गासन = Supported all limbs pose (shoulder stand)

6. Paścima – पश्चिम = literally ‘west’ side of the body, i.e. the back

Example: Paścimottānāsana – पश्चिमोत्तानासन = intense extension of the back

7. Purva = literally ‘east’ side of the body, i.e. the front

Example: Sālamba Purvottānāsana – उत्थित पूर्वोत्तानासन​ = Supported intense extension of the ‘east’ side of the body (i.e. the front)

The entire universe can be divided into 2 main categories: Prakriti and Purusha.

Prakriti is matter + energy. Prakriti is limited by time, space and form. Prakriti functions on cause and effect, which popularly people call Karma. Karma is the principle of cause and effect. Wherever there is a cause, there will be an effect.

Purusha is the underlying principle that is differentiable from Prakriti. There is something that is beyond time and space in this universe that we as embodied beings are able to access and experience. It isn’t a physical entity and so formless. And hence not a “thing”. It has no gender. Since it is out of space and time, it is not even an “it”.  It is experienced as dynamic-stillness. It moves everything, but doesn’t seem to move. From Yoga’s point of view, the power of Prakriti, that is, the mind, the intellect, the body and consciousness itself receive their light from this principle. To give a simple explanation, Purusha is to the universe, what electricity is to a light bulb.

Science studies Prakriti objectively devoid of self-study and introspection. That is a philosopher’s job. Yoga says no to this approach. According to Yoga, the material world cannot be separated from the one who observes it. Moreover, without self-knowledge, all observations will be conditioned and coloured by one’s past. So yoga seeks to uncondition and free the observer from his past, which colours perception. This is done through transformatory efforts, introspection and very importantly wisdom. Yoga studies both the subject (the observer) as well as the object (the observed) all the while urging us to practically experiment and explore to understand that thought (citta vrtti) creates a separation between the subject and object. So when citta-vrtti nirodha happens, the subject-object split dissolves, which is the definition of Yoga as given by Patanjali. This happening is called Samadhi.

Since Prakriti is within the realm of space and time, it is impermanent and modifiable. We can look within to understand this. Everything that is impermanent within us falls under Prakriti. Body, vitality, physiology, biochemical processes, neurological movements, feelings, emotions, thoughts, states of mind such as sadness and happiness. All of these are impermanent and modifiable. Yoga recognises this aspect of Prakriti as an opportunity. It first works to bring some harmony within this dimension, which is still within the reach of voluntary action. This is where self-discipline (asana, pranayama, ahara, nidra) and inquiry (vitarka), probing and questioning (vicara), play an important role.

Posture names are sometimes difficult to remember for a beginner. By learning a few basic Sanskrit words, one can easily decipher the names of the most common asanas and thus better understand and remember them.

1. Adho – अधो = downward

Example: Adho Mukha Svanasana – अधोमुखश्वानासन = Downward-facing dog

2. Urdhva – ऊर्ध्व = upward

Example: Urdhva Prasarita Padasana – उर्ध्व प्रसारित पादासन​ = Legs extending upward

3. Supta – सुप्त = supine, lying down on your back

Example: Supta Svastikāsana – सुप्त स्वस्तिकासन = Supine cross-legged pose

4. Utthita – उत्थित = extending

Example: Utthita Trikoṇāsana – उत्थित त्रिकोणासन = Extended triangle pose

5. Kona – कोण = angle

Example: Upaviṣṭa Koṇasana = Seated angle pose

6. Baddha – बद्ध​ = bound

Example: Supta Baddha Koṇasana – सुप्त बद्धकोणासन = Supine bound angle pose

7. Pārśva – पार्श्व = side

Example: Utthita Pārśvakoṇāsana – उत्थित पार्श्वकोणासन = Extended side angle pose

8. Parivṛtta – परिवृत्त = revolved, twisting

Example: Parivṛtta Trikoṇāsana – परिवृत्त त्रिकोणासन = Revolved triangle pose

Every year the Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York holds a “Yogathon” in order to raise money to support the community of teachers and students who are part of the association.

The fundraising event started out in 2005 when BKS Iyengar travelled to the USA for the last time, as part of his book tour for Light on Life. The Yogathon was held to raise money and have a performance for Guruji: more than 3,000 people gathered to meditate and practice with BKS Iyengar.

This year, the yogathon paid tribute to Theresa Rowland, who was Lou’s teacher for many years, and passed away a few years ago.

Here is the video of this year’s yogathon which took place on June 5th 2022. There are many fun skits and performances to watch:

The Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York is a community made up of students and teachers from across the New York Metropolitan area who find a refuge in the practice of Iyengar Yoga at the Institute both Online and In-Person.

IYAGNY is the non-profit organization that operates the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York.