Great Yoga Master, Guruji BKS Iyengar, Leaves Us

Sri BKS Iyengar – no longer with us, but always in our hearts

Sad day today … Yogi Sivadas came into class and told us “Guruji Iyengar has reached Samadhi for eternity”. I received an email from a friend who said it was “sadly beautiful” that I was in India when he passed – and indeed it is exactly that. Just last week, I wrote down an Iyengar quote during class – “I started yoga for health and then it became a dedicated service to humanity.”

When I heard the news, I realized just how much of an impact BKS Iyengar has had on my yoga – as a student and as a teacher. I immediately thought of the Iyengar community back home in the US, and imagined how they would feel when they heard he was no longer with us.

Yogi Sivadas had us hold silence for 3 minutes in his honour, saying that “he has now found ultimate unity with Infinity.” Loved that. In our asana class tonight, I dedicated my practice to Guruji and smiled as I held my palm rigid, fingers closed, full of Iyengar discipline in Utthita Trikonasana. I paid extra attention to putting the blankets and props away tidily, lining them up neatly as is always done in any Iyengar yoga studio I’ve ever been to.

I’m sure there were yogis and yoginis all over the world who dedicated their practice to him tonight. He must be one happy yogi up there in Samadhiville, with all the yogis and yoginis sending him blessings to rest in peace. Thank you, Guruji, for everything you gave us; your wisdom, experience, discipline, knowledge and love for yoga. May your legacy continue.