Love him or hate him, but you cannot ignore him: BKS Iyengar’s student reminisces

Since its inception in the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, International Yoga Day is being observed on June 21 every year. The celebration began nine years ago but the practice dates back centuries. It has also been mentioned in sacred scriptures and is relevant even 5,000 years later. 

Yoga had reached international enthusiasts even before the ancient art had a day dedicated to it, one among those who promoted it was BKS Iyengar. He has authored books like ‘Light On Yoga’, ‘The Tree Of Yoga’, and was awarded the Padma Vibhushan – the second highest civilian honour. 'Iyengar Yoga' is a branch of the practice that is still taught to students across the globe. 

BKS Iyengar - A guru, a friend

Talking of her guru, Firooza Ali Razvi said, "If you are exposed to the blazing sun, you cannot help but feel the heat - he (Iyengar) was a man of that stature. You love him or hate him but cannot ignore him. Under the blazing sun, you will either scorch or bask in its glory - I chose to learn.

“In class, I was in awe of him. I had the fear of learning everything right, though the fear was out of respect. But after class, I saw a friend in him, a supportive guru who would not be preachy but laughed with you - these qualities that endeared him to me.”

Razvi emphasises how a guru is important in showing you the right path. A seed can be sown which can germinate anywhere at any point in time, this is how she believes yoga grows on people.

Also read: Science of Yog: Journey from a normal to a supernormal being 

Hot yoga, power yoga - fads fade 

Time and again, a new format of yoga evolves and is explored or experimented with. And each of the various offshoots seem to have their own loyal legions of followers. But do these ancient art forms lose their authenticity, relevance and efficacy when they are adapted and modified, sometimes beyond measure?

"When anything becomes popular, there is excitement about it. When there’s a burst of colours, which colour will you be attracted to? There is no one answer to that question, each one of us will find something attractive. People take to fads due to the excitement, and it all fizzles either quickly or eventually, as it is destined to become boring," Razvi, 67, says. 

She adds: "The format practised and promoted today on social media is very attractive. Yoga in essence is here to stay, fads will come and go," she adds. 

Yoga: Not to be forced

Most schools and many households introduce yoga to children early on in life, but Razvi believes otherwise.

According to her, yoga should not be forced on anyone, with knowledge imparted merely on a need-to-know basis.

“Just like in school; those who like economics take it up later. Similarly, if one likes yoga, they will carry on with it, if not they will find another way of life,” she says

“I hope people take to yoga only to see the beauty of it and what it can do for your overall well-being.”

A way of life 

Yoga means everything to Razvi, but she knows how to prioritise. 

"It is my life… not in the sense that everything comes second and yoga first, no." 

Being associated with yoga for over 40 years, she highlights how ancient art has taught her to live with honesty. She simplifies it, "I can only teach what I know and have as knowledge of. If I do not know a subject, I will not try to teach or mislead anybody."  

"Life is where it is. I allow yoga to help me in my life." 

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) 

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