Prānāyama for Beginners - Geeta Iyengar

Prānāyama for Beginners

Transcript of Geetaji's class

The 'prop' did not fall from heaven. Guruji (BKS Iyengar) has thought of it very deeply.

Guruji had tuberculosis in his childhood. He had problems with breathing. He has mentioned it in Light on Prānāyama  . He tried and tried. His thoughts got converted to the propping process. The feel and sensitivity got materialized into the formation of props. The one who could not take one single deep breath, since the affected lungs did not allow him to breathe, found the props so even a dull body with slow intelligence started responding. This is his achievement.

The upraised seat for the sitting postures, the positioning of each area of the body in a right state, a proper 'chin-lock', the chin lock is not the action but the chest - 'raising' is the action which was his find, his search.

The support of blanket, wooden planks, pillows, narrow pillows, bolster, the various ways of folding the blankets were his find.

The rolling of bandages for 'chin-lock' and 'sternum-raise' was his find. The positioning in Śavāsana on props to get the right action with ease and without stress, as well as strainless breathing was his approach.

Sālamba Āsana:

* Sālamba   means with support. When the body is dull, mind is sleepy, intelligence is dropping then keep the palms cup shaped on the sides of the seat.

* Raise the trunk. The body takes a support of the palms to come to a state of alertness and the above problem is solved. 

* Sometimes, the support of the wall is taken for the back. Sitting against the wall, the spine is straightened that is also Sālamba  .