Shelley and Ray’s report from Pune
It is wonderful to be here. As always we are so grateful to the Iyengars and their willingness and ability to share the depth of their understanding of this glorious practice of Yoga.
Love from Ray and Shelley
We’ll be adding new photos every day or so.
Love from Shelley and Ray
Our day trip to Lonavala
Sunday day and we are off to Lonavala. 200 steps up to Karla Cave. These were the easy ones! Yes that’s Janek with Ray!
Shelley and Janek arrive at Karla Cave in Lonavala. It was early morning and hardly anyone else was there!
Entrance Portico to Karla Cave
Shelley and Ray inside Karla Cave
Janek in Karla Cave
Stupa and beautifully symmetrical columns. These caves are more than 2,000 years old!
Buddha at entrance to Karla Cave
It was great to be with Janek as we explored the caves. An experienced architect, Janek could “read” the structures and details to explain these technical and artistic marvels. These caves are carved from one piece of rock!
Bhaja Cave
A gloriously sublime open-air room of stupas. The resonance of our voices was awesome! We could imagine the monks circumambulating around the stupas as they chanted.
Ardha Chandrasana – Half Moon Pose
Chaturanga Dandasana – Four-Limbed Staff Pose
Virabhadrasana I
Uttanasana – Intense Stretch Pose
Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana – Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose
Parsva Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana – Side Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose
Parivrtta Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana – Revolved Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose
Almost the right size!
Janek and Ray hungry after our visit to the caves. The most ono food yet!
Waiting for an outdoor free concert of Hindustani music to begin. It was a wonderful venue, resplendent with full moon. The tabla player and Japanese santoor musician were fantastic!
Meanwhile back at home…
Supin and Patsy happy and relieved after teaching class on Sunday. Betsy and Carin were moral support and cheer squad….and perhaps coached some rights and lefts….? 😇
Santoor and tabla
Masala Dosa!
Mallakamb (from a previous trip)
Take off those shoes!
Vrschikasana
Frescoes of Guruji on Institute walls
We are struck with how vibrant the Institute feels. We hear Guruji’s great-grand children’s voices ringing out downstairs from the practice hall. The kids are often running about the hall as we practice. Moreover, there are so many young people in their 20-30s in the classes which is a big change from years past! The new generation is coming on!
If there was any doubt in my mind about the longevity of the Institute now that Guruji is gone, it was erased in an instant the other day. Ray and I were strolling through the courtyard on our way home when Abhijata, Guruji’s grand-daughter, came flying into the space on her scooter, packing her daughter in the front after picking her up from school. Both Ray and I thought the very same thing: Guruji set it all up, he taught everything he knew to Abhijata and others, and it’s going to carry on!
Our beloved practice hall
Street scene
Today’s lunch made by our cook, Latika. Yummy dahl!
Entrance to Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute
Sunday, and it’s a day off. So we went to a concert
Down on the corner
An old friend, the shoe repair man
Guruji’s belongings
Class Schedule. We are also helping/observing in the Remedial classes three times/week
More of Gurujis Belongings on display at RIMYI
Prashant Pranayama Class. This is last day in February. Classes much smaller in March
Iyengar Yoga Institute
Belt on door knob
Uttanasana in belt. I need this after the plane rides!
