Episode 66: Open the Envelope: Alan Goode

Send us Fan MailToday's episode is a little different. This is a recording of a special live session I organized with Prashant Iyengar, bringing students together for an opportunity to ask questions directly and engage with him in a conversation about yoga and their practice. I had initially intended to make this recording available only to those who attended, but the depth and richness of Prashantji's responses made me feel that it was simply too valuable not to share with the larger On the Light audience.Prashantji begins with a reflection on why people ask questions. From there, he explores the relationship between mind and brain, the deeper significance of invocation, the potential of our seated position, and the preparation required for pranayama.I'm very grateful to Prashantji for his generosity and for sharing his insights with us. I hope you enjoy this special conversation.Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.Thank you for listening to On the Light. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with another student of yoga and subscribing to the podcast. With a monthly subscription as low as $3 per monthly, you can make a significant contribution to the ongoing sustainability of this podcast. Support the show

Send us Fan MailWelcome to On the Light, a podcast dedicated to illuminating the profound teachings and legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar and the auspicious subject of Yog. I’m your host, Susan Johnson.Today, I’m joined by Alan Goode, an Australian Iyengar Yoga teacher whose practice began in 1975 and whose first visit to Pune to study with Guruji in 1983 became a turning point in his life.In our conversation, Alan reflects on what it means to look beyond the techniques of asana and engage with the deeper subject of yoga. He shares a memorable analogy from Geeta Iyengar about an envelope: we can admire the writing and the stamp, but unless we open it, we miss what’s inside.I think you’ll find this conversation both challenging and thought-provoking. It invites us to ask a fundamental question: Are we simply practicing asanas, or are we using our practice to understand ourselves?Please enjoy this episode of On the LightSupport the show

Send us Fan MailWelcome to On the Light, a podcast dedicated to illuminating the profound teachings and legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar and the auspicious subject of Yog. I’m your host, Susan Johnson.In this conversation, I speak with Prashant Iyengar about a book Guruji published on the occasion of his 60th birthday in 1978, titled Body the Shrine, Yoga Thy Light. Prashantji helps us explore the significance of this title and what it reveals about Guruji’s understanding of yoga as a spiritual pursuit.Our conversation moves beyond the physical practice of asana into some profound questions. What does it mean for the body to become a shrine? How is contentment different from happiness? What might we discover when we turn our attention inward rather than continually seeking fulfillment outside ourselves? And how might we begin to understand asana not simply as a posture to be perfected, but as a means of cultivating the mind and consciousness?Prashantji also challenges us to reconsider familiar ideas about yoga practice, from the role of prayer and invocation to Guruji’s teaching of “pose and repose.” He offers a great deal to contemplate about the deeper culture and purpose of yoga.If you haven’t yet registered for our live Zoom conversation with Prashantji on Sunday, October 18, there’s still time! We’ll have an opportunity to continue the conversation and ask questions about this episode or any of Prashantji’s previous appearances on On the Light. You can find registration details at iyengaryogawithsusan.com/on-the-light. I hope you’ll join us.Thank you for listening. 🙏🏼Support the show

Send us Fan MailToday I am delighted to welcome back Eric Small. Eric has been teaching for more than sixty-five years and has devoted much of his life to working with people living with multiple sclerosis, a condition he himself was diagnosed with as a young man.In this conversation, Eric reflects on his first encounters with Guruji, the extraordinary guidance he received from teachers returning from Pune, and the path that eventually led him to create programs for people with MS. We also explore how his own practice has evolved over the decades, what it means to continue practicing and teaching at age ninety-six, and why preparation, observation, and gratitude remain at the heart of his work.Eric's stories are rich with history, wisdom, humor, and humanity. More than anything, they remind us that yoga is not simply something we do—it is a lifelong relationship that continues to deepen and unfold.Please enjoy this conversation with Eric Small.I would like to remind listeners about our upcoming live event with Prashant on October 18. At the event Prashantji will be addressing questions from any of his episodes on the podcast. The event is free for paid monthly subscribers as a thank-you for supporting the podcast.For more information about the live event, the podcast, and ways to support the show, please visit iyengaryogawithsusan.com.Thank you for listening, NamaskarSupport the show

Send us Fan MailToday's episode with Prashant Iyengar is one of my favorites. If you're a regular listener to my conversations with Prashant, you'll notice that I often begin by posing a topic or question in a rather mundane way—one might even say with a somewhat unintelligent delivery—and Prashantji responds with something profound and extraordinarily insightful. His wisdom and ability to expound upon the subject of Yog never cease to amaze me.In this episode, Prashant examines the meaning of Sanatana Dharma and its relevance in the modern world. Drawing on the wisdom rooted in the traditions of India, he explains why Dharma is not merely a system of beliefs or practices, but a universal principle meant for all beings.If today's conversation sparked a question, I'd like to invite you to a special live On the Light event with Prashant Iyengar on October 18. If you have questions from this episode—or from any of Prashant's previous appearances on the podcast—you'll have the opportunity to ask them during this exclusive live event.As a token of appreciation, the event is free for all paid monthly subscribers of the podcast. Don’t worry …  Registration is also open to non-subscribers.For event details, information about becoming a supporter, and access to all podcast episodes, please visit:iyengaryogawithsusan.com/on-the-lightThank you for listening to On the Light.Support the show

Send us Fan Mail✨In lieu of a Monday episode, I have exciting news to share with the On the Light community!For the first time, On the Light will host a live episode with Prashant Iyengar, exclusively for paid subscribers.As a show of appreciation for your support, this event is **free for all current monthly subscribers to **On the Light. If you're not yet a subscriber, you can still become one and receive complimentary access by subscribing monthly before October 1. For those who prefer not to subscribe, registration will be available for a one-time fee.Over the past 3 years, Prashantji has generously joined me for a series of conversations exploring Guruji's life and the auspicious subject of Yog. Many listeners have told me how much they value these episodes, which is why I'm so grateful that Prashantji has agreed to join us for this special live event.Participants will be invited to submit questions in advance, inspired by any of Prashantji's previous appearances on On the Light. We'll spend our time together exploring those questions in conversation with Prashantji.The B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga Studio of Dallas has generously offered to host this event and to provide registration via their WellnessLiving platform.As many of you know, On the Light is an independently produced podcast, created as a labor of love and dedicated to preserving and sharing the teachings and legacy of B.K.S. Iyengar. Listener support is what makes these conversations possible.I hope you'll join us for this special opportunity to interact directly with Prashantji and continue the conversation. Registration details are available on my website, iyengaryogawithsusan.com. I look forward to seeing you there! To become a subscriber, click on “Support the Show” in the show notes. A small monthly donation helps support the continued production of this podcast.Thank you for listening to On the Light. Until next time, Namaskar.Support the show

Send us Fan MailMy guest today is Claudia Díaz Boitano, a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher from Chile whose life and work have been deeply shaped by the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar and the teachers who carried those teachings forward. I'm also joined by my dear friend, Yemile Mizrahi, who suggested I reach out to Claudia and helped make this conversation possible.Together, we explore Claudia's journey from a background in sports to a life devoted to yoga, her experiences studying with Faeq and Corine Biria, and the lasting impressions left by Guruji, Geetaji, and Prashantji. Along the way, Claudia shares beautiful reflections on devotion, community, and the responsibility we all share in keeping these precious teachings alive.If you enjoy On the Light, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. This independently produced podcast relies on listener support. By clicking "Support the Show" in the show notes, you help preserve and share the stories, teachings, and voices of the Iyengar Yoga community.Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.Support the show

Send us Fan MailThis episode is an absolute must-listen for anyone who teaches yoga, and for any practitioner of yoga as well.In this thought-provoking conversation, Prashant Iyengar reminds us that teaching is about far more than conveying techniques, postures, or information. Every interaction with a student leaves an impression, and with that comes a profound responsibility. As teachers, we are not only transmitting methods; we are shaping how students understand and relate to yoga itself.Prashantji speaks about the importance of Shastra as a living tradition of wisdom, one that has been handed down through generations and must be approached with humility, respect, and ongoing study. He also emphasizes that students are not objects to be instructed, but human beings to be guided with love, care, and sensitivity.This conversation challenges us to reflect deeply on what it means to teach, what it means to learn, and how we can honor the tradition while serving the students who come to us.Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.If you enjoy On the Light, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. This independently produced podcast relies on listener support. By clicking "Support the Show" in the show notes, you help preserve and share the stories, teachings, and voices of the Iyengar Yoga community.Support the show

Send us Fan MailMy guest today is Virendra Naik, one of the many students who grew up in the children's classes at RIMYI in Pune. Raised within the atmosphere of the Institute, he experienced firsthand the teachings of Guruji, Geetaji, and other senior teachers who shaped generations of Iyengar Yoga practitioners.In this conversation, Virendra shares memories from those early years, the lessons that stayed with him, his journey from student to teacher, and some of his profound revelations through his study with Prashant Iyengar. We also discuss his life as an engineer in Germany, his work teaching children, and his reflections on the passing of Guruji and Geetaji.This episode offers a rare glimpse into life at the Institute through the eyes of someone who quite literally grew up there.If On the Light has enriched your study, deepened your practice, or connected you to the broader Iyengar Yoga community, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. This podcast is independently produced and relies on listener support. By clicking “Support the Show” in the show notes and making a small monthly donation, you help preserve and share the stories, teachings, and voices of the Iyengar Yoga community.Please enjoy this episode with Virendra.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I am honored to speak with Eyal Shifroni. Eyal is a senior Iyengar Yoga teacher from Israel, a longtime student of the Iyengar family, and the author of nine books on yoga practice and philosophy.Eyal began studying began studying yoga in 1978 in the Sivananda tradition and came to studying Iyengar Yoga in 1982. He has spent more than four decades immersed in the study, practice, and teaching of yoga. Over the years, he made many trips to Pune to study directly with B.K.S. Iyengar. In addition to his teaching, Eyal has made significant contributions to our tradition through his writing, his translations of The Tree of Yoga and Light on Pranayama into Hebrew, and his thoughtful exploration of yoga philosophy.In our conversation, Eyal reflects on his first encounters with yoga, his years of study at RIMYI, the importance of self-practice, and the responsibility we all share in preserving the integrity of the method. As he says, "We have to keep the knowledge alive and pure." It is a simple statement, but one that carries profound implications for students and teachers alike.Please enjoy this conversation with Eyal Shifroni.If you enjoy On the Light, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. Click on “Support the Show” in the show notes. A small monthly donation helps support the continued production of this podcast.Support the show