Iyengar Yoga Therapy Blog From Elizabeth Brass

Life and yoga are full of surprises, twists, and turns. I know since I've practiced yoga for more than 35 years, through all sorts of life cycles and struggles. Through my years of practicing, teaching, and studying yoga, I've also written about yoga. I have a background in cultural anthropology, dance, and art and the intersection between our bodies, cultures, and beliefs are the conversations that interest and inspire me.

If you're a yoga lover or just yoga curious, read on and/or sign up for my weekly emails to stay in touch.

16th December 2024

A Gift That Keeps On Giving

In that moment when my mind was somewhere else from my body, I fell. My head was trying to reach my friend in New York back on the phone who a moment ago was telling me about her family in Syria until we got cut off. My body was going to the U-Bahn in Berlin rushing to get to the theater on time. I was texting while walking down the stairs (not smart!), unaware of where I was and missed the last step. I felt my ankle twist out as I landed on the ground and thought, “I'm glad it's this ankle. Here we go again.”

9th December 2024

Something To Return To

I can't believe that this Saturday, December 14th, Guruji Iyengar's birthday, we'll have our last Sadhana Circle meeting for 2024. Before I start to get sentimental (I will save that for later!), I hope that I get to see as many of you as possible live on the weekend. If you're not in Sadhana Circle, you can join anytime.

2nd December 2024

The Hole

This week I climbed out of a hole. For months, I felt like I was getting sick but never really did. My immune system was fighting something and symptoms kept dragging me down. Never recovering and never collapsing, people around me said it was age. That statement only pulled me deeper into the hole.

25th November 2024

Things That Get in the Way

The past week was full of painful events. The results of the US election and, personally, my 88-year-old father fell and was hospitalized. He's back home now and I made the quick decision to go the USA for one week to help my family. As you read this email, I'm with them, helping to navigate this new stage of life for all of us.

18th November 2024

Struggle Then Too

“I don't want to admit that I'm getting older,” a yoga student said recently after class. She's has an on-and-off-again shoulder injury that gets better then worse again. When there's pain, she modifies her practice and as soon as the pain is gone, she happily forgets about her shoulder until it starts to bother her again.

11th November 2024

The Warrior

The past week was full of painful events. The results of the US election and, personally, my 88-year-old father fell and was hospitalized. He's back home now and I made the quick decision to go the USA for one week to help my family. As you read this email, I'm with them, helping to navigate this new stage of life for all of us.

4th November 2024

Organic Farming

I've been rereading Light on Life by Guruji Iyengar and I love the part where he writes that yoga isn't about appearances. He uses the example of an apple, how on the outside it can look perfect and on the inside it can be completely eaten by worms. He writes that people get confused about yoga, thinking it's about how it looks outwardly rather than by what the experience is on the inside.

28th October 2024

When Is It Too Much

This past weekend I experienced what I don't often experience - a weekend off. We yoga teachers work when other people are off for obvious reasons, and it gives us odd working hours. In general, I love my unusual work schedule and it fits my life and personality. But lately I've also noticed that having time off is pretty good too.

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ELIZABETH BRASS YOGA

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