Happiness - "We must learn not to lose our happiness when pain arrives..." entirely inspired by B.K.S. Iyengar's book: "Light on Yoga"

We all want to be happy right? How we achieve happiness? Can we keep that happiness state forever? What is happiness?

B.K.S. Iyengar believed that true happiness comes from understanding the self and aligning the body, mind, and spirit. He emphasized that happiness isn't merely a fleeting (transient, ephemeral) emotion, but a state of being achieved through self-awareness and spiritual growth. For Iyengar, yoga was a tool to cultivate this inner happiness, leading to a more peaceful and fulfilling life. [1, 2]

Our incredible Guruji - Iyengar Yoga Guru, B.K.S. Iyengar, wrote in his Light on Yoga book something along these lines (and it really stuck with me):

“True happiness isn't just about doing what you enjoy, but also about developing the capacity to navigate and find fulfillment even in tasks you find unpleasant.”

It makes you think, right? It's almost like that saying we have in sports: No Pain, No Gain.

And Guruji takes it even deeper with these powerful words: “Only when there is pain will you see the light. Pain is your guru. As we experience pleasures happily, we must also learn not to lose our happiness when pain comes. As we see good in pleasure, we should learn to see good in pain. Learn to find comfort even in discomfort. We must not try to run from the pain but to move through and beyond it.” [7]

To actually do that, to move through the pain, he emphasizes the importance of growing our awareness: "Practice is about awareness, and awareness leads us to notice and understand both the pleasure and the pain."[7]

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Here's a more detailed look at our Guruji - B.K.S. Iyengar's perspective on happiness [8]:

• Happiness is not a surface-level emotion: Guruji distinguished between superficial happiness and true, lasting joy. He believed that real happiness comes from a deeper understanding of oneself and one's place in the universe.
• Yoga as a path to happiness: Guruji saw yoga as a powerful tool for cultivating inner peace and joy. He emphasized the importance of connecting the body, mind, and spirit through asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), and meditation.
• Self-awareness and discrimination: Guruji emphasized the importance of recognizing the difference between the real and the unreal, the transient and the eternal. This self-awareness, combined with wisdom, can lead to a deeper sense of happiness.
• The importance of love and compassion: Guruji believed that true happiness is also found in love for all beings and in selfless service to others.
• Happiness beyond the physical: Guruji's concept of happiness extended beyond the physical realm, encompassing the inner experience of peace, joy, and serenity. He believed that the aim of yoga is to experience a state of unalloyed poise, peace, and joy. In other words: The aim of yoga is to restore the mind to simplicity, poise, peace, and joy by freeing it from confusion and distress.

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In Portuguese: 

Título: Felicidade - "Devemos aprender a não perder nossa felicidade quando a dor chega..." totalmente inspirado no livro de B.K.S. Iyengar: "Luz sobre o Yoga"

Todos nós queremos ser felizes, certo? Como alcançamos a felicidade? Podemos manter esse estado de felicidade para sempre? O que é felicidade?

B.K.S. Iyengar acreditava que a verdadeira felicidade vem da compreensão de si mesmo e do alinhamento do corpo, da mente e do espírito. Ele enfatizava que a felicidade não é meramente uma emoção fugaz (transitória, efêmera), mas um estado de ser alcançado através da autoconsciência e do crescimento espiritual. Para Iyengar, o yoga e' uma ferramenta para cultivar essa felicidade interior, levando a uma vida mais pacífica e plena. [1, 2]

Nosso incrível Guruji - e criador do Iyengar Yoga, B.K.S. Iyengar, escreveu em seu livro Luz sobre o Yoga algo nessa linha (e isso realmente ficou comigo):

“A verdadeira felicidade não se trata apenas de fazer o que você gosta, mas também de desenvolver a capacidade de navegar e encontrar contentamento mesmo em tarefas que você considera desagradáveis.”

Faz você pensar, certo? É quase como aquele ditado que temos nos esportes: "Sem dor, sem ganho."

E Guruji leva isso ainda mais fundo com estas palavras poderosas: “Só quando houver dor você verá a luz. A dor é seu guru. Assim como vivenciamos os prazeres alegremente, também devemos aprender a não perder nossa felicidade quando a dor chega. Assim como vemos o bem no prazer, devemos aprender a ver o bem na dor. Aprenda a encontrar conforto mesmo no desconforto. Não devemos tentar fugir da dor, mas sim atravessá-la e ir além dela.” [7]

Para realmente fazer isso, para atravessar a dor, ele enfatiza a importância de aumentar nossa consciência: “A prática é sobre consciência, e a consciência nos leva a notar e entender tanto o prazer quanto a dor.” [7]

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Aqui está uma análise mais detalhada da perspectiva de nosso Guruji - B.K.S. Iyengar sobre a felicidade [8]:

A felicidade não é uma emoção superficial: Guruji distinguia entre a felicidade superficial e a alegria verdadeira e duradoura. Ele acreditava que a felicidade real vem de uma compreensão mais profunda de si mesmo e de seu lugar no universo.

O yoga como um caminho para a felicidade: Guruji via o yoga como uma ferramenta poderosa para cultivar a paz interior e a alegria. Ele enfatizava a importância de conectar o corpo, a mente e o espírito através de asanas (posturas), pranayama (controle da respiração) e meditação.

Autoconsciência e discernimento: Guruji enfatizava a importância de reconhecer a diferença entre o real e o irreal, o transitório e o eterno. Essa autoconsciência, combinada com a sabedoria, pode levar a um senso mais profundo de felicidade.

A importância do amor e da compaixão: Guruji acreditava que a verdadeira felicidade também é encontrada no amor por todos os seres e no serviço altruísta aos outros.

Felicidade além do físico: O conceito de felicidade de Guruji se estendia além do reino físico, abrangendo a experiência interior de paz, alegria e serenidade. Ele acreditava que o objetivo do yoga é experimentar um estado de equilíbrio puro, paz e alegria. Em outras palavras: O objetivo do yoga é restaurar a mente à simplicidade, ao equilíbrio, à paz e à alegria, libertando-a da confusão e da angústia.

Sources: Google Generative AI experimental:

[1] https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V7uHjASuafw&pp=ygUGI3RoYmtz

[2] https://excellencereporter.com/2020/02/10/b-k-s-iyengar-the-meaning-of-life-the-harmony-of-nature-mind-and-soul/

[3] https://www.karmacorneryoga.com/iyengaryoga.html

[4] https://iynaus.org/lineage/

[5] https://www.iyogautrecht.nl/iyengar-yoga/?lang=en

[6] https://www.yogamatters.com/products/light-on-yoga

[7] The SunChaser: Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar Posted: October 17, 2010 in Book Notes, Yoga

[8] Excellent Reporter's Excerpts from: B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, Ultimate Freedom and B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga

Yoga - Iyengar Yoga? My Perspectives (Still a Beginner After Almost 10 Years!)

So, here's a funny thing. For close to ten years now, I've been practicing yoga, and in many ways, I still feel like I'm just scratching the surface. It all started pretty casually, really. A co-worker, in fact my boss at that time, wanting some male company in a yoga class dominated by women at our company gym, suggested I join him.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. But those two weekly sessions turned out to be life-changing. I'd been dealing with nagging back pain for over two and a half years, and within a short time of starting yoga, it just… disappeared. That was it. I was hooked. There was no way I was stopping after that kind of relief.

Back then, I didn't really know much about the different styles of yoga. I just showed up and did what the instructor said. But I did notice that I definitely preferred one of the two classes. One of the teachers was incredibly detail-oriented, always giving specific instructions and offering frequent adjustments to our postures. It turned out she was an Iyengar Yoga teacher. She even told me about a dedicated Iyengar Yoga studio near my home in Los Altos, California – the California Yoga Center. That's how I ended up adding a third class to my week.

The hour-long classes at work were great for a quick stretch during lunch, but the 90-minute sessions at California Yoga Center allowed me to experience more complex poses. My teachers have truly made me enjoy my practice and opened up a whole new world to me!

What's also been amazing is that I've been practicing consistently for close to ten years now without any injuries. In fact, it's been the opposite – I've actually healed some of the aches and pains I had before starting. I really think this focus on alignment in Iyengar Yoga has a lot to do with that. I can't help but wonder if the same would be true with more dynamic styles like Ashtanga.

For those who might not be familiar, Iyengar Yoga is named after and developed by the legendary B. K. S. Iyengar. As Wikipedia puts it:

"Iyengar Yoga, is a form of Hatha Yoga that has an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture (asana) and breath control (pranayama). The development of strength, mobility and stability is gained through the asanas.

B.K.S. Iyengar has systematised over 200 classical yoga poses and 14 different types of Pranayama (with variations of many of them) ranging from the basic to advanced. This helps ensure that students progress gradually by moving from simple poses to more complex ones and develop their mind, body and spirit through a step-by-step approach.[1]

Iyengar Yoga often makes use of props, such as belts, blocks, and blankets, as aids in performing asanas (postures). The props enable students to perform the asanas correctly, minimizing the risk of injury or strain, and making the postures accessible to both young and old."

So, this is the world I'm excited to explore and share with you all – my journey into yoga, starting with that unexpected suggestion from a co-worker. I'm hoping to learn more and deepen my practice, and if I do, I'll definitely be sharing any useful insights and information right here on this blog. Stay tuned!