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Welcome 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. 🙏🏼

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