by Monica Voss Getting into the body is exactly what Monica Voss intends to do. She does it deliberately, repetitively, as she chooses her words, observant of her students’ abilities, the tenor of the – room and the pacing of her exercises. But moreover, Monica’s class enables a deliberate blurring of the categories that we […]
Work, Play and a Certain Come – What – May View Post ➚
The teaching of Vanda Scaravelli, friend and pupil of Krishnamurti, Iyengar and Desikachar by Emina Cevro Vukovic If a film director wanted to make a historic film on the fascinating first steps of European yoga, I would suggest to tell the story of Vanda Scaravelli. The first scene would show Vanda, young and very beautiful, driving
by Monica Voss I met Esther Myers in July 1978 at the insistence of my friend Helen Kohl. Helen urged me to try yoga with this specific teacher, Esther Myers, because she was exacting, precise, she understood form, she understood the body, she was incisive and perceptive. She had an expert eye and a penetrating
“There are values implicit in any style you are teaching. ‘No pain, no gain’ is one extreme. ‘If it hurts, don’t do it’ is another extreme. ‘Stay on the edge and still keep a steady breath’ would be another value. Can you make those values conscious, and in doing so be clear about what they
Esther Myers, in Memoriam View Post ➚
by Nan Wishner I first learned of Vanda Scaravelli when someone showed me a photo of her in Light on Yoga demonstrating Paschimottanasana (seated forward bend) with B. K. S. Iyengar balancing in Mayurasana (peacock pose) on her back. I was surprised to see a woman pictured in an otherwise traditional yoga text, and even
When Movement becomes Meditation: The Legacy of Vanda Scaravelli View Post ➚
Esther Myers has been practising yoga for over 30 years, including 10 years with Vanda Scaravelli who was and continues to be her primary inspiration. She is the author of Yoga and You; Hands-on Assists: A Guide for Yoga Teachers, co-author of The Ground, the Breath and the Spine. She has produced two videos: Vanda
An Interview with Esther Myers View Post ➚
by Esther Myers Thirty years of practice have taught me that yoga offers no guarantees. It has not guaranteed me health, a beautiful body or longevity. In 1994 I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy along with the removal of some lymph nodes from my right armpit. That was followed by a
Coming home to my body, to myself View Post ➚
The Feminine Critique Most ancient scriptures were written for and by men. Nischala Joy Devi and Esther Myers question their relevance for modern women. By tradition, only the males of India’s upper castes could study the sacred texts. These were written expressly for Brahmins and kings, whose duty required that they learn scripture and practice
Three Interviews with Esther Myers View Post ➚
by Esther Myers A yoga teacher reflects on her passage through the illness millions of women face each year. My doctor’s words were simple: “There’s something there, and I think it should come out.” At that moment, my world started to crumble. My mother had died of metastatic breast cancer at the age of 54.
Journey through Breast Cancer View Post ➚
by Esther Myers One of the wonderful gifts of Vanda Scaravelli’s work is its simplicity. The three basic principles-the breath, gravity, and wave-remain the same throughout practice, no matter what your level. Once you clearly understand these principles, myriad details of alignment and correct action fall into place easily. Questions like: ‘What do I do
Applying Vanda’s Ideas in Your Practice View Post ➚
Esther Myers on Vanda Scaravelli Still strong and supple at 88, Vanda Scaravelli continues to practise using gravity and the breath to ride the body’s own wave. I’ve watched Vanda Scaravelli do backbends for over 10 years, and each time I felt I was seeing a backbend for the first time. I watched and listened
Awakening the Spine View Post ➚