Yoga Vaani: When did you decide to become a yoga teacher?
Abhijata: I did my graduation after my schooling – that was in 2003 – and I went for graduation, in 2005. After that, that was the time to make a decision on whether to go for my PhD, for my further studies doctorate. At that time I had not decided that I would take up yoga. I was doing all the classes, started by Geetaji and Prashantji, so I went and met my head of department of science, Bioinformatics. She said I had to give the whole day commitment for about five years to do my doctorate. And a whole day commitment, it seemed to me that would take me away from yoga. That is not something that I wanted to do, though I did not decide I wanted to be a teacher, I just wanted to learn yoga. So at that time I decided to take a break from my science pursuit, do yoga for a year and then see what I want to do, and that year never stopped. Deciding to become a teacher, well I did not decide. One year, Guruji just told me ‘now you have to start teaching the beginners class’. In fact I first started coming to the children’s classes and they said ‘now, start the children’s class’ and two years later they said ‘now start teaching the beginners class’.
YV: What was that experience like?
A: It was first a shock because I didn’t think I was ready (laughs) but they said just go ahead.
YV: And now you have a lot of responsibility?
A: Yes, I am one of the teachers there.
YV: When the centre was set up Guruji was a widower, Geeta and Prashant took their vows, but you are a married woman. What do you think that change means?
A: I don’t think about it (laughs).
YV: So many yoga practitioners are women with family responsibilities. I wonder if you represent a very important group of yoga practitioners?
A: I don’t know. Guruji was a married man and when the time came of my marriage, there was no discussion on whether I just get married or not get married. It just seemed the next thing to do, so when Guruji saw the prospective groom he said ‘he’s a nice boy, go ahead’. He said he hoped I would continue doing what I am doing. And being a family woman, yes things are maybe different to Geeta and Prashant, but they had bigger responsibilities back then. The institute was just beginning to be formed, but now it is all set up. It is on a silver platter for me, so that side of it is easy and on the family side, I am lucky that I have the help of my parents and in laws to support me in what I am doing, so I am fortunate. I have been lucky that way.
YV: When the question came up about juggling family and pratice, you talked about being flexible?
A: That is important, because if my daughter is unwell I can’t go to the class on a certain day. That doesn’t mean I am doing the wrong thing. It is about which duty, needs you the most.
YV: You come to us as somebody who has been practising for 14 years. There are in the room people who have been teaching for a very long time. What are you bringing when you come to teach us?
A: I don’t know you must ask those what they got.
When I travelled for the first time overseas I was not confident about it. I said ‘there are people there who are going to be more senior, so I am not confident about travelling abroad and teaching a big group’. And Guruji said, ‘you forget about their years of experience. You just teach them what you learn from me.’
YV: You do have the advantage of having that direct and very intense learning.
Abhi: laughs.
YV: Where does Iyengar yoga go now?
A: It will go on its own current. You see, I do not think that Guruji gave me anything more than what he gave anybody else. Those who have seen Guruji know he has always given anybody who is front of him what they need to be given at that at that point in time. I am at an advantage because I spent the last 14 years with him, around him, at home I lived with him, and in the practice hall. So in that sense it was an ashram kind of learning where I saw what he did and I saw how he talked with people. I saw his whole life, so in that sense I am at a big advantage. But about his teachings in a class, I think he gave everybody the same. He never made differences of discriminations.
YV: Do you feel some responsibility having had that teaching?
A: No especially that is not there.
I feel the responsibility in terms of keeping him alive, so in that sense yes, but I think that responsibility is on each of his students.
YV: What are the qualities that you are looking for in a practictioner?
A: Open, sensitive, keen. Patanjali has said the qualities that are needed, that the practitioner has to do what he is doing for a long time, based on a firm foundation so that is what each practitioner should have. This is as a practice but after that is the next stage – tapah svadhyaya Isvara pranidhanani kriyayogah – so it is a longer journey but not in a squential order. It is a sphere, a circle.
YV: Your first two days of teaching, you really wanted us to inquire into our practice. You talked about having an open mind and leaving the old habits behind.
A: Yes absolutely.
YV: It was a wonderful experience and I think you sent us all away with that spirit of enquiry. It is easy to just get into setting yourself a goal, or doing a set practice like the standing poses.
A: That is needed in the beginning but then you need to cross over that.
YV: Do you find it hard?
A: It is hard, (laughs) much harder now that Guruji is not there.
