We Can't Lose Touch With The Healing Ability of Touch
Yoga Connections
I wasn’t able to attend the National Iyengar Convention in Dallas this year. As with anything associated with the great works of BKS Iyengar, it proved to be legendary. Abhijata Iyengar Sridhar opened The Convention with the impeccable integrity of her legacy.
With eloquence and grace she addressed the Iyengar community and the world at large on the subject of touch. The intention behind how we touch others as teachers, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and all the myriad of roles we play with each other - is a vital to its reception. I could never give her speech justice so have included it here and encourage you to listen:
In Iyengar Yoga, we are aware that the skin is the largest organ. It covers all our other organs, senses, and systems in the body. It serves as a temperature regulator and protector with an amazing ability to transmit information. I remember hearing stories about how Mr. Iyengar could shift the direction of the hairs on his legs because he had become so aware of how to mindfully access the powers within the skin cells.
The vast network of nerves within the skin cells serve as a vital communication device between the body and the outside world. The network enables the skin to exchange energy and respond to its internal and external environment. We don’t need a thermometer to know when it is hot, cold, or wet outside any more than we need a judge and jury to tell us when an interpersonal exchange violated our well being. We know. We have all experienced this violation in some shape or form. We have also all experienced when an interpersonal exchange has lifted up, enlighten, and inspired us to be more than we thought we could be.
Abhijata has done just that. She asks of us what she asks of herself: Be aware. Be discerning. Be pure of heart. Don’t lose touch with the positive power we all have to give to one another.
Choose to heal not harm.
Namaste.
YCORG®2019