With #MeToo consuming the entire Yoga community, Abhijata Iyengar, the grand daughter of legendary Yoga guru, BKS Iyengar addressed this issue during her opening speech at the IYNAUS convention 2019 by being candid and provided.
She introspects by questioning whether the Iyengar community should now start teaching without touch?
She answers the question by explaining a pose vrichikasana which guruji taught her.
In this pose Guruji eyes are firmly looking at the ensuring that the pose is correct. (14:30) Guruji is adjusting the thighs with his elbows, the knees are holding the rib cage to center her. (17:00) Light on Yoga says, the Head which is the seat of knowledge and power is also the seat of pride, anger, hatred, jealousy, intolerance and malice. These emotions are more deadly than the poison which the scorpion carries in its sting. The Yogi by stamping on his head with his feet attempts to eradicate these self destroying emotions and passion. By kicking his head, he seeks to develop humility, calmness and tolerance and thus to be free of ego, the subjugation of ego leads to harmony and happiness.
(18:09) How else can a guru make a student do vrischikasan? Did he stand on the side? Did he read out instructions from Light on yoga? Did he teach from a distance? Can he stand on the side? He was never an armchair philosopher. If touch is removed from Iyengar yoga, it will be such a pity. Unfortunately each one of us is now contemplating that, abolishing this touch and I do not agree with this (19:25). By casting aside the power of touch we will lose its great ability to heal , to comfort, to diagnose, to communicate. AI cannot substitute for a mother’s love. A 1000 point notebook on Ardha chandrasan cannot substitute the support a teacher gives by holding on to the shoulder and leg and spine. (24:20)
Can a gynaecologist do his or her job without dealing with the area which has to be dealt with? (18:55) Can a doctor heal without touching The knife is the same. What matters is who is holding the knife? A murderer or a surgeon. You cant ban the knife. It is the intent which has to be checked. (19:15 ) Your heart will always discriminate and tell you what is right and what is wrong. If a girl is drowning, will you ask for permission to help her? My only intention is that I should save her from drowning. I love Iyengar Yoga too much to see it decay because of this apprehension. I love my grandfather too much to see this potential of Iyengar Yoga to touch life disappear. (30:50)”