The Fourth Niyama The Fourth Niyama

Episode 16. In this episode with Dr. Rajvi H Mehta we explore the essence of Guru-shishya tradition and the principle of non-duality, and why it is critical for a Yoga teacher to fully incorporate it into their life. Can we have ambitions and goals when it comes to our Yoga practice? What makes a good teacher, and what makes a good student? How does a teacher know that he or she is good at what they are doing? How should we understand the instructions in Iyengar Yoga?

May what you listen to give you encouragement and direction in your Yoga practice.

Glossary (Sanskrit words mentioned in the interview):


Guru-shishya parampara - the ancient tradition of teaching where teachings are transmitted directly from a Guru (teacher) to a shishya (disciple).This tradition reinstates a sense of belongingness towards one's teacher and a complete surrender to him. It also meant spending the entire duration of education at the abode of the Guru until the student attains perfection at the art or skill he is learning. It could be Yoga, any forms of art, music, spirituality.
Gurukul - a type of education system in ancient India with shishya (disciple) living near or with the Guru in the same house for a period of time where they learn and get educated by him.

If you are an Iyengar Yoga student yourself and you have a specific question you'd like to ask a senior teacher, feel free to share your question with me on Instagram @thefourthniyama or by email hello@thefourthniyama.com 

Episode 15. Dr. Rajvi H Mehta is among the most senior teachers of Iyengar Yoga from Mumbai and has been studying directly under BKS Iyengar since 1979. Rajvi grew up in Yoga, and ever since her childhood it has been a natural part of her life. Her parents and siblings all studied Yoga directly under Guruji. All of Rajvi’s siblings - Neeta Datta, Arti Mehta, and Birjoo Mehta - are also among the most senior students and teachers of Iyengar Yoga.

Dr. Rajvi H Mehta has a master's in Microbiology and a doctorate in IVF, and is one of the first clinical embryologists in India. Since 1994, Rajvi Mehta has also been a founder-editor of Yoga Rahasya, a quarterly publication of RIMYI which aims to share the essence of Guruji’s teachings.

In this episode, Rajvi ji shares how she came to Yoga, her first memories of Guruji and his classes in Mumbai, and why even as a kid she was mesmerized by him. You’d also hear the story of Yoga Rahasya, how it started and turned into a personal opportunity for Rajvi to explore the subject of Yoga close to Guruji and the Iyengar family.

Rajvi Mehta’s Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rajvi.mehta.562/?hl=en

Yoga Rahasya https://bksiyengar.com/modules/referen/yr/yr.htm

Episode 14. Join me as I continue my conversation with Italy-based Iyengar Yoga practitioner and teacher David Meloni. In this episode, we discuss how and when to introduce "advanced asanas" into your asana practice, why strong commitment and the practice of tapas are essential for your progress and transformation in Yoga. Evolution or illusion: how to understand whether what you practice is working for you, and not against you; and why a sincere practitioner of Yoga should be ready to face critique with mildness, and not just easily get offended by it.

May what you listen to here give you inspiration and direction in your Yoga practice. 

David Meloni’s website https://www.davidmeloniyoga.com/ 

David Meloni’s instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidmeloniiyengaryoga/?hl=en 

Glossary (names and Sanskrit words mentioned in the interview):


YSP 1.7. pratyakṣa-anumāna-āgamāḥ pramāṇāni - Correct knowledge is direct, inferred or proven as factual.


prajna - awareness.
jnana - knowledge, wisdom.

Episode 13. David Meloni is a devoted practitioner and highly regarded teacher of Iyengar Yoga from Italy. David began his Yoga journey in 1996, initially learning from BKS Iyengar's book, "Light on Yoga."  When the light of Yoga sparked within him, David committed to this path, seeking not just any guidance but direct guidance from BKS Iyengar himself. Since 2003, he has been visiting Pune, staying there continuously for months and studying under Guruji's direct guidance.

"Guruji's verdict was, 'Your practice is empty,'" David recounts. "You must unlearn everything, return to the foundations, and grasp the connection between correct actions." Through David's unwavering efforts, perseverance, and devotion, he not only learned from his Guru but also delved deeper into the subject of Yoga. This experience also made him realise the importance of moving Yoga practice beyond its physical aspects.  

In the first part of the interview David talks about his experience of learning Yoga from the book, his learnings and the challenges that new students should be alert to. We also discuss the difference between Iyengar Yoga and Guruji’s teachings; why it is critical for a practitioner of Yoga to understand the importance of experiential knowledge and not simply rely on dry information from notes or books; what the true purpose of props is and how they could support your progress on the path of Yoga.

May what you listen to here give you encouragement and direction in your Yoga practice. 



David Meloni’s website https://www.davidmeloniyoga.com/ 

David Meloni’s instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidmeloniiyengaryoga/?hl=en 

Episode 12. Welcome to the second episode of an insightful conversation with Corine Biria, a devoted student and a highly regarded teacher of Iyengar Yoga from Paris. In this episode Corine reflects on why it is important to work on the yogic path within regular life and why Guruji never wanted his students to renounce the world but face the reality and learn to deal with the daily struggles as a practitioner of Yoga. We also explore why it is essential for a Yoga teacher to be truthful about their personal practice at all times, and what was it like for Corine to walk on the path of Yoga together with her life partner Faeq Biria.

“Svādhyāya is the subject of every minute,” Corine says. "It is a continuous wondering and examination of one’s actions and behaviour". 

I hope this interview will be a great support and inspiration in your Yoga practice and in your own svādhyāya, in your own study and discovery of the Self.


Glossary (names and Sanskrit words mentioned in the interview):


saṃskāra - conditioning, mental impression.
Vishvamitra - one of the most venerated sages of ancient India; through long meditation, he gained a number of spiritual powers.
brahman - the class of men who are the repositories and communicators of sacred knowledge.
Vasishtha - a sage and the Guru of King Dasharatha (one of the figures from the Ramayana epic).
bhoga - indulgence, enjoyment, sensual pleasure.
"Astadala Yogamala" - is book and a collection of works of B.K.S. Iyengar (a set of 8 volumes).

If you are an Iyengar Yoga student yourself and you have a specific question you'd like to ask a senior teacher, feel free to share your question with me on ⁠The Fourth Niyama Instagram⁠ or email me at hello@thefourthniyama.com. 

Episode 11. Corine Biria is among the most senior direct disciples of BKS Iyengar and a highly regarded Yoga teacher from Paris. Corine embarked on her Yoga journey in 1981 at the age of 20, and from the very beginning, it was clear for her that this was her path. Shortly after starting her Yoga practice, she met her husband Faeq Biria, one of the most devout students of BKS Iyengar and an internationally recognized Yoga teacher who has been spreading Yoga through his courses, intensives, and by training hundreds of teachers around the world. In 1983, after two years of intensive Yoga practice, Corine came to Pune to establish herself more firmly on the path of Yoga and to study directly from Guruji. This was a transformative experience for her, forming a strong foundation for her Yoga practice to this day.

In this interview Corine is reflecting on her journey in Yoga, her initial steps on this path, her first intensive course in Pune led by Guruji, her experience studying directly from him and why she felt protected and full of confidence while being guided by her Guru BKS Iyengar.  

What does it truly mean to be humble? Why could the wrong perception (branti darshana) be a serious obstacle to your progress on the path of Yoga? What does it mean to have a Guru, and what is his purpose in his students' lives? These questions and more will be addressed in this episode with Corine Biria.

Iyengar Yoga Center in Paris where Corine Biria teaches.

https://centreiyengar-paris.fr/le-centre-iyengar/

I hope this interview will be insightful and beneficial for you and would serve you as an inspiration in your Yoga practice.