Franklin Schryver
It was 1982 when I first discovered Iyengar yoga. My knees were shot from jogging, my back ached constantly. I knew I needed a dramatic change. Somewhat skeptically, I enrolled in an Iyengar yoga class. Soon, my once a week practice become three,then four, and finally a daily part of my life. What had begun as simply a desire to feel healthier and more flexible became a lifelong commitment. Teaching was my next, natural step.
After a two-year apprenticeship under Wende Davis in Vancouver, I travelled to India to study directly under Gita Iyengar. It was the most intensive, challenging month of my life and reaffirmed my desire to teach others. In 1993, I opened the North Shore’s first yoga studio while continuing my own personal studies both throughout North America and on a return visit to India.
More than any other form of yoga, Iyengar yoga incorporates a diverse range of props — including belts, blocks, even chairs — allowing students at alllevels to more easily perform the yogic posturescorrectly. As their strength and flexibility increase, this use of props is constantly modified to respect individual limits while encouraging each student to continually push beyond personal limits.
When I began Iynegar yoga, learning opportunitieswere limited. Today I am delighted to be teaching here at Om Prem, helping students of all ages and abilitiesto experience the joy and freedom this ancient art brings.
