A special report on the IYTA 50th Celebrations at Sydney published in the International Light journal.

1. 5AUTUMN 2018 MARCH - MAY
BY MARGARET NORTHHow proud do you feel, fellow
yogis and yoginis? Let us all glow
with pride in the strength of an
association that exists solely to bring
wellbeing to the world through
Yoga. The whisper started with
the initiation of our association in
1967 by the far-sighted Roma Blair
(Swami Nirmalananda), together with
Joy Macintosh, Margit Segesman
and Michael Volin. Today, fifty years
later, our IYTA has roared its worth,
having flourished on the highest
ethical and professional standards,
its inclusivity and sheer good
fellowship and support.
Thus it is no wonder that throughout every
moment of our special conference, from
Mary-Louise Parkinson’s 7am yoga on Friday
20th October through to the exhilarating finale
at 4:30pm on Sunday 22nd October, some three
hundred of us vibrated with pride, warmth and
joyfulness. We were celebrating not only our
common path but the knowledge that our IYTA
has given each of us priceless tools with which
to increase our own wellbeing and that of our
students. How remarkable is that, when you
consider that nearly all of the guidance and
practical delivery of IYTA training, workshops
and administration has been generously given
voluntarily. We have much to be grateful for
in that for over fifty years many wonderful
women and men have given their wisdom and
knowledge to bring our Association to its
pre-eminence today.
FROM A WHISPER
TO A ROAR
Our Celebration of Yoga Conference – an incredible event
SYDNEY TOWN HALL, 20 – 22 OCTOBER 2017
Presentersandspeakersfortheanniversaryconference:backrowfromtheleft:ChrisBarrington,EveGrzybowski,DonnaFarhi,SalFlynn,
MarionMcConnell,DrJuneHenry,RosFogg,DrAnandaBalayogiBhavananiKneeling:MargoRobertson,SarahManning,Mary-LouiseParkinson,KylieCarslaw

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We also acknowledge our grateful thanks to our
out-going president Mary-Louise Parkinson, our
new president-elect Astrid Pickup, conference
organiser Sarah Candy, PR people Cate Petersen
and Daniella Goldberg, archives manager
Jo Tauro, and the myriad of happy, smiling
volunteers who worked so hard and efficiently
over the months in preparation for this amazing
event. From the moment we arrived at Sydney
Town Hall we could feel the personal warmth
as our colleague volunteers welcomed us and
helped us in making each minute of the whole
conference flow with ease and delight. Thank
you.
After the Welcome to Country by our Ros Fogg,
Darug elder, and the greeting from Mr B.
Vanlalvawna, Indian Consul-General, we were
treated to presentations of the highest order
from internationally respected yoga educators
covering the physical, the mental and the
spiritual aspects of our knowledge.
The first of our keynote presenters, Dr Ananda
Balayogi Bhavanani (Yogacharya) in Energy
Matrix of Yoga offered a new definition of yoga:
the art and science of connectedness. He
spoke of yoga as being about the choices and
perceptions we make of life. And the aim of
yoga? Discernment, the ability to choose the
highest aspects of our selves. He invited us to
ponder the word ‘alone’ as meaning‘all oneness’.
When Dr Ananda spoke of the point of steadiness
and ease as the time you feel you are yourself,
established in your own special self, I reflected
how right and flowing the whole Conference
was, evidenced by the glowing happy faces
and posturally graceful bodies of all attending.
As always Dr Ananda fascinated us with the
breadth and depth of his many years of study and
personal wisdom. What drew the greatest laughs
however was his impersonation of a renowned
wise man when invited to answer the question
‘Who am I?’(that question being at the core of
meditation practice) who responded in deep
resounding bass tones‘Don’t know! Don’t know!’
Simon Borg-Olivier with his wonderfully toned
body, strength and flexibility and incredible
anatomical knowledge led us in How to Move
Fluidly from your Core in your Postural Practice.
We followed his flowing moves to the best of
our ability. After repetitions and encouragement
we could feel the all over glow of prana released
throughout our bodies. As we gained further
practice and encouragement by this master the
word‘fluidly’became evident as our bodies were
enabled to respond to the moves willingly and,
yes, fluidly.
Yin Restorative was beautifully offered to us by
Sarah Manning. Her soothing voice reminded
us of our restorative powers through the
guidance of our breath, our mind and our
body. A perfect ending to our opening day.
We were most fortunate that the renowned
teacher and author,‘teacher of teachers’
Donna Farhi, shared with us her wisdom in What
Sal Flynn presents
Donna Farhi
gave the
keynote address

3. 7AUTUMN 2018 MARCH - MAY
makes yoga – Yoga. After all, the answer to that
question should inform every yoga teacher’s
guidance to his/her students. Donna showed
how the power of yoga is derived from historic
and ancient wisdom, together with the more
recent scientific understandings combined with
our individual experience and that of our yoga
community. Truly, we all learn from each other,
thus adding to yoga’s wealth and breadth.
Did all of us realise how important is the psoas
to our physical health?
I certainly did not. In her
presentation Strong, Centred &
Pain Free: the psoas as keystone
to balanced posture we were
fascinated by Donna’s clear
anatomical explanations. We
learned and practised specific
asanas relevant to maintaining
the health of this essential
muscle. Donna educated us
about the psoas’ far-reaching
effects on our whole body
generally and on our mind by its
ability to release deep psychological stress.
In Classical Teachings from Our Great Yoga Masters
of the Past our former long-time IYTA Canadian
Representative Marion (Mugs) McConnell
entertained us light-heartedly with her stories
of how persistently she sought yoga wisdom
and the renowned teachers she encountered
… truly an example of the qualities of devotion,
persistence and adaptation.
She has recently published her book Letters from
the Yoga Masters: Teachings Revealed through
Correspondence from Paramhansa Yogananda,
Ramana Maharshi, Swami Sivananda and Others.
How fascinating that she could share with us
some of the wisdom she received directly from
these great masters, those so revered in our yoga
world and in the wider world.
After lunch on Saturday we arrived back in the
hall to find the dais a glorious explosion of colour,
heaped with exquisitely arranged
mounds of vibrant flowers to celebrate
the exuberance of Diwali and lift our
souls heavenwards. After a blessing by
Shakti Durga we were invited to claim
the flowers and sweets for ourselves
thus acknowledging the message of
positiveness over negativity and, so
appropriately in our setting, knowledge
over ignorance.
Dr Rama Prasad brought us the wisdom
of ancient science in Ayurvedic Principles
for Yoga Practitioners. From his extensive
study and practical knowledge he encouraged
us to know our body type and gave us many
useful tools and ideas to work with to empower
ourselves. These skills are available to us to
help avoid depletion of our life force, including
Ayurvedic herbs, some 2,000 of which Dr Prasad
has identified as being native to Australia.
Truly, we all
learn from each
other thus
adding to yoga’s
wealth and
breadth
Dr Ananda
presents
A great atmosphere in a beautiful venue
Long-time members gather for a catch-up

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Donna Farhi presents Strong,CentredandPain-Free

5. 9AUTUMN 2018 MARCH - MAY
Our hearts went out to the sufferers of
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as Dr June
Henry told us of her many years of work to bring
‘our’ Yoga Nidra, renamed iRest, to the attention
of the world as an effective therapy. Studies
show that some 80% of U.S. defence personnel
suffer from the disabling life and relationship
problems caused by PTSD. iRest has been proven
to be as effective, or even more so, as drug
therapy in current use in the USA. As a result,
the US Military adopted iRest as therapy and, just
now, Dr Henry announced with justifiable pride,
the US Air Force has announced their adoption of
iRest as therapy. What an achievement for yoga
and for this remarkable woman.
Then, new learning temporarily put aside and our
dress-up garments donned, it was an evening of
fun and beautiful food at the Gala Dinner, high
up in Sydney Tower. An evening to remember, as
the beauty of Sydney mellowed into the evening
sunset behind us.
Yoga in the Light of Physical, Mental & Spiritual
health was the title of the always charming
Chris Barrington’s talk. However, he revealed,
he nominates a title then talks about whatever
he wants to! And we want him to do just that
because his talk was filled with humour, humility
and profound, broad knowledge of our calling.
He quoted Swami Satyananda in reminding
us that yoga is not about feeling good, yoga is
about becoming good. However he made us feel
Matthew O’Malveney
points out the building
where Roma Blair had
her Sydney studio at
Liverpool St in the city.
Veteran members of the
IYTA including Matthew
coincidentally gathered
at a restaurant in the
building for lunch,
booked by Cate Petersen,
who didn’t know it was
the site of the old studio.
All photos: Katie Brown
Mary-Louise Parkinson smiles with quiet joy on
the presenters’platform, reaping the rewards
of many months’hard work

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good too by leading us in spinal and arm moves,
reminding us to rest our mind in our focus. One
of the most responsive laughs he received was
when he advised us to acknowledge an unhappy
awareness, invite it to sit with us briefly …
then ask it to go outside and leave us alone.
Sal Flynn brought to us from her extensive study
and practice in the eastern traditions
a reminder of the utmost importance
The Art of Mindful Presence in Yoga
Teaching. Sensitively and caringly Sal
reminded us of how to be sensitive
and caring to our own self and to
those we teach for in that way we
become fully present, open and
enriched by the special relationship
we have with our own selves and
those who entrust themselves to us
as our students.
How fortunate we were and grateful to those
who prepared our bodies, minds and spirits by
opening each day for us with early morning yoga.
Thank you for your much appreciated classes
Mary-Louise Parkinson, Simon Borg-Olivier
and Eve Grzybowski.
The thread, the sutra, linking the varied
presentations during each day was the glorious
singing in the spiritually-inspired voice of Kylie
Carslaw accompanied by her father Wal. A yoga
teacher herself, Kylie emanated a spell-binding
soul quality of sweetness and personal depth that
was soothing, uplifting and inspiring.
Now to our conclusion! And what an incredible
ending to an unforgettable event! Who
could ever forget the celebration,
the exhilaration, the vigour, the
wholeheartedness the amazing Toni
Childs engendered in us all in her
session titled Because You’re Beautiful.
Yes, you are, I am, we are BEAUTIFUL
… and we felt it, we moved to it, we
squeezed together because of it, we
expanded outward because of it and
we LOVED it! We were touched by
some revelations from Toni’s own life
but we celebrated the triumph of
spirit over life itself and YES, YES, yes, yes …
we are BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL … and
so was our magnificent Conference.
Our IYTA is now not just a vision, whispering
the benefits of Yoga for all. Our IYTA now
roars its way forward, confident of its
power to spread untold wellbeing to all
who embrace ancient wisdoms.
Yes, yes, yes...we
are beautiful,
beautiful,
beautiful...
Marion
McConnell,
co-founder of
South Okanagan
Yoga Academy,
from Canada
Chris Barrington,
director of curriculum
of DruYoga, from
the UK
Dr June Henry, clinical
and consulting
psychologist with Health
Journeys Australia, from
Toowoomba
Margo Hutchison and
Val Clark
Kylie andWal Carslaw.
All photo credits: Katie Brown