It’s been soul-crushing, gut-wrenching and heart-breaking to witness the atrocities and nonstop massacre carried out by Israeli governement on the people of Gaza. The average age of those killed in this war is 5 years old. As of this writing over 10,000 children have been killed by the Israeli war. The majority of deaths are of women and children. Nothing can ever justify these statistics. The momentary ceasefire in November was not enough. The genocide of Palestinian people has to stop. The world is watching and waking up. The time is now to end all genocides—this includes the liberation for the people of Congo, Sudan, and Armenia. The liberation for Palestine signifies the end of late stage western colonial settler occupation. To free Palestine is to free all others who are occupied and oppressed.
Read more2021: Reflections and Ruminations
cosmic illustration by Svenja
Year 2021 was a long and interesting journey that brought growth in my professional life and shifts in personal one. I experienced it with joys and tears equally. I found myself in moments of uplifting presence, elation, and connection as well as dimming moments of absence, grief and separation.
Read moreIt's a New Dawn, It's a New Day
I decided to not renew my certification for Iyengar Yoga™. I have updated my instructor bio and social media profiles to reflect this change in my career. This decision came to me after much needed contemplation to move forward for personal and professional reasons. And I am feeling good about it.
I am grateful to have been part of the global family of certified Iyengar Yoga teachers. I have learned from great teachers, and this method has immensely deepened my yoga practice. I will forever be indebted to the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar and the Iyengar family.
Props With Purpose
Zain Syed featured on Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast
I recently had a fun conversation with Arundhati Baitmangalkar, the host of Let’s Talk Yoga podcast. In this interview I share my origin story of how I got into the practice of yoga. We chat about creativity in sequencing and the use of props. I share my personal opinion on vinyasa yoga and vinyasa flow. We discuss the use of props as as a support system in yoga practice, and much more. Stream the podcast on the web or listen via Spotify.
Read moreJuneteenth 2020
Zain Syed © Olivia Smarrt photography
This Juneteenth celebration I was happy to combine my Gemini powers and and share with friends and followers my passion for DJ’ing music. Together we virtually enjoyed and danced to a livestream. Collectively we raised funds to support @colorofchange, a great organization that is powering the movement to help end police brutality against black lives.
Read moreSouth Asians for Black Lives
With so much agony built up since George Floyd’s death (as well as the killings of Breoanna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery in the months prior, plus all black lives gone due to police brutality ) I can’t get myself to be centered enough and compose my thoughts on why it is important for me, a South Asian immigrant American, to make a stand against systemic racism. So I take and share poignant statements here said by the smart and witty comedian Hasan Minhaj:
Read moreCreativity Is Intelligence Having Fun
I’ve always thought of Iyengar Yoga method akin to the jazz style of music. It can be serious and demanding, and rigorous in training, but also quite experimental and free form and free flow. Sequencing is not always so linear, and can be circular at times. Structure and form have their stronghold, but quite often intuition and creativity restructure and reshape the outcome of practice.
Read moreStand Still Like The Hummingbird
I passed! 🌟 This weekend I got assessed and certified as Intermediate Junior level 1! l 🙌 About four years back I applied to become an Introductory 1&2 level instructor and it was one of the most nerve-racking weekends (and weeks leading up to it) in my life. And this past assessment weekend was no different. It was especially more challenging as a nomad moving around.
Read moreStranger in a Strange Yoga Land
© Irina Sitnikova photo - LIB festival 2019
I’m trying not to become too disillusioned with the strangeness and sadness of yoga land’s shadows. I’m reflecting upon my role as a yoga teacher and how I choose to share this practice — something which has been a valuable and transformational tool to empower my existence. Becoming transparent with myself includes introspection upon the good, the bad, and the ugly experiences which make my path whole.
Read moreAfeição (affection)
If there was one word I could choose to describe my experience with the people and culture of Brazil it would be: AFEIÇÃO (AFFECTION) 💖 So much heart in their expression, so much joy in their smile, and so much warmth in their touch. Maybe I was just a lucky visitor to receive such loving kindness from each person in almost every interaction I don’t know...
Read moreSaudade
Saudade is a potent Portuguese word that is untranslatable in the English language. It defines missing something that is very much a part of you that you can no longer access. Like one's homeland. For me sometimes a state of saudade comes when I think of childhood memories growing up in Pakistan. Being a Pakistani is very much a part of me but Pakistani-ness is something to which I no longer have access. I have assimilated to American culture and the sub-cultures here within. Saudade describes something that's lost but is still here. Its an absence but also a presence. I love this kind of dichotomy. The absence becomes part of who you are.
Read moreLimited Space, Limitless Practice
Now that I have finished teaching regularly at Adeline Yoga Studio and since for the next coming months I wont be present as frequently to practice here, I felt compelled to give recognition and respect to this space which is dear to my heart and also helped me grow so much—as a teacher and sādhaka.
Read moreBudding and Buzzing in Brazil
Handstand with friends in São Paulo 📍 Beco de Batman
My career as a yoga teacher took a big jump with my first set of international yoga workshops. I feel so fortunate to have the experience from Brazil to carry me forward…
Read morePrivileged Poses, Privileged Practice
I always walk away after San Quentin on Tuesday afternoons feeling less caught up in my own problems. Many of my problems exist within a bubble of a privileged and blessed life. So while I have my own suffering to endure, I am grateful for the good fortune to practice self care and to stay on the path of higher awareness. Though I often get caught up in my own struggles, I am well aware that I have a privileged position to practice. Even to have time for pity is a privileged kind of pity. The guys at San Quentin have been some of greatest teachers.
Read moreIYNAUS Spotlight
My use of video sharing online is inspired very much by B.K.S. Iyengar’s efforts to spread yoga across the world. He performed yoga as an artist and made the practice look fancy and fun. He attracted many audiences across the globe and gained their attention. So part of my mission on social media has become to make Iyengar Yoga look and feel cool because that is exactly what it is for me — anything but boring. My intention behind posting is nothing more than the love for yoga. Following Mr. Iyengar’s artistry, I share my creativity with my body as a painter would with their canvas or a musician with their instrument.
Read more