Iyengar Yoga Sutra : The Thread that Binds

December 15, 2025/Jennie Williford CIYT
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As we wrap up the weeks of celebrating our Iyengar Yoga lineage, landing on the day of Geeta Iyengar’s death, I am reflective about the thread that binds us all together in wisdom and practice. We are also embarking on a New Year soon, so it is a good time to look ahead at how you might want to weave the thread of yoga more deeply into all aspects of your life.

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I know that sutra is technically used in the context of THE “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” and other sacred texts, but the direct Sanskrit translation of sutra is “thread” or “string”. It refers to a thread of wisdom that binds a practice or philosophy together. In my opinion, Iyengar Yoga stands out in the modern world of yoga today because of our strong lineage and collective wisdom that threads us all together with the Iyengars themselves. The Iyengar Yoga Sutra began with the light and energy that BKS Iyengar shined forth to propagate yoga around the world. Whether you have been touched directly by an Iyengar or not, each spark that came from his light is a thread of energy weaving through and connecting each and every practitioner and teacher of Iyengar Yoga.

This sutra of energy is felt so strongly in these weeks our worldwide community comes together to celebrate birthdays and death anniversaries of BKS Iyengar and his daughter, Geeta. On Friday we joined together as a National Community (Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States) to experience a class with Geeta Iyengar, now passed for 7 years. That entire day I was excited to get to hear her voice and once again experience her teaching. She was indeed a force of nature and even on just audio recording, her teaching is intense and layered full of wisdom. To hear her voice again is like being plugged into an electrical socket, all awareness and life. There is no space for distraction and no other place to be but in yoga. Some may be new to her voice and teaching, but my experience of Geeta is likely an experience of many students of Iyengar Yoga who have tapped into the thread of energy that is the Iyengar Yoga Sutra. You feel it in your heart, your spine, your soul.

On Sunday, we joined our regional and local Iyengar Yoga communities together (Iyengar Yoga Association of the Upper Midwest) to celebrate BKS Iyengar’s 107th birthday and the retirement of one of our own LaCrosse Iyengar Yoga legends, Francie Ricks! As past and present students joined together to share stories, laughter, and good food, it is clear that the Iyengar Yoga Sutra has woven its own beautiful pattern right here in the Upper Midwest.

The Yoga Place is the main thread of Iyengar Yoga here in LaCrosse! This season, there are holiday special classes – Winter Solstice Restoratives and 108 Sun Salutations for the New Year. And, there will be a new schedule starting in 2026. So, whether you are already a student seeking more depth or longevity of practice, or a newbie to yoga altogether, you will find ways to tie in to the vast weave of knowledge and wisdom that is Iyengar Yoga.

Jennie Williford CIYT

Jennie Williford (CIYT Level 3) is a transplant to LaCrosse via Montana, Illinois, and originally Texas. Throughout her life moves and 5 trips to India, Jennie has acquired a well-rounded and multi-faceted approach to Iyengar Yoga since her start in 1998. Jennie loves the experimental and explorative nature of yoga in accessing deeper knowledge of the Self on every level. The practice of yoga can be intense and introspective, however as practitioners we can be light-hearted and open-minded in our discipline. Jennie is intrigued by the philosophy of yoga and hopes to share this depth of subject while teaching the physical and mental benefits that come from the practice of posture.