Iyengar method yoga at Hamilton Aids Network Hamilton Aids Network [HAN] (www.hamiltonaidsnetwork.ca) is a not-for-profit organization with offices in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada whose self-declared mission is: ..."to help mobilize community-based responses to the needs exacerbated by the Aids epidemic in Hamilton and the surrounding community." HAN provides a number of important services to its' diverse clientele. Amongst them is a Complementary Therapies program offered by HAN to those living with HIV/Aids, which now includes yoga in the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar.

The yoga program is taught by James Pope, Canadian Iyengar Yoga Teachers' Association certified, and follows the regime developed by Fr Joe Pereira of Kripa Foundation Mumbai, India and Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, Fr Joe's teacher of long standing.

The class is offered three times a month at HAN's offices in downtown Hamilton and is free to clients and their partners. Sessions are generally 60-90 minutes in length depending on circumstances--energy levels, etc.--and feature a number of supported poses well known to practitioners of Iyengar yoga. The inspiration for the program comes from James' long association with the work of Fr Joe Pereira.

It is centred upon the sequence shown in Living with Aids through Yoga and Meditation (www.yogagroup.org/video.html) a 90 minute video produced by Kripa West Charity, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In the video, Fr Joe Pereira teaches and demonstrates the poses and their variations and outlines the direct benefits of the pose from a physiological perspective when the pose is held for the recommended length of time. It is interesting to note that HIV/Aids sequence used in the class is adapted from the program run by Kripa at it's treatment centres for those in recovery from chemical dependency. (There are over twenty-eight Kripa facilities across India and in the Middle East.)

The relevance and importance of the Iyengar method cannot be overstated especially in the application of props in a number of poses. Clients have varying levels of energy and sometimes ready to take physically demanding poses such as adho mukha vrksasana (full arm balance) or supported sirsasana (head balance) and at other times need the restorative benefits of supported 'chest-opener', supported baddha konasana or supported setubhanda sarvangasana for instance.

Without the kindness and generosity of individuals and corporations the program would have had great difficulty in continuing to contribute to the well-being of the clients. This have contributed money and materials to help sustain the program. Among them are: the Zendog Family grant (IyengarYoga.com) provided money for blankets and travel expenses; Karma Care Yoga Mats (yogamats.ca) donated mats; and YogaBuddy (yogabuddy.com), gave uniquely designed lightweight foam blocks and wedges.

The Iyengar yoga HIV/Aids program is approaching it's one year anniversary and will continue for as long as the need is there.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to: Fr Joe Pereira of Kripa Foundation for starting me upon this particular path; my training teacher Claudia MacDonald of Vancouver for inspiring me to include a measure of karma yoga in my practice; the generosity of Zendog Family grant, which, through the good offices of Christian Leeby and IyengarYoga.org, made funds available for equipment purchases enabling the HAN program to expand; the clients and support staff at HAN; and most importantly Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar for sharing his unparalleled understanding of the science of yoga with his students and the students of his students.

The sequence (in order of practice): Lying over a rolled blanket, knees bent, feet on the floor, three to five minutes (image 1); Baddha Konasana, back supported, three to five minutes (image 2); or, Dandasana same support and timing; Adho Mukha Vrksasana at wall, thirty seconds, do twice (this is an optional pose, depending on circumstances); Urdhva Dhanurasana over a chair, forehead against a wood brick, three to five minutes; Viparita Dandasana over a chair, legs horizontal with chair support, forehead to floor (or support as needed) up to ten minutes; Salamba Sirsasana with chairs or stools for support, up to ten minutes (image 3); Setubhanda Sarvangasana, folded blankets, ten minutes (image 4); Salamba Sarvangasana, on chair support; Ardha Halasana, thighs at same level as hips, ten-fifteen minutes; Viparita Kirani, folded blankets, ten to fifteen minutes (image 5); Janu Sirsasana with chair support, 2 minutes per side; Adho Mukha Svanasana, head supported, up to three minutes; Uttanasana, head supported (image 6); Savasana, folded blanket to support torso, additional support for head, ten minutes. (Caution: Many of these postures are contraindicated for some Aids-related disorders. The practice requires the supervision of a trained instructor.)

Acknowledgements:
I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to: Fr Joe Pereira of Kripa Foundation; my training teacher Claudia MacDonald of Vancouver for inspiring me to include a measure of karma yoga in my practice; the generosity of Zendog Family grant, which, through the good offices of IyengarYoga.org, made funds available for equipment purchases enabling the HAN program to expand; the clients and support staff at HAN; and most importantly Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar for sharing his unparalleled understanding of the science of yoga with his students and the students of his students.