Come one, come all!
There are some teachers who are so truly gifted that their words and lessons transcend the classroom and leave a lasting impact on their students for many years to come. Mary Dunn was one such teacher, and her students who span the highest caliber of Iyengar yogadom would all agree. Mary was not only an inspiring teacher, she was also founding director of the Iyengar Yoga National Association and founder of the Iyengar Institutes in San Francisco, San Diego, and New York. This Sunday, June 5th, the Iyengar Institute NY is hosting their 7th annual Yogathon benefit to celebrate the life of Mary Dunn who passed away on September 4, 2008 at the age of 66 from peritoneal cancer.
Sunday will be a full day of celebration, but be sure not to miss the main event, The Yogathon, kicking off at 1pm. Watch top yogis do their thing for a good cause (like James Murphy who will be doing drop-backs into urdhva dhanurasana for 15 minutes straight and Tzahi Moskovitz flying through a jumping sequence). Who says Iyengar yogis don’t have fun? Pledge for your favorite! Donations are accepted and all proceeds from the day will support the educational mission of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York.
Here’s the day’s schedule:
In Her Own Words, 8:00-9:45 am
Recording of Mary Teaching, All Levels
$40 before June 5; $45 same day
Spirit of Mary Dunn Class 10:00-12:00 pm
Poses inspired by Mary, All Levels
$40 before June 5; $45 same day
Chanting with Julia, 12:00-12:30 pm
Featuring a slide show celebrating Mary
Free for all to join
Children’s Class with Bobby Clennell (author of children’s book Watch Me Do Yoga) 12:30-1:00 pm
For children ages 3-8
$20 before June 5; $25 same day
Yogathon 2011 1:00-4:00 pm
The Main Event! Be a participant or
pledge for someone who is.
Raffle and Refreshments 4:00-4:15 pm
Winners will be announced
108 Sun Salutations 4:15-5:30 pm
Participate or pledge
Suggested donation $1 a salute
To register online for these classes and events click here and then click on the Workshops tab.
Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York
150 West 22nd Street, 11th floor
New York, NY 10011
212-691-YOGA (9642)
A beloved teacher and incredible spirit, Mary had her own special style of teaching and inspired so many. Here’s what a few of the most distinguished Iyengar teachers have to say about her, via YogaCityNYC:
Jame Murphy: “Mary had a constant ability to creatively use whatever came up in class and run with it, both in relation to posture and philosophy. Rather than reciting or lecturing about theory, she had an endless supply of concrete examples that applied to everyday life. She made everything accessible.”
Carrie Owerko: “As students and teachers of Iyengar, we can get a little rigid with regards to alignment and end up losing something truly profound – the transformative aspect of yoga, which allows us to embrace the changing nature of nature and of ourselves. When we give ourselves room to explore and discover our fluid nature, we paradoxically find stability and a deeper truer ‘alignment’. Mary always inspired this.”
Genny Kapuler: “Her radiance is with me to this day, guiding my journey. I am constantly remembering her vigor and enthusiasm.”
Brooke Myer: “It was as though I’d never done yoga before she arrived. She was so much a devotee of Mr. Iyengar, yet never parroted his instructions; they had gone thru’ her, she’d worked with them to expand her awareness and intelligence. Then with humor and beautiful, tangible images she conveyed the experience of study with Iyengar, making it accessible to all.”
All donations support the educational mission of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Greater New York, a nonprofit 501 (c)(3). Donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Checks should be made payable to: IYAGNY. You may also donate online here.
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