Page 29 - Adhiyoga Purana

Adhiyogi's First Traviel Outside India
and Study of the Iyengar Yoga Practice
After more than two years of dedicated service in the prestigious Tata Organization in Mumbai, a remarkable shift arrived in Adhiyogi’s life. The organization decided to send him on a professional assignment to the distant shores of New Zealand. It was to be his first-ever journey beyond Indian soil — and his very first flight.
Vinayak, now aged and frail, insisted on accompanying Adhiyogi to the airport. Despite his physical limitations, his spiritual strength was unwavering. As Adhiyogi bent down to bow to his father before departure, Vinayak gently said,
“You are happy to get the opportunity to go to New Zealand. But in future, you are going to travel many countries.”
The words felt casual in that moment of excitement, and Adhiyogi, wrapped in anticipation of his journey, did not dwell on them deeply.
Once in New Zealand, Adhiyogi not only thrived professionally but also earned a respected reputation for his skill and character. Over a span of 4.5 years, he laid the foundation for a well- rounded life. It was during this period that he visited the United States for a vacation with his children — a trip to the magical Disneyland. This visit, however, stirred something deeper within him. Being in the U.S. reignited a long-standing dream: to live, work, and grow in America. The reasons were many — better educational opportunities for his children, the chance to enhance his computer skills, and most importantly, the availability of vast resources to deepen his Yoga practice.
The Pune Break and Meeting BKS Iyengar
During his New Zealand years, Adhiyogi took a 5-month break in Pune. It was during this time that fate arranged a meeting with his childhood neighbor — none other than the world-famous Yoga Teacher, B.K.S. Iyengar. A few intense discussions later, Iyengar unexpectedly asked Adhiyogi to start studying Yoga Asanas with him immediately. For the next five months, Adhiyogi had the rare privilege of studying directly under B.K.S. Iyengar, Prashant Iyengar, and Geeta Iyengar for six hours each day. This rigorous schedule refined his Asana understanding and practice to an extraordinary degree.
Even after resuming his travels, Adhiyogi continued to build upon this foundation, integrating the Iyengar precision into what would later become his Authentic Yoga System. But his vision expanded far beyond Asanas. He systematically studied and integrated Nutrition, Biology, Health Science, Sanskrit, Ayurveda, Chanting, Deep Philosophical Studies, and Psychology into his Yoga practice. Years of self-research and personal discoveries shaped this unique, holistic system that he would later teach worldwide.
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