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Vanda Scaravelli

Though she came to yoga later in life, her subsequent 50-year practice and teachings have made a profound impact on hatha yoga.

By Phil Catalfo

The daughter of artistic Italian parents, wife of a professor of philosophy, and an accomplished pianist, Vanda Scaravelli was accustomed throughout her life to meeting creative artists, intellectuals, and literati. The Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti came to stay at the Scaravelli's villa overlooking Florence every year. When Scaravelli's husband died suddenly after World War II, she soon began spending summers with her children at a chalet in Switzerland, where she hosted Krishnamurti during his lectures there. B. K. S. Iyengar would come every morning to teach him yoga; he introduced Scaravelli, then in her 40s, to the ancient discipline, and "a new life came into my body." Thus began her ongoing exploration of what she called allegrezza, "the intelligent heart."

From T. K. V. Desikachar she learned breath awareness; she later formulated her own approach to yoga (in which "you become intelligent and at the same time you are happy") and began to teach others. Her book Awakening the Spine (Harper San Francisco, 1995) became a classic. Since her death in 1999, at age 91, several teachers have carried on her work, most notably Toronto-based Esther Myers. "I practice because it is natural for me to practice," she told Myers in a 1996 YJ interview. "There is no other reason.

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Reader Comments

Emily

Scaravelli yoga is what introduced me to yoga. I find it very sad that instructors in the US are hard to find. If anyone in Texas is reading this try a class with Serina Shouna-Leaher. She is great!

Jane Paterson. Cornwall. UK

I have been subscribing to Yoga Journal for over a year now and it would seem that the yoga of Vanda Scaravelli is more popular in the UK than the US. Why is this I wonder?
I was fortunate enough to begin my yoga journey
with Scaravelli-inspired teachers over 14 years ago and although I have strayed into other styles
of yoga over the years, my practice and teaching remains predominantly influenced by her.
Scaravelli- inspired yoga focuses on lengthening and aligning the spine, using gravity and the breath to tune into the body and really listen to what is right for you- the individual. Once the bodys natural intelligence is realised, long-held tensions and tightness can release, allowing effortless comfort and energy to flood back in. The principles of Ahimsa and Satya (non-violence and truthfullness) result in a safe practice, suitable for all.
Diane Long, a direct student of Vandas for many years visits the UK, US and India regularly and her workshops are to be recommended.

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