Podcast
On the Light
Hosted by Susan Johnson · EN
Welcome to "On the Light," a podcast dedicated to illuminating the profound teachings and legacy of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar.
Join us as we engage in enlightening conversations, diving deep into the life's work of B.K.S. Iyengar, whose dedication and insight have touched countless lives around the world. From his innovative approach to asana practice to his profound spiritual teachings, we'll uncover the essence of Iyengar Yoga and its relevance in today's world.
This podcast also explores the auspicious subject of yoga itself, delving into its ancient roots and texts, and receiving insight from established Iyengar Yoga teachers.
Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your yoga practice, "On the Light" offers a space for learning and inspiration. Please enjoy “On the Light”.
“Yoga is a light, which once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter the flame.” B.K.S. Iyengar
30episodes
Episodes
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Episode 55: You Need Courage to Face Your Inglorious Past – Prashant Iyengar
1w ago01:03:03Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailToday's episode is especially meaningful to me because it was recorded in person in Pune, during my recent visit to study at the Institute. My dear friend, Yemile Mizrahi, joined me for this interview as well, making the experience even more memorable.This is the first in a series of conversations on the history of yog. I arrived with what I thought was a straightforward question—but I was completely surprised by where Prashantji took the conversation. Rather than simply discussing the history of yog, he turned the inquiry inward in a way I never expected.His response challenged me, and I think it will challenge you as well.If you enjoy On the Light, please consider liking, sharing, and subscribing. Click on “Support the Show” in the show notes. A small monthly donation helps support the continued production of this podcast.I hope you enjoy this episode of On the Light.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 54: The Heart of Pune - Amin
2w ago00:46:37Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIf you've ever traveled to Pune to study at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, there's a good chance you've met today's guest.His name is Amin, and for many years he has welcomed students from around the world—not only by driving them through the streets of Pune, but by helping them feel safe, cared for, and at home. For countless practitioners, a ride with Amin is as much a part of the Pune experience as practicing at the Institute itself.When I recently shared a photo of Amin with us on social media, I was amazed by the response. Many people reached out to me saying, "I love Amin!" It made me realize that while many of us know Amin, very few of us know his story.In this conversation, Amin shares how he first became connected with the Iyengar community, the relationships he has built with students and members of the Iyengar family over the years, and what it has meant to spend his life serving those who come to Pune to study yoga.This was Amin's very first podcast interview. His first language is Marathi, and he speaks from the heart with remarkable honesty and humility. I hope you'll listen not only to his words, but to the kindness, gratitude, and generosity that have made him such a beloved member of our community.Please enjoy this conversation with my friend, Amin.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 53: Show Them Your Love. Show Them Your Joy. - Victoria Austin
3w ago01:06:52Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWelcome back to On the Light. I'm your host, Susan Johnson.If you enjoy On the Light, please consider liking, sharing, or subscribing. And if you’re able, a small monthly donation helps support the continued production of this podcast.My guest today is Victoria Austin—an Iyengar Yoga teacher, Zen priest, and longtime student of B.K.S. Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar. For more than four decades of study, Victoria has explored the profound relationship between yoga, meditation, and the human experience, bringing the teachings of Iyengar Yoga into dialogue with Buddhist practice, chaplaincy, and the care of those facing illness, trauma, and death.In this conversation, Victoria shares extraordinary stories of her time with Guruji and Geetaji—stories filled with humor, compassion, challenge, and unwavering precision. She reflects on how the teachings carried her through serious accidents and surgeries, how practice became a means of meeting fear rather than avoiding it, and why yoga remains available to us at every stage of life.This episode is ultimately about what it means to truly receive a teaching—not simply to hear it, but to allow it to transform us over time.Please enjoy my conversation with Victoria Austin.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 52: The Seeds Are There - Nikki Costello
4w ago01:06:59Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWelcome back to On the Light. I'm your host, Susan Johnson.My guest today is Nikki Costello, a longtime student and teacher of Iyengar Yoga. Nikki reflects on her first encounters with Light on Yoga, her studies with Mary Dunn and Gulnaz Dashti, and the profound experiences that shaped her understanding of the teachings at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune.Along the way, Nikki shares stories of Guruji and Geetaji that illuminate not only their brilliance as teachers, but also the depth of care, discipline, and transformation that lie at the heart of the guru-disciple relationship. She speaks about lineage, mentorship, oral tradition, and what it means to carry the teachings forward—not as a collection of techniques, but as a living practice that continues to evolve within each of us.This is a conversation about transmission, responsibility, and the enduring vitality of the teachings.If you enjoy On the Light, please consider liking, sharing, or subscribing. And if you’re able, a small monthly donation helps support the continued production of this podcast.Please enjoy my conversation with Nikki Costello.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 51: She Taught from the Depths - Jaki Nett
Jun 2901:17:31Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWelcome back to On the Light and to what is now our fifth season. I'm your host, Susan Johnson.My guest today is Jaki Nett Jaki is one of the recipients of the Lighting the Way Award presented by IYNAUS in recognition of her decades of dedication to the study, practice, and teaching of Iyengar Yoga. Jaki received this honor at the recent IYNAUS Convention in Philadelphia.In this conversation, Jaki reflects on nearly four decades of study in Pune, her deep and enduring relationship with Geeta Iyengar, and the profound influence Geetaji had on her life as a student, teacher, and practitioner. She shares stories of both Guruji and Geetaji that reveal not only their brilliance as teachers, but also their humanity, humor, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the subject of yoga.At its heart, this is a conversation about lineage—how it is received, how it transforms us, and the responsibility each of us carries to preserve and pass on the teachings with integrity.If you enjoy On the Light, please consider liking, sharing, or subscribing. And if you’re able, a small monthly donation helps support the continued production of this podcast.Please enjoy my conversation with Jaki Nett.Support the show
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Episode 1: It Was a Silent Ritual - Prashant Iyengar
May 2200:58:55Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWelcome to Light on Cooking: The Iyengar Tradition. I’m your host, Susan JohnsonIn this opening conversation, Prashant Iyengar reflects on the role of food within the life and culture of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar—not simply what was eaten, but the deeper philosophy surrounding food, discipline, ritual, timing, silence, and awareness.What unfolds is far more than a discussion about meals or favorite dishes. Prashantji offers a rare glimpse into the atmosphere of the Iyengar household: food prepared by family members, meals taken in silence, eating as an offering rather than consumption, and the profound relationship between nourishment and practice.He speaks about sattvic food, the discipline of mealtimes, Guruji’s simplicity and moderation, and the understanding that yoga does not end on the mat, but extends into every aspect of daily life. The conversation moves between philosophy, culture, memory, and lived experience, revealing how even the most ordinary acts can become sacred when approached with awareness.This episode sets the tone for the series itself: an exploration not only of cooking and food traditions, but of care, consciousness, family, and the subtle ways yoga is woven into everyday living.Welcome to Light on Cooking: The Iyengar Tradition.Please consider supporting the cookbook. 🙏🏼Support the show
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Light on Cooking, The Iyengar Tradition - trailer
May 1100:01:09Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWelcome to Light on Cooking: The Iyengar Tradition, a companion podcast to On the Light.In this series, conversations move into the kitchen and toward the role of food within the life and teachings of Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar. Through stories shared by family members, students, and long-time practitioners, we explore cooking, nourishment, daily ritual, and the ways yoga extends into all aspects of life.These conversations are not simply about recipes or meals, but about care, discipline, culture, and the lived experience of practice.This podcast will also document the unfolding process of creating the Light on Cooking cookbook project — a gathering of stories, traditions, recipes, and memories connected to the Iyengar family and lineage.I’m Susan Johnson, and I’ll be your host.Stay tuned for Episode One with Prashant Iyengar, coming next week.Thank you for listening.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 50: Our Tradition is All Inclusive - Prashant Iyengar
Mar 3001:03:55Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThis episode holds a special place for me because …it is my 50th interview! and it feels deeply appropriate that this milestone is shared with Prashant Iyengar.From the very beginning of this podcast, Prashantji has been a guiding presence. His generosity with his time, his willingness to engage in these conversations, and his continued support have made this work possible in ways I don’t take lightly. This podcast, in many respects, lives in the space he continues to illuminate.Rooted in the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, On the Light has always been about listening more deeply—to the method, to the tradition, and to the voices that carry it forward. And Prashantji sits right at the center of that living tradition.In this summative episode on sangeet— He reminds us that while forms may evolve over time, the essence remains untouched—like the sun behind an eclipse, or a diamond beneath layers of dust.Prashant speaks to the importance of preserving the source of the tradition, even if only a very small number continue to carry that work forward. And I find myself reflecting that this podcast, in its own small way, is part of that effort—to listen, to learn, and to help keep that thread alive.It is an honor, and truly a privilege, to share this 50th conversation with him.Please enjoy this episode of On the Light.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 49: Shiva Danced, Why Shouldn’t You? - Eric Small
Mar 2301:13:48Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWelcome to On the Light. I’m your host, Susan Johnson.In this episode I am deeply honored to be in conversation with Eric Small—a pioneering teacher of Iyengar Yoga whose work has spanned more than six decades.At 93, Eric brings a lifetime of experience shaped by direct study with Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar, as well as his groundbreaking work adapting yoga for students with multiple sclerosis. Through storytelling, reflection, and lived experience, he shares what it means to teach from the heart, to observe deeply, and to serve with humility.This conversation is both a historical record and a personal testament—offering insight into the early years of Iyengar Yoga in the West, the depth of the teacher-student relationship, and the enduring power of practice as a path of healing and self-understanding.Please enjoy this conversation with Eric Small.Support the show
Transcribe →Episode 48: Immense Presence - Mary Reilly
Mar 1600:49:08Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWelcome to On the Light. I’m your host, Susan Johnson.Today I’m joined by longtime Iyengar Yoga teacher Mary Reilly. Mary began practicing yoga in the early days of Iyengar Yoga in the United States, studying with teachers who had just returned from India after working directly with B.K.S. Iyengar. What began as a simple attempt to regain her concentration after finishing a demanding biology degree quickly became a lifelong path of practice and study.In this conversation, Mary shares what it was like to encounter Iyengar Yoga in its early years, her first trips to Pune during the intensive programs at the institute, and the profound lessons she absorbed from Guruji and Geeta Iyengar. We also talk about the art of teaching, including Mary’s memorable experience participating in the filmed teaching demonstration known as The Art of Teaching in Chicago.Along the way, Mary reflects on listening with the body, trusting the intelligence of practice, and what it means to teach from the heart rather than simply from the mind.If this episode resonates with you, I invite you to like, share, or subscribe. And if you’re able, a small monthly contribution helps sustain the continued production of this podcast.Please enjoy my conversation with Mary Reilly.Support the show
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