May 22-27, 2026
FROM THE HEART: A VARIETY SHOW
DIGITAL PROGRAM
Chants, Sawyer Ward (Vocals & Harmonium), accompanied by Jamie Kostura (Tabla)
Reuniting after more than a decade since their first collaboration in Denver, Jamie and Sawyer offer this performance as both a return and a continuation - an expression of gratitude for their teachers, a shared devotion to the practice, and an offering in honor of the Iyengar community. They offer their music tonight from their hearts to you.
Sisters, a poem recited by Jaki Nett
"I began my relationship with Iyengar Yoga in 1982 when I took my first class at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco, CA. I met Geeta on my first trip to RIMYI in 1986. Mr. Iyengar was very generous in his guidance to me, but Geeta became my teacher, guardian angel, Guru, and sister. Geeta and I were the same age, and during our meetings, we would talk about life changes we were experiencing. We talked, she would listen and advise me like an older sister. When I first read the poem "Sisters," it stirred in me a feeling that I connected to Geeta. This reading is to Geeta and all "Sisters".
A Yoga Duel, by David Rubeo & Yuval Boim, accompanied by Dmitri Shapira, accompanies the duel on electric guitar with a reimagining of Ennio Morricone's music from the film The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, directed by Sergio Leone.
A Yoga Duel, first performed at Yogathon in 2023, was inspired by the joy of practicing yoga together and the competitive nature that sometimes gets the better of us. In the end, though yoga is a serious subject, it's not about taking ourselves too seriously.
First Steps, original song written and performed by Wanjira Makena
Ready to Practice, Kevin Allen, clown performance
Clown, like yoga, invites the performer to be present in the moment and truthful in the body, which helps create a connection with the audience.
Shishya School of Performing Arts, classical Indian dance
Choreographer: Sukanya Mahadevan
Performers: Natasha Agrawal, Vicki Agrawal, Vidhya Belagodu, Roshni Dhanavanth, Bhoomika Kamath, Tara Kartik, Jyothi Krishnan, Vedika Krishna, Sukanya Mahadevan, Manasa Mamunooru, Prithika Mitra, Swathi Narasimhan, Kalaivani Panneerselvam, Nivi Venkatapathy, Jinu Vinay
Part One - Love and Freedom
Part Two - Slay the Obstacles
Part Three - Peace, Friendship, and Blessings
Tonight's choreography highlights the beautiful intersection of Yoga and Bharatanatyam, blending breath, alignment, mudras, and meditative stillness with classical movement. It reminds us that peace begins within, and radiates outward through intention and action.
Awake Now, original song written and performed by Christopher Briney
A celebration of both the spirit of resilience that he finds at the heart of Iyengar Yoga, and the opportunity that the practice of Iyengar Yoga offers us to, in Guruji's words, "reach somewhere" in life.
The Layers, by Gabe Pickard, yoga dance
Performers: Lindsay Majer, Ned Gardiner, and Gabe Pickard
Music: "The Feeling Begins" by Peter Gabriel
This Yoga Dance percolated up from readings on the Kosas, the sheaths of being. When we bring these five sheaths into alignment, fragmentation vanishes, and union or integration appears. Our field of exploration is ourselves, from skin to the unknown.
Evolving Together, yoga demonstration
Performers: Miri Aloni Rivlin, Maria F. Calabria, Yogini Patel, Adrienne Klein, Naomi Hiller Reynolds, Lina Lee, Ruchi Murlidhar, Victoria Austin
This unique mix of Northern California practitioners is brought together by a shared love of Iyengar Yoga. Our group includes both dedicated practitioners and certified teachers, representing a wide range of experience and backgrounds. Our goal was to create something welcoming and inclusive—just as we strive to do in our classes—so that anyone who wishes can feel part of the experience. We've come together to celebrate not only our love of yoga, but also the sense of freedom and connection it brings. We hope that the joy we've shared over the past few months of practicing together is something you can truly feel in the air.
Performers: James Murphy, Kyoko Broad, Adela Blevin, Anh Tran, Susan Turis, Jennifer Amos Taylor, Lorrie Bertolino, Meille Purdon
This piece was first presented at RIMYI for Guruji's 74th Birthday in 1992, James' first trip to study in Pune. MTV had just arrived in India, and it was decided that instead, there should be YTV (Yoga TV), so he was given a big, oversized styrofoam remote control, and then a variety of skits were performed for his entertainment. The piece was revised and updated for this convention with the help of all the Downward Facing Dogs.
Live Painting by Avery,
Some of you may remember that at the 2018 Centenary Celebration in Pune, Avery created a large painting of Guruji in Natarajasana during the talent show. Geetaji and Prashantji signed the painting, and it now hangs at the Iyengar Yoga Center in Mumbai. Avery will once again create an original work of art as part of tonight's show. Live painting carries the spirit of bhakti: this process is a heartfelt offering - no AI, no editing, it's a leap of faith! A collaborative creative dance with the unknown that will unfold before your eyes.
"A virtuous asana is done from the heart."
-B.K.S. Iyengar Light on Life
WHO'S WHO IN THE SHOW:
SAWYER WARD is a CIYT who began learning Iyengar yoga in the early 80's. Living in a remote area of New Mexico, where there were no Iyengar teachers, she bought a little orange book called "The Concise Light on Yoga" by BKS Iyengar and began teaching herself from it. Looking at the photos and reading the text and descriptions of the poses, she knew she had found her guru. She soon began teaching others in her mother's living room.
Through the years, she has made four trips to Pune and has attended every convention since 1990. She dedicates this performance tonight to all the Iyengar family: Guruji, Geeta, Prashant, and Abhijata, and to all her teachers who are in this room tonight and those who are here in spirit, especially to Rebecca and Dean Lerner, her dear teachers of many years. All these teachers have graced her life and helped her to help others.
Sawyer has recorded two CD's. Listen here:
Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/
Bandcamp: sawyerward.bandcamp.com/
JAMIE KOSTURA is a Pennsylvania-based Tabla player who has devoted over two decades to the study of Hindustani Classical Music. His training in Tabla has been guided by his teachers, Prabhat Kumar and Ty Burhoe, within the traditional guru–shishya lineage, a path of lifelong learning and ongoing sadhana. His practice is further informed by over a decade of Iyengar Yoga under the guidance of his teacher, Holly Kostura, whose lineage traces directly to Geeta Iyengar and B.K.S. Iyengar.
Jamie holds a deep affinity for Philadelphia, where he studied at Temple University, lived for several years, and supported the U.S. tour of his Sarangi teacher, Sri Harsh Narayan, including performances at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. He approaches both music and yoga as evolving disciplines, grounded in devotion, humility, and the understanding that the student's role is never complete.
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JAKI NETT has traveled to RIMYI over 25 times, holds her Level III certification, and does continual study of musculoskeletal anatomy and kinesiology. She teaches via Zoom and in person domestically and internationally. Her interest in anatomy is incorporated into her teaching style. She holds three higher education degrees: MA in Humanistic Psychology, BA in Interior Design, and AA in Theater Arts.
Learn more about Jaki Nett:
jaki@iynv.com
Iyengar Yoga Napa Valley: iynv.com
Iyengar Yoga San Francisco: iyisf.org
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DAVID RUBEO (CIYT) began studying Iyengar Yoga in 2003 at the YMCA with teachers Wendy Baranello, Richard Jonas, and Dmitri Shapira. Encouraged by them, he enrolled in the Teacher Education program and received his certification from IYNAUS online during the pandemic. David continues to study with Dmitri, his mentor, and with Bobby Clennell, and online with teachers from India. He took his first trip to Pune with his friend Yuval in June of 2024.
YUVAL BOIM discovered Iyengar Yoga in 2003 and became a CIYT in 2022. An actor and writer whose work spans theatre, television, and film, he holds an M.F.A. in Theatre and Movement from Naropa University and the London International School of Performing Arts. Yuval also teaches at Princeton University. Outside of yoga and theatre, he enjoys knitting sweaters for his Yorkie, Enzo.
DMITRI SHAPIRA is a guitarist and L2 CIYT in New York City. He holds a master's degree in music from New England Conservatory and is a graduate of the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York's Teacher Training program. He teaches at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York and can be heard around the city, as well as at dmitrishapira.com. He enjoys looking for and continues to discover many parallels between his two pursuits of music and yoga.
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KEVIN ALLEN (he/him) is a CIYT from New York, NY. He began practicing in 2006 and became a CITY in 2013. He's been a faculty member at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York since 2014. When he's not practicing or teaching, Kevin is also an actor. You may have seen him on Law & Order: SVU or in commercials for Angi, Best Buy, Samsung, and more.
IG: instagram.com/kevin.j.allen
WEB: kevinjallen.com
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SHISHYA SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS is a dance company formed by dancers and artists. Its sole purpose is to educate and qualify students in the art of Indian Classical dance, music, mythology, and dance theater. The word 'Shishya' is of Sanskrit origin and means 'the student'. Guru' Kalashree' Sukanya Mahadevan founded it. The school under her leadership is in its 20th successful year of teaching and performing in the tristate area. Her students are not only taught dance, but also to use their craft for social awareness and justice, and follow the 'Art for Humanity' motto.
Sukanya Mahadevan and Shishya School of Performing Arts in New Jersey have performed on several world stages such as the Chennai dance festival, Carnegie Hall International dance festival, Rome International summer stages, the New York Fashion Week, Paris Disney performing Arts music festival, Trenton Thunder baseball game, and Mercer Teen Arts Festival as well as talent shows, competitions, Poojas, and the schools' own annual production.
SUKANYA MAHADEVAN, a prominent performer, teacher, and choreographer, is the founder and artistic director of Shishya School of Performing Arts in New Jersey and has won many awards and accolades in this field, including the 'Kalashree' title from Ganesa Natyalaya in New Delhi and 'Saraswati award' from Vipanchee Natyalaya in Chennai. She is a newly inducted Performing Arts Educators Fellow and the treasurer at the executive board of trustees at Dance New Jersey. Last year, she was awarded the "Outstanding Dance Studio Leadership Award " by NDEO. Shishya School is an NHSDA chapter here in the U.S. and has partnered with NIICD in India to award diplomas to advanced students. She is also a visiting faculty member at Rider University's World Dance program. Bharatanatyam is an ancient Indian dance form that dates back 2,000 years and continues to thrive worldwide thanks to artists like Guru Sukanya Mahadevan.
Performers: NATASHA AGRAWAL, VICKI AGRAWAL, VIDHYA BELAGODU, ROSHNI DHANAVANTH, BHOOMIKA KAMATH, TARA KARTIK, JYOTHI KRISHNAN, VEDIKA KRISHNA, SUKANYA MAHADEVAN, MANASA MAMUNOORU, PRITHIKA MITRA, SWATHI NARASIMHAN, KALAIVANI PANNEERSELVAM, NIVI VENKATAPATHY, JINU VINAY
Learn more about Shishya School of Performing Arts & Sukanya Mahadevan:
IG: instagram.com/shishya_dance
FB: @ShishyaSchool
WEB: shishya-arts.com 609-841-3244 shishya.arts@gmail.com
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CHRISTOPHER BRINEY is a Certified Level 3 Iyengar Yoga Teacher. He directs the Center for Iyengar Yoga in Royal Oak, Michigan. He has been a student of yoga since 1997 and a student of Iyengar Yoga since 2002. He received his first Iyengar Yoga teaching certificate in 2008. Christopher is also a lifelong musician. His musical life began as a preschooler, when he put numerous barbers through their paces by playing rock and roll during his haircuts. Though he may not always have had the most stylish hairdos, both he and the barbers made it through unscathed.
In his late teens, Christopher began playing the guitar and developing himself as a singer-songwriter. In fact, most of his university studies were driven by his desire to improve his songwriting skills. Just before his college graduation, Christopher discovered yoga. He was immediately captivated by it for two main reasons: one, he felt a joy and a positivity that he had rarely known, having suffered from depression since his early teen years. Thanks mainly to his practice of Iyengar Yoga, he has developed an inner resilience that has enabled him to pursue his dreams, even in the face of obstacles and setbacks. The second reason the yoga captivated (and still captivates) him is that he felt it opened and lifted up his creative process. His current musical project is called "tar Six." He is actively working on his first full-length album, which he is committed to producing by the end of the summer.
Christopher has written and published songs and live performances under the moniker "onster Mind Music."
YT: youtube.com/@
FB: facebook.com/profile.php?id=
IG: instagram.com/monstermindmusic
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GABE PICKARD (Level I CIYT), LINDSAY MAJER (Level I CIYT), and NED GARDINER (Level II CIYT) practice together and teach at Iyengar Yoga Asheville, a thriving community of dedicated Iyengar Yoga practitioners in Asheville and Western North Carolina.
WEB: iyavl.com
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WANJIRA MAKENA is a musician, educator, and mother who began studying Iyengar Yoga in 2001. For more than two decades, she has performed with and led a variety of musical ensembles throughout the metro Detroit area. In 2021, Wanjira founded the Detroit Sound Immersion Meditation Project, blending the meditative resonance of singing bowls with the therapeutic benefits of restorative yoga postures. Her primary instruments are trumpet and guitar, and she earned her master's degree in music education in 2023.
FB: facebook.com/profile.php?
WEB: wanjiramakena.com
MUSIC: https://jiramakena.bandcamp.com
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MIRI ALONI RIVLIN mirisyoga.com, IG: instagram.com/mirialonirivlin
MARIA F. CALABRIA mfcalabria@gmail.com
YOGINI PATEL yoginipatel.iyoga@gmail.com
ADRIENNE KLEIN yoga-with-adrienne.xyz
NAOMI HILLER REYNOLDS californiayoga.com
LINA LEE practicewithlina.com
RUCHI MURLIDHAR iyruchi.com
VICTORIA AUSTIN austinvictoria@sbcglobal.net
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JAMES MURPHY, KYOKO BROAD, ADELA BLEVIN, ANH TRAN, SUSAN TURIS, JENNIFER AMOS TAYLOR, LORRIE BERTOLINO, MEILLE PURDON practice together at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York
WEB: IyengarNYC.org
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LISA KAZMER is your MC for From The Heart: A Variety Show and the Chair of Entertainment for the 2026 IYNAUS Convention. Lisa has been a CIYT since 2021 and has been teaching yoga full-time since 2006. She attended the Teacher Education Program at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York and is mentored by Matt Dreyfus. She has made numerous trips to India and has lived and taught yoga internationally in both Singapore and Hong Kong. Lisa is now one of a handful of CIYTs in New Hampshire and remains on faculty at the NY Institute.
Philadelphia is a city near and dear to her heart. Lisa attended the University of the Arts, from which she received a BFA in Modern Dance. It was during her college days at UArts that she took her first-ever yoga class. The curation of this evening's performance comes from a deep gratitude for the Iyengar Yoga community and a strong conviction that the world needs more Art and Yoga!
WEB: LisaDevi.com
IG: instagram.com/
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BIG THANK YOU! to the event volunteers who helped make this night possible:
YUVAL BOIM
JAMIE KOSTURA
NICK POTENZIERI
NICKY FONTE
RACHEL POLEDNAK
DESI BOZHINOVA
KYOKO BROAD
CORRINA HU
JENNIFER AMOS TAYLOR
ADELA BLEVIN
LORRIE BERTOLINO
NICHOLAS JOURILES
THANKS AS WELL to the collaborative efforts and support of:
IC26 COMMITTEE
IYNAUS
IYAGNY
