Year End Reflection: From Uncertainty to Growth!
by Nancy Zrymiak
As we close the chapter on 2023, take a journey with us. We began the year with just 3 board members, uncertain about the future of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Vancouver. A single email to our members sparked a transformation. Now, with gratitude, we have 8 board members.
Fun Fact: Our association boasts a vibrant community with 40 dedicated teachers across 38 locations in and around Vancouver. Throughout the year, these talented teachers hosted over 40 engaging workshops. Our online presence shone with over 100 inspiring posts on Instagram and Facebook.
This year we launched monthly Community Gatherings, rotating across Vancouver’s studios and centers to unite teachers, apprentices, and members. This venue rotation allowed us to connect, learn, and share knowledge at various locations, extending even beyond Vancouver and reaching our widespread membership. Patricia Fernandes and Brian Hogencamp, alongside host teachers, led these gatherings, and we are deeply thankful for their ongoing leadership. Brian and Patricia always emphasize the collective effort, and our gratitude extends to everyone involved.
In 2023, our association orchestrated two vibrant and well-attended workshops featuring Louie Ettling and Brian Hogencamp. June brought us together in Stanley Park for a picnic, bidding farewell to Louie Ettling and celebrating her contributions to Iyengar yoga in Vancouver. Although she moved to Vancouver Island, we’re glad she is close enough to visit. In November, we assisted in organizing a Level 1 assessment at Deb Peake’s Mount Pleasant Studio.
Remarkably, as the year unfolded from a place of uncertainty, the Iyengar Yoga Association of Vancouver has emerged not just resilient but thriving, embodying a spirit of health, steadiness, and strength. In the words of BKS Iyengar, ‘Yoga is a light which, once lit, will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame.’ Witnessing our community’s resilience, we see this flame shining brightly among us.
About the Author
Nancy first discovered Iyengar Yoga in Bangalore, India in 2010. It took only one class to convince her that yoga was for her… for life. She completed her studies under the guidance of Senior Iyengar Yoga teacher, Louie Ettling and is now a certified Iyengar yoga instructor. In 2016 Nancy travelled to Pune, India to study with the Iyengar family. She teaches in New Westminster. Follow Nancy on Instagram for more information.
