Words of Wisdom

Failures in Life Lead to Determination

by B.K.S. Iyengar - prominent yoga teacher, author, philanthropist, activist

I was not a good example of a yoga practitioner when I started teaching yoga. I was very skinny and had no muscles. I was only bones. My chest would expand only half an inch. I could not do the asana-s well. My presentation of the asana-s was not attractive because my body had no flesh and no shape. I was not even eighteen and all my students were older than me. My students were educated, adept in sports and culture. I do not know how I won the hearts of the people of Pune!

I had developed great tolerance to bear pain due to the persistent illnesses that I faced in my childhood. The tolerance enhanced my endurance.The suffering had instilled a strong willpower. A man of skin and bones like me could tolerate the workload with greater ease than a man with bulky muscles. I would teach from 6 to 11 am and from 4 to 8 pm. I would teach several batches each day without a gap between classes and I would practise along with each batch without any rest. My students would get exhausted but I would continue. I appeared courageous externally but I was very nervous inside. I faced a lot of disappointments but by the grace of God I won the battle. I developed grace and elegance in my presentation. I wanted to prove to those who spoke against asana-s that they were wrong. This determination made me successful. I used to be a laughing stock in the field of yoga but I am happy that today there are millions practising yoga.

One suffers stalemates in all walks of life whether one is an artist, a musician, a dancer or a sports person. One cannot progress if one gets caught in these stalemates. I too faced this several times when I would not make any progress. I would do everything but still feel empty inside. Nothing was coming. Nothing was happening. Many artists would have faced such situations and hated them. They are afraid to express their weakness. I have taught many top class musicians and they all admitted that they experience such situations and they take it as failures. Do not be disappointed by failure. Failures not only gave me determination but showed me a new light and a new way to progress. I used that tool of disappointment as an appointment for a new assignment and it strengthened my will to pursue this path of yoga with determination.