‘The first time I opened the Yoga Sutras, I read that life is full of suffering and despair, and I thought, wow, I can relate, there must be something here for me…’
– Patricia Walden, (paraphrased) last year at a Q&A, about her early days with yoga. Where, by the way, she sat casually in full padmasana (lotus pose) for over an hour.
Yesterday, one my most beloved teachers Patricia Walden, turned 80 years old. My heart celebrates her: she opened to the door for me to know my own heart, and the Divinity that our hearts are the doorway to.
Patricia’s devotion to Guruji BKS Iyengar and his method of practice has inspired countless students. A blog post cannot do justice to the gratitude I feel; here are a few photos, Patricia quotes, and thoughts, in celebration of this tenacious, iconic, loving person who has changed my life.
“Don’t be attached to the past. You put yourself in bondage.”
Patricia began studying with BKS Iyengar in the mid 70s. Not knowing the norms, she showed up in a red full body unitard; at first he ignored her! But over time, her perseverance and appreciation of the practice led her to become one of Guruji’s most dedicated students, and world renowned senior teacher in the Iyengar method.
In some ways, she was part of what created the skinny white lady yoga archetype so many rebel from in our current era, but I see this like a parent whose existence allows a child to define their own path because of what came before. Of course, my own Libra mother, one year younger than Patricia, and a force of nature in her own way, may have something to do with this.
Patricia is an elder who has grown and learned to wield power with humility. I appreciate that the yoga world she came up in was a boys club, where she had to carve out her own space. She is a person who has and is, living her dharma.
“Guruji has shown us it’s possible to reach samadhi by doing asana – if that’s your intent, it makes a difference.”
Long before yoga went mainstream, she made a VHS, Yoga Journal’s “Yoga for Beginners,” a video that was the #1 selling yoga video of all time, with over 2 million copies sold. I met her long after this, in 2014, in a week long intensive near Denver, Colorado. My main and first teacher, Kim Schwartz, said she could be a good teacher for me since she is someone with lots of mobility who has learned stability. Thanks, Kim.
Ernest and fresh faced, I was a newbie in that intimidating, seasoned group. Patricia saw potential in me and helped me to see it too. This unforgettable week was like jumping into the deep end.
“Perfection is asana is not having a perfect pose. It is reaching a state of merging with the inner infinity.”
I was challenged, illuminated. Patricia was formidable, exacting, sharp eyed and unwavering. Her love for Guruji was so bright, shining. “He’s our lighthouse. How fortunate we are some one has gone before…”
It lit us all up! She wanted his flame to live, to burn bright, his teachings to live on in us. I worked so hard, not from perfectionism, but devotion. She required that. I learned asanas and pranayamas I’d never dreamed of, they transformed me.
Because of Patricia, I set on the path to be a CIYT. When she turned 70, we made her a maha mala of flowers from the farm at blue Lake. I took so many notes!
I trusted her and loved the practice she helped me access enough to let the Teachings change me. She unlocked the aliveness of the Yoga Sutras for me. What a blessing to have found her.
“Be challenged but not overwhelmed.”
“Our lineage is based in practice.”
She poured so many teachings into me. Seeds planted to grow and grow. I am one of so many she’s lit up with the light of sadhana. Her heartfelt practice lives in so many of us students, because she shared the fire in depth with us so clearly, intensely, generously.
After studying with Patricia in Santa Fe, 2016, driving away, I had to pull over and weep, with joy. I rarely cry, but Patricia‘s teachings moved me so deeply. To practice with her lifted the veil, revealed the tender beauty of the world.
“In pranayama you meet your inner universe and feel it merge with the outer universe.”
In Pune, India, at the Centenary Celebration in 2018, I painted a live painting of Guruji in the variety show. Geetaji and Prashantji signed it, it was such a potent trip. Geetaji’s final teachings. I felt so happy to see Patricia there.
Then came Covid. So many far away teachers went online. That was a treat. Patricia began to talk more about Iyengar’s Panchakani Intensive, telling stories of Guruji’s transformation. She taught more and more about citta prasadanam as a theme. ‘Kustha citta – cosmic consciousness within the core of the spine.’
In early 2020, she emphasized that yoga can be a refuge. ‘Our dharma: how to be fully with someone who is suffering.’
Firmness in the joints, lightness in the spine… vertical ascension, horizontal expansion.
Moment = the quality of the soul; movement = the quality of nature.
“Stop thinking. Do from the inner intelligence, not the brain. Then you can feel the messages from the body.”
She came to Durango in 2023, I had had gender affirming top surgery three months prior. This workshop helped me fully return to my full range and freedom in this new version of my body.
Patricia was so generous, affectionate. I love demoing for her. I felt so safe to go beyond the old limitations in my mind and body in a healthy way. I love how Patricia invited us to work so hard, but without aggression.
Always, the physical practice led to the spiritual heart.
“Each pose is a svadhyaya.”
I was in Pune last year and saw Patricia and John, were offering a commemorative 50 year Anniversary Retreat at Feathered Pipe, Montana, a place with its own rich lore and Iyengar Yoga History. I spontaneously I signed up.
Again, I felt the honor and fullness to have so much poured into me. So many demos. I felt like a time capsule, a vessel to carry these teachings on into the future. I went again this year, for the “Last Dance at the Ranch.”
Patricia’s short term memory loss is real, and, she is so joyful, radiant. Her teachings have become more crystalized. What comes though is the essence, as the rest falls away.
It’s so tender to be with her now, as her capacities are continuing to shift. It requires a telepathy of sorts to be in class, to follow where she’s going, lightly. To be present with her, and trust what comes. It’s an invitation to be at ease, and full of acceptance. To reflect back to her, it’s OK.
Sometimes for me, it’s heartbreaking, other times, it feels mystical. Impermanence cuts with a clean blade, the past from the present. She shines very bright. She is so real.
It was tender, this summer, but also rich with immense, authentic joy.
Seeing Patricia’s face light up as she witnessed me, which would make my face light up, which would make her light up. Reciprocity, delight in practice, devotion, rigor, depths, surrender.
photos above by Kelly Fogel
“To know prakriti as ever changing, to be non-reactive, is a relief – it allows us to give our full undivided attention to listen without an agenda.”
Here’s Patricia doing backbends at 79. Such Grace! Look at the video of her 60th birthday demonstration, my God. But here, there’s just as much beauty. So much integration, simplicity. She is inspiring to behold.
Patricia talked a lot about the diaphragm as a spiritual muscle. She emphasized it so much: lifting the side ribs, spreading and relaxing the diaphragm, and how it brings freedom, allows us to let go. Consciousness spreading everywhere. Listening to the messages coming from inside the embodiment. The spiritual heart.
She shared a story where Guruji invited his students to “bombard yourself with yoga.” Let us bombard ourselves, be well established, and go deep, find out for ourselves!
“Watch the deeper silence. Let calm and quietness seep into every cell.”
All things change, Patricia’s memory loss of course brings grief. However, it is also a miracle to witness her. Her laughter comes easily now. She’s worked so hard, held so much. She released so many layers. She has aloud herself to keep changing and growing, and now there is so much joy and levity in her.
I loved dancing with her this summer, on the last night. Witnessing her delight.
The best backbends I’ve ever practiced or with Patricia guiding me. I hear her voice inside me when I practice alone. But not alone. The long line of teachers, lineage, it is guiding me. May I be a home for the teachings to live and grow in.
“Be with what you can’t see.”
At the Iyengar Yoga Convention in Philly this year, it was my birthday. Patricia was there, in the huge classes with Abhijata, being a student. She hugged me and sang me happy birthday. What a blessing! She told me, one arm slung around my shoulders, in her matter of fact way, ‘You have to let go, what’s on the surface, find the light. Sometimes you really have to dig!’
So true.
I’m glad, Patricia, you’ve stayed with it.
I love you. Happy Birthday.
