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Welcome to Light on Cooking: The Iyengar Tradition. I’m your host, Susan Johnson

In 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. 🙏🏼

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Welcome 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.

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This 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.

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