At the age of 54 Winnie Young lost her husband Charles Young, and out of necessity started writing freelance for a local daily. Whilst doing an article on Betty Higginson, Durban’s most popular yoga teacher of the day, Winnie was as part of her interview encouraged to participate in one of Betty’s classes. This she duly did only to return the following week for a second yoga workout – left feeling exhilarated and totally hooked for life – such was Winnie’s introduction to the ancient art of Yoga.
Winnie had a strong love of silence and solitude, knowledge of God and her Christian faith, the art of teaching and an aptitude in dealing with people. These attributes, her life-experience, and finally discipline of body, mind and emotions, were her ways of using the tools God gave her to fulfil what she believed was God’s plan for her life.
Despite many challenges in her yoga journey Winnie’s faith and tenacity helped her to stay true to her calling.
When her attention was brought to that wonderful book “Light on Yoga” by Sri BKS Iyengar, Winnie knew he was the instructor she needed to lead her correctly along the path of Yoga. An opportunity presented itself in 1967 to go to Mauritius to be part of a course with the great Iyengar and Winnie did not hesitate. She was one of only 11 South Africans to attend, another being Joyce Stewart who would later go on to be part of the formation of the Institute of Iyengar Yoga in South Africa (IYISA) (they will be celebrating their 60th birthday next year!)
When Winnie came back from Mauritius not only had her body changed but her outlook on life, her involvement with others, and her already great love for her Catholic faith. Now at the age of 56 Iyengar had made her rigid back pliable and transformed her stiff muscles into a state of surrender. “Stretch and relax” became the password in
asana performance and each day increased her grasp of the subject. Her daily dose of yoga consisted of an hour or more and continued to be her way of life. Winnie recognized that Yoga was a way to God, but that way needed to be formed in silence and surrender.
Winnie had another 5 opportunities to return to Iyengar – 1970 once again in Mauritius, 1971 for 2 back-to-back courses in Malawi, 1972 in Swaziland, and later in London while on a brief visit. It was on her 2nd course in Mauritius that she was introduced to Yoga Kuranta and it wasn’t long before Winnie had her own ropes installed in most of her teaching venues, and included a section on using ropes in her book “Basic Yoga
Asanas”.
Not everyone could afford to go overseas to train with Iyengar so in 1975 Winnie came to a decision – she would obey Iyengar in all his commands but she would sacrifice all further tuition with him and be completely on her own. This meant she could help other yoga enthusiasts with more seminars, but teaching would be her responsibility. She resigned from the Iyengar group and instead chose to pursue her passions: inspiring and teaching along with Christian contemplation. Thus, the Young Yoga Institute was formed, with Winnie at its helm. Iyengar endorsed her booklets – still used as the foundation for students of the YYI as our core syllabus.
Over time, Winnie’s Institute grew in numbers. Instead of membership numbers, we have candle numbers, as the goal of spreading the light of yoga, endures. Some of our books still have that significance: “To Light a Candle”; “To Steady the Flame.” Winnie’s popularity and respect is legendary. She had inspired generations of yoga teachers, and she never stopped being grateful to Iyengar for what he had taught her.
Winnie’s yoga interests were not confined to Durban but through the YYI extended to every province in SA and even beyond its borders, not only teaching, holding seminars and retreats but training new teachers. By the year 2000 more than 200 teachers had been trained. 25 years later that number is over 1000!
The aphorisms Winnie learnt from Iyengar can still be heard today in YYI studios: work from your point of stability; to descend you must ascend; activate the dull part; keep the alignment; bend with your back and not your brain; and more! There was however one instruction above all others that stood out for Winnie and that was Iyengar saying, “Forget about your muscles, work with skin and bone. Your skin is your most sensitive guide” – reminding the yogi to work from inner awareness.
In 1992 Winnie taught her last class in Durban and handed over her 5 weekly classes to her faithful friends Thelma Coulson, Isabel Rogers and Ann Hill (who also became Principal, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.) Winnie was now free to pursue the promotion of “Centering Prayer” as well as keeping a watchful eye on the progress of her beloved YYI. Subsequent principals after Winnie and Thelma have included Moira Nicholson, Helen Charlesworth, Jeanette Mayhew, Barbara Vorlaufer, Jenny Gough, Isabel Ferreira, Ingrid Barnsley, Karen Carr and myself, Ulinda Pembrooke. Early Tutors include Jeanne Asherton-Smith, Jane McEwen, Joan Bellairs, Thelma Coulson, Ann Hill, Isabel Rogers, Rosemary Meier, Doreen Smith who was Tutorial Director for many years, and Jenny Gough who took over from Doreen.
The Forum magazine, initially edited by Winnie until her retirement in 2000, has seen many editions, evolving from hard copies to e-copies and is currently in the capable hands of Even Nesset and Ingrid Barnsley.
As various 50th birthday celebration events are planned and enjoyed across the country, we look back with gratitude on all that has been achieved, and look forward with anticipation for all that is still to come. Happy birthday YYI. Keep the flame burning! Winnie would be very proud!
Written by and reproduced with permission from Ulinda Pembrooke.
For further information on the YYI and it’s offerings please visit their website: The Young – Yoga Institute
