Yoga projects & events

The Living Breath is the translation of Peter Hersnack’s book La Chair Vivante (Cahiers de Présence d’Esprit 2003). It covers the proceedings of a week-long retreat which Peter taught in France in 2002. 

The book is divided into 7 chapters, each covering one day of the retreat. The theme is the relationships of five ‘energetic elements’, which are vital for our healthy living in the world. 

Peter states clearly at the beginning that this is essentially a practical book; the fruit of his many years of study with TKV Desikachar in Chennai, India, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Each chapter contains two or three practices, which are described in detail and represented by diagrams. These introduce key aspects of Peter’s teaching, including intelligent use of breath in yoga posture and different aspects of bodily intelligence. The whole book is shot through with insights from Peter’s profound knowledge and unique understanding of the Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. 

Rationale and vision for the course: 

Several people who worked with Peter through English have asked for some kind of workshop or course which covers both the essence and more specifics of his teaching. I thought it could be interesting and helpful to go the book chapter by chapter, looking at the ideas Peter presents, and doing the practices. It would be a ‘guided walk’. We will work together, sharing our experiences. As Peter says in his introduction to the book, ‘I don’t claim any authority here’! I’d hope that we can share our experiences, but I would be there to facilitate, to guide the practices and to outline the theoretical material. 

Every time I read the book I find something new. My intention with this course is to share Peter’s work through the lens of my own understanding through study and practice. I’d hope that each participant will be touched differently – as Peter touched each of us according to who we are, rather than to any agenda of his. If it seems appropriate, we might also wander further, slightly ‘off piste’, if any other aspects of Peter’s teaching come up during the course of our explorations. His teaching changed over the years, and some of his later ways of looking at particular yoga concepts could certainly inform our work on The Living Breath. However, the book will remain the clear focus of the course, and we will go through it step by step.

I spent many years completely immersed in The Living Breath. Peter encouraged me to translate the original French book, La Chair Vivante, into English, and from 2010 to his death in 2016 I worked on it under his guidance. After that, a small group was formed, and we worked together to complete the translation project, which was published in December 2018. This group was led by Peter’s widow Colette, and included Sheila Baker, who did all the artwork and cover design, and who ensured we kept ‘essence of Peter’ present at all times.

Since Peter’s death I have been working consistently with Peter’s wife Colette, and also with Sylvie Palot, who shares the teaching at the annual Art of Yoga- Peter Hersnack retreat in France. I’m also translating Peter’s translations and commentary of the Yoga Sutra into English for the Association’s website, as well as being ‘anglophone rep’ on their committee. I’m offering this course as a way of keeping Peter’s teaching alive – and so that those of us who want to can pass it on to a new generation of students – each in our own way, but with an understanding based on practice and study.