The first weekend of October once again filled Ljubljana with the energy of the Iyengar Yoga community. From October 3rd to 5th, we gathered at the Sati Yoga Center, guided by Gabriella Giubilaro, whose warmth, clarity, and humor always make her presence feel like coming home — to the mat, to the body, and to the deeper essence of yoga.
The event brought together numerous members of the Iyengar Yoga Association of Slovenia and other practitioners, who together ensure that the teaching in the spirit of B.K.S. Iyengar’s tradition remains alive and accessible.
Over the course of three days, we explored space — not only as a physical dimension, but as a healing quality. Gabriella reminded us of Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar’s words: “Space is healing.” And indeed, we felt it. As the body softened, opened, and aligned, something within began to shift — tensions dissolved, the breath deepened, and silence became clearer.
Each class with Gabriella is more than just practice; it is a dialogue between awareness and action, between discipline and grace. We were supported by the characteristic yoga props – blocks, belts, blankets, and chairs – which are not merely aids for the body but tools for understanding. Gabriella reminded us that a prop is not a substitute but a teacher, helping us to see what often remains hidden without support.
About Gabriella
Gabriella Giubilaro is one of the most respected senior Iyengar Yoga teachers in the world. Known for her dynamic approach, sharp eye, and radiant humor, she has an exceptional gift for meeting students exactly where they are — and guiding them toward their full potential.
Her teaching blends the warmth and spontaneity of her Italian roots with the precision and depth of her scientific background. Gabriella began practicing yoga in 1973 in Florence, Italy. After earning a PhD in physics, she dedicated her life entirely to the study and teaching of yoga in the tradition of B.K.S. Iyengar. Since 1983 she has been studying annually with the Iyengar family in Pune, and since 1987 she’s been leading classes at her own studio in Florence, as well as workshops across Europe and the United States.
Friday – Creating Space for Breath
On Friday, we began by opening the upper body — the chest, shoulders, and diaphragm — preparing the space for the breath to flow freely. Gabriella reminded us that, as Guruji said, “Space is healing.” And indeed, we could feel it. With each movement, the ribs lifted, the lungs expanded, and the body felt lighter.
A big part of the session was dedicated to the work of the feet — how to distribute the weight evenly and find balance from the ground up. As Gabriella explained, the feet are the foundation of all standing poses; once the base is steady, the rest of the body can rise effortlessly.
We closed the day sitting quietly in Swastikasana, practicing Viloma Pranayama. The stillness after so much opening felt vast — as if breath itself was teaching us.
Saturday – Grounding Through Strength and Alignment
Saturday brought a different kind of work — more grounding, more fire. Standing poses challenged our stability and precision, while forward bends invited quiet introspection. Gabriella’s sharp eye caught every detail: the direction of the thigh, the lift of the sternum, the awareness behind each action.
Throughout the day, a central theme emerged — creating space in the tailbone area. This awareness stayed with us from one asana to another: from Vrksasana to Virabhadrasana I, and even into Sirsasana and Sarvangasana. We explored how to maintain softness in the buttocks while keeping length and lightness around the sacrum. It was fascinating to feel how this subtle awareness transformed stability into spaciousness.
After the practice, together with Gabriella, we watched a recording of Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar from his later years — a moving reminder that the essence of yoga is timeless and that the learning never truly ends.
Sunday – Integration, Backbends, and Stories of Devotion
Sunday’s practice tied everything together. We moved through backbends like Urdhva Mukha Svanasana, keeping the same awareness in the buttocks and creating space around the tailbone. The sequence was dynamic yet balanced — just the right intensity for a Sunday morning.
Gabriella also shared stories from her years with Guruji. One, in particular, stayed with me: she said she often wondered why she could give so much of herself when standing in front of her teacher — pushing to her very limits — but not always the same when practicing alone. She realized that the boundary between those two states, between inner and outer motivation, is incredibly thin. It’s a reminder that yoga asks us to bring the same sincerity and dedication — whether we stand before a teacher or within our own quiet space.
What always amazes me about Gabriella is her ability to see. Not just alignment or physical form, but the subtle patterns behind them — the habits, fears, and resistances that shape the way we move and breathe. With a few precise words, she can shift your entire perception of a pose. Suddenly, something clicks, and space appears — not only in the body, but in the mind.
Her teaching is both rigorous and compassionate. One moment, she challenges you to hold a pose a little longer; the next, she cracks a joke that makes the whole room laugh, and in that laughter, the body softens again. There’s no dogma, no heaviness — just deep respect for the practice and for the intelligence of life itself.
During these three days, the Sati Yoga Center became more than a space for practice — it became a living laboratory of awareness. Mats lined up close together, yet everyone moved within their own universe of breath and discovery. By the end of the workshop, you could feel the collective shift: bodies lighter, minds quieter, hearts open.
It’s in moments like these that I’m reminded why we call yoga a lifelong path. No matter how many years we teach or practice, there is always another layer to uncover, another depth to explore. And having a teacher like Gabriella — someone who embodies the wisdom of the Iyengar tradition with such authenticity and joy — is a true blessing.
As the workshop came to a close, we lingered in silence for a few moments longer. The air was filled with a deep sense of gratitude — to Gabriella, whose presence continually opens space for learning and understanding; to the Sati Yoga Center, which embraced us with warmth; and to the community we create together each time we meet.
Each of us left with a little more space — in the body, in the breath, and in the heart. And perhaps that is what Iyengar Yoga keeps teaching us: that true transformation happens when we create space within ourselves — a space where life and breath can meet again.
