Gabriella Giubilaro - Compassion and generosity are essential for a good teacher

Gabriella Giubilaro is a long-time practitioner and a highly regarded teacher of Iyengar Yoga from Florence, Italy. She joined her first Iyengar Yoga class in 1973, and with curiosity and focus committed to a serious practice. Gabriella quickly developed a deep passion for the subject, since 1983 she has been studying at RIMYI with the Iyengar family.

Gabriella holds a Ph.D. in Physics. She was teaching physics at the University of Florence, before she decided to fully devote herself to studying and teaching Yoga. Today Gabriella teaches in her studio Istituto Iyengar Yoga Firenze in Florence, Italy and conducts workshops around the globe.

In this conversation, Gabriella talks about her journey in Yoga, and recounts her first classes in Pune. Gabriella shares her guidance on how the practice of non-harmfulness towards every human and nature can help deepen our Yoga practice. She also reflects on how her asana practice has evolved over 52 years and why compassion and generosity are key qualities for a good teacher.

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Istituto Iyengar Yoga Firenze where Gabriella Giubilaro teaches: https://www.istitutoiyengaryogafirenze.it

“After the ecstasy, the laundry” by Jack Kornfield https://www.amazon.in/After-Ecstasy-Laundry-Heart-Spiritual/dp/0553378295

“The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali” by Edwin Bryant translated to Italian by Gabriella Giubilaro https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Gabriella-Giubilaro/dp/8827229752

Videos of Gabriella’s classes https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAHbhYCwb_4XslWw7m0KQBfCCsYNwxJAb

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Glossary (Sanskrit words and sutras from the interview):

Karuṇā (Sanskrit) - compassion.

tapaḥ svādhyāya iśvarapraṇidhānāni kriyāyogaḥ - Yoga Sutras of Patanjali 2.1.