Who is Vanda Scaravelli, and why inspired Yoga? Good question.

What is Scaravelli inspired yoga? & who is Vanda Scaravelli?
Scaravelli Inspired Yoga is a form of Yoga practice that respects the ‘revolutionary’ understanding of yoga shared by Vanda Scaravelli during the later years and through her book ‘Awakening the Spine’.

Who was Vanda Scaravelli?

Vanda Scaravelli, the namesake of Scaravelli, inspired yoga, was born in 1908 in Florence Italy, to a highly musical and intellectual family.

Her mother, Clara Corsi, a teacher, was one of the first Italian women to graduate from University. Her father, Alberto Passigli, a successful businessman, was instrumental in music and opera, helping to create the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. The Orchestre Stabile enables Florence to have its orchestra; Vanda herself trained as a pianist to concert level under the tutelage of Ernesto Consolo. During her childhood and family life, she was exposed to some of the century’s most formidable artists; the family villa Il Leco became a salon for such masters as Arthur Schnabel, Arturo Toscanini, Federico Fellini, Bronislaw Huberman, Pablo Casals and Andres Segovia.

Vanda married Luigi Scaravelli, Professor of philosophy at Rome and Pisa Universities, with whom she had two children. Sadly and unexpectedly, Luigi died shortly after WWII.

Each year Vanda rented a chalet in Gstaad, Switzerland, and that it was during this time of experiencing the loss of her husband that she first met and observed the Yoga practice of the then titled “Yoga Raja” B.K.S.Iyengar.

Who taught Vanda Yoga?

Vanda’s friend, the violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin, was a student of B.K.S Iyengar. In 1954 Iyengar was accompanying Menuhin on his tours as his personal instructor; also, Menuhin, a great humanitarian, shared the powers and benefits of yoga embodied in the yoga adept B.K.S. Iyengar; by introducing him to the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. During this time, they stayed for some months as Vanda’s guests in Gstaad.

Vanda spent time observing and then became an Iyengar student, notably along with her other good friend, Jiddu Krishnamurti. Some years later, the esteemed Yoga teacher and son of Krishnamacharya, T.K.V. Desikachar, was invited by Krishnamurti to come to Gstaad, and there he taught both Vanda and Krishnamurti about the importance of the breath, ‘pranayama’ ~ extension of the breath/life force.

How is this Yoga different?

Here we get a clue of the vibrant melting pot in which Vanda Scaravelli, then in her 40’s came to start a journey of discovery through yoga, which led to her realisations about the effects of gravity and the breath and the potential of awakening the spine. In the introduction to her book ‘Awakening the Spine’ she states

“What is this new teaching? A revolution has to take place. A revolution based on one very simple physical truth. There is a division in the centre of our back where the spine moves simultaneously in two opposite directions: from the waist downwards towards the legs and feet which are pulled by gravity, and from the waist upwards, through the top of the head, lifting us up freely.

The pull of gravity under our feet makes it possible for us to extend the upper part of the spine, and this extension allows us also to release tension between the vertebrae. Gravity is like a magnet attracting us to earth, but this attraction is not limited to pulling us down. It also allows us to stretch in the opposite direction towards the sky.”

Is this a living practice?

Vanda was adamant that this ‘new Yoga’ wasn’t a style or system to be copied or achieved. Instead of a way of experiencing connection, an expression of life through which the spine wakes up.

The experience of connection comes from being present in the moment. In the body, relating to your external environment and gravity and your internal environment with the breath. Here are some of Vanda’s words on gravity,

‘Galileo, Newton, Einstein – all worked passionately around this mysterious phenomenon of gravity, which holds the miracle of our existence.

Gravity

Gravity puts us in contact with the spine. All movements we do against the flow of gravity are negative, while those we do along with the pull of gravity, in which the ground receives our weight, are positive.

While doing the poses correctly, our muscles seem to answer to a binding force collecting them together. This force, responding to the opposite pull of gravity, travels through our limbs and is well accepted by our body, which naturally desires to extend itself.

We call this force ‘anti force’. It is similar to the rebounding explosion of a waterfall which, after dropping down at high speed and springing up again with incredible strength, transforms and sublimates its journey by dissolving the water into ever lighter sprays, creating a swirling cloud’.

Breath and movement

On Breathing, Vanda said ‘Breathing is the essence of Yoga.

Breathe naturally, without forcing — no pressure or disturbance. Nothing should interfere with the simple, tide-like movement of our lungs as we breathe in and out.

After a while, if we are paying attention, we will find that the last three vertebrae closest to the ground begin to receive life.

The energy running along the back of the spine from it’s base to the top of the head increases in power, making the spine alive and strong.

Vanda Scaravelli

Vanda Scaravelli died in Italy in 1991 at the age of 91.

Inspired yoga teachers

Many teachers continue this exploration of the human being through yoga. They are following in Vanda’s footsteps, which has become ‘Scaravelli Inspired Yoga”. Diane Long was Vanda’s principal student. She studied with her for 23 years and, as such, is the most directly connected to her. She is known for her directness of communication, her humour and is very popular. Diane is based in Rome but regularly teaches in the U.K. Sophy Hoare practised with Vanda in her last year of life, which profoundly affected Sophy. She also met Diane Long at Vanda’s and invited Diane to teach her. They continue to practice and teach together. Sophy lives and works predominantly in the U.K.

Yoga Teacher Trainers

Marc J Acquaviva (aka Woolford) is known for his extraordinary teaching in the Scaravelli Inspired vein. He has developed a way of introducing students to what he calls conditions. Once recognised, the habitual patterns of stress-related to muscular and mental tension can be released and ‘Scaravelli Inspired Yoga’ results. Or you experience your natural state.

He has formed the Acquaviva School of Yoga to pass on this work with others. We are fortunate that Marc will be running several workshops at Isle of Yoga on the Isle of Wight for 2015.

Teacher and Student traditions

Following this great tradition, Erling studied for his 200-hour Diploma 2 with Marc and embraced this teaching passionately. The student is now the teacher & he teaches workshops, retreats and classes at Erling Yoga, his studio and base of the Isle of Wight. If you would like to visit the Island and do yoga, we have an excellent place for both. Please get in touch for availability.