06/18/2026
“The convention was an amazing experience—I felt like Harry Potter arriving at Hogwarts!” - Tony DaSilva
Over Memorial Day weekend, many Artemis Yoga teachers and students traveled to Philadelphia to attend the 2026 IYNAUS Convention, a gathering of the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States. IYNAUS hosts these conventions every three years in different regions of the country, and this was the first held in the Northeast in quite some time, drawing a strong contingent of New England Iyengar yogis.
This year’s theme, “Cultivating Freedom,” featured Abhijata Iyengar as the keynote presenter. The program offered five days of practice sessions, three times daily, along with rich conversations, community, and more than a little fun.
The setting felt especially fitting: Philadelphia, in this 250th anniversary year of our nation, offered a powerful backdrop for exploring what freedom truly means. To walk the streets where the Declaration of Independence was signed, to stand before the Liberty Bell, and to carry that spirit into the real world, asking how we might find freedom in our own bodies, gave the theme a resonance beyond the mat.
More than 770 practitioners filled the ballrooms of the Philadelphia Convention Center, with over 200 more joining online. It was an extraordinary experience.
We have gathered reflections from several Artemis Yoga teachers and students who attended, and in this special edition, we are delighted to share them with you. When you see these teachers, ask them more; they will surely be weaving these insights into their classes.
Click here for all the reflections: https://artemisyoga.com/community/cultivating-freedom-with-abhijata-iyengar-reflections-from-the-2026-iynaus-convention/
