Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga is based on the teachings and methodology of living yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar. His yoga center, The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute is located in Pune, India. He is the author of several books on the subject of yoga, including the classic book, Light on Yoga. Mr. Iyengar began teaching in 1936 at the age of 18. Today, in his 90's, he continues to teach and inspire students all over the world. His daughter, Geeta, and his son, Prashant, are also accomplished yoga teachers and authors.
The Iyengar family's teachings are deeply rooted in the yoga sutras of Patanjali, an ancient text about the path of yoga considered to be at least 2,500 years old. B.K.S. Iyengar's intense practice and almost seventy years of teaching have produced significant innovations in teaching the art and science of the practice of yoga.
Iyengar Yoga is a precise system of physical, mental and spiritual development. Its aim is to connect the Individual Soul with the Universal Soul. This is achieved through the perfection of yoga postures (asanas) and yogic breathing (pranayama), which are two limbs of the eight-limbed system known as Ashtanga Yoga.
This process improves the quality of the mind by improving its ability to focus., which in turn expands the mind's capacity to concentrate and remain present.
While doing the asana, the mind becomes acutely aware of the body and then becomes absorbed in a meditative state. The sense of a separateness fades and the mind becomes still and undisturbed.
This is the ultimate goal of meditation; to attain complete Self-Awareness and an unabiding sense of peace.
The benefits of Iyengar Yoga
- Strength - Asanas tone every part of the body
- Endurance - Regular dedicated practice increases the body's overall capacity
- Flexibility - Correct stretching of all muscle groups establishes or maintains a youthful ease of movement
- Posture - Elegant posture is maintained effortlessly as tone and flexibility increase
- Health - Balance in body and mind create a consistent and positive state of well-being
- Peace - Mental tranquility is achieved through physical ease
- Spiritual Wisdom - Persistent practice develops a deep sense of self-knowledge and awareness
- Integration - Sustained acceptance of physical, emotional and spiritual aspects leads to a harmonious state of being
Yoga is for everyone
Mr. Iyengar developed a safe and effective teaching methodology that is accessible to everyone regardless of physical condition or limitations.
Iyengar teachers make practicing the asanas accessible for the individual's needs through the use of props such as blocks, blankets and belts.
Props allow practitioners to remain in the pose longer to gain the benefit of greater flexibility, strength and tranquility.
Iyengar Yoga teachers demonstrate the individual asana to provide a visual image, then they carefully observe the students in the pose, offering verbal corrections and, if necessary, manual adjustments.
All this is done to see that awareness is gained, improvements are made and that the asana is understood more clearly.
"The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind & the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life." -B.K.S. Iyengar