What is Iyengar Yoga?

What is Iyengar Yoga?

B.K.S IYENGAR

Whom devoted his whole life to the practise, study & teaching of yoga.

What is Iyengar Yoga?

B.K.S Iyengar is a highly respected individual who devoted his whole life to the practise, study & teaching of yoga. He explored & transcribed every aspect of each asana (posture) & pranayama (breathing) practice with all their benefits in a book, ‘Light on Yoga’ in 1966. He went on to write many other inspirational books on yoga, one of which is my favourite above.

Iyengar brought his huge enthusiasm & expertise of yoga to the West & shared his knowledge widely through demonstration & teaching classes. Whilst teaching the westerners, he realised how challenging the asanas were for them & instinctively started using objects around the house like chairs, ledges & belts to assist them. The use of props is now one of the aspects that makes the ‘Iyengar Way’ recognisable.

Why practise Iyengar Yoga?

The Iyengar Way is hugely popular because:

• It is accessible to all ages & abilities

• It is a safe practice for all, as the teachers are assessed to teach to a very high standard of teaching.

• The class is planned to deliver excellent sequencing with a keen focus on alignment of the body. The student learns how to be in & move in/out of the postures with care.

• Props are used to help the student achieve an asana & experience longer holds in them so that the full benefits can be experienced without strain.

• The structure of the class is delivered with a good demonstration & clear instruction. The student may receive helpful corrections & repeat postures to improve their understanding. This leads to a strong foundational practise of yoga.

• Every class is different as each week a group of postures that link together are looked at & built on.

• The class pace is steady & dynamic which gives the student time to absorb the details & embody the experience of the class. All of which encourages self confidence for the student to develop a stable home practice.

• Emphasis is on asana & pranayama but through continuous, dedicated practice, there is a realisation that all the 8 limbs of yoga can be experienced within asana.

What to expect in a class?

In a beginners class, expect lots of demonstration from the teacher & repetition of postures by you. My class sizes are small varying from 4-15 students. I have a friendly bunch of men, women & teenagers attending my classes on a weekly basis, so we all get to know each other over time. The classes are non-competitive but challenging. You can rest when ever you want & I can give you alternative postures to do when needed. I do use props in my classes & encourage you to achieve your fullest potential in a posture. Remember yoga is more about us understanding our mind & transcending our thoughts rather than being able to touch our toes. That will come!