About Iyengar Yoga

What is Yoga?

An ancient practice of development, yoga is the study and observation of one's self. The word yoga is derived from the root word "yuj" which means restraint. It also means to bind, join or yoke. One of six orthodox systems of Indian Darshan (inquiry), yoga emphasizes practice over theoretical discourse. Asana (posture) practice has popular appeal today and is one part of the broad system of yoga, in which consistent and disciplined application leads a practitioner towards investigation of high-minded pursuits. Regular yoga practices provide proper links between body and mind and mind and conscience--leading to the state of meditation: a yoking of mind, body, and soul. The practitioner aspires to a state of absorption called Samadhi. Samadhi is yoga and yoga is Samadhi.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras was written between 2000 and 2500 years ago and remains a relevant text today. Patanjali describes the path of yoga as an experience in which the individual's fluctuating consciousness is restrained, and yokes to the universal consciousness. "Yoga is control of the modifications of consciousness." (Yoga Sutras 1.2)

You do not have to be "fit" to take up the practice of yoga. "Whether young, old or too old, sick or lean, one who discards laziness gets success if he practices yoga." (Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1.66)

What is Iyengar Yoga?

"The aim and culmination of yoga is the sight of the soul, but it has a lot of side effects which are health, happiness, peace and poise."
- B. K. S. Iyengar

Iyengar Yoga is a method of instruction set forth by living master B.K.S. lyengar. While he has stated, "There is no Iyengar yoga, there is only yoga," his students and peers have acknowledged his provocative and pioneering work in recognizing it by that name.

He is the prolific author of many texts, including the classic, Light on Yoga. In the 60's and 70's Iyengar came to the United States and participated in the ground swell of yoga's popularity and dissemination. Rooted in ancient tradition, his intense practices of over 80 years and 75 years of teaching experience have produced long lasting and effective tools for the modern practitioner. Most notable are:

1) An emphasis on standing poses to develop stamina, correct alignment, resolve structural imbalances, and create a stable foundation for other postures.
2) Use of props to enhance learning and support poses for people who have physical limitations. Props used effectively have the ability to facilitate asana practices and to educate the practitioner.
3) Proper sequencing of postures for general and therapeutic benefits.
4) Highly articulated teaching methodology which includes demonstration, observation, and correction - based upon established curriculum intended to progress and instruct students safely from their first classes forward.

At 91, BKS Iyengar, now in semi-retirement, still practices daily and shares the light of his genius at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, India where his family resides. His daughter and son, Geeta and Prashant, are currently the primary teachers at RIMYI, and brilliant instructors in their own rights. Each of them has also made enormous and valuable contributions to the oeuvre of written works on yoga - most notable is Geeta's 1983 work, A Gem for Women.

http://www.bksiyengar.com