Iyengar

Iyengar yoga is not as well known as its many cohorts, especially the Hatha yoga after which it was fashioned. Perhaps it is the fact that the Iyengar yoga poses are a relative newcomer to the century old disciplines that make up the majority of the different branches of yoga practiced today. Named after Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar who discovered yoga for himself at the age of 15, the founder of Iyengar yoga is a firm advocate of the findings that yoga in general but his kind of yoga in particular will help anyone to overcome a variety of serious ailments and diseases. Citing his own ability to overcome bouts with malaria and also tuberculosis while having a body weakened from malnutrition, Mr. Iyengar soon began to teach yoga himself, eventually traveling to Great Britain and Europe introducing yoga to Western clients.

Ensuring that a certified Iyengar yoga teacher would be available to carry on the teaching as he traveled around the globe soon earned the founder of Iyengar yoga worldwide fame, acclaim, and also prosperity, and it is not surprising that even though many have not actually heard about Iyengar yoga, many more are actually practicing it at this point in time.

Opinions about Iyengar yoga are favorable across the board since Mr. Iyengar strongly advocates the proper aligning of the body while doing the exercises. Precision is the key element for those who teach Iyengar yoga; for you, the student, this means that a class which is focused more on technique and less on speed and rushing through various poses will enhance your overall well being without causing pain or damage to ligaments and muscles. Interestingly, this form of Iyengar yoga utilizes a wide variety of props, a technique not usually seen in yoga classes. Benches, cushions and even straps frequently are found in classes.

Some have derisively claimed that the help of such props robs the student of the ability to independently perform the exercises and attain the postures. Yet the reality proves differently; as a matter of fact, individuals in ill health will be able to participate in the classes, gradually learn the postures, and through hard work and effort gradually wean themselves away from the use of props, thus truly increasing their physical wellbeing rather than just rushing through postures and accepting their current limitations. It is the latter that makes this form of yoga very popular with the medical professionals.