"Yoga is a practical philosophy. It shows, from moment to moment, the way to face the world and at the same time to follow a spiritual path. Yoga strikes a balance between the happiness of the world, that is self-centered happiness, and the happiness which extends beyond one's own self." B.K.S. Iyengar
Iyengar yoga focuses on correct alignment of the body so that it can develop harmoniously and anatomically perfect. If the student practices with intelligence and awareness, there is little chance of injury or pain. As all bodies are different and people have specific weaknesses and difficulties, Iyengar yoga makes use of props to help students achieve the best possible poses within their limited capacity.
There are numerous styles of yoga, of which Iyengar is one. It was developed by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, one of the world's most respected experts on yoga. As a child he suffered from various illnesses, and at the age of 16 was introduced to yoga by his sister's husband, Sri T. Krishnamacharya, who was a teacher in Mysore. Iyengar began practicing yoga to regain is health and strength, and in 1936 his guru sent him to Pune for six months to teach.
The precision and perfection in his practice was reflected in his teaching, and the number of students grew. He became recognized and respected as a yoga teacher, and in 1952 he met Yehudi Menuhin. This encounter was instrumental in introducing yoga and Mr. Iyengar to the Western world. Menuhin was dedicated student and invited Mr. Iyengar to England to teach him. Many people joined in these classes, and soon a large number of Westeners became is students and invited him back the following year.
Back in Pune, he decided that he wanted the masses to experience yoga but was restricted by the size of the rooms and halls in which he taught. In 1975 he opened his own institute, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, named in memory of his wife, who died just before his dream was realized. Students from all over the world regularly visit Pune and spend a month being taught by his daughter, Geeta, and son Prashant, with their father keeping a watchful eye on everybody.
There are hundreds of Iyengar yoga institutes training students in his method of yoga around the world.
The philosophy followed by Iyengar is that of Patanjali, a sage who lived in India around 300BC. Patanjali is depicted as a statue with a man's torso and the coiled tail and seven-headed crown of a serpent. In the traditional symbolism of ancient India, this represents infinity. Two of his hands are folded in prayer, representing a meditative state, while the other two hands are holding a conch and discus of light. The conch reminds us of our yoga practice and the discus represents the wheel of time or the law of cause and effect. One half of his face is smiling, the other is serious.
Patanjali is known as the founder of yoga and he codified a set of 196 aphorisms called the Yoga Sutras. This work systematizes the principles and practices of yoga by bringing together all the various strands of the theory and practice, and presenting them in one concise, comprehensive text. These aphorisms cover all aspects of life, beginning with a code of conduct and ending with man's vision of his true self. Patanjali shows how, through the practice of yoga, we can transform ourselves, gain control over the mind and emotions, overcome obstacles hindering our spiritual enlightenment and attain the goal of yoga.
Our next blog will discuss the eight limbs of yoga. Until then, Namaste.
Iyengar yoga focuses on correct alignment of the body so that it can develop harmoniously and anatomically perfect. If the student practices with intelligence and awareness, there is little chance of injury or pain. As all bodies are different and people have specific weaknesses and difficulties, Iyengar yoga makes use of props to help students achieve the best possible poses within their limited capacity.
There are numerous styles of yoga, of which Iyengar is one. It was developed by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, one of the world's most respected experts on yoga. As a child he suffered from various illnesses, and at the age of 16 was introduced to yoga by his sister's husband, Sri T. Krishnamacharya, who was a teacher in Mysore. Iyengar began practicing yoga to regain is health and strength, and in 1936 his guru sent him to Pune for six months to teach.
The precision and perfection in his practice was reflected in his teaching, and the number of students grew. He became recognized and respected as a yoga teacher, and in 1952 he met Yehudi Menuhin. This encounter was instrumental in introducing yoga and Mr. Iyengar to the Western world. Menuhin was dedicated student and invited Mr. Iyengar to England to teach him. Many people joined in these classes, and soon a large number of Westeners became is students and invited him back the following year.
Back in Pune, he decided that he wanted the masses to experience yoga but was restricted by the size of the rooms and halls in which he taught. In 1975 he opened his own institute, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, named in memory of his wife, who died just before his dream was realized. Students from all over the world regularly visit Pune and spend a month being taught by his daughter, Geeta, and son Prashant, with their father keeping a watchful eye on everybody.
There are hundreds of Iyengar yoga institutes training students in his method of yoga around the world.
The philosophy followed by Iyengar is that of Patanjali, a sage who lived in India around 300BC. Patanjali is depicted as a statue with a man's torso and the coiled tail and seven-headed crown of a serpent. In the traditional symbolism of ancient India, this represents infinity. Two of his hands are folded in prayer, representing a meditative state, while the other two hands are holding a conch and discus of light. The conch reminds us of our yoga practice and the discus represents the wheel of time or the law of cause and effect. One half of his face is smiling, the other is serious.
Patanjali is known as the founder of yoga and he codified a set of 196 aphorisms called the Yoga Sutras. This work systematizes the principles and practices of yoga by bringing together all the various strands of the theory and practice, and presenting them in one concise, comprehensive text. These aphorisms cover all aspects of life, beginning with a code of conduct and ending with man's vision of his true self. Patanjali shows how, through the practice of yoga, we can transform ourselves, gain control over the mind and emotions, overcome obstacles hindering our spiritual enlightenment and attain the goal of yoga.
Our next blog will discuss the eight limbs of yoga. Until then, Namaste.
in 1952 you met me!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kep. I haven't found any really good sources for the origins of yoga so this is cool.
ReplyDelete