Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga
Origins: BKS Iyengar was the brother-inlaw and former student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, the man who probably deserves the most credit for influencing the type of physical yogathat many around the world embrace today. Iyengar began to explore Krishnamarcharya’s poses on his own, spending many hours each day learning and experimenting in various techniques so that they fitted his student’s different bodies and health concerns. In 1952, Iyengar met the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin and began teaching abroad in London, Switzerland, Paris and elsewhere. In 1966 his book Light on Yoga became an international bestseller and it was this book that inspired Joyce Stuart, a South African yoga teacher, to attend one of Iyengar’s annual courses in London in 1967, and persuaded him to teach South Africans in Mauritius in 1968. Iyengar continued to teach South Africans throughout the 1970s and, in 1979, the BKS Iyengar Yoga Institute of Southern Africa was established, incorporating Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
Teachings: Iyengar’s teachings are deeply grounded in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali that deal with the physical, moral, mental and spiritual wellbeing of man – often referred to as Raja Yoga. Iyengar also teaches that when performed correctly, asana practice synchronises the rhythms of the body’s physical, physiological, psychological and spiritual components. Control in the asanas brings control over the mind and the senses, which is a critical step on the path towards enlightenment.
Class focus: Iyengar Yoga lays strong emphasis on the accuracy of the postures believing that alignment of the skeletal body brings alignment throughout the whole physical body, which then benefits the emotional and mental bodies as well. Only once a firm foundation in the asansa has been established are breathing techniques introduced.
Who can practice? Iyengar yoga can be practiced by anyone, regardless of physical condition, age, or length of study. Iyengar introduced props into the modern practice of yoga to allow all practitioners access to the benefits of the postures. Props include sticky mats, blankets, belts, blocks, benches, wall ropes, sandbags, chairs, and other objects that help students experience the various yoga poses more profoundly.
Teacher training: Becoming a certified Iyengar teacher requires three years of regular practice with an established certified teacher, followed by another three years of teacher training. In most cases, six years would have passed before one takes the Introductory Level teaching certificate exam in front of the National Committee. Thereafter, in intervals of 12 –18 months, teachers can take further exams to reach a higher level of certification of which there are 12 in all – the highest being a Senior Advanced Level 2 certificate, of which there are only a handful around the world.
Philosophy: “Classic poses, when practised with discrimination and awareness, bring the body, mind and consciousness into a single harmonious whole” – B.K.S Iyengar
Contact details: For a directory of certified Iyengar teachers in Southern Africa visit www.bksiyengar.co.za.
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