Iyengar yoga, a therapeutic yoga

Do you want to start practicing yoga , but you don't know which style to go for? Iyengar yoga has the advantage of being accessible to everyone. It is practiced with yoga accessories (bricks, straps, bolsters, etc.) to make the asanas easier to perform and to accentuate the intensity of the postures.

What is Iyengar Yoga?

Iyengar yoga has the particularity of being practiced with yoga accessories : the chair, the bolster, the brick, etc. So many objects that previously were not essential.

This approach to yoga is taken from the personal experience of BKS Iyengar , who, following a scooter accident, began to perform his asanas with props. Following this, he allowed his students to also use objects as support (ropes, bricks, blankets, chairs, etc.) to make the practice more accessible.

This yoga is called therapeutic , because many people who have practiced it and have various ailments, have seen real improvements in their state of health, thanks to diligent and regular practice.

The unique characteristics of Iyengar yoga are the deep practice:

• Breathing (pranayama): a key element in this yoga,
• Postures (asanas): to be performed regularly and diligently with good alignment.

What does “Iyengar Yoga” mean?

Iyengar is the name of the creator of Iyengar yoga . So there is no secret in the meaning of this type of practice.

What is the origin of Iyengar yoga?

Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja (BKS) Iyengar was born in 1918 in a poor family in the village of Bellur (Karnataka – South India). A rickety and sickly child, doctors did not place much hope in his future. Despite this, at the age of 16, his life took a turn when he discovered yoga in Mysore under the guidance of Śri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya , who was his master for 2 years.

After breaking away from his master, he established his own yoga school (inaugurated in 1975) in 1973, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute . Based in Pune, yogis from all over the world flock to this center to learn from this great master, respectfully called Guruji .

The architecture of this school is very symbolic:

• The three floors refer to the body, mind and soul,
• The eight columns symbolize the eight limbs of Patanjali's Ashtanga yoga (Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi).

BKS Iyengar , a renowned yoga master, thought of a new yoga by taking the basics of classical Hatha yoga and using the texts of the famous Patanjali (Yoga Sutra) as his philosophy.

In his writings and interviews, he liked to emphasize that he "did not create a new yoga, but simply gave it a new costume."

The main principles of Iyengar yoga

• Alignment : this is the position of the body as a whole, that is to say the different parts of the anatomy in relation to each other, but also the body and its limbs in relation to the ground, the wall and other supports (chairs, bricks, etc.).
• Extensions : They work in tandem with alignment. Extensions allow you to discover and awaken parts of the body that were previously dormant.
• Stretching : these are always done in accordance with breathing. They aim to stretch all parts of the body (muscles, tendons, ligaments).

Iyengar Yoga remained faithful to the foundations of Patanjali 's yoga between the 2nd, 3rd and 4th centuries BC. According to Iyengar , the goal of yoga is "to work towards self-realization and purification of the mind."

Who is Iyengar yoga for?

Iyengar yoga is for everyone . Whether you like hot yoga (Bikram) or gentle yoga (Hatha), Iyengar yoga can also suit you as a complement to your usual practice. It will help you strengthen your muscles, heal your deepest wounds (physical, but also mental) and help your body find its original alignment.

How does an Iyengar yoga class take place?

On average, an Iyengar yoga class lasts 1h30. Its intensity varies depending on the level of the students and also on each person's pathologies (back pain, painful joints, etc.). The classes are organized according to a pre-defined asana program that evolves over time and according to the level of the students. The positions performed are varied (forward bends, twists, stretches, etc.) and gradually increase in intensity.

During an Iyengar class, the alignment of your body is particularly emphasized. The postures are organized into sequences.

What is the ideal equipment for practicing Iyengar Yoga?

The perfect kit for practicing Iyengar yoga consists mainly of yoga accessories :

• a chair,
• a bolster,
• a foam or cork brick,
• a strap,
• And of course, you will also need a yoga mat,
  For yoga clothes, choose shorts or Bermuda shorts to show off your ankle and knee joints.

The benefits of Iyengar yoga

The benefits of Iyengar yoga are numerous:

• The asanas:
• Increases flexibility and strength,
• Helps combat back pain,
• Strengthens the proper functioning of internal organs,
• Contributes to a reduction in stress,
• Restores good sleep,
• Increases coordination and balance.
• Pranayama:
• Provides vitality to the body, as energy moves easily through the body,
• Increases concentration and its quality.

Discover the benefits of Iyengar yoga

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0jxUEWP2E

If you would like to find out more about these accessories, please read the article “ Yoga accessories ”.