Iyengar Yoga

The Practice

The Iyengar style of yoga is firstly learnt through the deep study of asanas (posture) and pranayama (breath control).

My Iyengar has organised over 200 traditional yoga asanas and 14 styles of pranayamas (with differing styles to many of them) from the basic to the quite complex. These have been placed and organised so as to allow the beginner student to progress steadily and slowly from the simple postures to the most difficult as they grow in flexibility, strength and sensitivity in mind, body and spirit.

The Iyengar style of Yoga is different to the other styles of yoga by 3 main points. Technique, order of posture and timing:

Technique can be understood to mean that whilst practicing, the student learns increasingly closer adjustments in the alignment of the body whilst performing the asanas and pranayamas.

Order of Posture means the sequence in which the asana and pranayama are performed. By varying the order of the postures, different mental and emotional effects can by gained by the student and changed in a way not otherwise possible. This can then introduce changes to the entire being of the student, often including their spiritual evolution.

Timing means the amount of time the student spends in the postures or pranayama. Sometimes the asanas can be performed quickly and without understanding. To perform a posture with stability can take some learning and patience. When a student has learnt to become stable in a posture, they will stay in this posture for some time to deepen the effects of the posture and so, the benefits of it. Staying for a short time and with no awareness will keep the benefits small compared to what is indeed available.

Iyengar yoga uses all 8 disciplines of yoga. With constant practice and learning, the student can come to understand that asana (posture) is very different from mere stretching and jumping around, also that pranayama (breath control) is far from just long breathing and meditation is also far from self realised trance.

The long term practice of asana and pranayama can affect the student on a physical level and bring about changes in mental states, spirituality and all round joy!!