The Iyengar Method
The Iyengar Yoga Method was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, during his more than 70 years of teaching. Known for its focus on alignment and use of props, Iyengar Yoga is a safe and systematic development of the asanas (postures). Iyengar classes help build stamina, strength, flexibility, balance, and focus to promote an overall sense of wholeness and wellbeing.
B. K.S. Iyengar
“It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity”
-BKS Iyengar
Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar better known as B.K.S. Iyengar was born December 14, 1918. As a child B.K.S. Iyengar struggled with malaria, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, and general malnutrition. When B.K.S. was 15yrs old, his brother-in-law, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya asked him to come to Mysore to improve his health through Yoga. Studying with Krishnamacharya was a turning point in B.K.S. Iyengar’s life, not only improving his health, but as he says “determined what I have become today” In 1937 Krishnamacharya sent 18yr old B.K.S. to Pune to spread the teaching of yoga.
Though B.K.S. held his Guru Krishnamacharya with high regard, and even turned to him for advice, their relationship was troubled. Krishnamacharya believed the sick, stiff Iyengar would not be a successful Yogi. Therefore, B.K.S. was tasked with household chores. It wasn’t until Krishnamacharya’s favorite student left, that Iyengar’s training truly started. Krishnamacharya began teaching B.K.S. a series of difficult poses, and sometimes demanding that B.K.S. not eat until he mastered each pose. B.K.S spoke of his reaction to this rigorous training in Light on Life “Perhaps that stimulated some stubborn aspect of my nature… I am ardent and passionate, and maybe I needed to show the world that I was not worthless. But far more than that, I wanted to find out who I was”
B.K.S. Iyengar is internationally recognized as one of the foremost yoga masters of our time. During his more than 70 years of teaching he developed The Iyengar Yoga Method. Known for its focus on alignment and use of props, Iyengar Yoga is a safe and systematic development of asanas (postures). Mr. Iyengar was a pioneer in the therapeutic applications of yoga for the treatment of many medical conditions and physical problems. His revolutionary use of yoga props allows students of all ages and abilities to work to their fullest potential while overcoming limitations. He is the author of Light on Yoga, the most authoritative modern yoga text, Light on Pranayama, Light on the Yoga Sutras, Tree of Yoga, Light on Life and other exceptional reference works. B.K.S. Iyengar passed away August 20, 2014.
Geeta Iyengar
“Stiffness in the body is understandable. Whenever we find stiffness in the body, our mind should be especially supple. It is never stiffness in our bodies that limits our practice, it is always the stiffness of our mind”
- Geeta Iyengar
Geeta Iyengar is the eldest daughter of B.K.S. Iyengar and Ramamani Iyengar. Though not a yogi at first, an early nephritis attack at age 9 led her to practice Yoga- asana. Through intermittent practice her health showed signs of improvement. She committed to practicing Yoga, when she saw students from all over the world travel to study with her father. She explains “I resolved that I would learn all about Yoga and one day become a teacher of Yoga as my father.”
After graduating high school in 1961, Geeta began substituting her fathers classes, while he was away teaching Yoga abroad. Since her first teaching experience, she devoted herself to Yoga. She is credited with advancing yoga for women, after adapting her fathers method to include specific practices for women. She incorporated specific asanas, pranayama and sequences for different stages in a woman's life including menstruation, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause.
Geeta authored the classic Yoga: A Gem for Women. Her other books Preliminary Course and Intermediate Course serve as guides to B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light On Yoga. In her more than 60 years teaching Yoga, Geeta served as the director of The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (The Iyengar HQ), led international teaching tours and demonstrations, and trained/ mentored teachers all over the world. Geeta Iyengar passed away December 16, 2018. Her teachings and commitment to Yoga inspired her direct students and generations to come.
Prashant Iyengar
“Don’t think that unless you have reached the ultimate final pose then only the fruit comes. No. At every level, asana (postures) has something to offer”
-Prashant Iyengar
Prashant Iyengar currently serves as the director of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute. Known for his philosophical and metaphysical approach to teaching Yoga. Prashant teaches the importance of cultivating studentship, so that we may move beyond the physical, structural anatomical, and get to the root, the truth of who we are.
Not always a Yogi, Prashant explains that while Yoga was always present in his family’s home, he was not drawn to it. His interest was in music, he was a violinist. The music he says “was in our blood” his mother was a musician. Music played an important role in his life. As he explains, it impacted the development of his “emotional faculties and emotional perception.” His background in music may have inspired his spiritual and subtle approach to teaching Yoga. Due to an accident in 1979, he was unable to continue playing the violin.
Always a student of scripture and Yogic philosophy, it wasn’t until he was 20yrs old that he devoted himself to Yoga. In addition to teaching daily classes at RIMYI, Prashant has written extensively about yoga philosophy and the ancient texts and has made numerous audio recordings on the yoga sutras.
Abhijata Iyengar
