Iyengar Yoga

Who is BKS Iyengar? 

B.K.S. Iyengar (1918 - 2014) is acknowledged as a modern master of yoga. Promoting yoga as an art, science and philosophy, Mr. Iyengar made yoga accessible to ordinary people worldwide, regardless of race, gender, age or religion. 

B.K.S. Iyengar was born the 11th of 13 children during an influenza epidemic. He overcame poverty and deadly childhood illnesses to begin his study of yoga at age 16 with his brother-in-law and guru, T. Krishnamacharya. He practiced and studied intensely for years. In the process, he developed encyclopedic knowledge which fueled his teaching. Included among his many influential books are Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, Light on the Yoga Sutras, The Tree of Yoga, and Light on Life. Mr. Iyengar taught classes through his 80s and continued his daily practice until shortly before his death at the age of 96.

What is Iyengar Yoga?

Iyengar Yoga is a powerful and sophisticated discipline which can be practiced in all stages of life. The benefits are far-reaching and will assist the practitioner in every aspect of daily living. Teaching is oriented towards gradual but steady progress, rather than quick and fleeting results. Each Iyengar Yoga class is a unique sequence developed by the Certified Iyenagr Yoga Teacher to guide students through a safe and systematic progression. Through skilled instruction and practice, students learn to penetrate beyond the physical body to the inner layers of mind, energy and spirit, gaining vitality, clarity and calm through the practice.

Iyengar Yoga is differentiated from other methods by a world-wide, standardized system of instruction. Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers (CIYTs) undergo rigorous training and evaluation to earn their certifications. Only CIYTs are permitted to describe their method of instruction as "Iyengar Yoga." From the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, the Iyengar family, including Mr. Iyengar’s granddaughter Abhijaata Iynegar, oversees the rigorous curriculum and assessment procedures. There are now thousands of CIYTs continuing B.K.S. Iyengar’s legacy, including more than 1,100 CIYTs in the United States.

Iyengar Yoga Professional Associations (members include students & teachers):

·      National - IYNAUS, Iyengar Yoga National Association of the Untied States -  https://iynaus.org/ - membership required for Assessment.

·      Regional – IMIYA Intermountain Iyengar Yoga Association -  http://www.imiya.org/