Iyengar Yoga – achieving your goals better with aids
The world of yoga is extremely diverse. Therefore, it's entirely possible that you'll get along better with one yoga teacher than another, or that a yoga class at a new studio will be completely different from your usual one. Yoga is divided into countless styles, and you'll have to find the one that best suits your individual needs. A relatively new yoga style is Iyengar Yoga. This yoga tradition may be ideal for you if you want to perform your
asanas precisely and enjoy their effects to the fullest.
What distinguishes Iyengar yoga from other yoga styles?
A basic rule of all yoga styles is that you should only go as far into each asana as you can perform it cleanly and without pain. Sometimes, however, you are only missing a few centimeters to be able to perform the yoga pose as described in the textbook. To help them perform the asanas, practicing Iyengar yogis use aids called "props." These aids include
non-slip yoga mats ,
straps , cushions,
blocks , and
benches . A trained Iyengar yoga teacher will ensure that you stay in the pose for a long time. They will choose the asanas carefully and take external conditions such as the room and weather into account, as well as the well-being of their students. Alongside the asanas,
pranayama is an integral part of the Iyengar class - breathing exercises that are said to have positive effects on a subtle level.
You can recognize a genuine Iyengar yoga class by the props used. On the other hand, a certified Iyengar teacher must have completed an intensive and demanding training course, which usually takes several years and is only offered in specialized schools and ashrams.
Props make yoga possible for everyone
Yoga is a discipline that inspires practitioners from many cultures and all age groups alike. The fact that everyone can practice yoga is nowhere more true than in Iyengar Yoga. The carefully used props ensure a clean and gentle hold of the asanas. This makes Iyengar Yoga ideal for therapeutic work. Even physically challenged, ill, and elderly people can fully enjoy their yoga class thanks to these props.
Iyengar yoga is also suitable for pregnant women who want to relax and prepare for childbirth under the guidance of an experienced teacher. Competitive athletes also frequently seek advice from Iyengar teachers to relieve stress on their bodies before a competition or during training, gain strength, and face new challenges.
Precise practice for full enjoyment of the effects
In Iyengar yoga, it's extremely important that you practice with precision and concentration. The asanas, some of which are held for long periods, are designed to strengthen the body in all areas and create a sense of balance. These strengthening effects also have a positive impact on the mind and your well-being. Iyengar yoga is a variation of
Hatha yoga and is ideal if you want to practice with great precision and experience maximum positive effects.
Who was BKS Iyengar?
BKS Iyengar, the inventor of Iyengar Yoga, was born in 1918 in Bellur, South India, and died in 2014 at the ripe old age of 95. As a young man, he was in poor physical condition and sought advice from various yoga teachers. Eventually, Iyengar began to observe himself closely while practicing. He investigated which exercises had a particular effect on him and which did not. Iyengar himself practiced yoga for more than three hours a day until his death and was noted for his excellent health and friendly aura. In conversations, Iyengar always referred to the sutras of the Indian scholar Patanjali, which formed the theoretical and religious foundation of his teachings.
Iyengar Yoga is right for you if a good yoga class involves practicing your asanas precisely and expecting your mind to calm down in a wonderful way thanks to the improvement in your constitution.
©iStock.com/bodrumsurf
