Iyengar Yoga comes from the classical Hatha yoga tradition. It pays attention to body alignment of the poses and keeps the mind focussed and connected.
It is practised by millions of people throughout the world and is favoured by personalities such as Ryan Giggs, Justin Langer, Freddie Flintoff and actress Annette Bening.
It is a safe and progressive method – teachers undergo rigorous training and ongoing personal development to ensure student safety and integrity of teaching.
What happens in a typical Iyengar yoga class?
Iyengar Yoga concentrates on postural alignment & body awareness coupled with specific sequencing of yoga postures (asanas).
The class will start with a few moments of quiet to prepare for the yoga. This is followed by some stretches to mobilise the body.
In a beginners class, standing postures are often practised first in which one learns the fundamentals of how to adjust & align the body correctly, which has to be learnt before more advanced postures can be successfully mastered.
The practice could then focus on specific postures or get you connect more with aspects of postures. The class will end with recuperative & re-energising postures.
Students will often say they walk away from an Iyengar Yoga class full of energy in spite of having worked quite hard. Also sleep better and feel more peaceful or balanced.
Who is Iyengar yoga for (i.e. am I too old/young/stiff/unfit)?
Iyengar Yoga is for anyone irrespective of age, gender, health, religion & circumstances in life.
Iyengar Yoga is not competitive.
A feature of Iyengar Yoga is the use of equipment, called “props”, to enable you to develop strength, flexibility & control in a posture to help you achieve your full potential.
What is the difference between Iyengar & Hatha Yoga or other types of yoga?
Iyengar yoga come from the classical Hatha Yoga tradition, practising a physical aspect of yoga such as Sivananda, Iyengar, Astanga, Power Yoga means you are practising Hatha Yoga. Each school of yoga will have its own style and direction. Some schools combine lots of different methods from different teachers.
Iyengar yoga is based on the teachings of BKS Iyengar where importance and understanding is placed on good body alignment in yoga postures. Support is often used to help support stiffness or injures or to improve aspects of yoga postures.
If you are unaware of correct alignment, you may be misaligning your knees, shins, legs etc. Or you may require additional support / props if you are injured, have hyper-mobility or stiffness. Iyengar Yoga helps bring awareness of correct alignment and focus into your yoga practise.
How can I guarantee a high standard of teaching ?
Iyengar yoga is taught in over 70 countries worldwide, and in the UK alone over 1200 currently certified teachers.
All teachers are trained to rigorously high standards. Once qualified, teachers must continue training regularly and complete professional development training each year in order to maintain their membership of the Association. In this way the care and precision that characterises Iyengar yoga is maintained.
These high teaching standards are part of the reason Iyengar yoga is the most widely performed method of yoga worldwide. The Iyengar Certification Mark is the guarantee of this quality. (See Kulbir’s Iyengar Yoga Teaching Certificate)
