Yoga Styles

Iyengar

This style is named after the world renowned yoga guru B.K.S Iyengar. Born in 1918, B.K.S. Iyengar began teaching yoga in 1936. His methods are also taught at Iyengar institutes throughout the world. Iyengar's books are highly respected and have become classic yoga texts. Chief among them is Light on Yoga, first published in 1966, which describes and illustrates hundreds of yoga poses and many breathing techniques.

Iyengar's method is based on giving primacy to the physical alignment of the body in the poses. One of Iyengar's major innovations is in the use of props, such as blankets, blocks, straps, pillows, chairs, and bolsters being used in yoga studios. The use of these props is comparatively new in the history of yoga and comes directly from Iyengar. The purpose of the props is to assist the student in attaining ideal alignment, even if the body is not yet open enough.