What is Yoga?
Yoga is an ancient Eastern discipline that integrates all aspects of an individual, body, mind and soul to achieve a contented and balanced physical and spiritual life. In the West, Hatha Yoga (meaning Yoga of determined effort) is mainly practise enabling the body to be healthy and free of stress. This helps to provide a framework to develop a spiritual path in life in contrast to the materialism of the Western word.
Iyengar Yoga
The Iyengar method of Yoga is initially learnt through in-depth study of asana (posture) and pranayama (breath control). B.K.S Iyengar has systematised over 200 classical Yoga asanas and many different types of pranayama from the simple to more advanced. These are all structured to allow the beginner to steadily progress as they gain flexibility, strength and sensitivity physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Asana
Iyengar Yoga places particular focus on exact body alignment to ensure safety from injury. As every individual has different strengths and weaknesses, B.K.S Iyengar has also developed various props such as blocks, chairs, ropes, belts and blankets to make this more accessible.
Pranayama
In the Iyengar method, emphasis is placed on breathing naturally (i.e. as the lungs want you to breath) in the asanas rather the forcing the breath in any particular pattern. Once the student is stable in the asana practise then observation of breath begins, which leads on to pranayama. The student begins with savasana (relaxation). Once the physical and mental body is quiet the breath can be observed and the energy of the breath re-channelled and re-distributed.
Iyengar Yoga
The Iyengar method of Yoga is initially learnt through in-depth study of asana (posture) and pranayama (breath control). B.K.S Iyengar has systematised over 200 classical Yoga asanas and many different types of pranayama from the simple to more advanced. These are all structured to allow the beginner to steadily progress as they gain flexibility, strength and sensitivity physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Asana
Iyengar Yoga places particular focus on exact body alignment to ensure safety from injury. As every individual has different strengths and weaknesses, B.K.S Iyengar has also developed various props such as blocks, chairs, ropes, belts and blankets to make this more accessible.
Pranayama
In the Iyengar method, emphasis is placed on breathing naturally (i.e. as the lungs want you to breath) in the asanas rather the forcing the breath in any particular pattern. Once the student is stable in the asana practise then observation of breath begins, which leads on to pranayama. The student begins with savasana (relaxation). Once the physical and mental body is quiet the breath can be observed and the energy of the breath re-channelled and re-distributed.
