Iyengar-Yoga
Yoga is a more than 2,000-year-old philosophical teaching from India that has different forms. Yoga strives for a unified experience of body, mind and soul. In the West, Iyengar yoga is one of the best-known yoga styles. The method was created by Indian Master Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja (B.K.S.) Iyengar (1918 to 2024) and belongs to the family of Hatha Yoga.
Iyengar Yoga focuses on precise outer and inner alignment when practicing asanas (postures) and pranayamas (breathing techniques). One goal of Iyengar Yoga is to experience a state of balance between endurance, relaxation, strengthening and stability of the whole body. This requires careful, exact and persistent practice. It enables us to dive into deeper layers of our existence and to sense the big picture.
Confrontation with oneself
Compared to other yoga styles, the individual poses are held longer in Iyengar yoga. This ensures intensive strengthening and stretching of the body and releases biochemical and mental processes. The thoughts come to rest and the multi-layered confrontation with the self begins.
If necessary, aids such as blocks, blankets, bolsters, ropes and chairs are used in Iyengar yoga. They reduce the effort and support the correct alignment in the pose, where flexibility and strength are still lacking. In addition, the various aids make it possible to overcome physical limitations and to reach certain parts of the body in a targeted manner. In this way, practitioners can experience the enriching effect of yoga and deepen their practice, regardless of age and physical constitution.
Unity of body and mind
Iyengar yoga does not distinguish between physical and spiritual yoga. According to B.K.S. Iyengar’s understanding, the intensive, precise and systematic examination of the body paves the way to deeper levels of consciousness and thus to spirituality due to its connection with mind and soul.
Iyengar Yoga teachers go through several years of intensive training. During the training, the prospective teachers deepen their own practice, learn how to teach Iyengar yoga and study the anatomy of the human body and the philosophy of yoga. The strict and internationally standardized examination requirements ensure uniform and high-quality Iyengar Yoga teaching around the globe.
“Iyengar Yoga” is protected as a trademark. It may only be used by certified teachers. The certificate is only awarded to teachers who continue their education and teach regularly after successfully completing their training.
