Iyengar Yoga is a yoga method conceived and developed by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar over 75 years ago. Mr Iyengar dedicated his life to the advancement of his yoga philosophy, which is based on the ancient eight limbs of yoga established by the sage Patanjali over 2500 years ago. Mr Iyengar considered yoga to be more than just a physical discipline; it is also an art, a science, and a philosophy, which he created with this in mind.

Iyengar Yoga is suitable for people of all ages and body kinds. It is noted for its emphasis on precision and timing, as well as the usage of props devised by Mr Iyengar to assist the practitioner in achieving perfection in any asana. Iyengar Yoga combines the body, mind, and emotions with regular practice.

Rather than immediate and transitory effects, teaching is geared toward gradual but sustained improvement. The CIYT created each Iyengar Yoga class as a unique sequence to guide students through a safe and orderly progression. Students learn to transcend beyond the physical body to the inner kosas (layers) of mind, energy, and spirit, gaining vitality, clarity, and peace, via competent instruction and practise.

Benefits of Iyengar Yoga :

• Increases flexibility: You don’t have to be able to touch your toes to do Iyengar, but if you do, it could be one of the negative effects. Iyengar yoga is a gradual, peaceful, yet challenging practise that leads the practitioner through one-minute stretches. Props are used to help trainees hold postures without causing pain or injury, whether they are beginners or advanced.
• Toned muscles: Because Iyengar uses the entire body, your attention is drawn not just to the major muscle, but also to the muscles’ connections to other body parts, which you are encouraged to engage as well. As a result, you’ll have a full-body toning sensation as well as a refinement in your awareness of your muscles’ inner workings within the body.
• A calmer mind: Iyengar yoga encourages you to focus on the perfect alignment of your body while you’re in the asana or position, disengaging extraneous thoughts and helping you to be present at the moment. You can think of it as a form of meditation, and the more you practise it, the calmer your mind will become, both on and off the mat.
• Pain relief: Iyengar yoga’s ability to relieve back and neck pain has been proven in studies. Much of the slouching, hunching, and muscle weakness that leads to back and neck pain can be remedied with this practice by focusing on alignment. Iyengar yoga also helps to stretch back muscles and reduce pain-inducing tension.

People practise Iyengar yoga for a variety of reasons, including the numerous physical, mental, and psychological health advantages. Holding each pose for a longer period (sometimes up to a minute) will help to develop and tone your muscles. Standing postures like tree pose, in particular, can assist strengthen your lower body and core.