Why Iyengar Yoga?

Iyengar yoga is a relatively recent adaptation of the traditional Hatha yoga practice developed by B.K.S. Iyengar in the late 20th century. Having experienced a lot of health difficulties himself, B.K.S. Iyengar sought to make the practice of yoga as accessible as possible for all bodies. In that way, Iyengar yoga is therapeutic yoga. It is suitable for anyone and everyone, and that is why we at Tatvabodh yoga are passionate about sharing B.K.S. Iyengar's teachings.

We don't believe yoga should only be for certain bodies and certain flexibilities. We know how intimidating it can be to step into a yoga studio full of people who seem like they know what they are doing and feeling like you don't have a place. The practice of Iyengar yoga is beautiful because it creates a space for everyone. The teachings of Iyengar emphasise the use of props and alignment in a very systematic approach to the asana (poses). The beauty of this is it brings asana to you instead of forcing yourself to reach a set destination within the pose. By emphasising the use of props, we can design and cater the pose to where your body is at without compromising its alignment and correct form, allowing you to get the benefits no matter where you are in your yoga journey.

Alignment Over Flow

By focusing on alignment, we increase the efficiency of the body very quickly. Iyengar yoga unlike modern vinyasa does not emphasise flow as such, rather it invites you to stay in a posture for a long time, honing your alignment, the correct biomechanics of your body, allowing it to slowly repattern itself and give you an opportunity to refine it.

By working with the asana and the body in this way it really creates a boundary or framework where you can work on equal parts challenge and skill at the same time guiding you into optimal flow state. The results of Iyengar yoga are very quick and it's a style that creates room for everyone. The only comparison is you on the mat yesterday versus you on the mat today. It's a practice of continual refinement working with yourself and yourself only to bring your body back into alignment and efficiency.

A Common Myth

A common myth with Iyengar yoga is that it is imposing a shape on the body. But the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar are far from this. Rather than emphasising a fixed shape, Iyengar focuses on the action of the asana, the experience of the pose, the tuning your mind to what the ultimate asana may feel like. There is no emphasis on depth, Iyengar simply allows the body to reveal itself where it is currently at, emphasise correct alignment to deepen your mind body cues, and allow yourself to explore the sensation of the asana and what your body is revealing to you in that moment.

You can look at it like a constant feedback loop: by using the alignment emphasis of Iyengar, we are constantly positioning and returning the body back to its natural intelligence, the correct alignment, and allowing all the misalignment we've become accustomed to to reveal itself. Whilst this may feel difficult at first, we are reprogramming the physiology of the body back to its initial state of divine efficacy. Within three classes you can likely feel a difference in your feet engagement, of the muscular patterning within the body.

Ultimately, Iyengar yoga is about using the correct biomechanics within the asana to allow the body to return to and reveal its natural intelligence. It's not about achieving a perfect pose, but understanding how you should feel within that pose and in this process slowly building a deeper relationship with your body and its sensations, one of curiosity, intimacy and awareness.