Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar yoga is a form of Ashtanga yoga that was introduced by Mr. Iyengar. He didn’t name this form of yoga but it is referred to as Iyengar yoga by his students. The focus in this form of yoga is on 200 ‘asanas’, 14 ‘pranayamas’, and the manner, sequence and time for which they are performed. Iyengar yoga is ideal not only for beginners and experts alike but also for people suffering from ailments and diseases. It is vital that you speak to your doctor and also the yoga instructor about an ailment you suffer from before you join a class of Iyengar yoga.

Characteristics of Iyengar yoga

Iyengar yoga is a little different from any other form of yoga as it uses props such as bands, sand bags, cushions, wooden blocks and benches. This form of yoga emphasizes on the alignment of the body when performing yoga. The position of the legs, hands and back are critical in Iyengar yoga and instructors spend a fair amount of time ensuring that a student aligns his or her body correctly. The props make it easier to achieve and maintain the correct alignment, especially for people who aren’t very fit, are suffering from ailments and for senior citizens. In other words people who would otherwise be unable to hold ‘asanas’ are able to do so with the use of the props.

The sequence of the ‘asanas’ is critical and has an impact on the affect of the yoga. Timing or the time for which a yoga posture is held is given importance in Iyengar yoga as it is believed that the ‘asanas’ give deep benefits as the body truly gains from holding any particular ‘asana’. Iyengar yoga offers a range of yoga routines from a basic and simple one to progressively difficult ones. This makes it ideal for both beginners as well as experts.

Benefits of Iyengar Yoga

The benefits of Iyengar yoga are many and the most important is the harmony that is achieved between the mind and the body. It is important for you to listen to the needs of your body and also to discipline it. Yoga helps you balance your mind and body and gain control over them. This in turn has a tremendous impact on your lifestyle. When you begin to practice yoga regularly you tend to eat healthier and live a balanced life. The breathing techniques or ‘pranayama’ helps calm your mind and gain meditative states. This gives you control over your mind, emotions and thoughts and helps you find peace within yourself.

Research indicates that Iyengar yoga is helpful for a host of physical as well as mental conditions such as osteoarthritis and unipolar depression. Yoga beliefs are that the mind and body are closely interlinked and have an impact on each other. When you perform yoga it doesn’t just affect your external body but also internal organs and your energy systems, and helps balance them. Some other ailments that benefit from Iyengar yoga include acidity, constipation, menstrual cramps, menopause, gastro-intestinal ailments, arthritis, asthma, depression and hyper tension.