Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar yoga has become the most widely practiced form of yoga in the world thanks to the teaching of B.K.S. Iyengar (1918-2014).
The Iyengar method is characterised by its emphasis on alignment which allows energy to flow through the body. Sequences in an Iyengar class are always different. They often bring out connections between asanas (poses) & therefore deepen a student’s understanding & practice. Props like bricks, belts, blankets, bolsters & chairs are used in Iyengar yoga to gain maximum benefit; these props can also make an asana accessible for someone who can’t comfortably be in the classical pose for whatever reason. The timings of poses are important & can be longer than in other forms of yoga so that a pose can ‘do’ to the student rather than always be ‘done’ by them; the intertwining of body, mind & breath has time to be discovered & developed.
Iyengar yoga teachers across the world spend years preparing to teach; they are trained & assessed to a high standard, regulated by the Iyengar family in Pune in India. In the UK this means several years of practice & a recommendation from an established Iyengar teacher, followed by at least three years of teacher training.
“Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious movement, more action.”
Ink drawing of Geeta Iyengar by Camilla Carlens https://yogadrawing.wordpress.com
“It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence”
Alice
I’m a fully qualified Iyengar yoga teacher based in Bristol.
I went to my first Iyengar class when I was in my late 20s & it has been a huge & important part of my life ever since. I have sought out Iyengar teachers everywhere I have lived or worked & travelled to India for intensive Iyengar courses.
I love the integrity of Iyengar yoga & the careful attention it gives to alignment which can be transformative; I love too the humility it encourages in those who practise. As a student & a teacher of Iyengar yoga I value its accessibility & the way it can be adapted to work for each individual. The potential for apparently small adjustments to have profound effects on the body, mind & emotions of anyone who practises Iyengar yoga, at any level, energises & inspires my teaching.
I’m also an actor & theatre practitioner with a working life that is unpredictable & ever-changing. I treasure the balance, steadiness & space offered by Iyengar yoga as well as the opportunity to always learn more, discover & develop understanding.