Iyengar Yoga: The Art of Serenity

What Is Iyengar Yoga?

Iyengar yoga was developed in the 1940s by B.K.S Iyengar. It is a form of hatha yoga using props such as blocks, blankets, and straps. These props are used for assisting while performing poses. This yoga is more particular with alignment and precision and can be performed by beginners and advanced practitioners.

What Is the History Behind Iyengar Yoga?

Iyengar practiced yoga initially under the guidance of yoga teacher Krishnamacharya, one of the fathers of modern yoga, giving more importance to controlling breathing, meditation, and correctly performing poses to achieve results. Iyengar yoga is based on the eight limbs of yoga. Iyengar published a light on yoga and opened an institute in Pune, India.

What Is the Iyengar Method of Yoga?

The Iyengar method of yoga mainly mentions the cultivation of self-knowledge through yoga postures (asanas) and yogic breathing (pranayama). This yoga's main criteria is on yogic postures with alignment, balance, strength, flexibility, and concentration. It focuses on three aspects such as alignment, sequencing, and timing. This yoga stretches as well as strengthens the muscles. It focuses on the entire body rather than only a few large muscles.

What Are Eight Limbs of Yoga?

Similar to Ashtanga yoga, Iyengar yoga also follows eight limbs of yoga. It teaches us to live a meaningful and purposeful life. Every pose in Iyengar yoga focuses on the alignment of the body and initially is challenging to get the alignment, but it can solve any chronic pain in the body. The eight limbs of yoga are:

• Yama- attitude towards the environment.

• Niyama- attitude towards ourselves.

• Asanas- physical postures.

• Pranayama- controlling the breath.

• Pratyahara- senses withdrawal.

• Dharana- concentration.

• Dhyana- meditation.

• Samadhi- complete integration.

What Are the Principles of Iyengar Yoga?

The principles of Iyengar yoga are proper alignment, correct action, sequencing, and timing. Proper alignment is essential to prevent injury and get the most out of each pose. It is initially done under the guidance of a teacher. Poses should be performed correctly, emphasizing breath and movement, which refers to correct action. The order in which poses are performed is called sequence, and how long each pose is held refers to timing.

What Are the Different Levels in Iyengar Yoga?

Level 1: This level of yoga is for individuals who are new to yoga. Basically, it is a beginner level and for the individual who wants to focus on the foundation of practice with standing pose, seated pose, forward bend, and twists.

Level 2: This level is general which refines and expands to the poses taught in level 1.

Level 3: This level is intermediate where there is intermediate learning across all categories which includes inversion variations.

Level 4: This is an advanced level and it is practiced by the individual who has gained proficiency in level 3.

What Is Iyengar Yoga Asanas and Pranayama?

The physical postures practiced in yoga are asanas, and controlling the breath is pranayama. Both asana and pranayama are essential in Iyengar yoga to achieve the required goal. This yoga focuses on physically, mentally, and emotionally strengthening the body to balance asana and pranayama. There is cleansing and flexibility of the body by practicing asanas, and the body's energy is purified through pranayama. Both asanas and pranayama help relieve stress and improve concentration and well-being.

What Are the Benefits of Iyengar Yoga?

Iyengar yoga's benefits are releasing emotional tension, increasing energy, focus, and concentration, reconnecting body and breath, improving physical and psychological health, alleviating postural problems, improving flexibility, and building strength.

• Builds Strength: Poses will strengthen and tone the muscles when held for longer, often for a minute. Tree pose, or warrior II is the standing posture to help increase the lower body and core strength.

• Posture Improvement: As this yoga focuses on alignment, it can help to develop better posture. The body which is weaker or stiffer can be corrected.

• Flexibility: This yoga increases flexibility, especially in the spine and hamstrings.

• Stress and Anxiety Level Decreases: The chemical called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is increased in the brain. As GABA is a mood-boosting chemical, it helps to lower stress and anxiety and improves overall well-being.

• Boosts Energy Level: This yoga boosts energy levels which lowers fatigue, and this could be due to the release of endorphins or blow flow that is increased to the brain.

• Reduces Chronic Pain: When yoga is not practiced with proper alignment, it causes chronic pain, and this pain can be reduced by practicing Iyengar yoga as it aligns the body, reducing aches and pains.

• Lowering Blood Pressure: As the relaxation response is triggered in the body through Iyengar yoga, both heart rate and blood pressure are reduced, which helps maintain heart health and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

How Is Iyengar Yoga Practiced?

Iyengar yoga is practiced with a sequence that uses two hundred poses and fourteen breathing techniques. Iyengar yoga begins with warm-up-up with meditation, then postures that involve standing, and then ends with restorative with supine poses. Therefore it is a sequence of standing, seating, and supine positions. In Iyengar yoga, poses are held for an extended period, which helps correct the alignment and move deeper into each pose. To make poses more accessible for beginners, Iyengar yoga can be done with the help of props, blocks, straps, blankets, and bolsters. These will help in the proper alignment of the body. Everyone of all age groups can practice this yoga. Iyengar yoga follows a different variety of styles, so each class is different.

What Are the Common Poses for Iyengar Yoga?

• Tadasana (mountain pose).

• Upward forward fold pose (Urdhva uttanasana).

• Resolved wide-legged forward bend pose (Ardha parivrtta prasarita padottanasana).

• Triangle pose block wall behind (Trikonasana block wall behind).

• Warrior poses I (Virabhadrasana I).

• Downward facing dog pose (Adho mukha svanasana).

• Cobra pose (Bhujangasana).

• Sage marichi pose c variation (Marichyasana c variation).

What Are the Risk Factors of Iyengar Yoga?

Overall, health and wellness can benefit from Iyengar yoga. One of the common risk factors is incorrect alignment in a pose. This can lead to injury. To avoid injury, practicing yoga under a qualified yoga instructor is essential. It is also important to listen to the body and not to strain too much.

Conclusion

Iyengar yoga is one of the best physical workouts, meditation, and mindfulness options. It is also beneficial for individuals with chronic pain as it has slower movements and gives more importance to alignment.