Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga focuses on correct body alignment to prevent yoga practitioners from suffering injuries or pain. A form of Hatha Yoga, it makes use of Yoga Props such as belts, blocks, cushions, benches, straps, and even sand bags to aid the Yoga practitioner in performing asanas. These Yoga Props provide support and consequently, help yoga practitioners to perform the asanas easily, safely and effectively. Beginners, as well as exhausted and unwell yoga practitioners can enjoy doing Iyengar Yoga because of the yoga props' provided support.
Iyengar yoga is a key in improving a person's physical and spiritual well being. Aside from developing concentration and meditation, Iyengar Yoga helps in improving stamina, flexibility, strength, coordination, and balance. Iyengar Yoga also improves circulation, increases vitality, relieves stress, builds strong legs, improves posture, and eases bodily pains and aches, even serious medical conditions. Yoga philosophy is also integrated in doing Iyengar Yoga, filling in the spiritual need of the practitioner.
Iyengar Yoga was created by B.K.S. Iyengar, a well-known yoga teacher from India. He based it on the eight limbs of Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. More than 200 classical asanas and 14 pranayamas have been systematized by Iyengar. These asanas and pranayamas have been systematized to enable a yoga beginner to progress safely and effectively. Around the world, there are thousands of qualified Iyengar Yoga teachers who have been trained by Iyengar. Iyengar Yoga teachers undergo years of training before getting certified.
In Iyengar Yoga, correct body alignment and attention to detail are emphasized. Stiff areas of the body are stretched while the weak parts are strengthened. An Iyengar Yoga session is didactic with the practitioners always getting corrected with regards to their body alignment. Having correct body alignment allows less muscular work and makes for easy natural relaxation. At the beginning of an Iyengar Yoga session, deep relaxation postures such as forward bends, inversions, twists, and arm balance are introduced.
Three elements make Iyengar Yoga distinct from other Yoga Styles. These are technique, sequence, and training. Technique refers to learning adjustments in body alignment through the practice of asanas and pranayamas. Sequence refers to the order of how the asanas and pranayamas are performed. Lastly, timing is the time spent in performing the asanas and pranayamas. Iyengar Yoga promotes the growth of all the eight disciplines of Yoga, affecting the practitioner's physiological, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
One can learn Iyengar Yoga through a thorough study of asanas and Pranayama. Regardless of physical condition, skill, or age, anyone can practice Iyengar Yoga. What is important is that the practitioner should know the proper sequence or how the different asanas and pranayama should be performed. Moreover, a daily routine of Iyengar Yoga is more recommended than one session per week to continue the momentum. After a series of practice, the benefits of Iyengar Yoga can already be experienced.
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Basics & Backgrounds
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