Iyengar Yoga is a safe, therapeutic yoga practice started by yoga master, BKS Iyengar. A refined and precise yoga discipline, Iyengar Yoga balances strength with flexibility in body, mind, and spirit. Please join certified Iyengar Yoga teacher Jan LeFrancois to explore the profound benefits of this practice.
BKS Iyengar
“It is through alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence.”
What is Iyengar Yoga?
Developed by Yogacharya BKS Iyengar of Pune, India, Iyengar Yoga’s distinction is its emphasis on precision and alignment in form, and how this affects the mind and spirit. Its systematic approach on the mat echoes its history of methodical study of yoga, which evolved over more than 100 years combined of the Iyengar family's practice, study, and exploration of yoga.
Well-grounded in classic yoga philosophy of Indian sage Patanjali, Iyengar Yoga moves the practitioner from the outer, physical body to the inner workings of the mind and spirit. In this way, it provides a powerful instrument for transformation.
Iyengar Yoga classes are typically taught at a slow-to-moderate pace to allow the student to become more aware of the effects of the poses. It also employs props to safely assist students into proper alignment in the poses. The emphasis on alignment reduces muscular and joint imbalances in the body, and increases poise and equanimity in the mind and spirit.
Why Iyengar Yoga?
The safety and therapeutic benefits that Iyengar Yoga brings to its practitioners make it an excellent choice of practice, while it hones strength, flexibility, and balance both on and off the mat.
The depth of an Iyengar instructor’s knowledge of postures, breath, and yoga philosophy enriches the yoga experience of students practicing this method. Through a progression of basic postures (standing poses), to more advanced postures (such as forward bends, back bends, and inversions), students gain profound physical, mental and spiritual benefits from Iyengar Yoga.
In addition, the unique inclusion of props (for example, blankets, blocks, straps, and wall ropes) in Iyengar Yoga allows for deeper work in the posture and richer therapeutic gains. Overall, this method of yoga has the potential for profound change, shedding light on those parts of us that often lie hidden. Through Iyengar Yoga, one comes to learn that indeed, to balance and be proficient in the pose, one can balance and be proficient in life.
Iyengar Yoga Because…
It cultivates "meditation in action" through the practice of postures. This quieting of the mind can help one to maintain a calmer mind amid life’s inevitable challenges … Mind
Through learning balance in the poses in class, one can learn to balance the demands of life … Body
One can awaken to the connectedness within the body, between the body and mind, and between oneself and creation… Spirit
