{"id":60665,"date":"2016-09-07T16:37:38","date_gmt":"2016-09-07T20:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wanderlust.com\/?p=60665"},"modified":"2016-10-20T16:50:20","modified_gmt":"2016-10-20T20:50:20","slug":"yoga-styles-demystified-iyengar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderlust.com\/it\/journal\/yoga-styles-demystified-iyengar\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoga Styles Demystified: Iyengar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joan Hyman is a Wanderlust Festival mentor\u00a0and teacher at Wanderlust Hollywood<\/a>. Check back for this monthly\u00a0series describing different styles of yoga, and find one that most resonates with you. Taking the time to find your personal style\u00a0increases the chances of your commitment! No matter what style you choose, yoga leads to the same end: to cultivate a deep connection, a union, of body and mind.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Iyengar Yoga, a form of Hatha Yoga, is named after yoga master, B.K.S. Iyengar. Born December 14, 1918 in the village of Bellur in the state of Karnataka, India, Iyengar\u2019s devotion to the practice inspired yogis from all around the world. Emphasis is on detail, precision and alignment in the postures (asanas<\/a>), and breath control (pranayama).<\/p>\n

Iyengar believes when the alignment of the posture has been understood, space and contentment are found. The goal of Iyengar yoga is to help students achieve a meditative state, learning to exist fully and vibrantly in the present moment.<\/p>\n

Students progress gradually by moving from simple poses to more complex ones as their ability increases. This approach is meant to educate the student of postural benefits, as well as how to sequence them together wisely, encouraging students to cultivate a self-practice. Instruction varies from therapeutics to advanced asana, which includes postures that can be found in one of Iyengar\u2019s books, Light on Yoga<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Repetition of postures is taught to increase the student\u2019s comprehension of the deeper work<\/a>, and it is common to spend an entire class researching a specific pose or a certain theme. Iyengar classes have highly verbal and precise alignment<\/a> cues; misalignments are actively corrected. Iyengar teachers complete at least two years of rigorous training for the introductory certificate. Then, they may complete subsequent intermediate levels and senior levels of certification, potentially including a decade or more of training. Iyengar yoga can offer a highly transformative experience and educate a student on how to do the poses safely and effectively.<\/p>\n

What Makes Iyengar Different<\/h3>\n

Some may say, like Ashtanga<\/a>, Iyengar can be strict or dogmatic. However, both systems encourage devotion and transformation. Both are connected to the roots of classical yoga through the Grandfather of Yoga Krishnamacharya<\/a>, Iyengar\u2019s main teacher. When practiced for a significant amount of time, students often come to understand the deep profound effects of yoga, feel more aligned in their bodies, and connect to a deeper purpose.<\/p>\n

Iyengar differs from the other styles of yoga in three key ways:<\/p>\n