What is Iyengar Yoga? Iyengar yoga, created by Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar (or Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar), ia built on the eight principles of yoga and is designed to be used with supporting aids, such as belts, blocks and blankets, to increase strength, balance and stamina, as well as improve concentration by supporting you through your movements. BKS believes that people can function safely when props can be used to help you keep the proper positioning needed for the yoga poses to be effective.

Primarily, Iyengar yoga focuses on posture and breath control for relaxation and mediation, as well as strengthening the body in a way that is both therapeutic and safe, to ensure that the person practicing this form of yoga does not injure themselves and remains pain-free. BKS has worked many years to create over two hundred asanas, or yoga postures, ranging from the very simple to the intricately complicated, but all are designed to work with a variety of body shapes and sizes. and all can be used to relieve or eliminate pain and even serious medical conditions, in some cases.

Another benefit of Iyengar yoga is the ability to learn to breath correctly and increase lung capacity. Breath control, or pranayama, can help control and tone the digestive system, nervous system, and circulatory system, helping you feel calm and relaxed, with more energy to sit through the various asanas. Pranayama also helps the mind calm itself into a relaxed state, which is necessary for proper meditation.