B.K.S. Iyengar
B.K.S. Iyengar was born in 1918, into a poor family in the village of Bellur, in the state of Karnataka, India. During his childhood was victim of malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis.
At the age of 16, he was introduced to Yoga by Sri T. Krishnamacharya and at the age of 18, he was sent to Pune, in the State of Maharashtra, by his Guru with the mission of teaching.
Since then, his life has been dedicated to practice offering his light and clarity to the teachings of Yoga Sutras from Patañjali.
IYENGAR® Yoga
The root of the word "Yoga" in Sanskrit is yujir, which means union. Yoga is the union of the "self" with the "absolute", something that cannot be understood by an ordinary mind. The study and practice of Yoga prepares the individual as a whole for the realization of the "self".
Yoga helps an individual to be free from the fluctuations of the mind and suffering. Brings serenity and integrity.
Committed practitioner, B.K.S. Iyengar, Guruji as he is affectionately addressed by his students, developed a practice and teaching methodology with two main guidelines: alignment and precision in āsana - the postures.
He explored the use of props, such as blocks, cushions, benches, belts, ropes, blankets and others, which guide the practitioner towards understanding and perfection in āsana. The use of props also allows the adaptation of postures to each person's particular conditions: age, gender, health or illness.
Guruji's great legacy was to make the practice of Yoga accessible to all human beings regardless of their condition or state, and to develop a deep understanding of the postures through detailed instructions.
This unique way of teaching and practicing started to be called IYENGAR® Yoga by his students. And despite leaving his body in 2014, Guruji continues to inspire and guide thousands of practitioners and teachers around the world.
This system is today followed and taught by certified Yoga IYENGAR® teachers.
Despite this nomenclature, Yoga is one.