Discipline your mind and body with a highly controlled yoga style based on the teachings of world-renowned guru, B.K.S. Iyengar. Iyengar Yoga will help you get the very best results from your yoga practice.
What is Iyengar Yoga?
Iyengar Yoga is a slower style of yoga that focuses on precise alignment and technique. You practice fewer asanas (poses) during an Iyengar Yoga class but execute each with greater precision and devotion.
More than 200 asanas and 14 types of breathwork are utilized in Iyengar Yoga, with blankets, blocks, and straps used as props to assist with proper alignment. You will work on balancing your asanas and your pranayama (breathwork) to relieve stress and improve awareness.
Each Iyengar asana is held for an extended period of time to help you find the correct alignment. These asanas have different variations of difficulty, and you will likely take a rest in Child’s Pose between postures, making this style of yoga very beginner-friendly.
Why You’ll Love Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga can help beginning yoga practitioners learn every position with the ideal form, and can help more experienced yoga enthusiasts hone their practice even more. You will progress from beginner-friendly asanas to complicated poses depending on your experience level.
During Iyengar Yoga, you will experience:
- Precision and focus in postures
- Increased stamina and strength
- A greater sense of concentration and awareness
What to Expect
Your Iyengar Yoga class will begin with some warm-up exercises, followed by a variety of standing and seated postures. You will use props such as blocks, blankets, and straps to help you achieve the ideal posture for you in each pose.
Our Iyengar Yoga instructors have undergone rigorous training and anatomy lessons that make them uniquely qualified to teach Iyengar Yoga classes online. They will help you perfect your form to ensure your practice is as safe and beneficial as possible.
Benefits of Iyengar Yoga
There are many benefits of Iyengar Yoga for both your mind and body.
Because proper alignment is the main focus of the class, Iyengar Yoga can help to improve your posture. Having good posture has many benefits you might not expect. On top of helping with back, neck, and joint health, proper posture can improve your mood, energy, and even your breathing!
In addition, studies have found that Iyengar Yoga can be very beneficial for combating anxiety, stress, and depression.
Get Started Today
Experience the benefits of Iyengar Yoga for yourself. Try your first online Iyengar Yoga class for free.
*change or cancel anytime.
OUR STYLES OF YOGA
A Class for Your Every Need
Discover which styles of yoga our certified instructors offer online:
FAQs About Iyengar Yoga
Iyengar Yoga was developed by the renowned yogi, B.K.S. Iyengar, in the 1940s. Iyengar studied yoga in India from a very young age under the instruction of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, one of the fathers of modern yoga.
Krishnamacharya placed a lot of emphasis on the importance of breath control and proper form to deepen and enrich his yoga practice. This inspired Iyengar to create his own style of yoga based on anatomy and proper alignment.
In 1966, Iyengar published the book “Light on Yoga”, considered by many to be the “bible” of modern-day yoga. This comprehensive guide fully outlined his yoga philosophy, and is a roadmap for yoga practitioners of all ages – no matter their style of choice.
There are four main principles of Iyengar Yoga. They are:
- Proper alignment
Proper alignment is the pillar of Iyengar Yoga. It is crucial to prevent injury and ensure that you get the most out of your practice. Your online instructor will verbally walk you through the steps for achieving proper alignment. - Correct action
Correct action is about performing your asanas to the best of your ability. This deals not only with alignment but also with your breathwork and movements. After all, one of the main goals of Iyengar Yoga is connecting your body and mind, and it is through breathwork that we achieve that. - Sequencing
Sequencing refers to the order in which the asanas are performed. The sequence is important in Iyengar, but is not set in stone. Sequences can be modified depending on the goal of the sequence and the experience of the student. - Timing
Timing refers to how long each asana is held. This can vary depending on the pose. Your yoga instructor will know the optimum timing for each asana.
Yes, Iyengar Yoga is a wonderful choice for beginners. It is less intense than Vinyasa Yoga or BodyWorks Yoga and focuses more on proper alignment and breathwork than on strength, endurance, or flexibility.
Because you pay such close attention to alignment during an Iyengar Yoga class, this style is beneficial for beginners, elderly practitioners, and people recovering from injury. Our Iyengar Yoga instructors know how to make this style accessible – no matter your fitness level.
If you visit an Iyengar Yoga studio, it will be fully stocked with blankets, blocks, belts, and yoga chairs – but what are you supposed to bring for an online Iyengar Yoga class!?
Don’t worry. When starting out with Iyengar Yoga, all you really need is a yoga mat. As you progress through your practice, you may be inspired to pick up some more equipment as suggested by your instructor or even use common household items.
Certain positions, like Sarvangasana, require you to create an elevated surface. You can do this by stacking folded blankets or towels you have in your home if you don’t have yoga blocks. A firm (not soft) pillow may also work.
