Iyengar Yoga practice involves yogic discipline. This hot yoga energy is often associated with the element of fire. B.K.S. Iyengar’s translation II.43 in Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali “Self-displine (tapas) burns away impurities and kindles the sparks of divinity.” You may feel heat on the soles your feet when you practice standing yoga …
When we practice Iyengar Yoga we are giving our embodiment a yoga bath. This yogic cleanse helps us nourish our cells. The first niyama is called sauca meaning cleanliness and purity. In Light on Yoga Sutras of Patanjali B.K.S. Iyengar translates sutra II.41 to mean “When the body is cleansed, the mind purified and the …
Cultivating joy in Iyengar Yoga practice helps us foster a benevolent attitude needed for spiritual connection. Iyengar Yoga postures can help us achieve a more joyful yogic state especially in Iyengar Yoga poses where the chest lifts. According to the 8 limbs of yoga santosha is a branch regarding the internal observances known as the …
Chose yoga practice. Make time in your life for your own Iyengar Yoga Practice. Create space in your dwelling for a place to practice Iyengar Yoga. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Yoga Swami Swatmarama makes it clear that only tireless practice is the secret to sucess in yoga (I.66). The Bhagavad Gita says Yoga is …
Tonight there will be a full moon in the sky. Since it is April this celestial orb is known as a Pink Moon. In the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit the word for moon is candra. In Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali B.K.S. Iyengar translates sutra III. 28 as “By samyama (integration) on …
Attending a weekly Iyengar Yoga class lays the groundwork for developing one’s own yoga practice. It is important for first time yoga students to attend several yoga classes in order to see yogic progress. Overtime one may notice a change in emotional health, flexibility, and overall improved well being. Communicating your yoga questions to a …
Progress in Iyengar Yoga is not linear. Many long time Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers (CIYTs) frequently advocate for Iyengar Yoga students to not focus exclusively on improving one’s yoga pose. By practicing Iyengar Yoga daily we can become more in tune to purifying our yogic consciousness as opposed to making our yoga postures better. Backsliding …
To experience the essence of yoga or as B.K.S. Iyengar expressed, “sip the nectar of yoga” one must practice yoga often. There are no shortcuts on maintaining a daily yoga practice. Many newcomers to yoga begin as casual students. Some yoga participants may be sporadic yoga class goers or occasionally use yoga videos online. With …
Regularly practicing Iyengar Yoga can help relieve suffering. There are different reasons why we face instability and heartache during our lifetimes. Doing Iyengar Yoga helps remove the root causes of our afflictions just like one pulls weeds out of a garden. Iyengar Yoga is not limited to physical yoga postures. Reading ancient yoga texts and …
The holiday season is upon us bringing a time of many seasonal rituals. Like the holidays, spiritual practices such as yoga are marked by their own customs and procedures. Unlike the yearly rites of passage of the holidays which bring food and gifts, the aim of yogic rituals is spiritual. The goals of yoga are …