In Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar the King of all asanas is Salamba Sirsasana known as Fully Supported Head Pose (also known informally as head balance). There are several different variations of headstand depicted in Light on Yoga. This yoga posture requires knowledge on how to achieve correct muscular skeletal alignment in the yoga …
In the Introduction to Light on Yoga B.K.S. Iyengar quotes the Bhagavad Gita VI.16 and VI. 17, ‘Yoga is not for him who gorges too much, nor for him who starves himself. It is not for him who sleeps too much, nor for him who stays awake. By moderation in eating and in resting, by …
Are you a creature of habit? Do you typically eat the same foods at home and order your particular favorite dishes at restaurants? Or do you like try a wide range of flavors and spices and willing to take risks not just in the kitchen but in other areas of your life? Becoming too attached …
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 …
Are you a student of yoga? Many people are intrigued by yoga because of its bountiful health benefits. When I first read Light on Yoga I was attracted to reading the “Effects” section of all the yoga pose descriptions. It was not until many years later that I learned to read and re-read the method …
The english translation of the sanskrit word Asana is seat. Although many yoga poses or yoga postures are also referred to as yoga asanas. In B.K.S Iyengar’s Light on Yoga there are over 200 yoga poses. None of the yoga postures in Light on Yoga are done with a yoga prop. However, yoga props are …
The first wide standing yoga pose introduced in B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light on Yoga is Utthita Hasta Padasana, Extended Hand Foot Pose. We stand wide in this yoga pose. The inner feet are kept parallel to each other like railroad tracks like in Tadasana, mountain pose. The knee caps lift up and the backs of the …
As our yoga practice develops the quality of our poses change. There are hundreds of yoga poses in B.K.S Iyengar’s Light on Yoga yet often he would teach for hours focusing only on a few poses. Doing a good pose for a few moments is better than holding a lousy pose for several minutes. How …