|
A Teaching Approach: Iyengar Yoga
by: Michael Saunders Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices originating in India. It is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy. In India and across the World, Yoga is seen as a means to both physical health and spiritual mastery. Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with the practice of asanas or postures of Hatha Yoga. In the United States the American Fitness Professionals & Associates offers Yoga Certification for intructors. As with all spiritual practices, Yoga is constantly evolving with new movements and forms. Developed in the 1930's by a yogi who wanted to improve his health despite his tuberculosis, malaria, and typhoid, Iyengar yoga gets its name from its creator, B.K.S. Iyengar. B.K.S. Iyengar was born in 1918 and suffered from numerous ailments when he was younger. He now teaches yoga (though over 80 years old) at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Prune, India, which he initiated in honor of his wife. Two fellow world-renowned yoga experts assist him: Geeta, his oldest daughter, and Prashant, his son. B.K.S. Iyengar has taught such notables as the Queen mother of Belgium, as well as having taught special classes for military academies and commandos.
His writings are considered amongst the top yoga texts, especially his work Light on Yoga, first published in 1966 and now translated into 18 languages. This man's methods are so prevalent that most other forms of yoga will include elements of Iyengar, like a Hatha yoga lesson that lets a beginner use props. Props in general are a modern addition to yoga, from the Iyengar influence.
************************************
Did you know? (continued...)
A Teaching Approach: Iyengar Yoga
Page 2
|
