B.K.S. Iyengar

B.K.S. Iyengar was a renowned Indian yoga teacher, author, and founder of Iyengar Yoga, a style of Hatha Yoga that emphasizes precise alignment, the use of props, and the development of strength, balance, and flexibility. He was born in Bellur, Karnataka, India, and was influenced by Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, a prominent yoga teacher who also taught K. Pattabhi Jois and Indra Devi. Iyengar's teachings were shaped by his studies with Krishnamacharya at the Mysore Palace and his own practice, which was influenced by Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita. He was also inspired by the works of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo.

● Early Life and Education

B.K.S. Iyengar was born on December 14, 1918, in Bellur, Karnataka, India, to a Telugu-speaking family. He was the eleventh of thirteen children, and his early life was marked by poverty and hardship. Iyengar's education was limited, and he was largely self-taught, but he was deeply influenced by his brother-in-law, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who introduced him to yoga at the age of 15. Iyengar's early practice was also shaped by his studies of Sanskrit and Ayurveda at the Mysore University and his exposure to the teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Sri Ramakrishna.

● Career

Iyengar's career as a yoga teacher began in the 1930s, when he started teaching in Mysore, India. He later moved to Pune, Maharashtra, India, where he established the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in 1975. The institute, which was named after his wife, Ramamani Iyengar, became a hub for yoga instruction and attracted students from around the world, including Yehudi Menuhin and Aldous Huxley. Iyengar's teachings were also influenced by his interactions with other prominent yoga teachers, such as Swami Satchidananda and Paramahansa Yogananda.

● Teaching Philosophy and Methodology

Iyengar's teaching philosophy emphasized the importance of precise alignment, the use of props, and the development of strength, balance, and flexibility. He believed that yoga should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability, and developed a range of techniques and sequences to accommodate different needs and levels of practice. Iyengar's methodology was also influenced by his studies of anatomy and physiology at the University of Pune and his work with physical therapists and medical professionals at the Pune University and the Indian Council of Medical Research. He was particularly interested in the therapeutic applications of yoga and worked with students who had a range of health conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, and heart disease.

● Legacy and Impact

B.K.S. Iyengar's legacy is profound and far-reaching, and his teachings have had a significant impact on the development of yoga worldwide. He wrote several books on yoga, including Light on Yoga and Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which have been translated into many languages and have become classics in the field. Iyengar's teachings have also been influential in the development of other styles of yoga, such as Vinyasa Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga, and have inspired a range of yoga teachers, including John Friend and Desikachar. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991 and the Padma Bhushan in 2002 for his contributions to yoga and Indian culture.

● Personal Life and Later Years

B.K.S. Iyengar was married to Ramamani Iyengar and had six children, including Geeta Iyengar and Prashant Iyengar, who are also prominent yoga teachers. He was known for his simplicity, humility, and dedication to his practice and his students, and continued to teach and practice yoga until his death on August 20, 2014, at the age of 95. Iyengar's later years were marked by a range of honors and awards, including the Prince Claus Award and the Indira Gandhi Award, and he remained a respected and beloved figure in the yoga community until the end of his life. He is remembered as one of the most influential yoga teachers of the 20th century, and his teachings continue to inspire and guide yoga practitioners around the world, from New York City to Tokyo and from London to Sydney.

Category:Yoga