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Visit our special page What is Yoga? for more details.
Everyone can benefit from practicing yoga. It can be used to manage stress, prepare for childbirth, recover from injuries or improve health and fitness. It can give one a philosophical perspective of life, bring tranquillity and mental strength. There is no-one who cannot benefit from its practice.
Mr Iyengar states that modern western life has brought tremendous benefits but also its own perils. The elimination of the drudgery in our lives has left us with an immobile, sedentary lifestyle, where the intellect holds sway over the body in the pursuit of happiness. But the lack of natural exercise in our lives has left many people with chronic health and stress problems, especially as they get older. Yoga enables the student to find relief from these physical ailments and to strengthen the body and make it more supple.
When you practice yoga you will find that it works on all levels of the body, mind and spirit.
Physically as a beginner, you will experience the practice of yoga as a form of physical exercise that enables you to improve your strength, flexibility, stamina and balance. However, more than other forms of exercise you will also feel an increased sense of well being and vitality as the body is exercised organically- the inner organs, circulation, joint action etc. are all worked so as to improve their function and efficiency. One thus overcomes many symptoms of an imbalanced modern life, such as headaches, stiff necks, lower backache, insomnia and digestive disorders, and to harness one's energy bringing vitality to everyday activities. Thus health as opposed to merely fitness improves also.
As one progresses with yoga one becomes aware of this occurring within one's self also. Silva, Mira and Shyam Mehta state that "From the psychological viewpoint, yoga sharpens the intellect and aids concentration. It steadies the emotions and encourages a caring concern for others. Above all, it gives hope. The practice of breathing techniques calms the mind. Its philosophy sets life in perspective. In the realm of the spiritual, yoga brings awareness and the ability to be still. Through meditation, inner peace is experienced. Thus yoga is a practical philosophy involving every aspect of a person's being. It teaches the evolution of the individual by the development of self-discipline and self-awareness."
So, by the practice of yoga, an athlete can become a better athlete, a teacher a better teacher, an accountant a better accountant. One of B K S Iyengar's students, the violinist Yehudi Menuhin acknowledged his Guru not as his best yoga teacher but also his best violin teacher. "Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul, create the symphony of life."
Anyone regardless of age, sex, nationality, religion or social status can practice Yoga.
It is not recommended that Children younger than 7-8 years practice yoga. Although younger children can playfully be introduced to yoga, they should never be forced as this can damage their spine and other joints because their bodies are still developing.
There is no upper age limit and it is never too old to learn yoga. As Sri T. Krishnamacharya once stated, "as long as there is breath, there is hope."
Yoga does help in overcoming health problems. One needs to note that health is not just a disease-free state but a state of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Diseases may be dormant, interrupted or in a fully active stage and an individual is able to detect the disease depending upon his/her sensitivity. Most individuals realise that they have a problem only when the symptoms start showing. In such cases, yoga asanas are taught in such a manner that the patient gets symptomatic relief. Later, the patient has to continue with their practice so as to get at the root of the disease. Practice of yoga also builds the character of tolerance in the practitioner, strengthens the nerves and quietens the mind and so, as Prashant Iyengar states, "Yoga helps cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured."
Visit our special page What is Iyengar yoga? for more details.
The more one practices, the more benefit and improvements one will get; the rewards correspond to the effort put in.
However, a daily routine, even if only for a few minutes, is more beneficial than one long session weekly. A daily routine also builds it's own momentum and encourages one to continue with yoga rather than bursts of irregular but intense practice.
Once a regular practice has been established it is possible to increase the duration of the sessions depending on enthusiasm and other commitments. There is no real maximum limit to practice. As a guide, trainee teachers are expected to practice at least 2 hours daily. Mr Iyengar at over 80 years of age still does four hours daily Asana practice and an hour Pranayama.
An intense student will be sincere and devoted in his practice. In class it is the duty of the teacher to ensure that the students are fully involved both physically, mentally and emotionally in class. Only then will this attribute become part of all their activities. The student should be willing to make an effort to learn and work hard.
Yoga is not a subject that is learnt to a certain level upon which one is "qualified." It is a subject which has a beginning but no end - the more one progresses in one's practice, the more the subject opens up and the more one realises there is more to be learnt, absorbed and applied. B.K.S Iyengar has been practicing for over 65 years and states that he is still a student who is constantly discovering and learning new things through yoga.
Iyengar Yoga is not "tough" but it is demanding. Correct yoga requires being totally involved physically, mentally and emotionally in one's practice. As Yoga is concerned with the growth and development of the individual, this means extending one's current comfortable limits. Thus yoga requires that one work beyond what is necessarily easy but obviously not to the point of distress. Yoga should be a constant challenge but never an assault, and the teacher's task to continuously raise the standard for the student so that there is always room for progress.
Iyengar Yoga teaches and leads towards the experience of all 8 aspects of astanga yoga, primarily through the tools of asanas and pranayama.
In Iyengar yoga one learns how the performance of Asana needs the disciplines of Yama and Niyama (ethics and personal discipline), the role of the breath (Pranayama) and how the turning of the senses of perception to look inwards (Pratyahara) and total concentration (Dharana) while doing asanas lead one to experience the higher mental states.
Asanas are postures which are performed by the physical body but the breath, the mind and the intelligence must also be involved in the performance. Any posture performed without total involvement becomes an exercise and not an asana. Asanas require reflection in action such that the mind, emotions and the physical body are not separated. In this way regular practice of Iyengar Yoga definitely acts on the mind, emotions and intellect.
An example is when a person is very nervous such as before a public performance. The body (e.g shoulders) will become tense and tight and the breathing heavy and fast although the tension is only "mental." So the state of one's emotions and mind is sub-consciously reflected in one's breath and physical body. Asanas and Pranayama are a reflection of the same principle. The physical body and the breath are consciously altered so as to sub-consciously regulate the emotions and the mind. Certain postures performed in a specific manner bring about mental relaxation, quietness and serenity so that regular practice of asanas and pranayama brings with it not only physical health but also mental poise, intellectual clarity and emotional equanimity.
Meditation is not taught as a separate subject in Iyengar yoga classes. As already stated, true meditation (Dhyana) and the subtler mental states are things which cannot be taught. Meditation is a state where one "becomes one with the universal spirit." One has no mind, intelligence, feelings or experiences when in this state and so no question of expressions of one's experiences. Thus meditation cannot be taught - It is a state of being which comes of itself when the practitioner is ready.
In practice this means that the body must be made healthy and trained to sit alertly and attentively through the practice of asanas. The mind and senses must be trained to become quiet and steady through the practice of pranayama. Yama and Niyama provide the discipline and self restraint necessary for these achievements. Once these foundation stones have been laid, the way becomes open for the experience of meditation to come.
In "meditation classes," what is generally taught is how to settle into a mental state of relaxation, go into trance, visualise mentally or perform some similar mental activity. A true meditative state is none of these but rather where mind and body are silent but vibrant with energy.
Therefore, within the lay understanding of "meditation," yes one does learn to cultivate a quiet, relaxed and tranquil state of mind in Iyengar Yoga classes. One also learns how to lay the correct foundations for meditation to be experienced, but there should not be a misunderstanding of the true nature of meditation.
Although it might at first sight appear that someone who is very flexible can perform yoga asanas (postures) better than a stiff person, this is a misconception. Yoga should not be confused with gymnastics. Yoga aims to develop one's understanding, alignment and awareness through subtle adjustments made to the body - the skin, muscles, tendons and joints etc - while in a yoga posture. The aim is to attain firmness, stability and a feeling of exhilaration in an asana - to make "the effortful effort becomes an effortless effort."
It is therefore not important whether you can touch your head to the knees when bending forward or whether you can sit in full lotus but how well one attempts to do so. Quality not quantity matters. That is not to say that flexibility does not make achieving postures easier, but it is only one element of many necessary for a good asana.
Fortunately flexibility is also developed with dedicated practice and devoted students can develop their flexibility to the level of any ballet dancer.
Therapeutic Yoga can provide relief from chronic health problems. Some of the chronic ailments for which people have benefited from Yoga practice include:
If suffering from any medical condition, it is essential to inform your teacher. Serious medical conditions require the attention of a suitably qualified remedial instructor with the necessary training and experience.
Yoga can be safely introduced to children at around seven years.
When young they need to be taught in a playful manner such that they can enjoy what they are doing and are so motivated to continue with it. The basic nature of children is dynamic and they love things which are fast and quick; their minds are very alert but never very steady and therefore they constantly need variety. Also children learn faster by observing than by words so a teacher needs to perform along with the children and at the same pace; as Mr Iyengar says "Children are controlled by their eyes not by words." All these aspects must be taken into consideration in teaching Yoga successfully.
In practice this means postures should be taught in quick succession with plenty of variety and continuous challenges such that their latent energy is used positively. Gradually precision and perfection can be introduced as they grow. Introducing yoga to children develops in them the attributes of courage, concentration and determination.
Pranayama should never be taught to children as this goes against their basic nature. Pranayama is "internalisation" while children are basically extrovert by nature. Their curiosity and exuberance should not be trounced as this can lead to emotional disturbances in later life.
Yoga can be practiced by women of all ages and at all stages of life. Practice is beneficial, even during menstruation and pregnancy although the practice needs to be adjusted depending on one's circumstances. Certain postures are extremely helpful for a women's physiology, especially to overcome menstrual disorders and also to withstand the physiological and emotional changes accompanying menopause.
Yoga practice during pregnancy is beneficial to the mother as well as the unborn child. However, one must be careful if unsure.
In pregnancy, one cannot practice as usual and the guidance of a suitably qualified teacher should be sought. Special pregnancy classes are recommended as certain postures must not be practiced and others must be adjusted to take into account the condition of the baby and the mother. Above all one should feel no strain or tiredness during or after yoga. Also, how one practices needs to change as the pregnancy progresses. If in doubt it is best to leave the practice of yoga until the baby has been born so there is no risk.
In practice the postures help relieve tiredness and tension. The spine is also well exercised easing back pain and the pelvic floor strengthened. The pelvic area is also expanded encouraging circulation around the uterus and ensuring there is space for the baby to move.
After pregnancy, yoga practice will help the mothers body return to normal shape and strength more quickly.
RIMYI is an abbreviation for Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute. Ramamani was the name of BKS Iyengar's wife. She died in 1973.
There are several online resources about studying at the RIMYI in Pune. First there is the official website of BKS Iyengar that has an excellent page about the RIMYI. Then, the BKS Iyengar Association of Southern Africa also has an excellent page Prepare for Pune (hotels etc.).
Please consult our Yoga Centers page first. Arranged by country, you can find a huge number of yoga centers (i.e. nearly all Iyengar yoga centers worldwide that have a webpage).
If you don't find anything there, please consult one of the many online directory of Iyengar yoga teachers. You can find links to these directories in the lower half of our Yoga Centers page.
If this doesn't help, you might try searching with a good search engine, e.g. Google. Try entering iyengar yoga [town], where you replace [town] with the name of the where you want to be taught.
Of course you can also contact us and we will try to help you.
Compiled by Cedric Taylor and edited by Mira Mehta (with some additions by Ivan Herger).