| Iyengar Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga, which focuses | | | | beneficial for their ailments. Iyengar believed that |
| on the physical alignment of the body through a series | | | | eventually through continued practice, each person |
| of poses. Often props such as belts and blocks are | | | | would become capable of doing the poses perfectly |
| used to help a person achieve the proper pose which | | | | without props because their body would be |
| makes this form of yoga easier to do for the average | | | | strengthened and their alignment perfected. |
| person. There are many benefits to Iyengar Yoga | | | | Iyengar yoga does not rely on flowing from one pose |
| such as improved strength and flexibility as well as | | | | to another and therefore is not as cardiovascular in |
| greater peace of mind. Studies have shown this form | | | | nature as some other forms of yoga. Rather, the |
| of yoga to be beneficial in improving symptoms for a | | | | emphasis is on perfecting the body's alignment and |
| variety of ailments ranging from arthritis to bi-polar | | | | strengthening the muscles. Often students will rest |
| disease and it is perfect for physical therapy patients | | | | between poses which is excellent for increasing |
| because of the way that small muscle groups are | | | | muscle tone. Since experts today agree that both |
| strengthened and posture is improved. | | | | cardiovascular and strength training are essential for |
| B.K.S. Iyengar was born in India in 1918. He became | | | | good health, it would make perfect sense to perform |
| interested in Yoga in an effort to improve his own | | | | Iyengar yoga several days per week alternating with a |
| health because he was suffering from tuberculosis | | | | more cardiovascular form of yoga such as Ashtanga |
| and he began studying with the yoga guru | | | | on the opposite days and always remembering to |
| Krishnamacharya in Mysore, India. He started teaching | | | | include one rest day each week. Many people prefer |
| yoga in 1936 and soon developed his own method | | | | yoga to the more modern forms of exercise such as |
| which involved using props such as belts and blocks | | | | running or weight lifting and since yoga is also beneficial |
| which could help persons with limited abilities get into | | | | for the mind and spirit as well as the body it makes a |
| and maintain the poses that would be the most | | | | great alternative. |