| Iyengar is a form of yoga that focuses on the proper | | | | misalignment of the body. They also pay close |
| alignment of the body. B.K.S. Iyengar, who was the | | | | attention to all participants in a session so that they |
| founder of Iyengar, established the use of props to | | | | can help them improve their postures. Iyengar |
| better facilitate yogis to get maximum benefit from | | | | instructors have to be certified in order to train other |
| each pose by concentrating on the alignment. This | | | | people about the specific techniques utilized for proper |
| was done in order to achieve improved therapeutic | | | | alignment. |
| benefits from each session. | | | | Most American yoga followers choose the Iyengar for |
| Alignment is used to describe exact positioning of the | | | | therapeutic reasons. Due to the emphasis placed on |
| body for each posture in yoga. Iyengar is the most | | | | proper alignment, it provides cures for various body |
| alignment oriented form of yoga. Iyengar instructors | | | | pains and improves the body posture. Most back pains |
| place a lot of emphasis on alignment as opposed to all | | | | are related to bad posture, so a large number of |
| other yoga trainers. | | | | people benefit from Iyengar as the instructors enforce |
| Since Iyengar teaches proper body alignment and | | | | straight alignment of all body parts during the sessions. |
| stresses importance of using props to achieve it, it is | | | | Other health issues that are being resolved with yoga |
| the best option for beginners. Most people find it | | | | include improved circulation, nervous and respiratory |
| difficult in the beginning to achieve the correct poses, | | | | systems, enhanced lung capacity and in general a well |
| so when certain props are available to help them, it | | | | being of all internal organs. |
| gets easier.Props that are most commonly used to | | | | Iyengar emphasizes the standing poses as they are |
| perform Iyengar include the following: | | | | considered to build strong leg muscles which in turn |
| - Cushions | | | | improve balance and coordination, as they are |
| - Benches | | | | extremely important to carry out advanced yoga. |
| - Wooden gadgets | | | | Even though different kinds of routines have different |
| - Yoga straps or belts | | | | objectives, the main purpose is to relax the mind and |
| - Sand bags | | | | body so that meditation could be done. Iyengar also |
| - Foam Blocks Each of the above is used in various | | | | follows this main mantra and provides a way of life for |
| poses of Iyengar. When it is practiced on a regular | | | | all by stressing focus on proper body alignment and |
| basis, it helps to assimilate and integrate one's body | | | | posture. This leads the practitioner to achieve |
| with their emotions. Instructor involvement is also a key | | | | perfection in any asana. So Iyengar is targeted |
| feature of Iyengar. Unlike in other forms, these | | | | towards all who want to attain perfection of mind and |
| instructors are very involved with their students and | | | | body. |
| give very descriptive instructions about alignment and | | | | |