B.K.S. Iyengar doing a Full Arm balance (Adho Mukha Vrksasana)
Born in India in 1918, B.K.S. Iyengar is considered one of the foremost teachers of Yoga in the world and has been practicing and teaching for over sixty years. Millions of students now follow his method and there are Iyengar yoga centres all over the world. He has written many books on yogic practice and its philosophy including "Light on Yoga," "Light on Pranayama," "Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali" and more.
At the age of 15, B.K.S. Iyengar was introduced to yoga through his brother-in-law following the teachings of a very strict scholar and yogi Sri T. Krishnamacharya. In 1937 at the age of 19 he began to teach yoga and soon his recognition grew. However, it wasn't until a chance meeting with the famous violinist, Yehudi Menuhin that B.K.S. Iyengar received international acclaim where he taught abroad in London, Switzerland, Paris and elsewhere.
On first introductions to the subject, our initial understanding of yoga does not go far beyond the notion of relaxation, light physical exercise including a spot of stretching to help our flexibility / agility.
Having poor health from childhood, Iyengar had a very clear motivation for practising yoga. Viewed as the bible of yoga, his book, ‘Light on Yoga' sets out a series of prescriptive asanas (postures) to specifically deal with a variety of common ailments, an example quoted below (editor's note - it is recommended to seek medical advice for treatment of serious illnesses) ;
High blood pressure
Haläsana (244); Janu-Sirsãsana (127); Ardha Baddha Padma
Paschimottãnãsana (135); Triang Mukhaikapãda Paschimottänäsana
(139); Paschimottãnäsana (160); Virãsana (89); Siddhãsana (84);
Padmasana (104); Savãsana (592). Nädi Sodhana Pranayãma (Section
205) without retention. Meditation with closed eyes. (If the blood
pressure is very high, then it is better to do Ujjãyi Prãnãyãma (Section
203) in the lying position without pillows first for 5 minutes and then
to perform Nadi Sodhana Prãnayäma (Section 205) and immediately do
Savãsana (592) for 15 minutes.)
For whatever reason one takes up yoga, it is when we understand and believe that through regular practice, the benefits on many levels will undoubtedly inspire us to continue and in time without much effort, we will mould our day-to-day routines around these practices.
The introduction in the book on Iyengar yoga ‘Light on Yoga' sets out very well the philosophy underlying the practice, in summary - calm mind, regular breath and core strength.
Excerpt from ‘Light on Yoga' by B.K.S. Iyengar
What is Yoga?
The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning to bind, join, attach and yoke, to direct and concentrate one's attention on, to use and apply. It also means union or communion. ‘It thus means,' says Mahadev Desai in his introduction to the Gita according to Gandhi, ‘the yoking of all the powers of body, mind and soul; it means the disciplining of the intellect, the mind, the emotions, the will, which that Yoga pre-supposes; it means a poise of the soul which enables one to look at life in all its aspects evenly.'
Yoga is one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy. It was collated, co-ordinated and systematised by Patañjali in his classical work, the Yoga Sutras, which consists of 185 terse aphorisms. In Indian thought, everything is permeated by the Supreme Universal Spirit (Paramätma or God) of which the individual human spirit (jivatma) is a part. The system of yoga is so called because it teaches the means by which the jivätmã can be united to, or be in communion with the Paramatmä, and so secure liberation (moksa).
One who follows the path of Yoga is a yogi or yogin. In the sixth chapter of the Bhagavad Gitã, which is the most important authority on Yoga philosophy, Sri Krishna explains to Arjuna the meaning of Yoga as a deliverance from contact with pain and sorrow. It is said:
‘When his mind, intellect and self (ahamkãra) are under control, freed from restless desire, so that they rest in the spirit within, a man becomes a Yukta - one in communion with God. A lamp does not flicker in a place where no winds blow; so it is with a yogi, who controls his mind, intellect and self, being absorbed in the spirit within him. When the restlessness of the mind, intellect and self is stilled through the practice of Yoga, the yogi by the grace of the Spirit within himself finds fulfilment. Then he knows the joy eternal which is beyond the pale of the senses which his reason cannot grasp. He abides in this reality and moves not therefrom. He has found the treasure above all others. There is nothing higher than this. He who has achieved it, shall not be moved by the greatest sorrow. This is the real meaning of Yoga-a deliverance from contact with pain and sorrow.'
At Lotus Yoga, Sorcha's Monday evening's class (6.00-7.15pm) takes students from beginners to advanced levels. Using props Sorcha focus on improving flexibility and building core strength. Class sizes allows Sorcha one-to-one tuition while conducting her class.