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Iyengar Yoga Information
Iyengar Yoga Books
by Marianne Woods Cirone, M.S., R.Y.T., Certified Yoga Teacher
Iyengar yoga is a style of yoga developed by B.K.S. Iyengar
which emphasizes the precise alignment of a pose. Mr. Iyengar is one
of the living masters in the field of yoga today, and is a major influence
on the way yoga is practiced in throughout the world. He has written
many important books, including the classic text,
Light on Yoga.
Because the
alignment is of primary importance, this type of yoga utilizes a wide
range of
yoga equipment and props. For example, to extend your reach in a
certain pose, one might use a strap or a block as a prop. Other props may
include bolsters, blankets, chairs and swings. Iyengar teachers are
typically highly trained and may be harder to find in some areas
than other teachers. Iyengar yoga has been called by some "the most
pranically correct" model, meaning that the energy of the body is allowed
to flow in the most balanced and unobstructed manner. On the other hand,
there is a precision and level of detail that some yoga practitioners find
too challenging.
Because of the use of modifications and
props, Iyengar yoga can be adapted to practitioners of all levels.
An excellent guidebook for the Iyengar style yoga is
Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health, by B.K.S. Iyengar. This is a
beautifully presented book by DK Publishing, with over 1900 (!) color
photographs and excellent descriptions of postures, their benefits and any
contraindications. Also, series of poses are presented as therapeutic
modalities for specific medical conditions. This comprehensive book
could keep you busy for a long time. Be aware that many props are
shown in these poses, so if you intend to follow this book you will need
blankets, bolsters, blocks and other props.
Dr. Mary Pullig Schatz, a certified Iyengar yoga teacher, has
written the book, Back Care Basics which uses the Iyengar techniques
as therapy for a wide variety of back ailments. She does an
excellent job of separating the specific techniques which would be
recommended or contraindicated for each particular back condition.
Additionally, Rodney Yee is an excellent teacher of
the Iyengar style, with a wide range of videos shown to the left.
He has developed an array of videos which are very well done and
popular, and his gentle style of teaching is very appealing.
He has developed a unique combination of Iyengar yoga alignment
techniques and poses with a flowing yoga style as well.
At the Temple of Kriya Yoga, where I
received my teacher's certification training, the Iyengar style of
yoga is taught by my master teacher, Kim Schwartz. (For more
information on this program, go to
Hatha Yoga Teacher's Training article.) His knowledge of every
aspect of the poses and the alignment which encourages the optimal
movement of prana is unbelievable. A text that we used for the
course is Yoga:
The Iyengar Way by Mehta, et al (see above, right). This
book goes into a fair amount depth about a vast array of poses and
has large clear pictures of each pose.
Many of the Yoga Journal series of tapes
Yoga for Beginners such as with Patricia Walden are using a
basic Iyengar style also, but perhaps with less detail to begin. In my
opinion, these tapes will be more accessible if you have some familiarity
with yoga, i.e., I personally do not suggest them for total beginners. If
you are interested in Iyengar style yoga, I would definitely recommend
starting with an Iyengar teacher first, and then complementing your
training with videos. One of the comments about these tapes is that
there is little or no warm-up, so that the student needs to be aware of
his or her own needs for preparation before doing the tapes.
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