Iyengar yoga is Hatha yoga. It is called after BKS Iyengar who developed the practice and its systematic and comprehensive approach to learning yoga. The emphasis on integrated alignment and progressive learning is central to the practice. Poses are practised in repeated weekly cycles to help build understanding and confidence and they include standing poses, forward bends and twists, backbends and restorative poses. Props are often used to assist with stability and balance. Inversions such as head stand and shoulder stand (or a modified version of these) are introduced gradually and always in accordance with students’ capacity and progress. Pranayama (breathing techniques) are often incorporated in to restorative classes.

Training to teach in the Iyengar Yoga method requires a commitment to a rigorous and systematic method of training and ongoing professional development within the requirements of the BKS Iyengar Association of Australia. To learn more about the Association’s requirements visit http://www.iyengaryoga.asn.au/teacher-training-certification/.