Mind Body Soul Retreats

A Brief History of Mr Iyengar

Sri Yogacharya BKS Iyengar was born into a large impoverished family. The youngest child of 13 siblings, he struggled with malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever and general malnutrition. His arms and legs were notably thin and weak. He suffered from a distended belly and his head used to hang down. His physical limitations made him the victim of jest by his peers. Life for him was marked by great physical effort and debilitating pain.

When he was 15 years old, BKS Iyengar was sent to Mysore to live with his brother-in-law, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, of whom it could be said is the grandfather of all modern-day yoga. The idea was for Iyengar to find relief and perhaps even some recovery from all of his illnesses. Instead Iyengar developed a keen interest in yoga and asked Sri Krishnamacharya to teach him. Sri Krishnamacharya was not particularly enthusiastic nor optimistic, but obliged, allowing BKS Iyengar to study in the Yogashala with the other pupils.

BKS Iyengar’s tutelage with Sri Krishnamacharya was a struggle. Learning the 200 Asanas, Iyengar had many physical challenges to overcome in comparison with the other students. But his luck changed one day when Keshavamurthy, Krishnamacharya’s favorite pupil left for the day, and Iyengar was able to earn his master’s attention. The guidance Iyengar sought from Krishnamacharya was hard fought, but his influence on Iyengar was life-changing and positive, and is what made Iyengar into the international phenomenon to which he became, publishing dozens of books, bringing yoga to the West, and inspiring millions of yoga practitioners.

Ashtanga and Iyengar

Many people ask about the difference between Iyengar Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. A simplistic answer might be that Ashtanga Yoga is for able-bodied practitioners, who already have strong body intelligence and awareness, whereas Iyengar Yoga is an alignment-based practice for anyone, of any age, ability, or life circumstance.

It is interesting to note that at the age of 12 Krishna Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, also studied in Mysore with Krishnamacharya around the same time that Iyengar was a resident there. Robust, vital and bold, Pattabhi was born into a Brahmin family, his father was a priest, astrologer and land owner.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is an energetic series of yoga poses (Asana) that are linked with breath and flowing movements (Vinyasa). As mentioned before Iyengar Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga. Both Pattabhi and Iyengar studied and applied the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the and Hatha Pradipika. 

Therefore the practice of Iyengar Yoga includes Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Pranayama, in addition to the other 8 limbs that define yoga. However, Vinyasa (modern reference: Yoga Flow) is practiced only once the students have demonstrated awareness, strength and competency for those dynamic series. Pranayama is instead practiced throughout Iyengar training, but only deeply developed only once the student has developed thoracic awareness, strength and competency.

Both Ashtanga Yoga and Iyengar Yoga have given rise to many spin-off western yoga styles and both teachers were influential to many famous yoga teachers today. As the traditions of yoga have been commercialized by western capitalism, the roots of Ashtanga Yoga can be seen in stylized forms like Power Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga. Likewise Iyengar Yoga has been used as a source by many popular modern yoga forms like Anusara Yoga, Fly High Yoga, Yin Yoga. Any yoga class that uses a prop has borrowed from Mr Iyengar, who spent decades tirelessly researching and inventing specific materials (bricks, belts, planks, weights, stools, bars, chairs, suspension ropes, bolsters, blankets…) to facilitate the postural practice.