Iyengar yoga is a precise and skilful way of teaching yoga which encourages students to develop greater awareness of their body and behaviours so they can develop better habits for longer term health and vitality.

This method of teaching was developed by BKS Iyengar, often described as the “father of modern yoga”. Mr Iyengar is credited with bringing yoga to the West and for the introduction of props to that the asanas (poses) more accessible for everyone.

Iyengar Yoga Australia describes the Iyengar method as “a standardised system of instruction” based on the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali. All Iyengar yoga teachers must subscribe to a comprehensive training and certification process and commit to ongoing professional development of a minimum of 20 hours a year with a senior teacher.

The Iyengar method seeks to fully integrate the physical, physiological, mental, intellectual and spiritual aspects of yoga. In other words, it teaches students to move their awareness from the external body to the inner layers of consciousness (the kosas). There is focus on balance and developing sensitivity so that people ‘tune in’ to what is going on within, and around them. Mr Iyengar spent many years working with doctors and scientists to better understand the human body through disciplined practice and experimentation.