There is only one reality, but there are many ways a reality can be interpreted.
There is only one reality, but there are many ways a reality can be interpreted.
B.K.S. Iyengar
About B.K.S. Iyengar
Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, born on 14th December 1918, was the world’s foremost modern-day master of yoga, having devoted a lifetime to its study. ‘Guruji’, (as Iyengar is affectionately known to his many thousands of students), is widely credited with introducing yoga to the western world. His 1966 book, Light On Yoga, is considered the most comprehensive instruction manual ever written on yoga āsanas.
Guruji began learning āsana from his brother-in-law, Sri T. Krishnamacharya, in 1934. Through years of sincere practice, teaching, research and study of early texts, he reached back to the roots of yoga and introduced a contemporary, dynamic and relevant revitalisation of the ancient art. This is known today as Iyengar Yoga.
B.K.S. Iyengar believed in demystifying yoga and in making it available to all, regardless of age, race or creed. Promoting yoga as an art, a science and a philosophy, one of his greatest contributions was in bringing yoga to ‘ordinary’ people. The work of the Iyengar family – B.K.S, his eldest daughter Geeta, his son Prashant and now his granddaughter Abhijata have made a yoga practice accessible to people in all corners of the globe.
Many leading medical practitioners and institutions continue to recognise Mr Iyengar for his intimate knowledge of the body, and explanation of pathology, from a yogic point of view. He was the recipient of numerous international awards and the author of the seminal books Light on Yoga, Light on Prāṇāyāma, The Art of Yoga, The Tree of Yoga, Light on Astanga Yoga, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and most recently, Yoga – The Path to Holistic Health.
In 1975 he opened the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India. Although he retired from teaching general classes in 1984, he continued to practice daily at the Institute until his death at age 95. His daughter Geetaji also inspired countless women to take up the practice of Iyengar Yoga, thanks to her laser-sharp focus on investigating how the practice can support a woman through her entire life cycle until her death at 74. Now, son Prashantji, and granddaughter Abhijata Sridhar Iyengar continue to teach and promote the art of Iyengar Yoga. From their base at the Institute in Pune, the Iyengar’s set up a worldwide, standardised system of instruction and a recognisable teacher’s qualification. Their objective? To
maintain the purity of Guruji’s research and teaching, and disseminate it for the best possible impact.
Today, their yoga teacher training programme is recognised as the best in the world and the one of the only ones that requires ongoing certification and visits back to India. Yoga teacher training continues throughout the yoga teacher’s life with rigorous standards and assessment procedures.
On August 20, 2014 Guruji passed away at the age of 95 leaving behind an enduring legacy.
About BKS Iyengar
Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, born on 14th December 1918, was the world’s foremost modern-day master of yoga, having devoted a lifetime to its study. ‘Guruji’, (as Iyengar is affectionately known to his many thousands of students), is widely credited with introducing yoga to the western world. His 1966 book, Light On Yoga, is considered the most comprehensive instruction manual ever written on yoga āsanas.
Guruji began learning āsana from his brother-in-law, Sri T. Krishnamacharya, in 1934. Through years of sincere practice, teaching, research and study of early texts, he reached back to the roots of yoga and introduced a contemporary, dynamic and relevant revitalisation of the ancient art. This is known today as Iyengar Yoga.
B.K.S. Iyengar believed in demystifying yoga and in making it available to all, regardless of age, race or creed. Promoting yoga as an art, a science and a philosophy, one of his greatest contributions was in bringing yoga to ‘ordinary’ people. The work of the Iyengar family – B.K.S., his eldest daughter Geeta, his son Prashant and now his granddaughter Abhijata have made a yoga practice accessible to people in all corners of the globe.
Many leading medical practitioners and institutions continue to recognise Mr Iyengar for his intimate knowledge of the body, and explanation of pathology, from a yogic point of view. He was the recipient of numerous international awards and the author of the seminal books Light on Yoga, Light on Prāṇāyāma, The Art of Yoga, The Tree of Yoga, Light on Astanga Yoga, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and most recently, Yoga – The Path to Holistic Health.
In 1975 he opened the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India. Although he retired from teaching general classes in 1984, he continued to practice daily at the Institute until his death at age 95. His daughter Geetaji also inspired countless women to take up the practice of Iyengar yoga, thanks to her laser-sharp focus on investigating how the practice can support a woman through her entire life cycle until her death at 74. Now, son Prashantji, and granddaughter Abhijata Sridhar Iyengar continue to teach and promote the art of Iyengar yoga. From their base at the Institute in Pune, the Iyengars set up a worldwide, standardised system of instruction and a recognisable teacher’s qualification. Their objective? To maintain the purity of Guruji’s research and teaching, and disseminate it for the best possible impact.
Today, their yoga teacher training programme is recognised as the best in the world and the one of the only ones that requires ongoing certification and visits back to India. Yoga teacher training continues throughout the yoga teacher’s life with rigorous standards and assessment procedures.
On August 20, 2014 Guruji passed away at the age of 95 leaving behind an enduring legacy.
B.K.S. Iyengar Gallery
It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence.
More about Iyengar Yoga
How do I start?
Are you interested in beginners yoga and learning the Iyengar method? Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting you on the mat.
Studying at RIMYI
RIMYI welcomes Iyengar Yoga practitioners all over the world for general and ladies classes.
Our Indian heritage
IYNZ has a proud history of Iyengar yoga teachers and practitioners who have learnt from the Iyengar family in India
