Three Seasons Ayurveda
Iyengar Yoga
Yoga is defined as “Union” and comes from the Sanskrit word “Yuj” meaning to attach, direct and concentrate one’s attention on, it is the true spiritual union of the individual soul with the universe.
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Yoga was first mentioned in the Vedas, the earliest literary record of Indo-Aryan civilization, and the most sacred texts of India. They are the original scriptures of Hindu teachings, which contain spiritual knowledge encompassing all aspects of our life.
Yoga is one of the six philosophies (Darshanas) of India and has been practiced for thousands of years. Its views vary from school to school and teacher to teacher, but Patanjali documented the core of yoga’s foundation around 400BC in the Yoga Sutras. This text comprises 195 aphorisms (threads) that describe the inner workings of the mind and outline the eight-limb path for controlling the fluctuations of the mind, serving as the framework for our yoga practice.
Although Patanjali is considered to be the father of Yoga, Sri Krishnamacharya (1888-1989) is considered the father of modern yoga. He came from a family of Vedic scholars and teachers and was introduced to yoga by his father at the age of five. He studied with Yogi Yogeshwara Rama Mohan for seven years before establishing his yoga ashram in Mysore. He is such an integral part of today’s yoga systems because he mentored; BKS Iyengar (Iyengar Yoga), Pattabhi Jois (Ashtanga Yoga), TKV Desikachar (Vinyasa) who developed the major yoga practices found around the world today.
Iyengar Yoga is a form of Hatha Yoga that emphasizes correct alignment and precision, utilizing props such as belts, blocks, and blankets to enable students to perform postures correctly, minimize the risk of injury, and make the postures accessible to both young and old. This practice builds strength, mobility, flexibility, and balance to the body, mind, and spirit.
I came to yoga with an injury and was lucky enough to be directed to a Certified Iyengar instructor who helped me specifically with my injury and helped me address weaknesses in my body that were causing an imbalance. I very quickly found new strength, flexibility, and a sense of spiritual introspection. After studying Iyengar Yoga for a year, I enrolled in the BKS Iyengar three-year training program. I have been a certified instructor since 2011 and have been fortunate to study with the Iyengar family on three occasions. I was certified as a yoga therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapists and as an Ayurvedic Yoga therapist by the National Ayurvedic Medical Association.
