Iyengar Yoga gets its name from its founder, B.K.S. Iyengar, who studied under Krishnamacharya in Mysore, India while trying to improve his health while dealing with tuberculosis.

The main Iyengar Instutute is the Ramamani Iyenga Memorial Yoga Institute in India. There are several Iyengar Yoga Institutes throughout the world.

Iyengar yoga has been the subject of many highly regarded yoga texts. Light on Yoga (first published in 1966) describes and illustrates hundreds of breathing techniques and yoga positions.

What does the Iyengar Method Involve?

A form of hatha yoga, Iyengar yoga focuses on physical alignment of the body while working through various poses. Practitioners strive to achieve perfect positioning.

Iyengar yoga uses props and it is common to see yoga blocks, straps, blankets, pillow, chairs and bolsters in Iyengar yoga classes. Props are used to help attain proper alignment of the body.