IYENGAR YOGA

Iyengar Yoga is named for yoga master B.K.S. IYENGAR (1918 – 2014). Called the “Michelangelo of yoga” and named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2004, Mr. Iyengar has been acknowledged as a modern master of yoga.

Iyengar Yoga is a form of yoga developed by B.K.S. Iyengar, emphasizing precision, alignment, and systematic progression in postures (asanas) and breathing techniques (pranayama). This style is accessible to practitioners of all ages and abilities due to its use of props, such as:

• Blocks
• Straps
• Bolsters
• Chairs
• Wall ropes

Key Features of Iyengar Yoga:

1. Alignment: Ensures correct posture to maximize benefits and minimize the risk of injury.
2. Props: Helps practitioners achieve the correct form regardless of flexibility or strength.
3. Sequencing: Poses are carefully arranged to prepare the body for more advanced postures.
4. Precision: Focuses on the details of each pose to deepen practice and awareness.
5. Therapeutic Focus: Often recommended for individuals with specific physical issues or limitations.

Benefits of Iyengar Yoga:

• Improves posture and spinal health.
• Enhances flexibility and strength.
• Increases focus and body awareness.
• Helps manage stress and anxiety.

        • Supports recovery from injuries and physical challenges.

Sadhana is a Sanskrit term that broadly translates to "spiritual practice" or "discipline." It encompasses various practices aimed at personal growth, self-realization, or union with the divine.

Benefits of Sadhana:

• Promotes mental clarity, inner peace, and emotional balance.
• Helps in overcoming ego, attachments, and negative habits.
• Facilitates a deeper connection with one's true self or the divine.

Ultimately, sadhana is a tool for transformation, helping individuals move closer to their spiritual or personal ideals.

A Sattvic mind is calm, pure, and balanced, characterized by clarity, compassion, and inner joy. Cultivate it through a wholesome diet, meditation, yoga, positive actions, and a peaceful environment.

A Sattvic mind is a state of mental clarity, balance, and harmony, rooted in purity (Sattva), one of the three gunas in Hindu philosophy. It is characterized by peace, compassion, contentment, and spiritual awareness.

Key Traits:

• Calmness and clarity.
• Selflessness and empathy.
• Inner joy and balance.

How to Cultivate:

• Diet: Eat fresh, natural, wholesome foods.
• Meditation: Practice mindfulness and meditation daily.
• Lifestyle: Engage in selfless service, gratitude, and positive actions.
• Yoga & Breathwork: Use yoga and pranayama to balance mind and body.
• Environment: Maintain a clean, peaceful space and surround yourself with uplifting influences.

A sattvic mind promotes inner peace and spiritual growth.

The five elements refer to fundamental building blocks of nature found in many ancient traditions. Here are the five elements in both Eastern and Western traditions, with a focus on the Indian (Ayurvedic/Yogic) system:

In Indian Philosophy (Pancha Mahabhutas):

1. Ākāśa (Ether/Space) – openness, expansion, and connection
2. Vāyu (Air) – movement, breath, and lightness
3. Agni (Fire) – transformation, digestion, and energy
4. Āpas (Water) – flow, emotion, and cohesion
5. Pṛthvī (Earth) – stability, structure, and grounding

These elements form the basis of the body, mind, and universe in Ayurveda, Yoga, and many Indian spiritual sciences.

In Western Classical Philosophy:

1. Earth – solid, stable
2. Water – liquid, adaptable
3. Air – gaseous, mobile
4. Fire – heat, transformation
5. Aether (or Spirit) – divine or cosmic substance