ABOUT YOGA

Yoga is one of India’s traditional systems of philosophy with archaeological evidence tracing back over 4000 years. Transmitted orally through the generations like most of Indian philosophies, it tends to stand outside of any established religion. It is a philosophy heavily based on a foundation of practical application rather than just theory. Yoga has more recently gained popularity for its health enhancing and stress releasing properties. But as a science, an art and a total life philosophy it has been around for thousands of years.  

 

The Action School teaches a classical hatha style of yoga adapted by Mr. BKS Iyengar. He has dedicated his life to this discipline for more than 60 years and has been responsible for highlighting the curative and preventative aspects of this approach for the average person. It has been Mr Iyengar’s relentless integrity and pursuit of excellence that has been responsible for bringing this most dynamic and adaptable form of yoga to the west.

BENEFITS OF YOGA

Yoga encourages the use of mindful effort, accuracy, commitment and dedication – all qualities that are desirable in any field of endeavour. When practiced regularly, it becomes an extremely powerful and sophisticated discipline for achieving physical, mental and emotional well-being.

 

Concentration and capacity for work of any type are enhanced by the practice of yoga thus reducing fatigue. People with challenging or stressful careers and lifestyles can benefit greatly. The practice of yoga asanas (poses) develops strength and flexibility whilst increasing the capacity of the nervous system and providing mental and emotional stability.

 

The reason for this is that the asanas not only affect the muscles, joints and skin but the whole body – glands, nerves, internal organs, bones, respiration and the brain. The nature of yoga asana practice is thorough and systematic, invigorating, yet relaxing. The end result is greater freedom and comfort in our bodies and clarity in our minds.

 

ROOT MEANING OF THE TERM 'YOGA'

The word "yoga" originates from the Sanskrit root yuj which has been translated as ‘Bind, Join, Attach, Yoke or Union’. In ‘Tree of Yoga’, BKS Iyengar explains “Yoga means union. The union of the individual soul with the Universal Spirit is yoga. But this is too abstract a notion to be easily understood, so for our level of understanding I say that yoga is the union of body with the mind and of mind with the soul”. It can therefore be seen as the union of the physical, physiological, mental, emotional and intellectual bodies leading one on a path to an integrated, purposeful, useful and noble life.

 

KEY HISTORICAL YOGA TEXTS

Although there are innumerable writings on the subject of yoga, there are three standout texts that are considered to be of special historical significance in presenting the essential meaning and purpose of yoga practice:

 

Bhagavad Gita (circ.500-200BC) 

Yoga Sutras - Patañjali (circ.500-200BC)

Hatha Yoga Pradipika – Svatmarama (circ.1400-1500AD)

 

Bhagavad Gita

 

The Bhagavad Gita also gives other explanations of the term yoga and lays stress upon Karma Yoga (Yoga by action). It is said:

 

“In this world there are two roads of perfection….Jana Yoga, the path of wisdom of the Sankhyas, and Karma Yoga, the path of action of the Yogis…For not even for a moment can one be without action. Helplessly are all driven to action by the forces born of Nature……But great is the one who, free from attachments, and with a mind ruling its powers in harmony, works on the path of Karma Yoga, the path of concentrated action.”

Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 3-7

 

Yoga Sutras

 

In the Yoga Sutras, Patañjali refers to Ashtanga Yoga or the ‘eight limbs’ of Yoga where self restraint, and personal observances, postures, breathing, internalization of the senses, concentration, meditation and absorption of consciousness with the self are seen as the essential path in achieving one of the core aims of yoga practice:

 

“Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness.”

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra Chapter 1 Verse 1.2

 

“Practice is the steadfast effort to still these fluctuations.”

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra Chapter 1 Verse 1.13

 

Hatha Yoga Pradipika

 

In Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swatmarama, called the same path Hatha Yoga because it demanded rigorous discipline (Hatha translates as force or determined effort) and constant practice before yoga’s benefits are realized:

 

“The young, the old, the extremely aged, even the sick and the infirm obtain perfection in Yoga by constant practice. Success will follow those who practice, not those who practice not. Success in Yoga is not obtained by the mere theoretical reading of sacred texts. Success is not obtained by wearing the clothes of a yogi or a sanyasi (recluse), nor by talking about it. Constant practice alone is the secret of success. Verily, there is no doubt of this.”

Hathayogapradipika Chapter 1, Verse 64-66.

 

MR BKS IYENGAR

 

Mr B.K.S. Iyengar is based in Pune India and is an renowned authority on the subject of yoga and has worked tirelessly to make it possible for people from all walks of life to experience the wisdom of the yoga sutras. Unlike the scholars and academics who articulate the meaning of the sutras in terms of speculative concepts, Yogacharya Iyengar has discovered the meaning of the sutras by practical research and regular practice, experimenting on himself before sharing this practical knowledge with his students. Iyengar’s style of yoga is a scientific, disciplined and deeply researched system developed over 70 years by Yogacharya BKS Iyengar and is continued through the teachings of his daughter Geeta Iyengar.

 

The term “Iyengar yoga” was coined by students of Mr Iyengar to distinguish Guruji's approach from other styles of yoga. He has described his yoga as "Patanjali Yoga" and says: “I have no right to brand my practices or teachings as Iyengar Yoga. My pupils, who follow me, call it Iyengar Yoga. The only thing I am doing is to bring out the in-depth, the hidden qualities of Yoga to the awareness of you all. What I do is pure, authentic traditional Yoga. It is wrong to differentiate traditional Yoga from Iyengar Yoga, as it is also not fair to brand Yoga, as Raja-yoga, Hatha-yoga, Laya-yoga, Kundalini-yoga, Taraka-yoga and so forth. There is no distinction between one yoga and another. Yoga, like God is one.”

 

Iyengar’s style of yoga emphasises the integration of body, mind and spirit. The Iyengar approach to yoga is firmly based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga expounded by Patanjali in his classic treatise, The Yoga Sutras. The Sutras outline a way of life which develops a healthy body and mind, which can lead to liberation (mukti) and self-realisation (kaivalya). Yogacharya B.K.S Iyengar has shown and taught how all the eight limbs of astanga yoga are integrated in the practice of asana and pranayama; How practicing asanas and pranayama teaches us to concentrate on any subject of our choice; Thus, by the practice of yoga, a dancer can become a better dancer, a scientist – a better scientist, a manager – a better manger; a musician – a better musician; a person – a better person.

 

THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF IYENGAR YOGA

 

There are a number of features that are unique to Iyengar yoga:

  • Iyengar yoga is meant for people of all ages, genders and cuts across geographical, lingual, social and economical barriers.

  • Importance given to the practice of standing asanas.

  • The emphasis given to precision and alignment in all postures be it the standing, sitting, twisting, inverted, forward bending, backward bending or supine postures.

  • The aspect of "timing" where students are taught to stay for longer duration of time in each posture so as to experience it.

  • The use of props such as wooden gadgets, belts, ropes so that the practitioner can strive to achieve perfection in the posture; the practitioner can then learn to perform the posture with the same precision without the props.

  • The use of props to help the aged, the diseased and disabled to perform the classical postures and attain the benefits of the same – something they would never have been able to do so independently.

  • The aspect of "sequencing". An "Iyengar Yoga" practitioner is aware of the sequence in which different groups of asanas have to be performed; and how the effect of an asana would vary and be dependent upon the sequence in which the asanas are being performed.