BKS Iyengar Teaching Ashtanga in 1977 (Video)

 
BKS Iyengar once said, “Action is movement with intelligence. The world is filled with movement. What the world needs is more conscious movement, more action.” To watch the fluidity of his movements is to understand this statement. Iyengar yoga is a form of Hatha based on Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of yoga. It focuses on alignment and making a mind/body/soul connection through breath control. Discussing the impact of his practice, Iyengar said, “It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence.”

“It is through the alignment of the body that I discovered the alignment of my mind, self, and intelligence.”

Iyengar introduced the use of props such as blocks and belts to help every practitioner “achieve perfection in all postures,” with a focus on making the poses accessible to everyone. Iyengar believed that it is through the miracle of the body, and experiencing its power and potential through yoga, that we are reminded of our divinity. His beautiful teachings inspired this awareness throughout the world, and his book Light on Yoga is cherished by yoga instructors and students everywhere. In 2004, BKS Iyengar was named “Top 100 Most Influential People In the World” by Time Magazine.
 
His words were as beautiful as his teachings. “Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” Although the world lost Iyengar last year at the age of 95, his legacy and his teachings live on and continue to positively influence people around the globe.