YogaLynnae

Absolutely!  Most of my students never practiced yoga before coming to their first class.  I work very slowly with beginners and make sure that they learn good habits early and do not stress their bodies and risk injury.

Iyengar Yoga is a method of yoga developed by B.K.S. Iyengar.  Iyengar Yoga is widely practiced and taught around the world. 

B.K.S. Iyengar has been a student of the ancient disciplines of Astanga Yoga since he was a teenager (he turned 90 in 2008) and was instrumental in bringing yoga to countries outside of India.  His deep dedication to both the art of yoga and his students has made his “style” a favorite.  Iyengar Yoga teachers have been trained extensively and know how to teach the asanas safely and effectively.

For more information about Iyengar Yoga, visit www.bksiyengar.com.

Most styles of yoga practice many of the same poses (called asanas in Sanskrit).  What sets Iyengar Yoga apart from other styles are primarily two things:

• By giving careful attention to proper alignment of the body, Iyengar Yoga can bring greater freedom of movement and less potential for strains or injuries.

Yoga certainly helps the body and mind relax and students feel very relaxed at the end of class.  However, Iyengar Yoga also promotes flexibility, strength and endurance.  Postures for deep relaxaton are introduced from the beginning.  Gradually, sitting and reclining postures, forward bends, inversions, backbends, twists, arm balance and flowing sequences are introduced.

People tend to stretch from their more flexible areas and rely on their better-developed muscles for strength, thus reinforcing postural habits.  Iyengar Yoga encourages weak parts to strengthen and stiff areas to release, thus awakening and realigning the whole body.  As the body moves into better alignment, less muscular work is required and relaxation increases naturally.

Some props are available at local stores, such as Whole Foods.  An excellent source is Yoga.com, but there are many other  online sources, such as HuggerMugger.com and YogaProps.net, which offer wide selections of quality products.  Although there are uses for different length straps, I prefer an 8' length.  Also, there are uses for different size/texture blocks, if you are only going to own two, I would suggest the 4"x9" foam blocks.   The kit below is a reasonably-priced starter kit with mat, blocks and strap: