| From his home
in Pune, India, B.K.S. Iyengar reigns as one of the most
influential yogis of his time. At 80 years old, he continues
to teach thousands of students from all over the world,
encouraging them to penetrate deeper into the experience
of each pose. This is the trademark of Iyengar Yoga?an
intense focus on the subtleties of each posture.
In an Iyengar class, poses (especially standing postures)
are typically held much longer than in other schools
of yoga, so that practitioners can pay close attention
to the precise muscular and skeletal alignment this
system demands. Also specific to Iyengar, which is probably
the most popular type of yoga practiced in the United
States, is the use of props, including belts, chairs,
blocks, and blankets, to help accommodate any special
needs such as injuries or structural imbalances.
"In forward bends, for example, if someone's hamstrings
aren't flexible, he or she can use a prop to help extend
the spine. The wall is often used for support in a variety
of poses," explains Janet MacLeod, who teaches
at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in San Francisco. "Using
props gives the student support, allowing them more
freedom to breathe deeply into the pose."
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