So, here's a funny thing. For close to ten years now, I've been practicing yoga, and in many ways, I still feel like I'm just scratching the surface. It all started pretty casually, really. A co-worker, in fact my boss at that time, wanting some male company in a yoga class dominated by women at our company gym, suggested I join him.
Honestly, I wasn't expecting much. But those two weekly sessions turned out to be life-changing. I'd been dealing with nagging back pain for over two and a half years, and within a short time of starting yoga, it just… disappeared. That was it. I was hooked. There was no way I was stopping after that kind of relief.
Back then, I didn't really know much about the different styles of yoga. I just showed up and did what the instructor said. But I did notice that I definitely preferred one of the two classes. One of the teachers was incredibly detail-oriented, always giving specific instructions and offering frequent adjustments to our postures. It turned out she was an Iyengar Yoga teacher. She even told me about a dedicated Iyengar Yoga studio near my home in Los Altos, California – the California Yoga Center. That's how I ended up adding a third class to my week.
The hour-long classes at work were great for a quick stretch during lunch, but the 90-minute sessions at California Yoga Center allowed me to experience more complex poses. My teachers have truly made me enjoy my practice and opened up a whole new world to me!
What's also been amazing is that I've been practicing consistently for close to ten years now without any injuries. In fact, it's been the opposite – I've actually healed some of the aches and pains I had before starting. I really think this focus on alignment in Iyengar Yoga has a lot to do with that. I can't help but wonder if the same would be true with more dynamic styles like Ashtanga.
For those who might not be familiar, Iyengar Yoga is named after and developed by the legendary B. K. S. Iyengar. As Wikipedia puts it:
"Iyengar Yoga, is a form of Hatha Yoga that has an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture (asana) and breath control (pranayama). The development of strength, mobility and stability is gained through the asanas.
B.K.S. Iyengar has systematised over 200 classical yoga poses and 14 different types of Pranayama (with variations of many of them) ranging from the basic to advanced. This helps ensure that students progress gradually by moving from simple poses to more complex ones and develop their mind, body and spirit through a step-by-step approach.[1]
Iyengar Yoga often makes use of props, such as belts, blocks, and blankets, as aids in performing asanas (postures). The props enable students to perform the asanas correctly, minimizing the risk of injury or strain, and making the postures accessible to both young and old."
So, this is the world I'm excited to explore and share with you all – my journey into yoga, starting with that unexpected suggestion from a co-worker. I'm hoping to learn more and deepen my practice, and if I do, I'll definitely be sharing any useful insights and information right here on this blog. Stay tuned!
