Guruji, BKS Iyengar, is known to have said the yoga he practiced and taught as being founded on the ancient Indian tradition of classical Ashtanga yoga defined in the philosophical text “The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”. 

The term ‘Iyengar yoga’ was introduced by his pupils to distinguish his teaching from that of others.   In Iyengar yoga emphasis is placed on precision, alignment, sequencing and timings in asana and pranayama practice. The innovative use of ‘props’ – belts, bricks, benches, blankets, chairs, bolsters etc – was introduced over the years by Mr. BKS Iyengar making yoga accessible to everyone regardless of age, flexibility, mobility or medical condition allowing practitioners to exploring the limitless potential of the mind and the soul.

Iyengar yoga is also recognised for the extensive and rigorous training, assessment and ongoing learning its teachers receive. It can be years of learning and training before undergoing a demanding assessment process to qualify for an Iyengar teaching accreditation and to hold the licence for the internationally recognised Certification Mark of Iyengar yoga.

Mr Bellur Krishnamachar Sundaraj Iyengar (1918 – 2014) –  BKS Iyengar – known as Guruji by his followers is considered one of the world’s foremost yogis. Through his own devoted, vigorous practice and careful study of the earliest available texts he brought about a revitalisation of this ancient knowledge. 

Yogacharya BKS Iyengar lived modestly in Pune, next to the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, with his family until his passing at the age of 95 in 2014. After Guruji retired from teaching in the late 90’s the Iyengar family – Geetaji, Prashant, Sunita & Abhijata continued to conduct classes.  Guruji was always present in the yoga room during practice time and when classes were taking place.  Often he would leave his practice to give salient points of the yoga asana when Geetaji or Abhijata was teaching.

BKS Iyengar’s  daughter, Geetaji, as she was known, had been teaching for many years and, on Guruji’s retirements, took over her fathers role taking trips overseas to Australia, the US, UK and New Zealand to bring Iyengar teaching to devoted practitioners.  Sadly, Geetaji passed away in her 75th year after partaking in the celebrations, in Pune, for Guruji’s 100th birthday.  The Iyengar community was devastated at her passing – she left an extraordinary legacy, like Guruji, for Iyengar yoga practitioners.

Over the years Mr Iyengar made many invaluable contributions to the understanding of yoga and its practice.  Guruji emphasised that yoga is not a religious practice or belief seeing it as an art, a science, a philosophy open to all regardless of age, race, social background and physical condition.  He methodically practised each asana (pose) so that each individual part of the body could work towards functioning to its full potential. In his teachings he stressed proper sequencing and timing of the asana and pranayama practice so that the body could be strengthened and nourished and the mind quietened and focussed.

BKS Iyengar has been acknowledged worldwide for his writings – his first book, Light on Yoga, published in 1966 being recognised as the definitive present day reference book for yoga.  He has, during his lifetime, made great contributions to the community not only for yoga, but as a philanthropist.  He established the Bellur Krishnamachar and Seshamma Smaraka Niddhi (BKSSNT) Trust for the villagers of Bellur, in Karnaka, south India, where he was born.  This trust, named after his parents, has built a primary, high school, a trade school, ensuring the education of young people in the region.  A fully equipped hospital supported by specialist doctors from Bangalore has been built to support the local villagers as well as a yoga hall with residential accommodation.

Yehudi Menuhin, the renowned violinist, was taught by Guruji and said, of Guruji, at a speech he gave in Switzerland in 1966:
” I never cease myself to be inspired by the sight, by the spectacle, of a man who performs with no instrument.”