WHAT TO EXPECT IN AN IYENGAR YOGA CLASS
Yoga improves your posture and increases flexibility and stamina. It also improves the function of your respiratory, circulatory, digestive and hormonal systems. Yoga helps to relieve and reduce stress, and promotes deep relaxation, helping you to access your inner calm and self-confidence, and to live more fully in the present.
Iyengar Yoga is suitable and beneficial for everyone. It is a non-competitive yet progressive practice which improves health and well-being. It is precise, with an emphasis on correct, safe practice. Students follow a programme of postures which extend and align the body, with more difficult postures gradually being introduced. Classes are reasonably active but do not exhaust, rather they warm and awaken your body and calm and refresh the mind.
The Iyengar yoga technique emphasises precision and alignment. Yoga Postures are held for longer than in some other methods, allowing tight muscles to lengthen and relax, and helping to focus awareness. Iyengar Yoga is known for Sequencing, Alignment and Timing.
No two yoga classes are the same: teachers select yoga poses from the different groups of poses to emphasise the various aspects of the practice. Each group of postures i.e. standing poses develops the body in different ways, this creates an integrated and balanced practice which nourishes the student.
Classes end with relaxation.
Iyengar teachers are trained to correct students and, if permitted, may make hands-on adjustments where needed.
For a first class, dress for physical exercise – T-shirt and leggings or shorts. Be prepared to work on bare feet and use simple yoga equipment.
CLASS LEVELS
BEGINNERS
Suitable for total beginners to both Yoga and the Iyengar method.
Detail-oriented and slow-paced, Iyengar yoga is good for beginners. You may use props -- belts, blocks, bricks which can help you to get into the poses with the correct alignment.
I demonstrate the pose with clarification of correct and safe action, I instruct you whilst you learn and practice the poses (asanas).
MIXED ABILITY
General classes are suitable for all level of student. Usually those who attend have had some experience in Yoga not always in Iyengar Yoga.
It is always possible for a complete beginner to attend and usually most students have had some experience, Sarvangasana (shoulderstand) and Sirsasana (head balance) are practiced regularly by some students and alternative poses are taught and demonstrated.
INTERMEDIATE
Suitable for people with at least a year experience of practicing Iyengar Yoga. Classes are based around a monthly cycle where each week is dedicated to an aspect i.e. standing poses and a range of asanas within this aspect.
Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) and Sirsasana (head balance) are regularly practiced in class. Variations of these inversions are also taught regularly.
In the classes asanas are sometimes sequenced differently from week to week but continual repetition of the practice will help you develop awareness of alignment in asana and facilitate correct action.
inversions such as adho mukha vrykasana (handstand) will be taught in some classes as well as back bending asanas and some arm balances.
RECUPERATIVE YOGA
Recuperative yoga is suitable for total beginners and those new to Iyengar Yoga.
In the Iyengar tradition there is a monthly recuperative practice usually done in the last week of the month. The practise of recuperative yoga can help balance the nerves and bring peace to the mind and emotions.
Props are used to support the body, bolsters, blocks blankets and belts are generally used. Please enquire If you need advice to purchase some of these items, a bolster is not necessary as blocks and a blanket can suffice.
