BKS Iyengar

4to40.com December 14, 2015 Biographies for Kids 5,113 Views

International Recognition

Slowly and gradually, BKS Iyengar gained recognition as a yoga teacher in the Indian subcontinent. However, international recognition still seemed to be a distant task. It was in 1952, when he met violinist Yehudi Menuhin, that he started moving on the road to international appreciation. Menuhin made arrangements for taking Iyengar to countries like London, Switzerland and Paris, where he was supposed to teach yoga to the people. With this, he came into contact with people belonging to different countries and different walks of life.

The fame of BKS Iyengar started growing day by day and he began writing books on yoga. His first book ‘Light on Yoga’ was published in the year 1966 and went on to become one of the international bestsellers. The latest book of BKS Iyengar, ‘Yoga: The path to Holistic Health’ was published in 2001. The guru opened his own institute in Pune, by the name of ‘Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute’, in the memory of his wife. He still stays and, at times, teaches at the institute.

Presently

BKS Iyengar officially retired from teaching in the year 1984. However, he continues to take medical as well as yoga classes, at special events. At the same time, he is also actively involved in the promotion of yoga throughout the world. These days, classes are being conduced by his daughter Geeta, his son Prashant and other senior teachers.

Iyengar Yoga

Yoga comprises of eight different aspects, namely Yama and Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. Iyengar yoga is a form of yoga, which serves as a way of life to all. It is meant for each and every individual and makes use of props. An individual uses things like wooden gadgets, belts, ropes, etc, to achieve perfection in any asana. Regular practice of ‘Iyengar Yoga’ leads to an integration of the body, the mind as well as the emotions.