The guru of my yoga tradition, Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar (better known from his initials B.K.S. Iyengar) has passed away at the age of 95 (96 if one counts from Guru Purnima as many Indians do). It is hard not to see the influence of this great teacher in modern yoga. Iyengar invented and popularised the use of the many yoga props we see in most studios today, from yoga belts and blocks, to inventive uses of blankets, ropes, and even the very walls of the studios themselves. Arguably, even the way we practice yoga, in classes of students rather than the older traditional model of the guru and a single pupil, can be traced to the teaching style which Mr. Iyengar developed in Pune, India where he was brought to teach at university at the age of 18.
Iyengar’s focus on the alignment of the body, intensive asana, and paranayama practice created a system which safely and effectively made yoga accessible for us regardless of age or health. Around the globe Iyengar yoga is practiced as a means of physical health, spiritual transformation and even physical therapy for medical injuries, MS patients, or something as natural as pregnancy. It is no wonder that Iyengar yoga has become one of the world’s most well known forms of yoga from which many other modern traditions can trace their roots to (Anusara, Purna, Scaravelli, and Alignment yoga to name a few).
The New York Times wrote in a 2002 profile, "Perhaps no one has done more than Mr. Iyengar to bring yoga to the West." Time magazine recognised his global influence in 2004, naming him one of the world's 100 most influential living people. His 1966 book Light on Yoga contains detailed instructions on how to perform more than 200 poses, referred to in the magazine Yoga Journal as the "Bible" of yoga. Mr. Iyengar continued to illuminate us with many books, including Light on Pranayama (1983), Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (1993), and Light on Life (2005). This year has seen an effort to get B.K.S. Iyengar nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
To me personally, as a teacher of the Iyengar tradition, Mr. Iyengar, my guru, was an exemplary model of a teacher and practitioner. Born very sick and poor, he was not expected to live beyond twenty years of age. But with strong discipline, yoga gave Mr. Iyengar almost 76 more years to his life. When I studied with the Iyengar family in Pune 2012, I witnessed this humble teacher start his daily asana practice with a 30 minute headstand (then at the age of 93!). Even though retired, he could not help but teach, shouting across the room instructions to a student how to correct their practice, all the while still in his headstand!
I am grateful for briefly having met you, listened to your voice, and touched your feet. I am forever blessed because the of yoga you have passed on, developed, and taught to us all.
Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru devo Maheshwara, Guru sakshat, param Brahma, tasmai shri guravay namah.
