Yoga Philosophy And Iyengar Yoga: Notes And Articles From Flametree
Yoga philosophy: the short version
Why would a pose teach you anything about how to live? Yoga philosophy says it can, and the Iyengar tradition shows how, one pose at a time. This page gathers everything Flametree has written about the ideas behind the practice. Iyengar yoga is the style developed by Mr BKS Iyengar. In the 20th century he did more than anyone to set down traditional Indian yoga, through his books and his teaching, and he pioneered the use of props. It is sometimes called modern classical yoga, and it’s the style we teach at Flametree. His books turned old texts into something a modern student can use.
Yoga philosophy in short form
- The eight limbs: explained in plain words.
- Body, breath and mind: what Iyengar yoga is, and how it differs.
- Effort and ease: effortless effort in practice.
- Inversions: headstand, shoulder stand and their place.
- Teacher training: how Iyengar teachers are trained.
- First class free: for newcomers, plus a half price pass.
This page is one of the topic hubs in Yoga Notes From Flametree.
How does philosophy show up in a class?
Quietly. You rarely hear a lecture. You learn steadiness by holding a pose, attention by noticing your feet, and patience by coming back each week.
In the Iyengar tradition, the body is where you start, not where you stop.
Headstand (Salamba Sirsasana), the king of poses in Mr Iyengar’s teaching.
What does the Iyengar tradition ask of a student?
Regular practice and honest attention. Mr Iyengar’s teaching puts effort and ease side by side: work fully in the pose, without strain.
The body, breath and mind article explains what makes Iyengar yoga different, and answers whether yoga is a religion.
An arm balance: strength, steadiness and attention together.
Start here: the main yoga philosophy articles
These are the owner pages. Each answers one main question in depth.
- The Eight Limbs Of Yoga, Explained Plainly, the place to begin.
- The 8 Limbs Of Yoga, Explained In Plain Words.
- Yoga for body, breath and mind.
- Yoga for everyone, BKS Iyengar style.
- Effortless effort in Iyengar yoga.
- Yoga practice at home: how to keep it going.
- What Is A Sattvic Mind? The Yoga Idea Behind Feeling Clear, Calm And Steady.
- Kriya yoga: action for inner peace.
- Patanjali, online or in the studio.
- Yoga Inversions: Benefits, Beginner Poses And Who Should Take Care.
- The queen of yoga poses.
- Online Yoga Teacher Training: How Flametree’s Iyengar Training Works.
- Benefits of yoga: 117 health conditions studied.
Yoga Notes on yoga philosophy and the Iyengar tradition
- Who Was Mr BKS Iyengar? The Man Behind Iyengar Yoga
- Santosha: What Contentment Means In Yoga
- Yoga Headstand (Sirsasana): How To Learn It Safely With A Wall And A Teacher
- Why The Order Of Yoga Poses Matters: How Iyengar Sequencing Works
More notes are being added. You can also browse every Yoga Note in one list.
For the teachers’ own words, see Iyengar yoga quotes, explained in plain English.
Classes for going deeper
- Non-beginner mixed classes, in the studio or LIVE online.
- The non-beginner timetable.
- The beginner timetable.
Try a class
Your first class is free if you’re new to Flametree. New students, and anyone who has been away three months or more, can also get a half price 10 class pass with 2 extra classes free, to use online, in the studio, or both.
For the studio, check the beginner timetable and just come along. For a LIVE online class, go to our online class list, click the class time you want and we email you the link to join.
Questions about this philosophy page
What will I find on the Flametree yoga philosophy page?
You will find every Flametree article and Yoga Note on yoga philosophy, grouped so you can start with the main articles and then read the shorter notes. Each link goes to one page that answers one question, so you are not reading the same thing twice.
Which Flametree article on yoga philosophy should I read first?
Start with the eight limbs of yoga, explained plainly. Then read the body, breath and mind article, which explains what Iyengar yoga is.
Are Flametree’s yoga philosophy notes only for people in Darwin?
No. They are written in Darwin, from our teaching at Woolner and Coolalinga, but the ideas apply anywhere, and classes are also taught LIVE online, so you can join from anywhere in Australia.
How often are new yoga philosophy notes added?
New Yoga Notes are published in batches of about twenty, and this page is updated each time a note on this topic goes live. Older Flametree blog articles stay linked here too.
Flametree Yoga Studio teaches Iyengar yoga in Darwin, at Woolner and Coolalinga, and LIVE online anywhere.
General information only, not medical advice. Talk to your yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and your doctor if you wish, before changing what you do.
