Iyengar Yoga Quotes, Explained

Iyengar quotes, explained in plain English

What did the Iyengars actually say, and what did they mean? Here you’ll find 390 short Iyengar quotes from Mr BKS Iyengar, his daughter Geeta and his son Prashant, sorted into 19 topics. Under every quote is a plain-English explanation of what it means and how it shows up on the mat, with links to read more.

How to use these Iyengar quotes

• Search: type a word, such as breath or fear, in the box below.
• Browse: pick a topic, from the breath to stress.
• By person: see every quote by Mr Iyengar, Geeta or Prashant.
• Share: every quote has its own # link you can copy.
• Practise: try the ideas in a class in Darwin or LIVE online.

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 daughter Geeta (1944 to 2018) and his son Prashant, who still teaches in Pune, became teachers too.

Search the quotes

Type a word of three letters or more. Matching quotes appear as links that take you straight to the quote and its explanation.

Search

Iyengar quotes by topic

Each topic page holds 15 to 24 quotes, each with its explanation.

• The Breath And Pranayama (22 quotes): Noticing the breath, never forcing it, and why pranayama is more than deep breathing.
• The Mind And Meditation (21 quotes): What meditation is and is not, and how a busy mind settles.
• Attention And Awareness (23 quotes): Seeing what you are really doing, from the little toe up.
• Practice (23 quotes): Starting again each day, small improvements and real attention.
• Effort And Discipline (22 quotes): The right amount of effort, and how to keep going when you do not feel like it.
• The Body And Alignment (22 quotes): Treating the body with care, and working the whole, not just the part.
• Standing Poses (17 quotes): Feet, legs and the lessons of simply standing well.
• Backbends, Inversions, Forward Bends And Twists (20 quotes): Going upside down, bending back and folding forward, with care.
• Props (15 quotes): Why bricks, belts, chairs and ropes became part of the method.
• Beginners And Stiffness (17 quotes): Starting where you are, stiff or not.
• Ageing Well (18 quotes): Practising through the years, with honesty and humour.
• Health, Illness And Injury (22 quotes): Health as something you earn, and pain as a message to listen to.
• Teaching (24 quotes): What makes a good teacher, in words and in practice.
• Learning (22 quotes): Staying a beginner and learning one little thing at a time.
• Life And Happiness (22 quotes): Gratitude, balance and everyday living.
• Fear And Courage (20 quotes): Meeting fear calmly, one small step at a time.
• Relaxation, Rest And Sleep (23 quotes): Savasana, letting go and sleeping well.
• Stress (18 quotes): Why stress cannot be removed, and how to meet it calmly.
• Philosophy, The Sutras And The Ego (19 quotes): Body and mind together, the ego, and yoga for everyone.

Who said them?

• Mr BKS Iyengar (250 quotes): the founder of Iyengar yoga, who began as a sickly boy in south India and taught in Pune.
• Geeta S Iyengar (107 quotes): his eldest daughter, author of Yoga: A Gem for Women, who taught in Sydney in 1996 and 2003.
• Prashant S Iyengar (43 quotes): his son, who teaches in Pune; many of the quotes here come from his classes there.

Ten quotes come from Basic Guidelines for Teachers of Yoga, which Mr Iyengar and Geeta wrote together, so they are counted for both.

Where to start: eight Iyengar quotes

• You cannot catch a horse in a field by running after it. But if you stand still and hold out an apple, the horse will come to you. BKS Iyengar, Light on Life, Vitality: The Energy Body (Prana)
• Do your optimum and not your maximum. Prashant S Iyengar, Yoga Rahasya, Vol 8 No 1, 2001, Prashantisms
• You go to university to learn but you go to classes to find out. Geeta S Iyengar, teachers course in Sydney, 1996
• Health has to be earned, not bought. BKS Iyengar, Astadala Yogamala, volume 6, Stress Busters
• Are you resting or rusting? Prashant S Iyengar, Yoga Rahasya, Vol 8 No 1, 2001, Prashantisms
• Teachers should roar like a lion outside but be like a lamb inside. BKS Iyengar, Iyengar: His Life and Work, Wisdom of the Master
• If the feet are tense the whole body will be tense. Geeta S Iyengar, class in Sydney, 2003
• Love, labor, and laugh. BKS Iyengar, Sparks of Divinity, 1974

How the explanations are written

Every quote is copied word for word from its source, and the credit beside it names the book, magazine, class or talk. The explanations are ours, written by Flametree’s teachers in plain English. They say what the quote means, where you might meet it in a class, and sometimes give you something small to try.

We keep the explanations practical and leave out religion. Nothing here is medical advice. If you want the longer story, our Yoga Notes From Flametree go deeper on many of these topics.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the Iyengars quoted here?

Mr BKS Iyengar, who developed Iyengar yoga, his eldest daughter Geeta S Iyengar (1944 to 2018) and his son Prashant S Iyengar, who teaches in Pune. Each has a page listing all their quotes on this site.

Where do these Iyengar quotes come from?

From their books, such as Light on Life and Yoga: A Gem for Women, from magazines such as Yoga Rahasya, from Astadala Yogamala, and from records of their classes and talks. The credit beside each quote names the source.

Are the quotes word for word?

Yes. Each quote is copied exactly as printed in its source, including the original spelling. They are short extracts of one to three lines, and each is credited.

How do I share one quote?

Every quote has a small # mark beside its credit. Click it and the address bar shows a link that goes straight to that quote, which you can copy and share.

Why does each quote have an explanation?

Many of these lines are short and pack a lot in. The explanation says in plain English what the quote means and how it shows up in a pose or a class, so you can try the idea yourself.

Can I practise these ideas in a class in Darwin or online?

Yes. Flametree Yoga Studio teaches Iyengar yoga in Darwin and LIVE online. Your first class is free if you are new to Flametree, and the timetable is linked in the box below.

Flametree Yoga Studio teaches Iyengar yoga in Darwin and LIVE online. This page is general information, not medical advice. The quotes are short credited extracts from works by the Iyengar family; each credit names the source. Further reading: Mr Iyengar on Wikipedia.