Yoga For Everyone BKS Iyengar Style
By Chris Lalor, Certified Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher and Certified Yoga Therapist, and Dr Stuart McGill, Yoga Teacher, Flametree Yoga Darwin
Yoga For Mind, Body, Focus, & Better Legs!
The Many Benefits Of Yoga For Everyone, BKS Iyengar Style.
Stuart doesn’t listen to me! Sound familiar?
For instance, he recently told me that once he was in a yoga pose, or even getting into it, he often never listened enough to my points on how to do a better pose, or get more from it.
Instead, he assumed that, because he’d done it so many times, there was not much more he could learn about the pose, do in it, or get from it.
Sometimes, he said he even didn’t listen to my other points about how to even make the shape in the first place.
Short answer: Iyengar yoga is for everyone. A good teacher gives you “what to do” points and “get more from it” points. Listening to both builds stronger legs, better balance and a calmer mind, at any age. New to yoga? Try the beginner half price deal and see the beginner timetable.
Getting more
You may have noticed that I give you “what to do” points, as well as “get more from it” points.
For example, “put the right foot forward” is a “what to do” point.
But, once you’re in the pose, a point like “press into the back heel”, is about doing the pose better, and getting more from it.
So, it’s a “get more from it” point.
Now, Stuart has realised that if he listened to what I say, and works at doing it, then his strength, focus and toning also improve, or improve faster, or both.
As a result, although the picture below is overdone for emphasis, both Stuart and I can see the new toning and strength in his legs.
Stuart’s legs don’t exactly look like this, but you get my point!
These legs are somewhat more feminine then Stuart’s! But, via better yoga, he’s still got similar toning and muscle increase, and cut the fat hidden in there.
Decades of yoga for everyone BKS Iyengar style
Remarkably, Stuart’s been doing BKS Iyengar yoga for decades!
But he was missing out on a lot of what he could get from listening better to his BKS Iyengar style teacher.
After 30 years of teaching, I know Stuart’s not the only Iyengar yoga student who does this!
By way of further example, what’s going on in Triangle pose starts with strengthening the leg muscles (labelled in the pose map below).
In addition, Triangle pose tones, and reduces the fat, as Dr J. T. Shah, a medical doctor who was also an Iyengar yoga teacher, who worked closely with Mr BKS Iyengar for many years, describes in his book Therapeutic Yoga.
So, the late Dr Shah had done enough gruesome dissections to know exactly what’s going on in there!
Some of the ways that you get more from this pose include:
- Pressing into the back heel
- Ensuring both legs are fully straight
- Tightening the muscle above the front thigh.
Once you’re in the asana, a BKS Iyengar yoga teacher will point out such things, so as to help you do it, and remind you to do it.
In the process, you’ll also get more benefits for you major organs.
Try Yoga For Everyone BKS Iyengar Style
2 FREE Beginner Yoga Classes & 10 HALF Off | New & Lapsed | Online & Studio
NON-Beginner HALF Price 10 Packs | New & Lased | Online & Studio
Triangle Pose: what it works
Chris in Triangle Pose. The labels show what the pose works, after Dr J. T. Shah, Therapeutic Yoga, p. 9.
What the pose works
Dr Shah lists what Triangle Pose works on page 9 of his book Therapeutic Yoga.
- It tones the belly and the breathing organs.
- It strengthens the spine and the neck.
- It tones the sides of the chest, the waist and the legs.
- It strengthens the ankles, knees and shoulders.
- It builds stamina and balance.
After Dr J. T. Shah, Therapeutic Yoga (foreword by Mr BKS Iyengar), p. 9.
Mr Iyengar’s cues and cautions
These points come from Mr BKS Iyengar’s book Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health.
- Press the back heel down into the floor.
- Keep the front kneecap facing forward.
- Keep your weight in the front heel, not in the hand.
- Keep the top arm steady, stretching up in line with the shoulders.
- Keep the head in line with the tailbone.
Take care. If you have dizzy spells, vertigo or high blood pressure, look down at the floor, not up. If you have a heart condition, practise with your back against a wall and rest your top hand on your hip. Breathe evenly the whole time. Be guided by your teacher.
Mr BKS Iyengar, Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health, pp. 70 to 74.
Condition guides it links to
To read more about the health conditions this pose links to, see these guides from our Yoga For Health Conditions encyclopaedia:
- Yoga for back pain
- Yoga for neck pain
- Yoga for digestion
- Yoga for breathlessness
- Yoga for bones and balance
As Stuart has now discovered, there’s a lot more going on in Triangle pose than he thought.
Now, by listening to my “get more from it” points, Stuart can do this deceptively simple pose, much better.
Now, he’s listening better for my improvement tips, and working at doing them… even in the poses that he thought he knew well.
At a minimum, these points about doing it better, are just good reminders of useful things to keep working on.
But, as Stuart has found, they also help you learn how to better use the muscles in the legs and feet… and actually DO it.
Balance from using feet better
With his new found listening skills, Stuart’s also more able to get his pose more squarely and firmly onto the so-called “four corners” of his feet.
Your feet have and intricate set of bones and arches that deliver the remarkable mobility that have allowed humans to get to the top of the food chain.
So, Stuart’s improved leg to foot connections also give him greater stability, mobility, and balance.
You may have seen the recent emails or posts where I’ve been talking about how accessing your feet gives you much greater balance overall, and also helps prevent dangerous falls (in your daily life, now and later).
Below, the diagram of the lower leg, shows you the wide range of intricate muscles that you can use, and improve, via better standing poses.
In particular, notice how the leg muscles actually connect onto the top of your feet.
So, Stuart’s realised that by paying attention to his leg muscles, he can get his feet to work better too.
Your leg muscles connect to the bones of your feet
In the feet on the bottom left, notice how the connection of the tendon that comes from your calf muscle.
Better toning, poses, and even blood flow
Focusing on pressing the heel of the back leg, for example, gives you a way to use the legs and feet better.
In the process, you also tone and improve the muscles in your legs and feet.
Of course, it’s only possible to do any of this if your legs and knees, are straight.
Stuart said that’s he’s now starting to notice this for himself.
As I teach Stuart, I can therefore also see his poses, strength, and toning steadily improve.
It’s all part of the many advantages of yoga for everyone, BKS Iyengar style.
Fixing Stuart’s swollen feet
You’ve also probably heard me say that working your muscles also improve your blood flow.
For example, Stuart notices that after he been sitting as his desk all day, his ankles sometimes swell up a bit, or get stiffer, or both.
But, after he’s been to yoga, the use of the leg muscles causes more blood flow, and the swelling disappears.
For instance, you can see how this happening in the calf muscle on the right of the picture below.
Working your leg muscles improves blood flow too
2 FREE Beginner Yoga Classes & 10 HALF Off | New & Lapsed | Online & Studio
NON-Beginner HALF Price 10 Packs | New & Lased | Online & Studio
On the left, see how using the calf muscle helps your blood flow.
So, by working his muscles as he does each yoga pose, Stuart is also getting better blood circulation.
Variations of this process happen throughout your body.
Good teaching focus of yoga for everyone BKS Iyengar style
One of the great advantages of BKS Iyengar yoga, is that all the teachers are extensively trained in this type of teaching.
As a result, you get more of the benefits I’ve mentioned.
Even doing good physical yoga is much more than just making shapes.
Although BKS Iyengar yoga includes flow, it’s not solely about aerobic movement. It’s also about holding poses, and holding them so you get more from them.
So, BKS Iyengar teachers are extensively trained in giving you both “what to do” points, AND “get more from it” points.
It’s also why studio, online, or video classes are better than led practice, or home practice.
Benefits for your mind too
Of course, following the “get more from it” points I make, also in due course gives you greater access the numerous mental benefits of yoga.
It’s because the physical pose also becomes another way to learn to better focus your mind.
In turn, such focus is a process of also accessing additional brain waves, such as the Alpha waves you’ll see in the diagram below.
Yoga generates focus, leading to more Alpha brain waves. See Green row.
The Alpha wave expansion, as shown in green, is what you get from focussed yoga. The increase in Alpha waves, proven to come from mind body yogic practices, shows your mind body connection at work. Try Flametree’s yoga for everyone BKS Iyengar style.
As a result, good physical yoga, is also working to give you a greater body mind connection, and get all the benefits that mental focus delivers.
Of course, some of the finer points I’m talking about, will become more apparent to you if you do even one more class a week.
In particular, if you’re only doing one class a week, then consider increasing it to two classes a week.
The benefits you get from yoga, are directly proportional to how many classes you do.
In addition, whatever yoga you’re doing, try paying more attention to the various “get more from it” points.
Then, you’ll get even more benefits from your yoga.
I’d love to hear what you notice as a result. Try yoga for everyone BKS Iyengar style.
Flametree Yoga Studio, online & studio
Flametree beginner classes are LIVE online, at the local time of Darwin, Australia (+9.30GMT).
The classes are all standard BKS yoga poses in the Iyengar yoga style.
The online format also allows you to get a wide range of more specialised classes than are often available locally in your area.
There’s also many options, including Gentle Yoga, Yoga for Back (& Neck & Shoulders), and Restorative Yoga.
At the non-beginner level, there’s extra options like Yoga For Immune System, Fifty Plus Yoga, and more advanced levels.
If you like, check out what other Flametree students have said about Flametree’s yoga and pranayama classes.
Try Yoga For Everyone BKS Iyengar Style
Easy restorative or conventional yoga pose to build hip flexibility, as well as get the weight reduction, calming, focus, toning, and the many other benefits of Flametree’s BKS Iyengar yoga for everyone.
Try Flametree’s BKS Iyengar yoga deals
Flametree beginners yoga can be started at any time, online or in-studio.
Follow the orange links below to learn more, and get one some of best deals you’ll find.
Try Yoga For Everyone BKS Iyengar Style
2 FREE Beginner Yoga Classes & 10 HALF Off | New & Lapsed | Online & Studio
NON-Beginner HALF Price 10 Packs | New & Lased | Online & Studio
Facebook Page for Flametree
Yoga for everyone, BKS Iyengar style: frequently asked questions
What does BKS Iyengar style yoga mean?
It is the style of yoga developed by Mr BKS Iyengar. Poses are taught with great care and detail, and props such as blocks, belts and chairs help each person do the pose well.
Is Iyengar yoga really for everyone?
Yes. You work at your own level, and the props let you start where you are. Beginners, older students and people who have done yoga for decades all find something new.
What are “get more from it” points?
A “what to do” point tells you how to make the shape, like “put the right foot forward”. A “get more from it” point helps you do the pose better, like “press into the back heel”. Listening to both is how strength, focus and toning improve.
Can yoga help tone my legs?
It can. In poses like Triangle pose, the leg muscles work hard. When you follow the “get more from it” points, you use them better, which builds strength and toning.
Does yoga help with balance?
Yes. Standing poses teach you to use all four corners of your feet and the muscles of your lower legs. Good balance helps prevent falls in daily life.
How do I start Iyengar yoga in Darwin?
Start with the beginner half price deal, which is 10 classes at half price plus 2 extra classes free. Classes run in the studio at Woolner and Coolalinga, and LIVE online. See the beginner timetable for class times.
