B. K. S. Iyengar

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Belur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar, (also known as Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar) (Born December 14, 1918 in Belur, Karnataka, India) is the founder of Iyengar Yoga. He is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world [1] and has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 75 years. He has written many books on yogic practice and philosophy, and is best known for his books Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, and Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. He has also written several definitive yoga texts. Iyengar yoga centers are located throughout the world, and it is believed that millions of students practice Iyengar Yoga.[2]

He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, and the Padma Bhushan in 2002.

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[edit] Early years

B.K.S. Iyengar was born into a poor Iyengar family. He had a difficult childhood. Iyengar's home village of Belur, Karnataka, India, was in the grips of the influenza pandemic at the time of his birth, leaving him sickly and weak. Iyengar's father died when he was 9 years old, and he continued to suffer from a variety of maladies in childhood, including malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and general malnutrition.[2]

At the age of 15 Iyengar went to live with his brother-in-law, the well-known yogi, Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya in Mysore. There, Iyengar began to learn asana practice, which steadily improved his health. Soon he overcame his childhood weaknesses. [2]

With the encouragement of Krishnamacharya, Iyengar moved to Pune to teach yoga in 1937. There his practice developed as he spent many hours each day learning and experimenting in various techniques. As his methods improved, the number of students at his classes increased and his fame spread. In Pune, his brothers introduced him to Ramamani, and they were wed in an arranged marriage in 1943.[2]

[edit] International recognition

In 1952, Iyengar met and befriended the famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin. Menuhin arranged for Iyengar to teach abroad in London, Switzerland, Paris and elsewhere. This was the first time that many Westerners had been exposed to yoga, and the practice slowly became well known. The popularity of yoga in the West can in large part be attributed to Iyengar. [3]

In 1966, "Light on Yoga," was published. It gradually became an international best-seller and was translated into 17 languages. Often called “the bible of yoga,”[citation needed] it succeeded in making yoga well known throughout the globe. This was later followed by titles on pranayama and various aspects of yoga philosophy. Mr. Iyengar has authored 14 books.[4]

In 1975, Iyengar opened the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, in memory of his departed wife. He officially retired from teaching in 1984, but continues to be active in the world of Iyengar Yoga, teaching special classes and writing books. Iyengar's daughter Geeta and son Prashant have gained international acclaim as teachers.[4]

Iyengar has been named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.[4]

In 2005, he visited the United States to promote his latest book, Light on Life, and to teach a special workshop at the Yoga Journal conference in Colorado.

[edit] Publications

  • B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Yoga, Schocken Books; Revised edition (January 3, 1995), trade paperback, 544 pages, ISBN 0-8052-1031-8
  • B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Pranayama, Crossroad/Herder & Herder; (June 1995), trade paperback, 320 pages, ISBN 0-8245-0686-3
  • B.K.S. Iyengar, The Tree of Yoga, Shambala, (1988), trade paperback, 184 pages, ISBN 0-87773-464-X
  • B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, South Asia Books; 1 edition (August 1, 1993), trade paperback, 337 pages, ISBN 1-85538-225-3
  • B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom, Rodale; (2005), hardcover, 282 pages, ISBN 1-59486-248-6

[edit] References

  1. ^ Aubrey, Allison. "Light on life: B.K.S. Iyengar's Yoga insights". Morning Edition: National Public Radio, November 10, 1995. (full text) Accessed July 4, 2007
  2. ^ a b c d Iyengar Yoga Resources (2006) Yoga Resources Accessed September 16, 2006
  3. ^ Yoga Journal - Yoga News & Trends - Light on Iyengar
  4. ^ a b c IyengarYoga NAUS Accessed September 16, 2006

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Iyengar, B.K.S.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Iyengar, Belur Krishnamachar Sundararaja (full name); Guruji (honorific)
SHORT DESCRIPTION Yogi
DATE OF BIRTH December 14, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Belur, Karnataka, India
DATE OF DEATH living
PLACE OF DEATH none