Birthday greetings to BKS Iyengar
- celebrating 88 years on 14 December 2006

“A mini tornado burst open the door of the hall. A student, late for the Yoga class, had arrived. It was pranayama week and the other fifteen or so bodies were already lying on bolsters in Supta Baddha Konasana. A few heads popped up to see what was going on but the more experienced serenely ignored the disturbance. After the class the now equally serene latecomer sighed, ‘Oh I always feel so different after Yoga - as if I have been washed out inside.’’
This is what BKS Iyengar has given us - a way to change ourselves through the practice of asana and pranayama which is accessible to everyone.
To hundreds of people all over the world, whether they ‘do’ Yoga or not, the name Iyengar is synonymous with this ancient practice. From humble beginnings in a small village in Southern India where he was born the son of a schoolmaster, BKS Iyengar has become one of the greatest Yogacharyas of our age, a legend in his own lifetime. Sickly and weak as a child, his own education suffered but because of his great strength of character, his determination, curiosity and single-mindedness, he survived and succeeded. He is a man of high moral and ethical character, demanding, compassionate, humble, generous and has a great sense of humour. He is a scientist, artist, philosopher and family man. Genius is rare: BKS Iyengar is unique and his work in the field of Yoga is unparalleled...
But his endurance and determination bore fruit and by the late 60s and early 70s Iyengar Yoga was spreading and teachers... were teaching for Inner London Education Authority and in other parts of the country... Guruji himself has never called his method of teaching Iyengar Yoga. This term has been adopted by his pupils. He maintains there is no distinction between one form of Yoga and another. He says that water can be poured into different shaped containers but it all the same water. So too Yoga is the same no matter what name it bears.
Nevertheless, Guruji has evolved a unique method which has transformed Yoga from a mystical secret practice into a science, therapy and art accessible to everyone - not that the path of liberation from pain and sorrow is easy, especially under the guidance of BKS Iyengar! He demands sincerity and hard work from his pupils in the discipline of body, mind and will through the practice of asana and pranayama. Guruji’s method of practice requires ‘great effort, perseverance and patience to penetrate from the outer skin towards the core of being and back to the periphery’ - ‘the evolutionary and involuntary journey’ of the discovery of the self...”

This birthday tribute to BKS Iyengar is authored by Judith Jones, on behalf of all members of the IYA (UK). For further information on Iyengar Yoga visit the IYA website at www.iyengaryoga.org.uk, or see the Links page on this website.                                         Back to top