What is Alignment Based Yoga?

At Yoga from the Heart we study, practice and teach "Alignment Based Yoga" developed, inspired and taught by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar, as interpreted and expressed by Rodney Yee.

Who is B.K.S Iyengar?

Yoga guru, Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja (BKS) Iyengar turned 90 on December 14, 2009 but at heart he is still a teenager. The secret behind the yoga guru’s longevity is undoubtedly his rigorous practice of yoga, three hours of yoga asana and one hour of pranayama daily!

He is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world 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 Life, Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, and Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It is believed that millions of students practice Iyengar Yoga around the world.

Who is Rodney Yee?

Rodney Yee is an American yoga instructor who rose to national prominence in the early 1990s when he began starring in a series of Gaiam/Living Arts yoga instructional videos and DVDs. More than thirty such programs now exist, selling in the millions worldwide.  Yee has also been featured on calendars, magazines and natural product advertisements; narrated meditation audios; written books; and done extensive charitable work. He has made guest appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, PBS, and elsewhere.

Yee became a yoga enthusiast in the Iyengar School, but now teaches a blend of Iyengar Yoga and his own invented style. He began his Yoga teaching career at a studio called The Yoga Room in Berkeley; later, he co-founded the Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland.

What distinguishes Iyengar Yoga from other styles of yoga?

In summary, the Iyengar method of Yoga may be said to define itself as different from other styles of Yoga by 3 key elements, namely technique, sequence and timing:

Technique means in asana practice the student searches for finer adjustments in the body through proper alignment of the pose as well as experiencing the nuances of the body through asana and pranayama. Sequence refers to the sequences or the order in which asana and pranayama are practiced. Timing refers to the length of time spent in each posture.

What to expect from this method of yoga?

• A safe and systematic approach to the practice.
• Sequencing that develops strength, flexibility, stamina, concentration, and body alignment
• Use of props, such as blankets, blocks, and straps, to facilitate learning and adjust yoga postures to individual needs
• Precise use of language
• Demonstration and teaching of specific points to develop understanding and intelligent action
• Individual correction and hands on adjustment of students, when necessary
• Integration of the yoga philosophy with the practice of asana
• Incorporation and relevance of practice into daily life