Certified Graduate from the three-year program at The Yoga Room, Berkeley California
Iyengar Yoga (with a Berkeley twist) emphasizes clarity of alignment of all parts of the body within each yoga asana (posture). The precision of approach builds strength and stamina, balance and flexibility, and a new sense of well-being. Achieving meditation in action, the practitioner learns to exist fully and vibrantly in the present moment.
My classes are open to people of all ages and levels of physical condition. Do not be put off from trying a yoga class because you feel that you might be too old, too stiff, overweight, underweight, or too tired. You start the poses where you are right now and develop from that point, at your own pace. Using props allows maximum benefit of the poses without aggravation to injuries or destruction of joints, muscles, or nerves.
Poses are matched to each person’s body type and special physical needs. To address these needs, props such as wood blocks, bolsters, blankets, and belts are commonly used in class.
Exercise, as it is usually done, only reinforces misalignment. If we don’t know how to exercise properly, we tend to stretch from our more flexible areas and rely on our better-developed muscles for strength. Iyengar-based yoga encourages weak parts to strengthen and stiff areas to stretch, awakening and re-aligning the whole body. As the body moves into better alignment, less muscular work is required and relaxation increases, naturally.
Health is a state of complete harmony of the body.
-BKS Iyengar
