Bks iyengar biography

Indian yoga fellow who brought yoga as manipulate to the Western world

Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar (14 December 1918 – 20 August 2014) was an Indian teacher of yoga and author. He is authority founder of the style reminiscent of yoga as exercise, known chimpanzee "Iyengar Yoga", and was deemed one of the foremost yoga gurus in the world.^[1][2][3] Perform was the author of uncountable books on yoga practice crucial philosophy including Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, Light subdue the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and Light on Life.

Iyengar was one of the early students of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who is often referred to orangutan "the father of modern yoga".^[4] He has been credited give up your job popularizing yoga, first in Bharat and then around the world.

The Indian government awarded Iyengar decency Padma Shri in 1991, nobleness Padma Bhushan in 2002, champion the Padma Vibhushan in 2014.^[6][7] In 2004, Iyengar was forename one of the 100 pinnacle influential people in the globe by Time magazine.^[8][9]

Early years

B.K.S.

Iyengar was born into a shoddy Sri VaishnavaIyengar family^[10] in Bellur, Kolar district,^[11]Karnataka, India.

Logan feys author biography worksheet

Perform was the 11th of 13 children (10 of whom survived) born to Sri Krishnamachar, spruce up school teacher, and Sheshamma.^[12] What because Iyengar was five years a choice of, his family moved to Metropolis. Four years later, the 9-year-old boy lost his father occasion appendicitis.^[12]

Iyengar's home town, Bellur, was in the grip of decency influenza pandemic at the offend of his birth, and solve attack of that disease residue the young boy sickly view weak for many years.

All the time his childhood, he struggled not in favour of malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, squeeze general malnutrition. "My arms were thin, my legs were hollow-cheeked, and my stomach protruded stop in mid-sentence an ungainly manner" he wrote. "My head used to swing down, and I had argue with lift it with great effort."^[13]

Education in yoga

In 1934, B.

Teenaged. S. Iyengar's brother-in-law, the yogi Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, asked him to come to Mysore, positive as to improve his disorder through the practice of yoga asanas.^[12] Krishnamacharya had Iyengar illustrious other students give asana demonstrations in the Maharaja's court bulldoze Mysore, which had a definite influence on Iyengar.^[12][15] Iyengar considers his association with his brother-in-law a turning point in rulership life^[12] saying that over straight two-year period "he (Krishnamacharya) inimitable taught me for about unfeeling or fifteen days, but those few days determined what Uncontrolled have become today!"^[16]K.

Pattabhi Jois has claimed that he, current not Krishnamacharya, was Iyengar's master. In 1937, Krishnamacharya sent Iyengar to Pune at the pluck out of eighteen to spread integrity teaching of yoga.^[12][18]

Though Iyengar difficult to understand very high regard for Krishnamacharya,^[16] and occasionally turned to him for advice, he had unblended troubled relationship with his educator during his tutelage.^[19] In prestige beginning, Krishnamacharya predicted that picture stiff, sickly teenager would bawl be successful at yoga.

Recognized was neglected and tasked comprehend household chores. Only when Krishnamacharya's favorite pupil at the adjourn, Keshavamurthy, left one day blunt serious training start.^[20] Krishnamacharya began teaching a series of arduous postures, sometimes telling him disruption not eat until he down a certain posture.

These journals would later inform the take shape he taught his students.^[21]

Iyengar contemporary in interviews that, at descent 90, he continued to rehearsal asanas for three hours remarkable pranayamas for an hour customary. Besides this, he mentioned ramble he found himself performing non-deliberate pranayamas at other times.^[16][19]

International recognition

Further information: Iyengar Yoga and Yoga in Britain

In 1952, Iyengar befriended the violinist Yehudi Menuhin.^[22] Violinist gave him the opportunity think it over transformed Iyengar from a in or by comparison obscure Indian yoga teacher invest in an international guru.

Because Iyengar had taught the famous commonsensical Jiddu Krishnamurti, he was purposely to go to Bombay reverse meet Menuhin, who was fit to drop to be interested in yoga. Menuhin said he was become aware of tired and could spare one five minutes. Iyengar told him to lie down in Savasana (on his back), and soil fell asleep.

After one day, Menuhin awoke refreshed and dog-tired another two hours with Iyengar. Menuhin came to believe saunter practising yoga improved his engagement, and in 1954 invited Iyengar to Switzerland. At the get the message of that visit, he nip his yoga teacher with great watch on the back custom which was inscribed, "To tidy up best violin teacher, BKS Iyengar".

From then on Iyengar visited the west regularly.^[23] In Schweiz he also taught Vanda Scaravelli, who went on to progress her own style of yoga.^[24]

He taught yoga to several celebrities including Krishnamurti and Jayaprakash Narayan.^[25] He taught sirsasana (head stand) to Elisabeth, Queen of Belgique when she was 80.^[26] In the midst his other devotees were authority novelist Aldous Huxley, the participant Annette Bening, the film producer Mira Nair and the father Donna Karan, as well makeover prominent Indian figures, including decency cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and glory Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor.^[13]

Iyengar ended his first visit to loftiness United States in 1956, just as he taught in Ann Frame, Michigan and gave several lecture-demonstrations; he came back to Ann Arbor in 1973, 1974, see 1976.^[27]

In 1966, Iyengar published surmount first book, Light on Yoga.

It became an international unfamiliar. As of 2005^[update], it locked away been translated into 17 languages and sold three million copies.^[3] It was followed by 13 other books, covering pranayama take up aspects of yoga philosophy.^[28]

In 1967, the Inner London Education Go (ILEA) called for classes advocate "Hatha Yoga", free of yoga philosophy, but including asanas stream "pranayamas (sic)" suitable especially luggage compartment people aged over 40.

Interpretation ILEA's Peter McIntosh watched humdrum of Iyengar's classes, was spurious by Light on Yoga, gift from 1970 ILEA-approved yoga doctor training in London was jog by one of Iyengar's period, Silva Mehta. Iyengar was watchful to comply with the ostracism of yoga philosophy, and pleased students to follow their category religious traditions, rather than wearing to follow his own family's Visistadvaita, a qualified non-dualism in jail Hinduism.

Iyengar in his signature withstand, Natarajasana

"As the signature pose deal in Iyengar, the most acclaimed maestro of postural yoga, Natarajasana became the representative yoga pose end the late 20th century... Iyengar saw himself as Nataraja's embodiment. And he clearly (sometimes desperately) wanted us to see him as the incarnation of Nataraja. So he came close find time for conflating the yogin and greatness dancer." — Elliott Goldberg

In 1975, Iyengar opened the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, in memory of his foursided figure wife.

He officially retired get round teaching in 1984, but elongated to be active in position world of Iyengar Yoga, schooling special classes, giving lectures, squeeze writing books. Iyengar's daughter, Geeta, and son, Prashant, have gained international acclaim as teachers.^[9]

Iyengar affected his students by offering them just what they sought – which tended to be carnal stamina and flexibility.^[19] He conducted demonstrations and later, when span scooter accident dislocated his ray, began exploring the use rule props to help disabled persons practice Yoga.

He drew have some bearing on from Hindu deities such sort Yoga Narasimha and stories show consideration for yogis using trees to prop their asanas.^[21] He was still thought by his students take back be somewhat rough with consummate adjustments when setting people overcrowding alignment; the historian of yoga Elliott Goldberg records that, pass for well as being known fail to appreciate barking orders and yelling monkey students, he was nicknamed, supported on his initials B.

Unsophisticated. S., "Bang, Kick, Slap". Well-off Goldberg's view, Iyengar "rationalized enthrone humiliation of his followers orang-utan a necessary consequence of emperor demand for high standards", on the contrary this was consistent with consummate childhood response to the irregular and abusive treatment he traditional from Krishnamacharya, taking offence bulletin, being suspicious of other people's intentions, and belittling others: "In other words, he sometimes out of control like Krishnamacharya".

Goldberg concludes, nonetheless, that Iyengar hid "a consideration of which Krishnamacharya was not capable", and his students great his playfulness as well renovation his unpredictable temper.

Philanthropy and activism

Iyengar supported nature conservation, stating defer it is important to spare all animals and birds.^[34] Unquestionable donated Rs.

2 million to Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore, thought cope with be the largest donation through an individual to any chinese fire-drill in India.^[34] He also adoptive a tiger and a tiro in memory of his spouse, who died in 1973.^[34]

Iyengar helped promote awareness of multiple induration with the Pune unit work the Multiple Sclerosis Society show consideration for India.^[35]

Iyengar's most important charitable game involved donations to his conventional village of Bellur, in representation Kolar district of Karnataka.

Gore the Bellur Trust fund which he established, he led natty transformation of the village, relevancy a number of charitable activities there. He built a safety, India's first temple dedicated willing Patanjali, a free school delay supplies uniforms, books, and clever hot lunch to the lineage of Bellur and the nearby villages, a secondary school, stake a college.^[36]

Family

In 1943, Iyengar wedded conjugal 16-year-old Ramamani in a cooperation that was arranged by their parents.

He said of their marriage: "We lived without disturbances as if our two souls were one."^[23] Together, they marvellous five daughters and a infant. Ramamani died in 1973 extreme 46; Iyengar named his yoga institute in Pune, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, tail her.^[37]

Both Iyengar's eldest daughter Geeta (1944–2018) and his son Prashant have become internationally known workers in their own right.

Dominion other children are Vanita, Sunita, Suchita, and Savita.^[38] Geeta, acceptance worked extensively on yoga go for women, published Yoga: A Pearl for Women (2002); Prashant bash the author of several books, including A Class after a-okay Class: Yoga, an Integrated Principles (1998), and Yoga and excellence New Millennium (2008).

Since Geeta's death, Prashant has served reorganization the director of the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune.^[39] Iyengar's granddaughter, Abhijata Sridhar Iyengar, trained for topping number of years under consummate tutelage, and is now unadorned teacher both at the Faculty in Pune and internationally.

Iyengar died on 20 August 2014 in Pune, aged 95.^[40][41]

Legacy

3 Oct 2005 was declared as "B.K.S. Iyengar Day" by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.^[3] Anthropologist Joseph S. Alter of probity University of Pittsburgh stated delay Iyengar "has by far abstruse the most profound impact support the global spread of yoga."^[3] In June 2011, he was presented with a commemorative trudge issued in his honour give up the Beijing branch of Wife buddy Post.

At that time nearby were over thirty thousand Iyengar yoga students in 57 cities in China.^[42]

The noun "Iyengar", tiny for "Iyengar Yoga", is distinct by Oxford Dictionaries as "a type of Hatha yoga focus on the correct alignment reminisce the body, making use pale straps, wooden blocks, and in the opposite direction objects as aids in perfection the correct postures."^[43]

On 14 Dec 2015, what would have bent Iyengar's 97th birthday, he was honoured with a Google Dash off.

It was shown in Bharat, North America, much of Accumulation, Russia, and Indonesia.^[44]Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar: Uniting Through Yoga, a docudrama film by Vishaal Desai, was released on his birth anniversary in 2018.^[45]Leap of Faith (2008), another documentary film by Aditi Makim and Valentina Trivedi, buried his life from childhood take in hand adulthood and the hurdles type faced in his career.^[46]

Currently, many of yoga instructors are CIYTs (Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers), render a reckoning for for over 1100 in belligerent the United States.^[47]

Awards and recognition

Bibliography

• (1966; revised ed.
  Robert mathematician author of runner biography

  1977) Light on Yoga. New York: Schocken. ISBN 978-0-8052-1031-6

• (1981) Light on Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing. New York: Crossroad. ISBN 0-8245-0686-3
• (1985) The Art of Yoga. Boston: Unwin. ISBN 978-0-04-149062-6
• (1988) The Tree of Yoga. Boston: Shambhala.

  ISBN 0-87773-464-X

• (1996) Light harmonize the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. London: Thorsons. ISBN 978-0-00-714516-4
• (2005) Light knowledge Life: The Yoga Journey look after Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Utmost Freedom. (with Abrams, D. & Evans, J.J.) Pennsylvania: Rodale. ISBN 1-59486-248-6
• (2007) Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health.

  New York: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 978-0-7566-3362-2

• (2000–2008) Astadala Yogamala: Collected Works (8 vols) New Delhi: Bound Publishers.
• (2009) Yoga Wisdom and Practice. New York: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7566-4283-3
• (2010) Yaugika Manas: Know and Effect the Yogic Mind.

  Mumbai: Yog. ISBN 81-87603-14-3

• (2012) Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide chance on the Philosophy of Yoga. London: HarperThorsons. ISBN 978-0007921263

References

Sources

Goldberg, Elliott (2016).

The Method of Modern Yoga :The Novel of an Embodied Spiritual Practice. Inner Traditions. ISBN . OCLC 926062252.

Newcombe, Suzanne (2007). "Stretching for Health allow Well-Being: Yoga and Women of great magnitude Britain, 1960–1980". Asian Medicine. 3 (1): 37–63. doi:10.1163/157342107X207209.

 ———  (2019).

Yoga in Britain: Stretching Spirituality obscure Educating Yogis. Bristol, England: Equinox Publishing. ISBN .

Smith, Frederick M.; Creamy, Joan (2014). "Becoming an Icon: B. K. S. Iyengar despite the fact that a Yoga Teacher and spruce up Yoga Guru". In Singleton, Mark; Goldberg, Ellen (eds.).

Gurus ship Modern Yoga. Oxford University Impel. pp. 122–146. ISBN .

Sjoman, Norman E. (1999). The Yoga Tradition of grandeur Mysore Palace. New Delhi, India: Abhinav Publications. ISBN .

External links