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B. K. S. Iyengar

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B.K.S. Iyengar
Iyengar on his 86th birthday in 2004
Born(1918-12-14)14 December 1918
Bellur, Kingdom of Mysore (present-day Karnataka, India)
Died20 August 2014(2014-08-20) (aged 95)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Cause of deathRenal failure, Heart failure
Occupation(s)Yoga teacher, author
Known forIyengar Yoga
SpouseRamamani
ChildrenGeeta and 5 others

Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar (14 December 1918 – 20 August 2014), better known as B.K.S. Iyengar, was the founder of the style of yoga known as "Iyengar Yoga" and was considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world.[1][2] He has written many books on yoga practice and philosophy including Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, and Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Iyengar yoga classes are offered throughout the world. Iyengar was one of the earliest students of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who is often referred to as "the father of modern yoga".[3] He has been credited with popularizing yoga firstly in India and then around the world.[4]

Iyengar was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991, the Padma Bhushan in 2002 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2014.[5][6] In 2004, Iyengar was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.[7][8]

Early years

B.K.S. Iyengar was born into a poor Sri Vaishnava Iyengar family[9] (a priestly Brahmin caste)[10] at Bellur, Kolar District,[11] Karnataka, India. He was the 11th of 13 children (only 10 of whom survived) of father Sri Krishnamachar, a school teacher, and mother Sheshamma.[10] Iyengar's home village of Bellur, in Karnataka, was in the grip of the influenza pandemic at the time of his birth, leaving him sickly and weak. Throughout his childhood, he struggled with malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and general malnutrition. "My arms were thin, my legs were spindly, and my stomach protruded in an ungainly manner," he wrote. "My head used to hang down, and I had to lift it with great effort." [12]

When he was five years old, his family moved to Bangalore and within four years his father died of appendicitis.[10]

Education in yoga

In 1934, his brother-in-law, the yogi Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, asked Iyengar, who would have been 15 years old at the time, to come to Mysore, so as to improve his health through yoga practice.[10] There, Iyengar learned asana practice, which steadily improved his health. Krishnamacharya had Iyengar and other students give yoga demonstration in the Maharaja's court at Mysore, which had a positive influence on Iyengar.[10] Iyengar considers his association with his brother-in-law a turning point in his life[10] saying that over a two-year period "he [Krishnamacharya] only taught me for about ten or fifteen days, but those few days determined what I have become today!"[13] K. Pattabhi Jois has claimed that he, and not Krishnamacharya, was Iyengar's guru.[14] At the age of 18 (1937), Iyengar was sent by Krishnamacharya to Pune to spread the teaching of yoga.[10][15]

Though B.K.S. Iyengar had very high regard for Krishnamacharya,[13] and occasionally turned to him for advice, he had a troubled relationship with his guru during his tutelage.[16] In the beginning, he predicted that the stiff, sickly teenager would not be successful at Yoga. He was neglected and tasked with household chores. Only when Krishnamacharya's favorite pupil at the time, Keshavamurthy left one day, did serious training start.[17] Krishnamacharya began teaching a series of difficult postures, sometimes telling him to not eat until he mastered a certain posture. These experiences would later inform the way he taught his students.[18]

Teaching career

With the encouragement of Krishnamacharya, Iyengar, aged 18,[9] moved to Pune in 1937 to teach yoga. He spent many hours each day learning and experimenting with various techniques.

He taught yoga to several noted personalities including Jiddu Krishnamurti, Jayaprakash Narayan and Yehudi Menuhin.[19] He taught sirsasana (head stand) to Elisabeth, Queen of Belgium when she was 80.[20]

Among his other devotees were the novelist Aldous Huxley, the actress Annette Bening and the designer Donna Karan, as well as a who’s who of prominent Indian figures, including the cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and the Bollywood siren Kareena Kapoor.[21]

International recognition

In 1952, Iyengar befriended the violinist Yehudi Menuhin.[22] Menuhin gave him the break that transformed Iyengar from a comparatively obscure Indian yoga teacher into an international guru. Because Iyengar had taught the famous philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, he was asked to go to Bombay to meet Menuhin, who was known to be interested in yoga. Menuhin said he was very tired and could spare only five minutes. Iyengar told him to adopt a relaxing asana, and he fell asleep. After one hour, Menuhin woke refreshed and spent another two hours with Iyengar. Menuhin came to believe that practising yoga improved his playing, and in 1954 invited Iyengar to Switzerland. At the end of that visit, he presented his yoga teacher with a watch on the back of which was inscribed, "To my best violin teacher, BKS Iyengar". From then on Iyengar visited the west regularly, and schools teaching his system of yoga sprang up all over the world. There are now hundreds of Iyengar yoga centres. [23]

The popularity of yoga in the West can be attributed in large part to Iyengar's teaching and writings.[8] In 1966, Light on Yoga was published. It eventually became an international best-seller and was translated into 17 languages. Light on Yoga was followed by titles on pranayama and various aspects of yoga philosophy. In total, Iyengar authored 14 books.[24]

In 1975, Iyengar opened the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, in memory of his late wife. He officially retired from teaching in 1984, but continued 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.[8]

In 2005, Iyengar visited the United States to promote his latest book, Light on Life, and to teach a special workshop at the Yoga Journal conference in Estes Park, Colorado. 3 October 2005 was declared as "B.K.S.Iyengar Day" by San Francisco city's Board of Supervisors.[2] Anthropologist Joseph S. Alter of the University of Pittsburgh stated "He has by far had the most profound impact on the global spread of yoga."[2] In June 2011, he was presented with a commemorative stamp issued in his honour by the Beijing branch of China Post. There are now over thirty thousand Iyengar yoga students in 57 cities in China.[25]

The noun "Iyengar" is defined by Oxford Dictionaries as "a type of astanga yoga...", named after B. K. S. Iyengar, its deviser.[26]

Personal practice

Iyengar reported in interviews[13][16] that, at the age of 90, he continued to practice asanas for 3 hours and pranayamas for an hour daily. Besides this, he mentioned that he found himself performing non-deliberate pranayamas at other times.

Approach to teaching

Iyengar attracted his students by offering them just what they sought – which tended to be physical stamina and flexibility.[16] He conducted demonstrations and later, when a scooter accident dislocated his spine, began exploring the use of props to help disabled people practice Yoga. He also drew inspiration from Hindu deities such as Yoga Narasimha and stories of yogis using trees to support their asanas.[18]

Recognition by Krishnamacharya

In an interview, Iyengar said of Krishnamacharya’s endorsement of his teaching style:[13]

"He [Krishnamacharya] never taught me much about teaching, but he saw me teach. In 1961, he came to Pune and was teaching my daughter and son. He taught them for many hours, but unfortunately they could not get what he was trying to show them. When I came up and asked what was wrong, my daughter told me what she did not understand about a posture. So, I explained to her, "You must stretch from this end to that end". And immediately when Krishnamacharya saw this, he gave me a gold medal known as Yoga Shikshaka Chakravarti, which means "Emperor of Yoga Teachers, Teacher of Teachers". He said I must teach like this and not just in private, but in public".

Family

In 1943, Iyengar married Ramamani, to whom he had been introduced by his brothers. He said: "We lived without conflict as if our two souls were one." [27]Together they raised five daughters and a son. Both his eldest daughter Geeta (born in 1944) and his son Prashant have become internationally-known teachers in their own right. The other children of B.K.S. Iyengar are Vanita, Sunita, Suchita, and Savita.[28] Geeta Iyengar is the author of Yoga: A Gem for Women (2002), and Prashant is the author of several books, including A Class after a Class: Yoga, an Integrated Science (1998), and Yoga and the New Millennium (2008). Geeta and Prashant co-direct the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune.[29]

His wife died when she was 46 and Iyengar named his yoga institute, the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute, after her.[30]

Philanthropy and activism

Iyengar supported nature conservation, stating that it is important to conserve all animals and birds.[31] He donated Rs. 2 million to Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore, reckoned to be the highest amount donated to any zoo in India.[31] He also adopted a tiger and a cub in memory of his wife, who died in 1973.[31]

Iyengar helped promote awareness of multiple sclerosis with the Pune unit of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India.[32]

Death

He died on 20 August 2014 in Pune, India from heart failure and renal failure, aged 95.[33][34]

Bibliography

Iyengar published his first book (Light on Yoga) in 1966. The book has been translated into 17 languages and sold 3 million copies.[2]

  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (1966; revised ed. 1977). Light on Yoga. New York: Schocken. ISBN 978-0-8052-1031-6
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (1989). Light on Pranayama: The Yogic Art of Breathing. New York: Crossroad. ISBN 0-8245-0686-3
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (1985). The Art of Yoga. Boston: Unwin. ISBN 978-0-04-149062-6
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (1988). The Tree of Yoga. Boston: Shambhala. ISBN 0-87773-464-X
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (1996). Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. London: Thorsons. ISBN 978-0-00-714516-4
  • Iyengar, B.K.S., Abrams, D. & Evans, J.J. (2005). Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom. Pennsylvania: Rodale. ISBN 1-59486-248-6
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (2007). Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health. New York: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 978-0-7566-3362-2
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (8 Vols, 2000–2008). Astadala Yogamala: Collected Works. New Delhi: Allied Publishers.
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (2009). Yoga Wisdom and Practice. New York: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0-7566-4283-3
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (2010). Yaugika Manas: Know and Realize the Yogic Mind. Mumbai: Yog. ISBN 81-87603-14-3
  • Iyengar, B.K.S. (2012). Core of the Yoga Sutras: The Definitive Guide to the Philosophy of Yoga. London: HarperThorsons. ISBN 978-0007921263

References

  1. ^ Aubrey, Allison. "Light on life: B.K.S. Iyengar's Yoga insights". Morning Edition: National Public Radio, 10 November 1995. (full text) Accessed 4 July 2007
  2. ^ a b c d Stukin, Stacie (10 October 2005). "Yogis gather around the guru". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  3. ^ Iyengar, B.K.S. (2000). Astadala Yogamala. New Delhi, India: Allied Publishers. p. 53. ISBN 978-8177640465.
  4. ^ Sjoman, N.E. (1999). The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace (2nd ed.). New Delhi, India: Abhinav Publications. p. 41. ISBN 81-7017-389-2.
  5. ^ "Ruskin Bond, Vidya Balan, Kamal Haasan honoured with Padma awards". Hindustan Times. HT Media Limited. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Padma Awards Announced". Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  7. ^ 2004 TIME 100 – B.K.S. Iyengar Heroes & Icons, TIME.
  8. ^ a b c By B.K.S. Iyengar. "Yoga News & Trends – Light on Iyengar". Yoga Journal. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  9. ^ a b "B. K. S. Iyengar Biography". Notablebiographies.com. Retrieved 26 December 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Iyengar, B.K.S. (2006). Light on Life: The Yoga Journey to Wholeness, Inner Peace, and Ultimate Freedom. USA: Rodale. pp. xvi–xx. ISBN 9781594865244. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  11. ^ Iyengar, B.K.S. (1991). Iyengar – His Life and Work. C.B.S. Publishers & Distributors. p. 3.
  12. ^ "B. K. S. Iyengar, Who Helped Bring Yoga to the West, Dies at 95". nytimes.com. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d "3 Gurus, 48 Questions" (PDF). Namarupa (Fall 2004). Interview by R. Alexander Medin: 9. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  14. ^ Sjoman, N.E. (1999). The Yoga Tradition of the Mysore Palace. New Delhi, India: Abhinav Publications. p. 49. ISBN 81-7017-389-2.
  15. ^ Iyengar, B.K.S. (2000). Astadala Yogamala. New Delhi, India: Allied Publishers. p. 57. ISBN 978-8177640465.
  16. ^ a b c "Being BKS Iyengar: The enlightened yogi of yoga(part1-2)". YouTube. 22 June 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  17. ^ Pag, Fernando. "Krishnamacharya's Legacy". Yogajournal.com. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Being BKS Iyengar: The enlightened yogi of yoga(part2-2)". YouTube. 22 June 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  19. ^ "Life is yoga, yoga is life". Sakal Times. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  20. ^ "Light on Iyengar". Yoga Journal. San Francisco: 96. September–October 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  21. ^ "B. K. S. Iyengar, Who Helped Bring Yoga to the West, Dies at 95". nytimes.com. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  22. ^ SenGupta, Anuradha (22 June 2008). "Being BKS Iyengar: The yoga guru". IBNlive-CNN-F¨sÀt. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  23. ^ "BKS Iyengar obituary". theguardian.com. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  24. ^ NAUS Accessed 16 September 2006[dead link]
  25. ^ Krishnan, Ananth (21 June 2011). "Indian yoga icon finds following in China". The Hindu. Chennai, India.Accessed 22 June 2011
  26. ^ Dictionaries, Oxford. "Iyengar". Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  27. ^ "BKS Iyengar obituary". theguardian.com. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  28. ^ BKS Iyengar Archive Project 2007. IYNAUS. 2007.[ISBN missing]
  29. ^ Biography: Geeta Iyengar
  30. ^ "BKS Iyengar obituary". theguardian.com. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  31. ^ a b c "Zoo felicitates B.K.S. Iyengar". The Hindu. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  32. ^ "BKS Iyengar to participate in multiple sclerosis awareness drive". The Indian Express. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2013.
  33. ^ "Yoga guru B. K. S. Iyengar passes away". The Hindu.com. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  34. ^ "B. K. S. Iyengar, Who Helped Bring Yoga to the West, Dies at 95". New York Times. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014. B. K. S. Iyengar, who helped introduce the practice of yoga to a Western world awakening to the notion of an inner life, died on Wednesday in the southern Indian city of Pune. He was 95. ... The cause was heart failure, said Abhijata Sridhar-Iyengar, his granddaughter. ... {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
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