Iyengar Yoga, named after and developed by B. This helps ensure that students progress gradually by moving from simple poses to more complex ones and develop their mind, body and spirit through a step-by-anti gravity yoga denver approach.

The props enable students to perform the asanas correctly, minimising the risk of injury or strain, and making the postures accessible to both young and old. Iyengar Yoga is firmly based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. Iyengar Yoga is a form of Hatha yoga in which there is a focus on the structural alignment of the physical body through the development of asanas. Through the practice of a system of asanas, it aims to unite the body, mind and spirit for health and well-being.

Iyengar differs from other styles of yoga by three key elements: technique, sequence and timing. Technique refers to the precision of the body alignment and the performance of pranayama. Sequence means the sequences in which asanas and breathing exercises are practiced. Following the specific sequence is important in achieving the desired result, because only the combination of certain poses and breathing techniques can ensure the expected positive effect. Timing is the third key element which defines the time spent in each pose or pranayama. Iyengar Yoga is characterized by great attention to detail and precise focus on body alignment.

Iyengar pioneered the use of «props» such as cushions, benches, blocks, straps and sand bags, which function as aids allowing beginners to experience asanas more easily and fully than might otherwise be possible without several years of practice. Unlike more experiential approaches where students are encouraged to independently «find their way» to the asanas by imitating the teacher, an Iyengar Yoga class is precise, with misalignments and errors actively explained and corrected. According to the Iyengar Yoga Institute, Iyengar yoga «emphasises precision and alignment», and prioritises correct movement over quantity, i. Beginners are introduced early on to standing poses, executed with careful attention to detail.

For example, in Trikonasana, the feet are often jumped apart to a wide stance, the forward foot is turned out, and the centre of the forward heel is exactly aligned with the centre of the arch of the other foot. Iyengar teachers have traditionally completed at least two years of rigorous training for the introductory certificate. They may complete subsequent intermediate levels and senior levels of certification, potentially entailing a decade or more of training. The system is being replaced from 2019, with a requirement for at least six years of practice before assessment. Iyengar and the Invention of Yoga».