I am looking to do some yoga in Bath where I live. There is a school doing Iyengar yoga and even when you are practising at home you can only do this type of yoga as to mix it with anytinh else would be silly I suppose. There are also teachers accredited by the British Wheel of Yoga but the Iyengar teachers aren’t with them, they are accredited by someone else. I’m not sure if I want to learn the Iyengar yoga as it seems limited, I just want to learn “proper” yoga!!! Does anyone know of Iyengar yoga, why it is different, and any advantages?? I don’t just want to go to any old crappy class in a church hall because if I enjoy it enough I would love to do some kind of course/certificate course in it. Sometimes there is so much information out there, too confusing!! Please help!!!
3 users commented in " Where can I learn “proper” yoga?? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackbackif you don’t find anyone to teach you, the best way is to learn from the internet. yoga is nothing but a chain of mental and physical exercises that you can perform at home. print off some tips and methods, study them and do them slowly. if you get used to it, then good. many people have actually progressed that way, although a personal trainer is a better option.
You can buy Yoga DVDs and do Yoga at home. That way you can buy different DVDs and you won’t isolate yourself to one type of Yoga. You can find the types that fit you best.
‘Proper’ Yoga doesn’t exist. There are many schools of yoga, almost all of which are ‘proper’. One style of yoga is not better than another, there is no ranking. What you need to find is the type of yoga that appeals to you as a person. Do you like your yoga slow and steady, precise, sweaty, relaxing, active, meditative? The only way to find out is to try out different classes, even the ones in the church halls. There may be awesome teachers hanging out there.
Iyengar yoga is a style of yoga that was developed by B.K.S. Iyengar that focuses on very precise and detailed alignment of the poses. This style is about as ‘proper’ as it gets and Iyengar teachers have had a long, thorough education. To call yourself an Iyengar teacher you are only allowed to teach Iyengar yoga, whether that is the way to go for your certification or not is a question you can answer when the time comes. Whatever style of yoga you decide to do a certificate in though, a basis in Iyengar yoga would never be wasted because you will surely have a firm understanding of alignment..
In your home practice you should feel free to do whatever you feel like doing and you can mix your Iyengar with hiphop dancing if you feel so inclined. The yoga police won’t come knocking on your door. Really, yoga is about finding the thing that works for YOUR mind and YOUR body, so have an open mind and look around.