IY(UK) Blog
Hanuman Jayanti: Lesson on Iyengar Yoga with Prashantji
8th April 2020
On the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti, Prashantji has recorded a lesson on Yoga as per the tradition of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar – watch here:
Respiratory System Sequence
2nd April 2020
Seven day practice memo
20th March 2020
With many people spending a lot more time at home at the moment, we thought we’d share this seven-day practice memo, kindly shared by Manchester and District Iyengar Yoga.
Please make sure you read the notes before starting your home practice. Enjoy!
Building Immunity: Article and Sequence from RIMYI
18th March 2020
Building Immunity: Article and Sequence from RIMYI
‘Guruji Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar was born during the 1918 influenza pandemic and even his mother was not spared the infection during her pregnancy. This had led to a very sickly childhood for our Guruji. It was this ill-health that introduced him to yoga with which he has given health to millions across the world.’
This article by Iyengar Yoga teacher Dr. Rajvi H. Mehta is taken from Yoga Rahasya (vol.16, no.4, 2009) and was published during the H1N1 pandemic, featuring asanas given by B.K.S. Iyengar for the immune system (click to download):
The sequence below, taken from the article above, was given out to students at the Iyengar Institute in Pune when it was closed due to an outbreak of a virulent flu. If you are unable to do any of the asanas, talk to your local Iyengar yoga teacher to see if there are modified versions you can do at home.
Click here for a downloadable version
National Iyengar Yoga Day, 18/1/20
31st December 2019
National Iyengar Yoga Day in the UK and Ireland will be on Saturday 18 January 2020.
Don’t miss this fantastic chance to discover Iyengar yoga in your area! Certified Iyengar yoga teachers will be organising free taster classes, demonstrations and other events.
Events are being added to this map each week, so check back to see what’s happening near you.
Click on a marker to see event details:
You can keep up to date via the Facebook event here
Here are some pictures from NIYD 2019:
Northern Ireland
Assessment Volunteers Needed
16th September 2019
Assessment Volunteers Needed!
Intermediate Junior Assessments in October
Intermediate Senior Assessments in November
The venues would welcome volunteer “students” to be taught by candidates during the teaching part of the assessments. Please contact the venues direct (contact details below) to volunteer.
To be a volunteer at Intermediate Junior level, you should have been practising for at least five years and be attending General or Intermediate classes. You should be able to perform Sirsasana and Sarvangasana on the day of the assessment ie should not be menstruating, nor should you have neck, shoulder or back problems that would prevent you from practising these poses or others.
To volunteer at Intermediate Senior level, you do not need to be able to do all the senior asanas but you should be an experienced Iyengar yoga student, regularly attend an Intermediate level class and be able to hold the inversions for 8 minutes.
Volunteers who are teachers must hold a certificate below the level being assessed. Volunteers who are teachers taking assessment this year, may volunteer at an assessment of a higher level than the one they are themselves taking, eg, if you are taking a Level 2 assessment this year, you may also volunteer at a Level 3 assessment. Wherever possible, assessment candidates should not know the volunteers. If you have friends or close peers taking an assessment this year, ask them their assessment date and volunteer for a different date.
Intermediate Junior Assessments will be held at YogaBase Ranelagh, Dublin as follows:
Level 2: Sat 5 Oct– volunteers required 12.30 pm til approx. 3.30 pm
Level 3: Sun 6 Oct – volunteers required 12 noon til approx. 3 pm
For further information and to volunteer, contact: Aisling Guirke, aisling_guirke@hotmail.com
Intermediate Junior Assessments will be held at IYI Maida Vale as follows:
Level 1: Sun 6 Oct, Sat 12 Oct
Level 2: Sat 5 Oct, Sun 13 Oct, Sat 19 Oct
Level 3: Sun 20 Oct
Volunteers are required on Saturdays from 1.30 pm til approx. 4.30 pm and on Sundays from 2 pm til approx. 5 pm. For further information and to volunteer, contact: Mary Newton, mary@iyi.org.uk
Intermediate Junior Assessments will be held at MDIY, Manchester as follows:
Level 2: Sat 12 Oct, Sun 13 Oct, Sat 19 Oct
Level 3: Sat 5 Oct, Sat 26 Oct, Sun 27 Oct
Volunteers are required from 12.30 pm til approx. 3.30 pm. For further information and to volunteer, contact: Clare Tunstall, clare@mdiiy.org.uk
Intermediate Junior Assessments will be held at Sheffield Yoga Centre as follows:
Level 1: Sat 19 Oct, Sun 20 Oct, Sat 26 Oct, Sun 27 Oct
Volunteers are required from 12.30 pm til approx. 3.30 pm. For further information and to volunteer, contact: Niccole Allen, info@sheffieldyogacentre.co.uk
Intermediate Senior Assessments take place over 2 days (a weekend). Volunteers will be needed on the Saturdays for pranayama and on the Sundays for asana.
Intermediate Senior Assessments will be held at IYI Maida Vale as follows:
Level 2: Sat 9 & Sun 10 Nov
Volunteers for pranayama are needed on Sat 9 Nov, 11.30 am -12.30 pm (arrive in good time)
Volunteers for asana are needed on Sun 10 Nov. The asanas will be taught in 5 x 45 minute slots and volunteers are needed for 2 or 3 slots from 11.30 am through to approx. 3.45 pm. For further information and to volunteer, contact: Mary Newton, mary@iyi.org.uk
Intermediate Senior Assessments will be held at MDIY, Manchester as follows:
Level 1: Sat 2 & Sun 3 Nov; Sat 9 & Sun 10 Nov
Volunteers for pranayama are needed on Sat 2 and Sat 9 Nov, 11.30 am – 12.30 pm (arrive in good time)
Volunteers for asana are needed on Sun 3 and Sun 10 Nov. The asanas will be taught in 5 x 45 minute slots and volunteers are needed for 2 or 3 slots from 9.30 am through to approx. 1.45 pm. For further information and to volunteer, contact: Clare Tunstall, clare@mdiiy.org.uk
Virabhadrasana I article by Arti H Mehta
9th September 2019
The Autumn issue of Iyengar Yoga News is coming soon, full of news and features including a tribute to Geetaji and an interview with leading Pranayama teacher Navaz Kamdin. Make sure your membership is up to date to get your copy – click here if you need to sign up or renew.
Did you know the wrapping used to post our magazines is now fully biodegradable?
In case you missed it in the Spring issue, here’s an article by Arti H Mehta on Virabhadrasana I which looks at common errors and how to make adjustments.
Chakras t-shirt design now available
13th August 2019
Now available to order online!
You can now order our Chakras design – as seen at the 2019 Convention – on t-shirts and other products at our Redbubble store.
Available in a range of colours, sizes and styles, profits from all sales from our store go to the Iyengar Yoga Development Fund and the Bellur Trust
Items are produced on demand and sent to you directly from Redbubble.
Browse the store to find our range of other designs and products including mugs, posters, water bottles, notebooks and more.
Chakras t-shirt
Yoga Philosophy Poster
BKS Iyengar Centenary Year Hoody
Iyengar Yoga at Summer Festivals
1st July 2019
Find IY (UK) teachers at festivals across the UK and Ireland this summer.
For a full list of other Iyengar yoga events and workshops click here
| Glastonbury Festival 26 – 30 June, Somerset Teacher: Julian Lindars |
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| World Yoga Festival 18-21 July, Reading Teachers: Garth McLean, Mary Niker, Rachel Lovegrove |
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| Celtic Woodland Festival 19-22 July, Townley Hall, East Ireland Teachers: Orla Punch, Teresa Lewis |
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| Womad 25-28 July, Malmesbury, Wiltshire Teachers: Edgar Stringer, Lydia Holmes |
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| Camp Bestival 25-28 July, Lulworth Castle, Dorset Teacher: Gerda Bayliss |
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| Tartan Heart Festival 1-3 August, Belladrum, Inverness Teacher: Fiona Sarjeant (aka Madam Fifi) |
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| European Juggling Convention 3-11 August, Winthorpe, Nottinghamshire Teacher: Darren Bloom (teaching 8-11 August) https://ejc2019.org/ |
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| Shambala 22-25 August, Market Harborough Teacher: Julie Baker (Fri 23, 1-2.30pm, Yoga Yurt; Sun 25, 3.30-5pm, Garden) https://www.shambalafestival.org/ |
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The story of BKS Iyengar and violinist Yehudi Menuhin
26th June 2019
‘The Yoga Teacher and the Violinist’
Listen to the story of how BKS Iyengar and violinist Yehudi Menuhin helped bring yoga to the West on the BBC’s Witness History programme https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csywv7
Photos from Events
