Remembering BKS Iyengar

2nd December 2024

When BKS Iyengar died in 2014 at the age of 96, the ‘London Times’ devoted a two-page spread to his obituary, as did the ‘Times of India’ (no relation). He was certainly the best-known yogi around the globe. He was on the ‘Time Magazine’ USA’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

His mastery of yoga asana had three sides: demonstration, teaching, and treating ailments. In his life he gave countless, astonishing demonstrations; he taught and also trained teachers, now with registered instructors in six continents; he pioneered yoga therapy for all manner of ailments.

BKS Iyengar struggled for some years in great poverty, teaching both army cadets and elderly, sickly people to earn (sometimes literally) a crust. His classes for fit youngsters were fast and furious, a sweaty ‘route march’ of Vinyasa. He taught the elderly or infirm one-to-one. One such man being unable to stand, Iyengar adjusted his limbs into asanas like Triangle on the floor. He was caring and inventive, using items like chapatti rolling-pins, bolsters, even house bricks, as props. When discussing Iyengar yoga, we have to talk about many modes and moods, not one style.

By-the-by, using props is not a tricksy invention of his – millennia ago, Buddhists hung upside down in ‘bat pose’ which we know as rope Sirsasana, although they did it over a smoky fire as a penance; centuries ago, yogis used a yogapatta (strap) or a yogadanda (a stick) like a crutch under the armpits to support them when sitting for meditation. (See the wall paintings in the Dalai Lama’s palace in Lhasa). Check out Yogadandasana in Light on Yoga page 340, and also carvings from the middle-ages, e.g. at Hampi, showing deities with straps round their back, and even blocks under their knees for sitting. There are rumours of an old book on rope work, now lost, in the palace of Mysore: ‘Yoga Kurunta.’

Patañjali Temple

Notable people began to get attracted by his extraordinary skill in performing the gamut of difficult asanas and by his developing skill in teaching. Gradually, along witha growing family, his reputation grew. Iyengar for years taught the philosopher and theosophist Krishnamurthi, and the great Jain Guru Bhadrankarji Maharaj in Bombay, leading to weekend teaching visits there for many years. Swami Shivananda conferred the title ‘Yogi Raja’ on him in 1952.

BKS Iyengar adjusting Yehudi Menuhin

The pivotal moment for followers of yoga in the UK came that same year. Iyengar’s gateway to the West was the celebrated violinist Yehudi Menuhin who was troubled by poor sleep and exhaustion while touring in India. Prime Minister Nehru recommended Iyengar, who went to Bombay to meet Menuhin. Iyengar put his fingers over Menuhin’s face and head, Shanmukhi Mudra, whereupon he fell asleep for 40 minutes and awoke fully refreshed. They continued the lessons over the years, and remained firm friends. A young David Attenborough interviewed them both for a BBC film. Later, Menuhin gave Iyengar a watch inscribed ‘to my best violin teacher BKS Iyengar’ which remained a precious heirloom.

This lucky event brought Iyengar several times to Europe – first Switzerland, then London every summer, in May, for some precious years. This laid the foundation for the movement known as Iyengar Yoga – called that by us but not by him. Luckily, he also came down to Brighton to teach. I missed that, regretfully, but was taught by Rayner Curtis who studied with him then.

These UK trips led to three people being tasked to teach in-between his visits. One was Silva Mehta, who went on to be a founder of Iyengar Yoga London in Maida Vale. She conducted yoga teacher training for the Inner London Education Authority which insisted on Iyengar-trained teachers for Adult Education night classes. I first saw Mr Iyengar in Maida Vale in 1985. I was riveted, fascinated by his feet, which had more life and mobility in them than most of us have in our whole being, and by his fearsome eyebrows. I recall his instructions for ……………………..

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