Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 The Iyengar method is neither "wonderful for those who enjoy being intellectually entertained", nor "lousy for yoga". It's simply a different style of hatha yoga, which follows its own traditions. Iyengar Yoga is yoga with a capital Y just like Astanga Yoga is, both approaches have their own merits.<br><br>However, I agree with Lu that B.K.S. Iyengar has done much more to popularize his method, so that everyone can profit from it, than K.P. Jois has done. Indeed, from the point of view of someone who, like me, has practised Iyengar Yoga for many years, Astanga Yoga looks like a rather elitist and exclusive practice.<br><br>And of course, in Iyengar as in Astanga Yoga, you will find good teachers as well as less good ones, be they certified or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 Well said, Shining Skull! I wonder if some of the popularity of the Iyengar method is not so much due to Mr. Iyengar's own efforts, but possibly those of his senior students in other countries. I know that some of P. Jois' students here in the U.S. offer teacher training programs, but I think that even the most well respected, reputable teachers only offer a two week course. More is definitely needed.<br><br>The question shouldn't be Iyengar v. Ashtanga. Both traditions are valuable in their own ways and appeal to different audiences or even the same audience in different ways. A strong Iyengar background can definitely improve your asanas and prevent injury. I've noticed though that Ashtangis seem to progress more quickly into the more difficult asana, even if their form isn't always Iyengar perfect. (I know the difficulty of the asana isn't supposed to be the goal, yadda yadda.)<br><br>Again the question shouldn't be Iyengar v. Ashtanga (or Bikram or Sivananda or Anusara etc.) It should be Yoga v. those stupid health club weekend training programs that teach aerobics instructors to teach this half assed facsimile of yoga just because its popular. My mother-in-law asked me to recommend a yoga video. I don't care if she buys Patricia Walden's video or David Swenson's video. Just please, please, please don't buy Denise Austin's!!!! <br><br>Why worry about calling David Life or Beryl Bender Birch (or any other yoga teacher who even half way gets it) a yoga criminal, when there are TRUE charlatans out there making a yoga video this week, a kickboxing video next week and a pilates video the week after that? I think most of us who read this board regularly are so deep into our own practices and petty distinctions about who is the most authentic teachers that we don't even realize the TRULY abominable exploitation of yoga that going on out there in medialand. YJ's "Mad about Yoga" column with the "celebrity yogis" is a perfect example. Should we do yoga just because the famous people do? Does that make it cool?<br><br>I'm off on a rant, but before I sign off, let me say that the people who are doing yoga for reasons other than the fact that they think they'll have a great butt or that Courtney Love does it need to get it together and stop quarrelling amongst them (our) selves. Without meaning to sound like a conspiracy theorist, there is a much greater danger out there than whether someone made a typo in their book or the good ole days in Mysore. <br>P.S. I think that DL and BBB are not yoga criminals. I just used them as examples because their names appear on this board a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 A key difference I've noticed is that you'll tend to find gigantic rumps on the distaff I teachers, while your A teachers will be more svelte. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2001 Report Share Posted March 7, 2001 LOL gigantic rumps LOL -- makes me think of baboons doing asanas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 I don't think I could have stated this better. I get very irritated by people who practice a watered-down version of yoga at their gym and all of the sudden there is a "yoga craze" in the US. I think that is what this current "yoga craze" is really about. Will it pass? that's a good question. An ashtanga practice is a serious commitment and you have to be very devoted and REALLY love it to stick w/ it....not go to yoga class once a week at your gym. My viewpoint isn't very yogic but I'm working on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 8, 2001 Report Share Posted March 8, 2001 understand your point of view. have experienced some real horror shows at gyms -- clueless instructors gleefully showing people how to injure themselves, students enthusiastically following.<br><br>on the other hand (if i may equivocate in that self-relaxing way i have) overall most teachers are committed and knowledgeable and getting better all the time; and how great is it that more and more anybody who wants to can get at least an introductory knowledge of the treasure that is yoga?<br><br>years ago when i first did yoga on the warm-up mat at the 23rd street ymca, nyc, i was actually told to stop because some members were offended (legs over the head in plow were too much for somebody i guess).<br><br>change is good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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