BKS Iyengar was a great Yoga teacher but also a deep thinker whose wisdom and quotes are enjoyed by Yogis everywhere. Check out our selection of BKS Iyengar quotes which shine a light on his Yoga wisdom. Use them to inspire your Yoga practice – whether it is through setting intentions, journalling, or meditating.
BKS Iyengar Life Story
BKS (Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja) Iyengar was one of the most influential Yoga teachers in the world. He is the father of Iyengar Yoga – a form of Hatha Yoga. In creating Iyengar Yoga, he focused on the alignment of poses and breathwork to achieve physical strength, stability, flexibility, as well as wellbeing of mind and spirit.
Born in India in 1918, he succumbed to the worldwide flu pandemic early in life. As a result of this, he suffered ill health for most of his childhood. His health finally improved when his brother-in-law, a Yoga teacher, taught him the essentials of Yoga. He subsequently became a professional Yoga teacher and author who wrote many important Yoga books, including “Shining the Light on Yoga”.
What sets Iyengar Yoga apart from Hatha Yoga? The most significant difference is the extensive use of “props” or equipment. These are used to help Yoga students master different poses by using blocks, belts, blankets and cushions. Over the years, BKS Iyengar developed a detailed teaching system for over 200 different Yoga poses and 14 types of pranayama or breathwork. These continue to be taught in many Yoga studios throughout the world.
BKS Iyengar passed away in 2014 at the age of 95 in Pune, India. His knowledge, teachings and wisdom continue to shine a light on Yoga, including his many quotes.
Bobby Clennel, one of Iyengar’s long-term students, commented:
Guruji had a phenomenal ability to “see” people. When he taught he was tremendously expressive and poetic, and this is perhaps what I will miss the most. But it was his super sharp intellect, his yogi’s heart and his unwavering sense of service to others that made him a Master.
5 Beautiful BKS Iyengar Quotes
“It is through your body that you realize you are a spark of divinity.”
“Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.”
“The hardness of a diamond is part of its usefulness, but its true value is in the light that shines through it.”
“Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees.”
“Yoga allows you to find a new kind of freedom that you may not have known even existed.”
Video
View This 20-Minute Interview With BKS Iyengar To Get To Know This Special Teacher:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irdXG8dwbmY