Restorative yoga and Pranayama - peaceful and rejuvenating

Restorative yoga classes are for everyone - helping us deal with day to day stresses and tiredness and maintain a rested mind and body. Attending a restorative class will help you feel calm and deeply rested.

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Setu bhanda sarvangasana (bridge pose) supported on cross bolsters

Viparita Karani (inverted flow pose) legs at wall supported by two small bolsters

Iyengar yoga is very varied in its approach; incorporating at different times fast paced work, intensification of poses using props like ropes and chairs, long holds in poses and a detailed focus on alignment and precise use and positioning of muscles in poses, as well as deeper levels of practice with a more internal focus such as Pranayama.

Iyengar restorative yoga is a special type of class that uses carefully positioned yoga props to support the body in poses which can then be held without effort for longer periods of time to experience the physical and mental benefits of yoga poses at a deeper level.

Our restorative classes

In January we are starting a new mid-week restorative and introduction to Pranayama (yoga breathing) class on Wednesdays which will be a very peaceful class. We also run a regular Saturday afternoon restorative class. See our timetable and workshop pages for more information.

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What are the benefits of restorative yoga?

Restorative practices are based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar. They are very therapeutic; extension and expansion of the body broadens the diaphragm and oxygenated blood supply can bathe and purify the organic body (digestive, excretory, glandular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory and circulatory systems).  An improved circulation improves elimination of cell impurities according to Geeta Iyengar. 

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Once you become familiar with restorative sequences they become a touchstone in your life helping you cope in a quiet and soothing way with both day to day stresses and times of illness or tiredness.

A properly balanced yoga practice should include a regular restorative practice alongside more energetic practice.

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What is involved in a restorative yoga class?

A restorative yoga sequence typically involves only five or six poses, supported by props that allow you to completely relax and rest. Held for five minutes or more, restorative poses can include seated forward bends, supported supine poses, backbends, inversions and gentle twists. 

Pranayama involves learning the very subtle skill of yoga breathing which adds a deeper level of quietness to a restorative practice.

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At IYISL our restorative classes are taught by experienced teachers using our wide range of yoga props. The teachers are able to adjust and tailor the use of props to suit the flexibility and proportions of individuals, taking in considerations any difficulties or injuries. The correct alignment and support allows students to become quiet - withdrawing the senses of perception and moving towards an inner quietness which is the source of the restorative experience in these classes. 

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Class passes - for great value classes

class passes

If you buy annual membership at IYISL (just £35) you can buy our class passes to get great value classes.

There are two passes - the 8 class pass valid for 2 calendar months which is great for people doing 1 or 2 classes a week. We also offer a monthly pass valid for 1 calendar month which allows you to attend as many classes as you want in that month. Perfect if you are keen to improve your yoga practice.

We also offer a 4 class pass for beginners to yoga aimed at students who have done an introductory beginners class and want to attend our continuing beginner classes. These can be purchased without buying an annual membership.

See our fees page for more information and to buy your pass. IYISL fees.

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Latest news on opening

The official government opening date for studios like ours - running indoor classes - is currently 17th May. We look forward to opening up and welcoming you back on that date.

In the meantime we are continuing with our online classes. See our class timetable for more information.

A quiet and steady space

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Peaceful yoga at home

As Christmas and the end of the year approaches and things continue to change around us, it feels important to reflect on what we can take that is positive from this year and how we prepare for next year.

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Some years ago I read something that stayed with me. The image was of the ocean; the surface of the sea is dependent on the weather - sometimes calm, sometimes with a gentle swell and sometimes wild and stormy with high waves and wind. Deep down in the ocean there are currents and motion but there is a quiet steadiness. Yoga allows us to touch this deep and steady place whenever we need to and let the storms pass by.

Although for much of this year life hasn’t been as we are used to and lots of restrictions have been in place, for most of us there has been more time to focus on things like yoga. Practicing yoga will make you stronger and more flexible but more importantly it can give you an inner steadiness and resilience as well and the ability to focus on the immediate with a positive mindset.

With more time for practice and online classes, yoga has felt to me like a calming companion through the change and uncertainty of this year. At IYISL we will continue to teach yoga online and in person when we can. We hope you can join us and, as well as getting stronger and more flexible, you experience some of the much needed mental quiet that yoga can bring.

Long distance learners - reflections on online yoga classes

Our yoga teachers at IYISL are both teaching their classes online and attending online classes themselves. Here are some reflections from one of our teachers, Rebecca Rawsthorne, on the unexpected benefits of her online practice.

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‘ Here we are in circumstances unimaginable even six months ago. Who could have predicted that for public health reasons our normal yoga classes would close indefinitely? I think for many of us regular yoga students this would have been cause of great alarm, but almost seamlessly, the teaching of yoga has migrated to video conferencing platforms. 

Yoga is union, and here were are doing remote yoga; so remote union is that a contradiction in terms? As students of the Iyengar tradition, with our scrupulously vigilant teachers, and hands on adjustment when needed, it doesn't seem a natural fit. However, if judged by its popularity, it seems to prove the opposite. While Covid 19 has tragically stopped so much of human enterprise, yoga, delivered online is flourishing. 

As both a teacher and a student of yoga, I am not surprised that people feel the need to do yoga now. Firstly people are looking for ways to exercise with limited space and resources. If you have room for your yoga mat, you can attempt the majority of the poses, especially at introductory level, which through BKS Iyengar’s genius have been designed to work the muscles, joints, and internal organs systematically for optimum health. But perhaps it is the ability of yoga to quieten and focus the mind that is its draw. Anyone who has practised yoga has probably experienced how a mood can shift dramatically from the start of a practice to the end. A low mood can be uplifted, a restless mind can be made sharp.

But what of the quality of the class in this era of isolation? Glenys Shepherd who started our institute, often used to admonish people who remained loitering at the back during a demonstration "don't be a long distance learner".

 I have to admit I was skeptical as to how much I would benefit in a remote setting, but I have found that I have become fully absorbed from the first to final pose. There is something settling about doing the class in your own space, I realise how much energy I give to experiencing the other students around me. This can be great and in it's own way a unification, we share a joke, a smile, a group energy. But keeping your attention solely on your own practice reaps other rewards. Every day I feel like I am going a bit deeper and experiencing poses anew. 

So why not just practice at home on my own? At times I am finding myself very distracted, I think it is difficult to settle into doing something completely and effectively in the Covid context - whether it is working from home, trying to stay in touch with friends and family or home schooling - nothing feels quite as it should. For that reason I am really appreciating the experience of putting myself in the hands of another teacher. There is something of a relief in surrendering to their lesson plan and letting them guide my attention. 

I have also had the magical moment in a large online class when I thought to myself "ah, I got that then" and simultaneously heard the teacher say "better that time Rebecca" and then conversely when I realised I was drifting off into a compelling thought about shopping lists "do more Rebecca!".

I wonder if fourty odd days into isolation we might also be experiencing something akin to sensory deprivation, where life has become more minimal and subtler details are amplified. Such as the fullness I feel with an unexpected social interaction. The reduction of "noise" in our lives I suspect aids the absorption in our yoga practice. 

When all classes all around the world suddenly went online it was like the offering of a cornucopia. After considering the array of appetising options, and calculating time differences,  I have got into a routine of going to the teachers whose classes I would attend in the non Covid era. These classes are giving me the comfort of my normal routine and familiarity but most importantly keeping me in touch with a community which I hope soon to be back amongst. ‘

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Now live … Online classes - from our homes to yours!

* What are online yoga classes like?

As we all start to find a new pattern in our lives we have been exploring running yoga classes online. It works surprisingly well and is a fun way of doing a guided yoga class while feeling connected to other people. It really is a great way of bringing yoga into your home life for health and to lift your mood.

* Regular bookable classes available now 
The first free online classes we ran were very popular and people appreciated the chance to do yoga at home. We have now launched a regular timetable and you can book your place from the timetable page on our website. We have included two free classes in our timetable which we hope will help make classes available to people who are struggling financially.

* What you need to get started
You will need a computer/laptop/tablet and a yoga mat - with enough space around you to practice safely. All other props can be improvised; when BKS Iyengar first invented props he started using the things he found around him - real bricks, luggage straps ... even a bar of soap to open the chest in seated poses ... all inspired him to improve his practice. So we can follow suit! 

We will let you know the sort of props you might need to have to hand (or to creatively improvise) when you sign up for a class. 

You will also need to download Zoom conferencing app - although there is a strong possibility you are using it already! It is free and easy to download and use. More information will be sent to you if you are new to Zoom.

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Iyengar yoga workshops at IYISL in 2020

Iyengar yoga workshops, with senior Iyengar teachers who have studied directly with BKS Iyengar and the Iyengar family are not only a way of deepening your yoga practice and understanding - they are life affirming. A combination of study, hard work and fun!

These senior Iyengar yoga teachers are able to combine their own yoga practice and life experience with their respect for and understanding of the Iyengar yoga approach to deliver a wealth of teaching that really is inspiring.

Zubin Zarthoshtimanesh inspiring us to work with our yoga ropes

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The Iyengar Yoga Institute South London is an ideal space for Iyengar Yoga workshops - it is modelled on the Iyengar yoga mother institute in Pune and equipped with a wide range of yoga props. Workshops are a chance to use the props as BKS Iyengar intended to develop our understanding and intensify our yoga practice.

Our workshops are normally advertised on our website a few months before they run. Here is a list of workshops confirmed so far this year. If you are interested in booking early for a specific workshop this may be possible. Just email your request to info@iyisl.com.

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Jan 17,18,19 The very popular Zubin Zarthoshtimanesh is teaching a weekend workshop for us in January (now full). His workshops are always inspiring. We are hoping Zubin will be able to visit us again later this year.

Jan25 Feb22 Mar21 Sophie Carrington, a dedicated senior Iyengar yoga teacher with a very clear teaching approach is running a series of three monthly half day Saturday afternoon workshops. This will give experienced students and teachers a chance to explore intermediate level Iyengar yoga practice more deeply.

Easter Sunday and Monday 12,13 Apr June Whittaker is a senior teacher whose original training was in classical ballet and she brings the elegance and physical discipline to her teaching. She will be joining us from her base in Nice to teach a workshop for general level students.

Friday May 15 Alaric Newcombe is an insightful senior teacher who teaches mixing sharp observation with lots of humour. Based in North London, he will be heading south of the river (!) to teach a half day Friday afternoon ropes workshop aimed at general to intermediate level Iyengar yoga students.

Devki Desai inspiring a better Trikonasana

Eyal Shifroni making inventive use of yoga props

July 17,18,19 Eyal Shifroni is a senior teacher from Israel who is well known for his books that clearly explain the hugely varied use of yoga props developed by the Iyengar family. ‘A Chair for Yoga’ is the first of the series. Eyal is returning to IYISL to show us how to make creative use of our yoga props.

Sep 6 Mary Obendorfer & Eddy Marks, senior teachers from San Francisco, will be coming back to London to teach a one day workshop. Their workshops have been very popular and their shared teaching style mixes a deep level of study of Iyengar yoga with an approach to teaching that is both practical and caring.

Oct 11 Lynda Purvis is a senior teacher who first visited us to teach a development day for Iyengar yoga teachers. Lynda is returning to teach a workshop that will explore the use of yoga to help women in the hormonal changes of menstruation, pregnancy and menopause - based on the pioneering work of Geeta Iyengar.

New to Iyengar yoga ( or just new to yoga ) ?

Here are some tips to help with a five yoga related worries! 

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Yoga is something lots of people want to try – to improve their flexibility, to feel more relaxed or just because they are curious. Some come to Iyengar yoga because they have heard that they will be taught how to do the poses (Asana) and are keen to learn more.

Over the years we have had lots of questions from people who really want to start yoga but still feel uncertain about it. Here are the some tips to help with the most common worries people have.

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4. I’m a bit worried about my <back problem, knee pain, sore wrist> etc

You should always remind your teacher of any medical conditions or injuries you have at the beginning of any class. If your teacher is aware of your issues they may be able to incorporate poses into the class that will help improve the issue and they may ensure that you practice some poses in a modified way so as not to aggravate problems.

You should also take responsibility for your self. Generally if you feel a sharp pain in a pose (whether you have an injury or not), you should come out of the pose and let the teacher know. In Iyengar yoga the teachers are taught how to help you adjust and use props to help with issues you might have.

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5. What if I fall asleep in Savasana? 

This sort of question is about related to people’s worries about being embarrassed … being worse that everyone else, not being able to balance and so on. 

So yoga really isn’t a competition. You should try the best you can at that time but your experience is your own. Everyone will struggle with some things and find others easier.

Savasana (corpse pose) is the ‘relaxation’ pose at the end of class. If you have worked hard during the class, when you settle into this pose there can be a real sense of ‘letting go’ of physical and mental tension. Lying on the floor feels completely restful and there is a sense of peace. Sometimes, and it happens to all of us sometimes, you fall asleep. Although ideally you stay awake and aware of this peaceful feeling it really doesn’t matter to anyone if you do drift into sleep for a few moments.

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1. I’m quite stiff – maybe I’m just not flexible enough for yoga

In fact not being flexible is an excellent reason to start yoga! You are going to be practicing a whole range of poses that will improve your flexibility and also your muscle health and (there’s more!) make your organs, blood circulation and breathing all healthier!

In Iyengar yoga we talk about mobility and stability. Becoming mobile (rather than ‘fixed’) is something you will gradually work on in yoga and you will also learn how to hold poses in a stable way. It’s really a balancing of strength and flexibility – both are developed.

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2. I don’t know how to do any of the poses 

Go to your first class with an open mind, ready to learn. In an Iyengar yoga class you will be taught how to do the poses and it may feel challenging. You will be moving your body in ways you may have not moved it before and definitely learning something new.

 I remember the frustration of not being able to do poses early on and my teacher told me ‘you have to learn to love the process’. What she meant was that you may never achieve a perfect pose but, as I learnt gradually, the benefits for body and mind that are part of yoga come from ongoing practice with focused awareness (that’s the process). Being naturally ‘good’ at poses is not the thing that brings those yoga benefits.

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3. I really don’t think I will be any good at the poses

 See the answer to the question above … but also trust that if you practice you will improve. Be aware of where you start and appreciate the gradual improvement that comes with regular practice. To get started on this journey I recommend making a personal commitment to doing classes for a reasonable amount of time – say six weeks – giving a chance for improvements to start to happen in your body… and appreciate them. 

Absorbing Guruji's teaching - extracts from a blog by Eddy Marks

This year is the centenary year of BKS Iyengar's (Guruji's) birth which will be celebrated on 14 December 2018. During this year at IYISL we have been privileged to  host  a series of workshops that have been run by visiting senior Iyengar teachers all of whom were taught directly by Guruji himself. His teaching has profoundly touched and inspired all of them and they all reflect his approach in their own very individual ways. 

At the end of August we will host a workshop run by two senior teachers visiting from the U.S. - Eddy Marks and Mary Obendorfer.

Here is an extract from a blog by Eddy Marks where he reflects on how we might continue to absorb what BKS Iyengar taught.

" How will future generations that have never met the Iyengar family be accurately guided? How will Iyengar Yoga go forward without Guruji, and eventually without Geetaji, Prashantji and any of the teachers that actually knew him.

This is a subject I have been actively thinking about for a few decades when  it struck me that we would all need to prepare ourselves to continue on the path without the physical presence and moral/ethical strength of our teachers, and that we had better get prepared to stand on our own two feet, for that day was coming.

I remember the day it happened for me. It was 22 years since I first met Guruji and the end of my tenth trip to India in January 2006. It was the first time I left India without feeling like tearing up my certificate and packing it in. On that day, I knew I had finally learned enough to continue practicing on my own for the rest of my life. What was it that made the difference?

I had been aiming at understanding what is this yoga? What are its principles? How does a yogi live, behave, in class and out of class?

There were several practices that made a difference and I would like to share some of those.

1. Reflect on Guruji's life

Someone would come into the library and during the course of conversation would ask Guruji how many hours a day he practiced yoga. Guruji would sometimes say he was always practicing yoga. I was stunned. How could this be? He obviously didn’t mean he was doing Asana and Pranayama for 24 hours a day. What did he mean? For a long time I was baffled, but by watching him in and out of the yoga hall I slowly began to get a sense of what he meant. How does one write a letter, walk, eat, shower and sleep while practicing yoga? There is a wealth of material to reflect on Guruji's life in his book Iyengar His Life and Work as well as the films Guruji, Atma Darsana and Leap of Faith. Take your practice off the mat like Guruji did. It will fill your life with yoga.

2. Experiment

I asked Guruji how he first began to experiment in yoga. I wondered if he had some idea that guided him, but his answer was much simpler than that. He said, “I just tried thousands of things.” From thousands of variations he would catch the good and bad effects. Though most variations were unhealthy, a few had good effects. This was the beginning of the “points.” He would then put all the good points together and try them in various orders to see which order yielded the best effect. This was the beginning of “sequencing.” In this way, Guruji built up his knowledge. Today we start from the known (all the points Guruji gave us), but we miss something critical by not experimenting. We miss the experience of discovery. When we do what we know, we begin and end with what we already know. We do not cross the frontiers of our mind. When we experiment, we begin by not knowing and we watch intently to see what will happen next. From this not knowing springs new knowledge, understanding of cause and effect, freshness and the delightfulness of discovery. We go beyond the frontiers of the mind—we do yoga. Learn to experiment as Guruji did. It will light your path as it did his.

3. Understand the Principles

 Guruji said, “The points may change but the principles remain the same.” There are many points but few principles. As the number of points increases, memorizing them becomes difficult, and may lead to confusion when new seemingly contrary points are given. By understanding the principles you can derive the points, or by reverse engineering a point you can derive its principle, though the latter is more difficult. An example of a principle is “container and content.” In this principle, the content of the body has to touch everywhere evenly inside the skin of the body and nowhere should it touch more or less than any other place. Taking the top frontal thigh back in Tadasana, Sirsasana, and the rear leg of Utthita Trikonasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana is a point, which is an example of this principle. Learn the principles that are talked about in many of Guruji's videos and Yoga Rahasya articles. Endeavor to decipher the principles. They will simplify your life and bring clarity and meaning to your actions.

4. Study the Effects

Strive to achieve the effects Guruji wrote for each pose in Light On Yoga. If your Adho Mukha Svanasana isn’t “exhilarating” and if a longer stay in the pose doesn’t remove your fatigue (but causes it), then something is wrong with your pose. Try to understand what has gone wrong, and what you must do to improve it. Guruji is still pointing the way to us through the effects.

5. Look at the photos

Guruji said that after we had practiced yoga for some time, the photos from Light On Yoga would teach us more than the instructions. He suggested taking photos of our Asanas at exactly the same angle to compare each toe, instep, arch, etc etcera to his photos in Light On Yoga and Art of Yoga. Do you think that the arms in Dandasana and Vasisthasana are perpendicular to the floor? Do you think that the hips in Virabhadrasana II are parallel to the floor? Do you think that the foot which touches the floor in Vasisthasana touches on the outer edge of the foot? Better look again! Be aware that you may fall prey to the common tendency to simplify complex poses into straight lines, 90° angles and so forth. Look carefully—very carefully. The photos that are new in Art of Yoga supersede the photos from Light On Yoga. Look carefully at the new photos to find what changed from Light On Yoga. Practice these changes to understand what makes these poses better. Guruji is teaching us so many secrets in every pose if we will only look closely and compare.

6. Read the books

Very few people have read every book and article that Guruji has written. Fewer still are those that can say they have understood everything they read. There is still much to learn from Guruji. He is waiting for you to come hear what he has to say.

7. Watch the videos 

There are hundreds of hours of video that capture Guruji's dynamic and illuminating quality. Watch them for content but also watch them to see his speed, skill, compassion and wisdom. Ponder what you see. How did he get to be like that? He is showing us something with every act and gesture.

8. Exchange views

As well as the above individual practices, there are practices we can do as a community.

Guruji didn’t have anyone to exchange views with, but he has provided us with a rich community of practitioners with whom we can exchange views. Get together regularly and practice. You might be surprised and learn something from how other people practice. Ways of practicing that make perfect sense to you because you have a stiff body may make no sense at all to someone who has a flexible body. By exchanging views you will more easily pick out what is universal in yoga and what is merely idiosyncratic.

Lastly, Geetaji told us that before Guruji passed he said, “For those of you who are with me I will be with you watching you from up there.” Though it may be hard for some to believe, when Guruji left his body many felt his presence descend upon them. It is up to us to cultivate that connection and to receive his blessings and guidance in our lives. By coming close to his teachings we come close to him and become receptive to his grace and guidance. He is with us still.

In his light,

Eddy Marks."

In November 2014, Geetaji awarded Eddy Marks and his wife, Mary Obendorfer, the Junior Advanced 1 level of certification. Eddy and Mary travel extensively to
teach Iyengar Yoga to students throughout the U.S. and the world.

They live in Kalaheo, Hawaii.

Going deeper - developing your yoga practice

Recently we were lucky enough to have two days of inspirational yoga with Rajiv and Swati Chanchani. With many years of teaching Iyengar yoga in India, the Chachani’s are wonderfully adept at melding teaching of Asana with awareness of breathing and a wonderful range of images draw from their wide experience all combined to create insightful Yoga classes.

The Asana work we did with them involved posses that were held for longer periods of time so that we could become aware of our breathing in each pose and the effect it has on the mind and body. The Chanchani’s told us to think of the Asana as creating different types of landscape through which our breath flowed like water in ways that depended on the shapes the Asana created in our bodies.

They taught us poses with the meticulous precision associated with the Iyengar Yoga helping us to add a deeper layer and built our ability to observe in fine detail the flow of movement of our breathing.

They also talked about what it means to deepen your yoga practice.

Developing awareness

“Awareness must be like the rays of the sun: extending everywhere, illuminating all.”

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SRI B.K.S. IYENGAR

Iyengar Yoga starts with the Asana which are practiced in increasing detail in a way that helps develop our focus, concentration and awareness.  In a natural way this leads to the development of breath awareness in poses.  Moving deeper this leads to Pranayama, yogic breathing, as a natural continuation of the practice.

The two days of teaching with Rajiv and Swati left us with feeling that, whatever our starting point, whether starting to understand Asana or moving inward to incorporate an awareness of breathing or starting to practice Pranayama -  we should always aim to deepen our yoga practice.

 

 

Breathing - our essence

 We are all so busy, rushing around, we don’t allow ourselves time to be still. Pranayama can be thought of as a form of meditation and it give us the opportunity to bring stillness to our body and mind.

The benefits of a regular practice of meditation have been shown to include:

• Improvements in our emotional well being with reductions in feelings of anxiety, depression and stress
• Health improvements such as reduced blood pressure and increased energy levels
• Mental improvements such a improved ability to focus and improved memory

The Chanchani’s told the story of a deer they had seen in the forest near to where they live. The deer had been attacked by tigers and what remained was it’s head - with eyes wide open, untouched and beautiful. They said that, despite its beauty, with no breath its essence had gone.  This was a strong image to help us understand that our breath, which we usually pay so little attention to, is entwined with our essence and our life force.

Written by Anstey Bligh and Marion Sinclair

Yoga on and off the mat

I recently had a conversation over coffee with a friend who was concerned about the impact on her life and health of doing a busy and demanding job and balancing that with her family life.

I recommended yoga to her and she asked why? She was interested but wanted to know how it would benefit her.

It’s a good question. In my experience, the benefits of yoga and the work you put in on your yoga mat deeply and positively influence you, your home and working life off the mat.

People decide to try yoga for a whole range of reasons – to get more flexible, to develop the muscles that most other exercise doesn’t reach, to relax reduce stress and feel healthier, or out of curiosity … or maybe for a little of everything.

I have been doing yoga for a long time and liked it so much I trained as a teacher (as well as still doing my day job!). I thought it would be a good idea to answer the question by asking other people what they felt about their first experiences of yoga. These are some of their responses.

‘My most memorable experience of my first yoga class was standing with my feet together on a mat, raising my arms and stretching my hands and fingers up to stand up straight. I was 44 years old and I honestly couldn’t remember the last time I really experienced standing still, with my body stretched and straight. It was a simple but powerful moment for me. I stood tall!’

‘The first class I went to was a restorative class on a Saturday afternoon, I remember thinking how strange it all was with everyone looking zonked out in various poses using lots of bolsters and blankets  and belts over their eyes! I soon discovered how lovely the programme was. I remember the feeling of air in my lungs after chair Sarvangasana (shoulder stand) … wow.'

'In regular classes even when I found it difficult   I stuck with it because after every class I could feel a tiny change for the better. I love that yoga is a lifelong journey and I’ll never stop learning.’

Standing tall

Embodied

‘I enjoyed the yoga classes from the start. I liked following the teachers instructions (as well as I could) and feeling the response in my body. At the end of the class the teacher must have seen the happiness on my face and said isn’t it great when you find something you’ve been looking for. She was right!’

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The challenge

‘Finding time and willpower to keep going is difficult at first. I wasn’t particularly strong physically and it wasn’t easy for me but at the same time right from the beginning it made me feel better about myself. Gyms are all about results and vanity and while yoga gives results too (I am so much stronger and more flexible than I was) it does help you step out of that and question why you are so critical of yourself.’

My advice to is to just  make a start; commit to doing a yoga a class once a week for three months. Schedule a time in your diary and just go each week without thinking about it. Focus on learning with an open mind and see what happens for you.

The cartoons that capture the yoga feeling so perfectly are by artist and Iyengar Yoga student Divyam Chaya Bernstein.

https://divyamchayabernstein.wordpress.com/

Hugely popular taster Session

National Iyengar Yoga Day is a fantastic opportunity to get a taste of the practice and discover why we're all hooked. Despite the wintery weather, we opened our doors to dozens of newcomers who were curious to find out more about Iyengar Yoga.

A full house at the IYISL

I was delighted to meet so many fresh faces at our taster session on Saturday 14th January to mark National Iyengar Yoga Day. Every year, yoga centres across the UK and Ireland celebrate National Iyengar Yoga Day and offer free classes to their local communities. For all of us who teach and practice at the Iyengar Yoga Institute South London, it was a wonderful opportunity to start the new year as we mean to go on - introducing more people to the enjoyable and rewarding practice of Iyengar Yoga.

The morning started out rainy and cold so we wondered who would venture out to join us on a such a dreary winter's day. By 9am, our hall was at capacity with 28 students - a real range of ages and roughly half men, half women. We were really pleased to see this mix of new people. 

It was a lively and enjoyable class, which I like to think left everyone feeling energised and keen to come back for more. Hopefully, everyone got a feel for the variety that is Iyengar Yoga - varied pace with some poses taught slowly, in detail and with careful and considered use of props and other poses, to a slightly faster tempo. As ever, we ended the session with a peaceful set of restorative poses.

“It was a lively and enjoyable class, which left everyone energised and keen to come back”

Energising poses

It was great to receive so many thankful and positive comments. I'm fairly sure that we did a good job of introducing Iyengar Yoga to our newcomers and judging by how our classes are booking up, many are already hooked!

Thank you to our dedicated teachers and to everyone who took the trouble to join us on such a chilly Saturday morning. I look forward to practising Iyengar Yoga with you again very soon.

A fresh start for this hidden haven

Nestled amongst a thriving pot plant garden, in the midst of the clamour of the A2 traffic, there’s a corner of Deptford that invites us to search for an inner calm.

IYISL's secluded patio garden

In stark contrast to the bustling south east London neighbourhood, the Iyengar Yoga Institute of South London, focuses on the traditional values and teaching of Iyengar Yoga.

Yoga has been the sole focus of this building for the past 22 years and it was inaugurated by B.K.S. Iyengar himself on December 14th 1995. Prior to that, the building was the home of the small New Cross Building Society and the building, which dates from 1866, makes an ideal yoga space.

As London yoga centres go, its peacefulness is rare, but welcomed by its loyal students who dedicatedly visit the Institute each week to practise Iyengar yoga.

Iyengar is a form of Hatha yoga that places emphasis on detail, precision and alignment of posture (Asana) and breath control (Pranayama). Through the use of props - such as belts, blocks and blankets – and with highly-qualified teachers, students can focus on exploring and improving their ability to perform the Asana.

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As soon as you walk through the gate into the secluded patio garden, buffered from the traffic noise with the foliage and flowers from the dozens of potted plants, and in through the doors of this old building, you at once feel a sense of calm and tranquillity.

Don’t underestimate the value of a purpose-built space in getting the most out of yoga practice. The Iyengar Yoga Institute of South London is a dedicated space, which envelopes you with its stillness as soon as you enter. The props, so essential to Iyengar teaching, are ready and waiting in their correct places and its walls are adorned with inspirational pictures of B.K.S. Iyengar in the full range of asana.

The Institute’s community is friendly and grounded. They appreciate both the teaching and this unique space. Many students contribute their skills to help with the running of the Institute and students treat it as somewhere they care about, not just somewhere they go for a yoga class.

At the end of last year, Marion Sinclair took over management of the Institute and she has plans to enrich the programme, increasing and broadening the use of the Institute to make it a hub for Iyengar Yoga students and teachers in South London introducing new teachers, workshops and events.

For the current community of students and teachers who currently use this Deptford yoga centre, it is a well-kept secret. For those interested in yoga across south east London, it is a hidden gem that is worth discovering.

Natural light brightens the IYISL space

“As soon as you walk through the gate into the secluded patio garden... you at once feel a sense of calm and tranquility”

Autumn berries in the IYISL garden

Cyclamen's bring a splash of colour

Authenticity and why it’s important to my yoga teaching

Iyengar Yoga is a huge part of my life and I'm thrilled that my passion for this traditional practice has led me to take over the running of the IYISL.

Marion teaching at the IYISL

Glenys Shepherd, who had created and grown the Institute, decided to retire from managing the Institute after 22 years and hand it on to someone new. Although Glenys will no longer be running the Institute, her legacy will remain -  not least as Glenys will continue to be welcomed as a guest teacher. I have learnt much from Glenys over the years and I continue to be inspired by her approach and her passion, focus and the principled approach to Iyengar Yoga teaching. I too have utmost respect for the foundations of Iyengar Yoga and I am proud to teach under the auspices of the late B.K.S. Iyengar.

When I was invited to take over as manager of the Institute, I immediately started to think about what changes I might make to open it up to more students. A new website, a refreshed timetable, new faces to the teaching community, widening our appeal to a new audience?

After careful deliberation, all of these changes are in motion. Over the coming months, you’ll see new classes and a diverse range of teachers joining us at the Institute.

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Statues of Indian deities

I wanted to give the Institute a fresh start, but I also started to think more deeply about what makes it special as there are many things I don’t think should change.

If you join our community at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of South London, you’ll find that our yoga asks for focus, reflection and patience as well as plain hard work! Nothing will change in this respect because of the benefits that come from this type of practice.

Plaque marking Guruji's visit

At 90 minutes or longer, our classes are not at all your typical express exercise class, but I believe this time is necessary for focused learning and reflection. Our classes are challenging, but you won’t necessarily break a sweat. You will find a holistic experience for the body and mind. 

Beyond classes we are also a community of students and teachers that quietly support one another. Outside the focus of classes there is a friendly feel and a shared connection.

Authentic Iyengar Yoga is important to me and our style and approach to teaching will always stay true to the principles of Iyengar Yoga. I hope many new students will join our community to share our passion and appreciate the benefits of true Iyengar Yoga.