- B. K. S. Iyengar
Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar(
Kannada :ಬೆಳ್ಳೂರ್ ಕೃಷ್ಣಮಾಚಾರ್ ಸುಂದರರಾಜ ಐಯಂಗಾರ್), (also known as Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar) (BornDecember 14 1918 inBellur , Kolar District,Karnataka ,India ) is the founder ofIyengar Yoga . He is considered one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world Aubrey, Allison. "Light on life: B.K.S. Iyengar's Yoga insights". "Morning Edition: National Public Radio", November 10, 1995. [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4979052 (full text)] Accessed July 4, 2007] and has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 75 years. He has written many books on yogic practice and philosophy, and is best known for his books "Light on Yoga", "Light on Pranayama", and "Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali". He has also written several definitive yoga texts. Iyengar yoga centers are located throughout the world, and it is believed that millions of students practice Iyengar Yoga.Iyengar Yoga Resources (2006) [http://www.iyengar-yoga.com/bks/biography/ Yoga Resources] Accessed September 16, 2006]He was awarded the
Padma Shri in 1991, and thePadma Bhushan in 2002.Early years
B.K.S. Iyengar was born into a poor
Iyengar family. He had a difficult childhood. Iyengar's home village ofBelur ,Karnataka , India, was in the grips of the influenza pandemic at the time of his birth, leaving him sickly and weak. Iyengar's father died when he was 9 years old, and he continued to suffer from a variety of maladies in childhood, includingmalaria ,tuberculosis ,typhoid fever , and generalmalnutrition .At the age of 15 Iyengar went to live with his brother-in-law, the well-known yogi,
Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya inMysore . There, Iyengar began to learnasana practice, which steadily improved his health. Soon he overcame his childhood weaknesses.With the encouragement of Krishnamacharya, Iyengar moved to
Pune to teach yoga in 1937. There his practice developed as he spent many hours each day learning and experimenting in various techniques. As his methods improved, the number of students at his classes increased and his fame spread. In Pune, his brothers introduced him to Ramamani, whom he married in 1943.International recognition
In 1952, Iyengar met and befriended the famous violinist
Yehudi Menuhin . Menuhin arranged for Iyengar to teach abroad inLondon ,Switzerland ,Paris and elsewhere. This was the first time that many Westerners had been exposed to yoga, and the practice slowly became well known. The popularity of yoga in the West can in large part be attributed to Iyengar. [ [http://www.yogajournal.com/views/1843_1.cfm Yoga Journal - Yoga News & Trends - Light on Iyengar ] ]In 1966, "Light on Yoga," was published. It gradually became an international best-seller and was translated into 17 languages. Often called “the bible of yoga,” Fact|date=August 2007 it succeeded in making yoga well known throughout the globe. This was later followed by titles on pranayama and various aspects of yoga philosophy. Mr. Iyengar has authored 14 books. [http://www.iynaus.org/IyengarYoga/BKS/biography.aspx IyengarYoga NAUS] Accessed September 16, 2006]
In 1975, Iyengar opened the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, in memory of his departed wife. He officially retired from teaching in 1984, but continues to be active in the world of Iyengar Yoga, teaching special classes and writing books. Iyengar's daughter Geeta and son Prashant have gained international acclaim as teachers.
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