B.K.S. Iyengar
B.K.S. Iyengar (बी.के.एस. अयंगर) — “the master of yoga” — was an Indian yoga teacher and founder of the Iyengar Yoga method. He is one of the most influential figures in the global dissemination of Hatha Yoga.
Life and mission
Born Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar in Bellur, Kolar district, Karnataka, Iyengar suffered from malaria, typhoid, and tuberculosis as a child. At age 15, he began studying yoga under his brother-in-law T. Krishnamacharya in Mysore, which transformed his health and set him on his life’s mission.
He moved to Pune in 1937 and began teaching yoga, eventually developing a distinctive method emphasizing precision, alignment, and the use of props. His mission was to make the profound benefits of yoga accessible to people of all ages and physical conditions.
Philosophical contributions
Iyengar’s method, known as Iyengar Yoga, is characterized by:
- Precision and alignment in every posture
- Use of props (blocks, straps, blankets) to make postures accessible
- Sequencing of postures for therapeutic benefit
- Duration of postures for deep physiological and psychological effects
He emphasized that yoga is not merely physical exercise but a complete science of body, mind, and spirit. His teaching integrated the eight limbs of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras into practical instruction.
Literary works
Iyengar’s writings are authoritative texts in the yoga world:
- Light on Yoga (1966) — the “bible of modern yoga,” describing over 200 postures with detailed instructions and photographs
- Light on Prāṇāyāma — comprehensive guide to breathing practices
- Light on the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali — commentary on the foundational yoga text
- Light on Life — reflections on the philosophy and practice of yoga
- Yoga: The Path to Holistic Health — integrating yoga with health and healing
Influence
Iyengar taught thousands of students from around the world, including many who became influential teachers themselves. The Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, named after his wife, remains the global center of Iyengar Yoga.
There are now Iyengar Yoga institutes and certified teachers in over 70 countries. His method is one of the most widely practiced forms of yoga in the world. The Indian government honoured him with the Padma Shri (1991), Padma Bhushan (2002), and Padma Vibhushan (2014), and Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2004.
Contemporary relevance
Iyengar’s emphasis on therapeutic applications of yoga has influenced modern yoga therapy and integrative medicine. His prop-based approach has made yoga accessible to populations previously excluded from practice, including the elderly, injured, and those with chronic conditions.
Verification notes
- Birth/death dates are from the Iyengar Yoga global directory and biographical sources.
- The founding of RIMYI is documented in institute records.
- The publication dates and content of major works are confirmed against publisher records.
- His relationship with T. Krishnamacharya is well-documented in yoga historical sources.
- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).