Benefits

In practice, Iyengar yoga is said to focus on the following three aspects:
 

• Correct body alignment - to avoid injury or adverse pain when practising correctly

• Strengthening, toning and relaxing muscles – to be able to support the postures and improve the body

• The use of props (blankets, belts and foam blocks) to assist the body into the correct positions, allowing for different levels of strength, fitness and mobility.

Further benefits I have experienced are:
 

• Stronger muscles, tendons and joints

• Improved body tone and suppleness

• Addresses many symptoms of stress, such as stiff necks, lower backache and insomnia

• Improved concentration, and

• Vitality

Iyengar yoga is not gymnastics and doesn’t involve listening to music. The reward of better relaxation (usually following the class) comes from having stretched the body in a sustained way. Breathing exercises or ‘pranayama’ is only introduced after several years practice, so as not to cause physical or mental harm.