Iyengar Yoga
This type of yoga focuses on precise alignment of the poses. Participants use “props” like blankets, straps, mats, blocks, and chairs to help achieve proper alignment. Unlike Ashtanga yoga, Iyengar yoga does not encourage a flow from one yoga posture to another. Instead, students work on each pose for several minutes, while trying to perfect alignment. Between poses students rest in child pose or a similarly relaxing yoga posture.
Iyengar yoga has systematized over 200 classical yoga Asanas and 14 different types of Pranayamas (with variations of many of them). These yoga poses have been structured and categorized to allow yoga beginners to safely progress from basic postures to more advanced postures as they gain flexibility, strength and focus.
Iyengar yoga is good for beginners, as it stresses safe body alignment and moves at a slower pace than other popular forms of yoga. Iyengar yoga lends itself well to a restorative yoga practice.
