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Iyengar Yoga: The Hot Ticket at Stillwater Yoga Studio

American Fitness, May, 1999 by Raymond Horwitz

For more than five years, the Stillwater Yoga Studio in Atlanta, Georgia, has catered to a wide range of clientele. Featuring classes every day of the week, Stillwater can accommodate most schedules, ages and ability levels. The facility features changing rooms, a library and store and is also fully equipped with mats, blankets, straps and wall ropes.

Stillwater offers several levels of classes in Iyengar yoga, a form of yoga known for its precision and alignment. It emphasizes a balance between strength and flexibility, endurance and the development of self-awareness. There are poses known as "Asanas," which are designed to work on all systems of the body (e.g., immune, cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, neurological, hormonal, etc.) to re-establish balance and harmony.

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Iyengar yoga was created by Bellur Krishnamachar Sundara Raja Iyengar, who was born on December 14, 1918, and began teaching yoga at the age of 16. After years of experience and an undeniable devotion to yoga, Iyengar created a practice that is now accessible to nearly everyone--the young, elderly and disabled.

Traditionally, the eight "angas" (stages) of yoga were viewed by scholars as sequential stages of development. Contrary to this traditional view, Iyengar found the eight angas were interdependent. Combining the angas guided him in the creation of what became known as Iyengar yoga. Iyengar, his son, Prashant, and daughter, Greeta, now reside in Pune, India, where they teach Iyengar yoga to students from around the world.

The different levels of Iyengar yoga offered at Stillwater include:

* Level 1: Introduction to Iyengar yoga and the fundamentals of alignment. Emphasis is given to the standing poses.

* Level 2: Intended for those ready to begin inversions, twistings and forward sitting bends.

* Level 2-3: Students must be able to perform handstands, headstands and shoulder stands.

* Level 3: This level can be practiced only with a teacher's permission.

* Vinyasa: This very rigorous, flowing Iyengar yoga practice will make you sweat and have fun. However, prior knowledge of alignment is required.

"The main focus of these classes is alignment and balance of the body," says Caren West, media representative for Stillwater Yoga Studio. "We have a lot of athletes who, for instance, run in marathons and now have knee and back problems. Whether they're young or old, these people can reap the benefits of this gentle exercise form." In fact, participants get both a physical workout and spiritual practice at the same time. According to Mr. Iyengar, "The body cannot be separated from the mind, nor can the mind be separated from the soul."

With a rough average of 20 people per class, one instructor oversees the students. "On a good day, we have upwards of 40 participants," according to West. "These classes feature different instructors, so a variety of focus topics are available. In fact, our instructors often take each other's classes." For example, Stillwater instructor Gary Bonnell specializes in meditation. Lynda Gill, a certified yoga instructor who has studied with many senior Iyengar teachers, is also a licensed massage therapist and former adjunct faculty member of Atlanta School of Massage. Instructor Steve Jacobsen combines his expertise in philosophy with yoga instruction, resulting in classes filled with compassion, humor and a sense of exploration.

These cross-discipline combinations contribute to the comprehensive nature of Iyengar training. The classes are active, developing strength and endurance. Flexibility is gained by practicing the different positions, especially the standing poses. Considered to be the fundamental groundwork for Iyengar yoga, the standing poses teach the basics of twisting, inversions, forward bends and backbends.

"At the top is our director, Kathleen Pringle," West says. "She's been studying Iyengar yoga for 15 years and is one of only 390 certified Iyengar yoga instructors in the United States. In fact, she's one of only 67 other instructors in the country awarded with an intermediate level of certification." According to West, Pringle also offers apprenticeship programs for teachers wanting to become certified and is available for private classes and workshops. "It's harder to get certified in Iyengar than in most other yoga forms," West says. "You need to teach for a number of years before being eligible to apply for certification. Other systems offer certifications after a very short time with few or no eligibility requirements."

However, Stillwater Yoga Studio's Iyengar program aspires to take yoga training to the next level--carefully and comprehensively. "There's something for everyone," West says. "Our store and library feature books, videos and other study materials. We also offer intensive workshops taught by yoga authorities from India. In fact, every so often we hold free classes so people can be exposed to what we do firsthand."

For more information on the Stillwater Yoga Studio, call (404) 874-7813, visit their Web site at www.stillyoga.com or contact 360 [degrees] Media at (404) 577-8686.

Iyengar Yoga: The Hot Ticket at Stillwater Yoga Studio

American Fitness, May, 1999 by Raymond Horwitz

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