Have you ever wondered why yoga poses are called Trikonasana instead of Triangle Pose? Explore the history of Sanskrit in yoga, why Iyengar Yoga continues to use it, and how it can enrich your practice.

Tadasana may look simple, but it can reveal a great deal. This reflection explores how Iyengar Yoga uses alignment not as an end in itself, but as a pathway into awareness, embodiment, and the intelligence of the body.

Explore what makes yoga more than exercise through the lens of Iyengar Yoga, the yamas and niyamas, and the connection between practice on the mat and daily life.

Is yoga supposed to feel relaxing? Not always. This reflection explores the balance between effort and ease, the difference between helpful discomfort and harmful strain, and why perfection in asana is less about achieving a shape and more about practicing with intelligence, awareness, and honesty.

Very early in my practice, I noticed that my right side seemed more capable. In standing poses like Utthita Trikonasana and Utthita Parsvakonasana, I could lengthen more clearly to the right. My trunk felt more spacious. My palm would land lower.

As many of you know, I’m spending this month in Pune at RIMYI, immersed in study and practice.

It is a rare gift to be a full-time student again. To wake up and know that my primary responsibility for the day is to pay attention. To practice. To listen. To learn.

Some days, the mat teaches you something you didn’t plan to learn.

I remember a time I planned to work on backbends. Strong ones. Uplifting ones. I had envisioned a practice that opens the chest, lifts the mood, and would ultimately send me back into the world taking up my rightful space.

A while ago, I looked at a photo from my practice and was startled to see how clearly my scoliosis showed itself. The asymmetry was undeniable — and I’ll admit, my first reaction was a mix of shock and fear. Even after years of improvement, that old worry surfaced: What if I’m slipping backward? What if I undo all the healing I’ve worked so hard for?

At first glance, Iyengar Yoga might look anything but autonomous. With its emphasis on props, detailed instructions, and precise alignment, it can appear like a method that leaves little room for personal choice.

Debilitating lower back pain is what led me to Iyengar Yoga. For a decade, I tried everything from physiotherapy to surgery, and still felt like I wasn’t able to access the root of the issue. It wasn’t until I stepped into my first Iyengar Yoga class that something shifted—literally and figuratively.