ASD Ahimsa Yoga

13/06/2026

13/06/2026

Sarvangasana is not just an inversion.
It is the pose that gathers the whole practice back into stillness.

In Salamba Sarvangasana — Supported Shoulderstand — the body turns upside down, but the practice becomes more grounded.

The legs rise.
The chest lifts.
The hands support the back.
The gaze stays quietly toward the chest.

But the most important part is this:
The neck is not meant to carry the pose.

In the Iyengar method, the blankets are not optional. They create the support that protects the cervical spine, allowing the shoulders and upper arms to bear the weight safely.

This is why Sarvangasana is not taught casually.
It is prepared for.
It is built progressively.
It is learned with guidance.

B.K.S. Iyengar called Sarvangasana the Mother of Asanas — not because it is easy, but because it nourishes and sustains the whole practice.

After standing poses, forward bends, and backbends, Sarvangasana brings the practitioner toward quietness.

Effort begins to settle.
The breath becomes steadier.
The mind becomes less scattered.

A good Shoulderstand is not measured by how long you stay.
It is measured by lift, support, clarity, and safety.

Never turn the head in Sarvangasana.
Never place weight on the neck.
And if you are learning, learn with a qualified teacher.

Support is not weakness.
Support is what allows stillness to last.

💬 Have you experienced how Sarvangasana changes the feeling of your whole practice?

Share your reflection below.

13/06/2026

The same pose can teach three different lessons.
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana — Supported Bridge — may look like one simple shape.

Shoulders and head rest on the floor.
Pelvis lifts.
Chest opens.
Spine arches passively.

But in Iyengar Yoga, the prop is not just “support.”
It changes what the body learns.

🌿 1. Brick under the sacrum
Small, firm, precise.

The brick gives a clear point of contact. The pelvis cannot sink. The lower back lengthens, and the lift becomes honest. This teaches pelvic awareness and the action of the backbend.

🌿2. Cross-bolster under the sacrum
Wide, soft, surrendering.

The support spreads across the pelvis. The collarbones widen, the shoulders release, and the chest opens more broadly. This variation becomes restorative — useful after long hours at a desk or for evening practice.

🌿 3. Long bolster along the spine
Full-spine support.

The spine follows the bolster from the sacrum to the back of the head. The arch becomes gentle and even, the chest lifts upward, and the front body opens from p***s to chin.

The asana does not change.
Your relationship to it does.

✨ That is the intelligence of the Iyengar prop system.

📌 Join class and learn how to use props with clarity, safety, and intelligence.
💬 Which variation have you tried — brick, cross-bolster, or long bolster? What did you notice?

12/06/2026

The backbend doesn’t begin in the back.
It begins where the shins meet the earth.

In Ustrasana, many students rush toward the shape — head back, hips forward, chest thrown open.
But when the base is not clear, the lower back often takes the strain.

In Iyengar Yoga, we first observe:
The shins press down.
The thighs stay vertical.
The tailbone lengthens toward the knees.
The chest lifts before the spine arches.

This is what changes the pose.
Not more force.
More intelligence.

Ustrasana teaches us that a backbend is not about how far you can go. It is about whether the body is organised from the foundation.

At BKS Iyengar Yogashala, we teach backbends progressively — with preparation, props, timing, and careful observation.

Come and practise with us.

💬 What do you notice first in Ustrasana — the thighs, the chest, or the lower back?

12/06/2026

Throw Back!




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12/06/2026

Torna l’estate, torna L’Eden d’estate! 🌙 Dal 12 giugno al 6 settembre 2026, il cinema all’aperto del Nuovo Eden vi aspetta nel suggestivo Parco delle sculture - Viridarium, all’interno del Museo di Santa Giulia. Un’intera stagione di cinema sotto le stelle, nel cuore di Brescia.

11/06/2026

"In this pose the hamstring and abductor muscles are fully developed, while blood is made to flow to the trunk and the head. People who cannot do Sirsasana can benefit from this pose, which increases digestive powers."

―B.K.S. Iyengar, Light on Yoga

Prasarita Padottanasana (wide-legged forward bend)

Pune Cycle week 2: Forward Extension
We hope you enjoy the benefits of forward extensions this week 🙏

Please practice safely. Seek guidance from a certified yoga teacher if you are unfamiliar with a pose

11/06/2026

Yoga for Neck & Shoulders

We have a few places left on our Workshop with Korinna Pilafidis-Williams this Sunday.

Discover how certain asanas can help alleviate pain and stiffness in your neck and shoulders, allowing you to practice these poses wherever you are.

Yoga for Neck & Shoulders
With Korinna Pilafidis-Williams
Sunday 14 June 11.15 - 1.45 PM

•Suitable for students with 1+ years regular Iyengar yoga practice

•Studio workshop

•Trainee teachers and mentees are welcome to take part and observe adjustments

iyengaryogalondon.co.uk