The Essential Iyengar Yoga Dictionary

THE ESSENTIAL IYENGAR YOGA DICTIONARY REFERENCE OF CLASSIFICATION & POSTURE

B.K S. IYENGAR COMPILED BY JASON FALCONER

THE ESSENTIAL IYENGAR YOGA DICTIONARY REFERENCE OF CLASSIFICATION & POSTURE

B.K S. IYENGAR COMPILED BY JASON FALCONER DESIGN BY MARC LOHEZ

Iyengar, B.K.S. (1966) Light on Yoga.

Australia.George Allen & Unwin.

CONTENTS Foreword Grading The first 16 The next 16 The final 27

Foreword Here is my Iyengar classifications and posture Dictionary document, with credit to the Iyengar Yoga UK Schools, my teachers alive and dead. Readers of ‘Light on Yoga’ may find it interesting to see the whole book put into Iyengars perceived difficulty order. Iyengar developed this according to his own/ Indian ability, therefore placing some postures of great difficulty to westerners in a lower classification of his own, for example full lotus posture is only 4/ 60.

Sanskrit names are given first before one English translation. Postures are often known by different names in different teaching styles, however they largely descend from Mr Iyengars worldwide promotion of the science of Yoga descended from Sanskrit language. Interesting to note that the classification below was devised for general use and teaching by Iyengar when the science of yoga first came to the western world in 1960’s.

In recent years since late 1990’s the influence of Pattabhi Jois revitalised Astanga Vinyasa as the dominant form of teaching in the west, complementing the era’s propensity to demand dynamic faster aerobic exercise style classes. Many gym’s and other institutions predominant class structure is based around versions of ‘power’ or ‘dynamic’ yoga sometimes at the same time with the Bikram emphasis on heated rooms or studios. This tribute serves to supply students with reference to most of the postures they would come across, whilst teachers such as Dharma Mittra have supplied many many more postures, and some like Bikram Choudhury concentrated on only 28. This classification is further expanded in my book “Lexicon of Yoga” which gives the background meanings, in a three part explanation including Foundational words, Animal and Material things, and Hindu Mythology.

How to use this book This is a reference book for keen students and teachers. You may be at any stage of your Yoga practice, and find the ways Iyengar graded the posture dictionary of interest. As we become more adept at physical movement it becomes useful to know what the masters named our movements, this dictionary is written in tribute to them.

58. NATARAJASANA Complex king dancer var.

My Body Is My Temple And Asanas Are My Prayers

Grading Iyengars difficulty ratings, from 1- 60 Easiest to most difficult The purpose of this document is to elucidate Iyengars classification of every Yogasana and also match the Sanskrit to English to give us a ready reckoner of some 207 postures found in “Light On Yoga”. Sanskrit words are given first in Italics next to the most common English version.

Noticeable Sequences Several postures are found in clusters in ‘Light on Yoga’. Postures appear in sequence in bold. The following with their difficulty rated before their abbreviated code. Iyengar groups these postures together in close similarity sequence.

HALASANA SALAMBA SARVANGASANA 3-11- H.S.S SHOULDERSTAND SEQUENCE. SALAMBA SIRSASANA 4-12- S.S HEADSTAND SEQUENCE. EKA PADA SIRSASANA 10-11 E.P.S ONE LEGGED SEQUENCE Photos show me in Natarajasana 58, and Iyengar in the King Dancer, dedicated to Shiva, who is also the fountain and source of Yoga.

1. SAVASANA-CORPSE Tadasana/ samasthitih –mountain Siddahasana-accomplished Vrksasana-tree Virabhadrasana 2- warrior 2 Garudasana-eagle Salabasana-locust Chaturanga dandasana-four limbed plank Bhujangasana-cobra Urdhva Mukha Svanasana- upward facing dog Virasana-hero Simhasana 1-lion Purvottanasana-intense front stretch Karnapidasana-ear pressure H.S.S Urdhva Prasarita Padasana-extended upright feet Bharadvajasana 1- pose of the sage bharadvaja

2. UTKATASANA-FIERCE SEAT Ardha navasana-half boat Paripurna navasana-complete boat Dandasana- staff Gomukasana-cow face Supta Virasana-reclined hero Paryankasana-couch Salamba Sarvangasana 1, 2 , 3 - supported shoulder standing var. H.S.S Supta Konasana- reclined angle H.S.S Malasana-garland

3. UTTITHA TRIKONASANA- EXTENDED TRIANGLE Virabhadrasana- warrior var.1 Ustrasana- camel

Padangusthasana-big toe Baddha konasana- bound angle Ubhaya Padangusthasana- both big toes Salamba Sarvangasana- shoulder standing pose var. H.S.S Niralamba Sarvangasana- free shoulder standing pose H.S.S

4. UTTITHA PARSVAKONASANA-EXTENDED SIDE ANGLE Parvritta Parsvakonasana-revolved side angle Prasarita Padottasana var.-spread leg intense stretch Parighasana-gate Bhekasana- frog Halasana-plough H.S.S Makarasana- locust head hold Dhanurasana- Bow Parsva Dhanurasana- side bow Urdhva Padmasana in sarvangasana- inverted lotus in shoulder stand H.S.S Chakrasana-wheel Dwi hasta bhujasana-both arms hand balance Padmasana- lotus Sanmukhi mudra- closed mudra Parvatasana- seated mountain Tolasana- scale Salamba sirsasana 1 var.- supported headstand S.S Baddha hasta sirsasana- bound hand supported headstand S.S Parsva halasana- lateral plough H.S.S

5. PARIVRITTA TRIKONASANA-REVOLVED TRIANGLE Virabhadrasana- warrior var.3 Ardha chandrasana-half moon Adho Mukha svanasana- downward facing dog Matsyasana-fish

Maha mudra-closed bandhas Janu Sirsasana-head to knee (prep. for Paschimottasana-) Triang mukhasikapada Paschimottasana-one legged forward fold (prep. for Paschimottasana-whole back stretch) Marichyasana-sage twist (prep for Paschimottasana) Salamba sirsasana- var-supported headstand S.S Eka pada sarvangasana-one legged shoulder stand H.S.S Pindasana in sarvangasana-inverted embryo H.S.S Jathara parivartanasana-both legs turning Eka hasta bhujasana-one armed hand balance

6. PARSVOTTANASANA-INTENSE SIDE STRETCH Nakarasana-crocodile Pada hastasana-feet to hands Urdvha prasarita ekapadasana-upward extended one leg Nakrasana-jumping crocodile Lolasana-pendulum Tolasana- scales Simhasasna 2- lion expelling Kukkutasana-cock Yoga mudrasana-bound lotus fold Marichyasana 2- Var.(Prep for Paschimottasana-) Paschimottasana-intense back stretch Mukka hasta sirsasana-free hand headstand S.S Urdhva padmasana in sirsasana-inverted lotus S.S Parsvaika pada sarvangasana-one legged side shoulder stand H.S.S Baddha padmasana-bound lotus Yoga mudrasana- bound lotus prayer Mukta hasta sirsasana- free headstand S.S Pindasana in sirsasana-inverted embryo S.S

URDVHA DHANURASANA Upward bow

7. GARBHA PINDASANA-EMBRYO Parsva urdvha padmasana in sirsasana S.S Parsva urdvha padmasana in sarvangasana- side twisting lotus in shoulder stand H.S.S Urdvha dhanurasana-upward bow

8. UTTANASANA- INTENSE FORWARD FOLD Ardha baddha Padma paschimottasana- half lotus forward fold (prep. for Pasch) Urdhva Dandasana-inverted staff S.S Salamba sirsasana 2, 3 var.- supported headstand S.S Parsva sirsasana- revolved headstand S.S Parsva pindasana in sarvangasana-lateral embryo in shoulder stand H.S.S Malasana-garland Bhujapidasana-squeezed shoulder

9. ARDHA BADDHA PADMOTTANASANA- INTENSE HALF BOUND LOTUS (PREP PASCHIMOTTASANA-WHOLE BACK STRETCH) Upavista konasana- seated wide angle Parvritta Paschimottasana-revolved intense back stretch Parvritta Janu Sirsasana-revolved head to knee Parsva sarvangasana-side shoulder stand H.S.S Anantanasana-couch Uttana padasana-reclined face up Mayurasana-peacock Bakasana- crane Kakasana-crow

10. GORAKSASANA-COWHERD/ POSE OF THE SAGE GORAKSHA Urdvha Mukha paschimottasana 1-var. upward facing intense back stretch Urdvha Mukha paschimottasana 2-var. reclined upward facing intense back stretch Krounchasana- heron Parivrttaikapada sirsasana- revolved leg spread headstand S.S

Setu bandha sarvangasana-shoulder bridge H.S.S Marichiyasana 3 var.-sitting lateral twist Padma mayurasana-lotus peacock Hanasana-swan Adho mukha vrksasana-downward facing tree Viranchyasana 1- buddhasana in heron E.P.S

The next 16 As we move up a level of difficulty from 11-16 here I practice outdoors more now my focus turns to more dynamic sequencing, handstanding and Viparita Chakrasana style sessions. Theres a sychronicity between winter months indoors keeping the warmth going and when we can get outside and explore deeper more challenging postures, and Sun Salutations in the sun.. We are getting more diffiicult now, and the number of postures in each bracket reduce.

11. VATAYANASANA-HORSE FACE Akarna dhanurasana- archer Eka pada sirsasana- one legged headstand S.S Eka pada setu bandhasana-shoulder bridge one legged H.S.S Marichiyasana 4, var-sage

12. SUPTA VAJRASANA-RECLINED BOUND LOTUS Parsvaika pada sirsasana- side legged headstand S.S Pinca mayurasana-peacock feather Eka pada urdvha dhanuasana-one legged upward bow

13. ASTA VAKRASANA- CROOKED Supta padangusthasana-reclined foot to head

14. KURMASANA- TORTOISE Supta kurmasana- reclined tortoise Setu Bandhasana- supported bridge

15. VAMADEVASANA 1, 2 VAR.- POSE OF THE SAGE VAMADEVA Urdvha Dhanurasana 2-upward bow from standing Eka pada sirsasana-one leg behind head E.P.S Sayanasana-peacock feather on elbows Pasasana-noose

16. BHAIRAVASANA- FORMIDABLE SHIVA E.P.S Skandasana- pose of lord Skanda/ reclined eka pada sirsasana E.P.S Uttitha hasta padangusthasana- extended big toe Galavasana-galava Parsva bakasana-side crane Parsva kakasana-side crow Included in this list is the Viparita Chakrasana sequence, one of my favourite summer practices, always evokes how it feels as a child to have this amazing body, discovering physical possibilities and animating the spirit within. At the same time Mandalasana is a sequence I would like to perfect within this lifetime

BHAIRAVASANA Formidable Shiva

18. ARDHA MATSYENDRASANA 1 VAR.-HALF MATSYENDRA SPINAL TWIST Paripurna Matsyendrasana 2 var.- full matsyendra spinal twist Sukha Matsyendrasana var-easy matsyendra spinal twist Yoganidrasana- Yoga sleeping E.P.S Ruchikanasana-folding durvasana E.P.S Vasisthasana-side plank toe hold Urdvha kukkutasana-raised cock E.P.S =Eka Pada Sirsasana Sequence

19. YOGADANDASANA- YOGA STAFF Ardha Matsyendrasana 2 var.- half matsyendra twist Kala Bhairavasana-balancing formidable shiva E.P.S Kasyapasana- pose of the sage kasyapa Viranchyasana 1- buddhasana in lotus E.P.S

20. VISVAMITRASANA-POSE OF THE SAGE VISVAMITRA Chakorasana-partridge/ both hand balancing formidable shiva E.P.S

21. SUPTA BHEKASANA-RECLINED FROG Kapotasana-dove Durvasana-standing eka pada sirsasana E.P.S Eka pada galavasana- one legged galava

22. BUDDHASANA-BOUND SKANDASANA E.P.S Kapilasana- bound forward folding eka pada sirsasana E.P.S Tittibasana- firefly Ardha Matsyendrasana 3 var-half matsyendra twist Dwi pada koundinyasana-both legged koundinya

23. LAGHU VAJRASANA- GRACEFUL THUNDERBOLT

Eka pada koundinyasana var.-one legged koundinya

24. EKA PADA KOUNDINYASANA VAR.- REVERSE ONE LEGGED KOUNDINYA Dwi pada sirsasana-both legged upright yoga sleeping E.P.S Parsva kukkutasana-side cock Dwi pada viparita dandasana-both feet inverted arch

25. UTTANA PADMA MAYURASANA- LOTUS IN PEACOCK Eka pada bakasana var.2-one legged crane from headstand

26. EKA PADA BAKASANA- ONE LEGGED CRANE Viparita chakrasana in urdhva dhanurasana-reversed wheel somersault V.C Eka pada viparita dandasana 1- one legged inverted arch

27. MANDALASANA- CIRCLE

The final 27 These are the final 27 that are mainly in single figure status due to their difficulty.

This section is illustrated above by 58, the complex King Dancer, Natarajasana. We see lots of versions of this balancing backbend, whilst the lower half will likely be similar, Iyengars arm use differs from all others.

Grounding down through the supporting leg, we are challenged with the wobble that comes from standing on one leg. Even postures this advanced require centerdness, before we go to the backbend and closing the circle linking hand and foot, pivot from the centre, establish that rootedness first and watch as you move into it. Iyengar reaches down inside the reversed leg, then lifting rotates the shoulder joint outwards in a different way to anyone else who will teach an easy clasp of the top of the foot. When Im asked about these balances theres one analogy I can relate that makes sense to me. Coming into perfect balance is like when you focus an SLR camera, just as that complete steadiness reaches all the limbs of the body and the view is clarity, is like turning a lens, focusing absolutely perfectly on the subject. If youve ever used an SLR you will get this.

If you’ve read this far, - do find a copy of ‘Light on Yoga’ to study, it will never let you down or stop challenging you.

After 20 years practising Yoga my enthusiasm for the science never wanes, being able to get outside and practice is a joy at this time of year.

28. EKA PADA RAJAKAPOTASANA- KING PIGEON VAR Eka pada viparita dandasana-one legged inverted staff 29. EKA PADA VIPARITA DANDASANA 2- ONE LEGGED INVERTED ARCH 30. EKA PADA RAJAKAPOTASANA- KING PIGEON VAR. 31. CHAKRA BANDHASANA- BOUND WHEEL POSE. 32. MULABANDHASANA- ROOT LOCK Ardha vrschikasana-half scorpion Vrschikasana- scorpion

32. VRSCHIKASANA Scorpion

33. ADHO MUKHA VRSCHIKASANA- SCORPIONS VAR. 36. HANUMANASANA-SPLITS POSE OF LORD HANUMAN VAR. 37. BHUJANGASANA- COBRA VAR. 38. RAJAKAPOTASANA- KING PIGEON SAMAKONASANA- EVEN ANGLE SPLIT Paripurna matsyendrasana- complete matsyendra twist 39. SUPTA TRIVIKRAMASANA- RECLINED SPLITS Kandasana –root 40. EKA PADA RAJAKAPOTASANA 4- KING PIGEON IN SPLITS 43. KAPINJALASANA-RAINDROP DRINKING BIRD POSE Padangusta Dhanurasana-bow var.

44. GHERANDASANA 1- POSE OF GHERANDA VAR. 45. VALAKHILYASANA-POSE OF HEAVENLY SPIRITS 46. GHERANDASANA 2-POSE OF GHERANDA VAR. 52. SIRSA PADASANA-INVERTED LOTUS 56. GANDA BHERUNDASANA-BIRD VAR. 58. VIPARITA SALABASANA-INVERTED LOCUST POSE Natarajasana- complex king dancer var.

60. TIRIENG MUKHOTTANANSANA/ PURNA CHAKRASANA-FULL WHEEL POSE