Asana Practice with Sri BNS Iyengar
These are some core ideas from Guruji BNS’s asana classes taken directly from a class he taught a few years ago.
Namaskāra. I welcome you all with respect and gratitude. You have come here seeking knowledge, and for that I offer my salutations. It is a noble pursuit to seek the deeper meaning behind yoga. I invite you not only to listen but to experience.
Asana is the fundamental basis, the capital of all divine exercises. The body is a vessel. It must be purified to hold higher knowledge. Just as a cloth must be washed with water, soap, and solution, our body must be cleansed through movement, breath, and discipline. Without purification, divine wisdom cannot be retained.
Asana is not merely posture. It is a sacred practice rooted in four principles: count, sight, posture, and breath. When these come together, you are not just moving—you are transforming. You are preparing this body to go from iron to gold, and eventually to light.
We begin with Sūrya Namaskāra. This is not a religious ritual. It is a universal salutation to the light, to awareness, to the source of life. Ten movements, ten breaths, ten positions. Ten is a complete number. One is man, zero is God. Together, ten signifies union. The odd counts are for inhalation, the even counts for exhalation. Every movement, every breath must be done with full awareness.
Asana is a divine exercise. All other forms of exercise are physical. Only when it is connected with God does it become yoga. This is why we begin with symmetry—the body must become equal. Left and right, upper and lower—balance must be established. This is magnetism. A magnetized body is a purified vessel.
Asana is not only movement; it is also expression. Utkāṭāsana means you are eager to reach God. Vīrabhadrāsana is the guardian at the threshold. Each asana carries a philosophy, a devotion, a divine purpose. These are not just exercises—they are declarations of your inner journey.
Now let us speak of prāṇāyāma. Breathing must come from the navel. This is yogic breathing. Breathing from the chest supports ordinary life. Breathing from the navel supports the life of the soul. One who breathes from the heart dies. One who breathes from the navel conquers death. This is not shared with the public; it is sacred knowledge. But you have come sincerely, so I tell you.
Breath is the food of yogis. If your breath is short, your life is short. Long breath, long life. Deep breath, divine life. Yogic breathing purifies the body and magnetizes the soul. Practice it with care and reverence.
This path is not easy. You must become not just a performer of asanas, but a master of the body, breath, and mind. You must understand the structure of the body, the purpose of the breath, and the connection between man and the divine.
Take rest now. But remember, obedience is the first and most important quality of an aspirant. If you want to become a universal master, you must learn not only postures but also the scriptures, the breath, the elements, and the purpose behind every movement. This is not just yoga. This is soul education.
Om śāntiḥ, śāntiḥ, śāntiḥ.
If this sort of approach to asana practice is interesting to you, consider studying live with the old master! Guruji BNS Iyengar teaches regular classes at Mysore Mandala in Gokulam, Mysore.
Our 200hr Ashtanga Immersion in Mysore will feature Guruji BNS Iyengar in January 2026, and Guruji BNS always gives one of his outstanding lectures in Mysore Yoga Conference each year. He is one of the last of his generation and a link to an ancient mystical world that is rare and precious. We all consider ourselves lucky to have studied with this great saint. His thinking shaped our lives to a great extent. He is actually the person behind the entire Mysore Yoga Traditions project. We are eternally grateful to Guruji BNS for his insight, deep love of spiritual practice and the kindness he has shown all of us over the years. He can be very stern at times, but his sparkling smile soon returns. He is authenticity itself, through and through.
Joey Paz will be doing a 100hr training with Guruji BNS September 15-27, 2025 in celebration of his 99th birthday.
200hr Ashtanga Immersion in Mysore India Jan. 12 - Feb. 8 2026
