Weekly Yoga Classes

Yoga Class Levels

Yoga Basics: Fundamental postures will be introduced. Designed for beginners, or students new to Iyengar Yoga.

Open Yoga: Basic asanas are refined and students are introduced to inversions (sarvangasana and halasana), and a greater variety of poses. Beginners are welcome in this mixed level class.

Open Experienced: For students who are well acquainted with the basic asanas and are ready to move beyond the basics.

Tier 1 Yoga: For Students who are well practiced in standing poses, who practice 4 min sirsasana (headstand) and sarvangasana (shoulderstand) with variations. Full arm balance and backbends are introduced in these classes.

Tier 2 Yoga: Sirsasana variations and intermediate postures are introduced in these classes.

Tier 3 Yoga: For long time practitioners of yoga who have made a commitment to understanding Iyengar Yoga and have an established home practice. (By Permission Only)

Yoga Special Topics

Back Care Yoga Clinic: For students with back issues such as,generalized back pain, disc problems, scoliosis, or sacroiliac joint pain. Visit madisonbackcareyoga.com for more information.

Chair Yoga: Learn how to adapt traditional yoga postures to a chair. Perfect for seniors.

Early Bird Yoga: Early morning yoga classes.

Gentle Yoga - Ageless Yoga: Learn to move with greater ease and reap the benefits of yoga even with minimal flexibility.

Men’s Yoga: A yoga class designed to help men work on flexibility and stress reduction.

Plus Size Yoga: A welcoming yoga class for any person with a larger body.

Prenatal Yoga/Postnatal Yoga: Learn yoga postures that can be safely practiced during and after pregnancy visit madisonprenatalyoga.com for more information.

Restorative Yoga: Relax and renew with supported yoga postures.

Iyengar Yoga at Studio Yoga

What is Iyengar Yoga?

The yoga instruction at Studio Yoga is based on the teachings of B.K.S. Iyengar, author of Light on Yogaand Light on Pranayama, and other titles*. His system is unique among yoga systems due to his integration of traditional yogic concepts with modern knowledge of the body and basic principles of movement.

Mr. Iyengar follows the traditional eight-fold path of ashtanga yoga: yama & niyama (moral and ethical principles), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing awareness and energy manipulation), dharana (concentration), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (self-realization, enlightenment). The eight-fold path is the safest path of yoga, never taking you beyond what you are ready for at any given time.

Within the eight-fold path, Mr. Iyengar has greatly developed the art and science of asana and pranayama. His system emphasizes precise and careful body alignment, maximum spinal extension, and the balanced development of muscular flexibility, strength and stamina.

In the Iyengar system, the principles of good body mechanics are never compromised. A student of Iyengar Yoga can be recognized not only by his or her alert, focused demeanor, but also by the way their movements are centered in the pelvis.

In order for all students (no matter what level of experience) to derive the benefits of each pose without compromise, Mr. Iyengar has developed and cultivated the use of yoga "props". These are backbenders and forward benders, sandbags, ropes, and benches - in addition to common items such as walls, chairs, blankets, ties and pillows. These props are especially valuable in poses for specific concerns such as high blood pressure, heart problems, arthritis, asthma, pregnancy, premenstrual tension, and other challenges – physical, mental and emotional.

For information on classes, or to discuss your specific needs, please call 973-966-5311.

For a complete selection of B.K.S. Iyengar’s work, click here for our store’s web-site, Tools for Yoga.

For more general information about B.K.S. Iyengar, click here for the official Iyengar web site.