December 14, 2008, marked the 90th birthday of Yogacharya Bellur Krishnamacharya Sundararaja Iyengar (BKS Iyengar). He began yoga practice under his renowned uncle, the yogi Krisnamacharya, in 1934. Even today, at 93 years of age, he continues to practice several hours daily. Although officially retired, he continues to give selflessly and freely of what he has gained through practice to his students.
BKS Iyengar’s innovations in practice and teaching have defined yoga worldwide in the latter half of the twentieth century.
- Through his poetic and deeply sensitive teaching, Mr. Iyengar validated the practice of yoga asana - through which all the limbs of Patanjali's astanga yoga, and even the principles of Vedanta could be accessed.
- He introduced props such as sticky mats, bricks and chairs to make learning accessible to all.
- He redefined medical yoga, achieving results beyond the grasp of physicians through a combination of Eastern and Western principles.
He has become a philanthropist, donating a grade school, an ambulance and a yoga school, along with an endowment to his rural village of Bellur. For information, see www.bksiyengar.com.
Of his many honors and awards, one of the most well known was his inclusion in 2004 by Time Magazine in its 100 Most Influential People: Heroes & Icons.