As 2014 starts and Yoga for Cyclists begins again this evening here is the second part of my Iyengar classifications and posture Dictionary document, moving up a level of difficulty from 6-10. 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. 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.
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”. B.K.S Iyengar on film:-
Noticeable Sequences. Found in clusters alongside postures in sequence in bold. The following with their difficulty rated before their abbreviated code. Iyengar groups these postures together in close similarity sequence- my own sequences also always contain the entry and exit from these groups in a class context. The film above shows Iyengar completing the E.P.S sequence.
Halasana Salamba Sarvangasana 3-11– H.S.S Shoulderstand
Salamba Sirsasana 4-12– S.S Headstand
New addition to the above 2 from my first Iyengar post is Eka Pada Sirsasana 10-11 E.P.S
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
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
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
I hope this shows the depth and vast potential of Yoga learning along the path,
