Читать книгу Yoga Therapy as a Whole-Person Approach to Health - Lee Majewski - Страница 16

“Yoga cures what need not be endured and endures what cannot be cured,” said B.K.S. Iyengar. The approach to therapy in Iyengar’s tradition is through the asanas and pranayama. The body, mind, breath, and emotions of an individual are closely integrated. A problem with one of these affects the other factors. So, through the body, we can also access and alter the condition of the breath, mind, and emotions.

The fundamental principle of yoga therapy in this system is to understand the alignment of the body, not only in the basic standing, sitting, and supine positions, but also in the range of asanas.

Iyengar created specific sequences of asanas for different conditions, which forms the basis of yoga therapy. Further individualized modifications are given depending on the age, health, and condition of the individual. “Asanas are not prescriptions or descriptions,” said B.K.S. Iyengar, “thus, it is not just what asanas are done but how they are done that is important.” This is the reason much emphasis is given in this system on precision and alignment in practice. For those who are unable to attain such precision, props or supports such as blankets, belts, pillows, chairs, bolsters, ropes, and other wooden props are used.