Yoga is both an intellectual system and a practical means to achieve a specific end: harmony of the being. Its theological and philosophical precursors come from the mantras, or hymns, of ancient Hindu writings in India. The Yogic tradition was passed on from father to son and teacher to pupil.

Yoga is a daily practice for those who use it. The yogi (one who follows the practice of yoga) is a practitioner, not a philosopher, theologist or psychologist. Yoga enthusiasts practice what they preach. Physical vigor and strength and mental exercise are the cornerstone of the yogic tradition.

Iyengar Yoga deals with the physical body and its control, health and wellbeing. It strives for perfect equilibrium among bodily functions, amoung the flow of the 'solar' and 'lunar' energies in the system. Of all the branches, Iyengar Yoga is the one best suited to our Western lifestyle.

The history of yoga is replete with a wide variety of postures, or asanas, the most famous being the lotus sitting position. Once in this, or any other posture, the yoga practitioner holds it for a certain length of time.

Pranayama is the concious control of prana, the intangible life of energy. Prana reaches us from many environmental sources: air, water, sunlight and food. The most abundant of these sources is the air we breathe. Hence breath regulation is the prime concern of pranayama. Like asanas, pranayama helps to calm the body and the mind.