Iyengar Yoga Institute South London

This Sunday (10 May) Richard Ward is teaching a workshop at IYISL linking Asana, Pranayama and Yoga philosophy.

Richard will be exploring Patanjali's Yamas and Niyamas and how they relate to our practise of Pranayama and Asana, as well as how they fit into traditional Yoga philosophy.

It is aimed at Iyengar yoga students who have been attending regular classes for more than a year and who would like to understand more about the application of Yoga philosophy to Yoga practice.

See our website for more information -

A pranayama and asana workshop with Richard Ward — IYISL This workshop with Richard Ward will include a pranayama practice followed by an asana class which will link to the work done in the pranayama class. He will be looking at Patanjali's Yamas and Niyamas and how they relate to our practise of Pranayama and Asana, as well as how they fit into traditio

The benefits of Iyengar Yoga for women's health issues are well known. Less well known are poses that are beneficial for men's health issues are less well known but equally important.

We are running a men's health day on the 29 March that focuses on a series of poses that help maintain the health of the male reproductive system.

See our website for more informationhttps://www.iyisl.com/workshops/2026/12/14/menshealth

Coming next Sunday 1 March...

Beginners backbends - a yoga day for beginners and general level students with Glenys Shepherd

This yoga day with Glenys Shepherd will focus on safe and effective preparation of beginner and general level students for backbends. These important and beneficial poses can seem challenging to yoga students and this yoga day will help students practice beginner backbends with confidence.

In Yoga a Gem for Women Geeta Iyengar talks about the overall effects of backbends:“ Our daily tasks often involve forward-bending movements. These stretch the posterior side of the spine. Rarely do we bend the other way. [Backbending asanas] stretch the spinal column in a concave movement and are very important, as the anterior spine extends in backbends making the blood extend more freely. The opening of the chest in these particular poses energises the lungs and breathing becomes deep with the result that oxygenated blood circulates all over the body.”

Glenys is the teacher who originally established IYISL and her teaching reflects decades of learning from Guruji and Geetaji as well as her own teaching experience. Glenys loves teaching yoga, excels at inspiring beginner students and combines clarity, inspiration and fun in her very unique teaching style.

* Sun 1 Mar, 11am-5pm, £40 for IYISL members, £45 for non-members

Places can be booked via our website: www.iyisl.com

Join us this Saturday 21 Feb at 6pm for an informal gathering of candlelight chanting. This is an opportunity to practise some mantras together ... said to encourage deeper and more measured breathing, which helps to bring a feeling of relaxation and peacefulness.

No prior experience is necessary and everybody is welcome.

There is no charge for this event but it would be helpful if you us know if you plan to join us.

We have been running teachers' led self practice sessions for while, with a focus on teachers working together on some of the more advanced poses. As developing a self practice is so important for everyone wanting to deepen their yoga practice, we are adding an early morning students led self practice session to our timetable.

Read more about led self practice here.

Yoga led self practice sessions — IYISL At IYISL we have been running a teachers’ led self practice session for a while. We are now adding a Tuesday early morning led self practice session to our timetable for experienced students who are keen to develop their own practice. Yoga self practice is practicing asana by yourself with self a

We would like to invite you to attend a special Kathak dance performance at IYISL, created and performed by Vipul Bhatti - a long term yoga student at IYISL. Kathak is a beautiful and rhythmic North Indian classical dance. The performance is free but we will be making a voluntary collection for a local Deptford charity (the 999 Club) that works with people facing homelessness.

Join us for a Kathak dance performance - celebrating Indian dance, yoga and healing — IYISL We would like to invite you to attend a special Kathak dance performance at IYISL, created and performed by Vipul Bhatti -  a long term yoga student at IYISL.  Kathak is a beautiful and rhythmic North Indian classical dance. The performance is free but we will be making a

Starting this week - a new Wednesday early evening class with restorative poses and an introduction to Pranayama (yoga breathing). A really peaceful class for a mid-week boost.

Restorative yoga - peaceful and rejuvenating — IYISL Restorative yoga classes are for everyone - helping us deal with day to day stresses and tiredness and maintain a rested mind and body. Attending a restorative class will help you feel calm and deeply rested.

It has been quite a while since they were able to visit us so we are very happy that Eddy Marks and Mary Obendorfer will be back with us next weekend.

If you would like to join us to experience their thoughtful and inspiring teaching - for just a day or for the whole weekend we have a few spaces left. See our website for more details.

Essential openings - a weekend workshop with Mary Obendorfer and Eddy Marks for intermediate and general level students — IYISL We are extremely pleased to welcome back popular San Diego teachers Mary Obendorfer and Eddy Marks now that they are able to travel again. It has been a few years since they were able to teach at IYISL in person. This is an opportunity to learn with teachers that are certified at an advanced level

This Sunday we are running a half day workshop with visiting teacher Aidan Love (17th July, 1-4pm)

A chance to explore the way the back body is activated and how it responds in a range of Asanas. This change of focus can transform your practice allowing the mind to become more introverted and peaceful even when you are working in poses.

See our website for more information.

Back body focus - a half day workshop with Aidan Love — IYISL This workshop will bring your focus to the way the back body is activated and how it responds in a range of Asanas including inversions, standings, forward bends, seated poses, twists and supine poses. This allows the mind to become more introverted and peaceful even when the poses require quite a b

Could you volunteer a little of your time to input to a research study on experiences of online yoga and well-being?

Online yoga was really important to all of us over the lockdown period so we are supporting a student doing a MSc in Psychological Studies at Brunel University doing research into online yoga and well being.

If you volunteer to input to the research you will be asked to do an online 45 minute one-to-one interview about your experiences, feelings, and thoughts about practicing yoga and your well-being.

For more information have a look at the post on our website

Could you volunteer a little of your time to input to a research study on experiences of online yoga and well-being? — IYISL Online yoga was really important to all of us over the lockdown period so we are supporting a student doing a MSc in Psychological Studies at Brunel University doing research into online yoga and well being. If you volunteer to input to the research you will be asked to do an online 45 minute one-t