Yoga Mandir. Iyengar Yoga Institute

13/08/2026

Join us for Yoga Studies on Saturday 15 August. The session will include a yoga practice followed by reflection using the Yoga Vidya subject T-Ph09: Vrttis and Klesas as a lens.
How do our thoughts, reactions and habits colour our experience and shape the way we practise?
These sessions are always engaging and provide an opportunity to learn, reflect and practise alongside a community of like-minded practitioners.

Details: https://www.yogamandir.com.au/yoga-studies/

11/08/2026

Beginner Basics. 15 August | 12.00-1.15pm |
Join us at Yoga Mandir (1 Dairy Rd Fyshwick) to gain an introduction to Iyengar Yoga. Taught with precision and alignment to connect body, breath and mind to experience a state of meditation.
Details & bookings:

Discover the art of yoga with our welcoming 75-minute introductory class, designed specifically for beginners and those looking to revisit the foundations of Iyengar Yoga. Whether you’re completely new to yoga or want a refresher, this session offers the perfect gateway to understanding the princi...

08/08/2026

25 years ago changed the way I taught Yoga seeing how many people were struggling with their bodies to perfect asanas. I could see the energy, effort, and also the loss of inner balance. The balance of the body was at the cost of the mind.

I could see that the way people were being taught often increased this separation. That’s why I began to articulate the principles which lie at the heart of Yoga and connect these in the practice. This approach transformed students.

The journey goes on today, and beginning 2027 the next door opens.

Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.yogamandir.com.au/newsletter/

06/08/2026

Kumbhaka is usually translated as "breath retention," but this translation can sometimes be misleading, as it can suggest a strong action of capturing of the breath. In yoga practice, however, kumbhaka is not an act of compulsion. It is the cultivation of a pause in the breathing process, and beyond the physical act of holding the breath, kumbhaka is a process of withdrawing inward. The breath is neither dragged nor trapped. Rather, it is allowed to rest in a suspended state. We should view kumbhaka not as a retention of breath, but as a gently controlled extension of the natural breathing pause. Enrol in P-09 at https://study.yogamandir.com.au/courses/p-09

04/08/2026

Today, I walk in the forest after a week of teaching. I reflect upon teaching and learning.

So often students feel inadequate before the technicalities of asanas and they struggle to improve. Ultimately this approach is self defeating as our expectations always evolve with our performance. We are never satisfied.

However, when a student follows the inward path, there are no experts or external authorities, only the quiet watchfulness as the mind goes from thinker to watcher. The asanas become a vehicle for self study.

31/07/2026

Everyone can practise Iyengar Yoga.
Whether you are new to yoga, returning to practice, or looking to deepen your understanding, Iyengar Yoga meets you where you are.
Through clear instruction, thoughtful sequencing and the intelligent use of props, the practice is accessible, purposeful and responsive to each individual.
Join our 8-week evening program and experience a practice that builds strength, awareness and confidence.
4 August – 24 September
Tuesdays & Thursdays | 7:30–8:30 pm
Studio Only
Come and practise with us.
"The body is my temple, asanas are my prayers."
— B.K.S. Iyengar

Whether you’re new to Iyengar Yoga, returning to your practice, or already part of our school, this 8-week program offers an opportunity to experience the depth and benefits of Iyengar Yoga.

31/07/2026

A student reflects ...
I have recently been thinking about what the source of heedlessness is in practice. While it is certainly not a regular occurrence due to the systematic nature of our practice (which I feel helps to curb such tendencies), I experience the seed of heedlessness as connected to the vrittis of viparyaya (mistaken identity; unreal or perverse perception/illusion) and vikalpa (knowledge devoid of substance; doubt, indecision, fanciful/imaginary knowledge).

For instance, 'throwing oneself’ into an asana without appropriately taking into account its progressive steps and/or the spatial awareness required to effectively, and safely, enter and be in the pose seems to have something to do with acting as the ‘knower’ who thinks it is seeing from a place of valid knowledge (pramana) when it is actually a false ‘knower’ (conflation of self with Soul; viparyaya - mistaken identity) who doubts but constructs knowledge to its fancy (vikalpa). Sometimes this can result in misjudging where limbs or props end up in space and even falling over.

For me, this experience is especially pronounced when learning new asana and not having prior direct perception (pratyaksa) or imprinting (smrti; memory) from which to operate with. It has also crept in when there is casualisation of regular practice and an over-reliance on past memory without fully attuning to the present. I also feel that heedlessness can appear more easily in the inverted and balancing family of asanas because of their demonstrable nature and the I-ness attached to being seen in their idealised, other-worldly forms.

Learn more in the Yoga Vidya subject: https://study.yogamandir.com.au/courses/t-ph09/

29/07/2026

I have practiced yoga for over 50 years. I have taught yoga for close to 45 years. I have been involved in yoga associations, certification of teachers, international debate and governance.
When I started there were no yoga schools, no teacher training, assessment or certificates. Nothing like what we see today.

Practice was something you did to connect deeply to yourself.
Yoga still is …

26/07/2026

Teaching in China provides me with an opportunity to reflect on culture and human experience.
The teaching must change to meet the needs of the students, but the essence of Yoga remains unchanged. I think about Vrttis, Klesas and human suffering as universal even though they are expressed differently in each culture.

Buddhism has deep roots in China and can be seen in the approach to practice and learning. It’s a privilege to be able to connect deeply with students through practice.

24/07/2026

Discover Why Iyengar Yoga Is Different
Iyengar Yoga is more than creating shapes with the body. It is a practice of awareness, precision and connection.
Through expert teaching, intelligent sequencing and the skilful use of props, you’ll develop strength, stability, mobility and a deeper understanding of each pose.
Join us for our 8-week evening program and experience the Iyengar method in our studio.
4 August – 24 September
Tuesdays &/or Thursdays | 7:30–8:30 pm
Studio Only
"Yoga does not just change the way we see things, it transforms the person who sees."
B.K.S. Iyengar