About Adrienne

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Adrienne discovered Iyengar Yoga in 1982 while earning her B.A. in Environmental Studies at U.C. Santa Cruz. The practice struck an immediate and lasting chord, sparking a lifelong journey of study and self-discovery. To Adrienne, each practice is a return home—uniquely shaped by the day’s needs and capable of being grounding, energizing, soothing, or deeply restorative. After recovering from sciatica through dedicated Iyengar Yoga practice, Adrienne was inspired to become a teacher. She trained at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco from 1995 to 1998 while working full-time for the State of California at the Coastal Commission and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. She became a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) at Level 1 in 2002 and at Level 2 in 2004. Adrienne has studied extensively with Senior CIYTs in San Francisco and with the Iyengar family at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India (1998, 2003, 2006). She has attended seven national Iyengar Yoga Conventions and is currently serving her second term as Secretary on the Executive Council and Board of the Iyengar Yoga Association of the United States (IYNAUS).

About Iyengar Yoga

…AND WHY IT MATTERS


The system of yoga known as “Iyengar Yoga” was created more than 75 years ago by Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar. Mr. Iyengar devoted his life to the development and evolution of his approach to yoga. The Iyengar system is based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga, which were taught over 2,500 years ago by the sage Patanjali. Mr. Iyengar believed that yoga goes beyond a physical discipline- it is also an art, a science, and a philosophy, and he developed his method with this in mind.

Iyengar Yoga is accessible for all ages and all body types. Its focus on precision, timing, sequencing, and the use of props helps the practitioner develop awareness in any asana - any posture, or pose.

A worldwide, standardized instruction system differentiates Iyengar Yoga from other methods. Certified Iyengar Yoga Teachers (CIYTs) undergo rigorous training and evaluation to earn their certifications. Only CIYTs are permitted to describe their method of instruction as Iyengar Yoga. CIYTs are trained to provide clear demonstrations of each posture. They are skilled in using simple props to maximize the opening and awareness of the body, providing support tor students who are less flexible while providing extra extension for those who are more advanced.

Teaching is oriented toward gradual but steady progress rather than quick results. Through skilled instruction and practice, students learn to penetrate beyond the physical body to the inner kosas (layers) of mind, energy, and spirit, gaining vitality, clarity, and calm.