Author of the contemporary classic Light on Yoga and numerous other books, Iyengar has been teaching yoga for more than sixty years. Widely recognized as a worldwide authority, he is one of the most creative teachers of yoga today. Iyengar's early teaching experience showed him how pain or injury can result from a student straining in a yoga pose. Iyengar also explored how these modified poses could help people recover from illness or injury. By supporting the body with props, we alternately stimulate and relax the body to move toward balance.
Some poses have an overall benefit.
Others target an individual part, such as the lungs or heart. All create specific physiological responses which are beneficial to health and can reduce the effects of stress-related disease. In general, restorative poses are for those times when you feel weak, fatigued, or stressed from your daily activities. In addition, you can practice the poses when ill, or recovering from illness or injury. First, the use of props as described in this book provides a completely supportive environment for total relaxation.