«Yoga transforms a conscientious practitioner into a well-rounded personality.»

By sheer luck, Iyengar became a student of one of the most famous and influential yogis of the 20th century. This marked the beginning of a journey that transformed his life in ways he could never have imagined.
Krishnamacharya, a strict and demanding teacher, pushed Iyengar to his limits. Through immense effort and willpower, Iyengar not only overcame his health issues but also became a yoga virtuoso, achieving exceptional physical, mental, and spiritual prowess. He played a pivotal role in introducing yoga to the West and revolutionizing its teaching methods.
One of his greatest contributions was making yoga accessible to a broader audience by emphasizing its therapeutic benefits. This innovation helped make yoga popular in the Western world. His famous students further amplified his reach, including Jiddu Krishnamurti (noted for his philosophical works) and Jayaprakash Narayan (a prominent figure in India’s independence movement).
In 1952, Yehudi Menuhin, a 20th-century musical genius and violinist, became one of Iyengar’s devoted students and lifelong friends. Iyengar even taught Sirsasana (headstand) to Queen Elizabeth of Belgium when she was 80 years old. Admirers of Iyengar also included Aldous Huxley, filmmaker Mira Nair, and numerous other luminaries from politics, sports, and the arts.
He conducted public demonstrations worldwide, taught at American universities, authored invaluable guides on yoga practice and instruction, and established international organizations with rigorous standards for yoga teaching and promotion.
In 1975, he founded the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, Maharashtra, named after his beloved late wife, Ramamani. Since its inauguration on January 19, 1975, RIMYI has drawn practitioners from all over the world seeking to deepen their understanding of yoga.
Until his passing on August 20, 2014, at the age of 96, B.K.S. Iyengar never ceased practising, teaching, and inspiring others. He left behind an invaluable legacy and capable successors, including his daughter Geeta (one of his five daughters, who passed away in December 2018), his son Prashant, and his granddaughter Abhijata, whom he personally trained for many years to continue his work at RIMYI. Affectionately called Guruji by his friends and students, his legacy lives on through them.