Badri Yoga School 2.39

Badarinarayana Iyengar — Badri to his friends — is the founder of the Badri Yoga School.

At age of 23, Badri had his first personal contact with the world of yoga — impressed by the positive impact it was having on one of his friends, Badri began his own practice and his search for a suitable teacher.

After four years of regular practice he found his master in B.N.S. Iyengar (direct disciple of great yoga guru T. Krishnamachar, founder of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga System). For 16 years Badri undertook rigorous Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Pranayama training under Iyengar. After mastering both disciplines and participating in numerous competitions, Badri felt compelled to give back — he decided to start teaching.

For the next 13 years, Badri opened his home to an average of 15 students every day, for free morning and afternoon classes of Yoga and Pranayama. Some of his students from those days are still with him today.

Over the years, Badri has developed his own unique teaching style and philosophy. Individual, personalised attention to each student is indispensable and attention to correct breathing technique and timing in each asana and vinyasa is essential.

In 2009, in preparation for his upcoming retirement (from his day job) and in pursuit of a lifelong dream of full-time dedication to the teaching of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Pranayama, Badri opened the school.

The Badri Yoga School still has a family, homely feel to it. Badri is always there to welcome you into his school and his wife and daughter (both trained in yoga) are generally there in the afternoon to assist with sessions. There is great diversity amongst the students – a wide range of ages, men and women, some local and some foreign, some decade long students of Badri and some just starting their first class. All are, and feel welcome.Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a dynamic, flowing and physically demanding style of yoga developed in Mysore by T. Krishnamacharya and further popularised by Phatabi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar.

The term vinyasa refers to the alignment of movement and breath, as well as the specific movements which link individual asanas (postures). The practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is focused on combining vinyasa with a deliberate breathing style called Ujjayi breathing, which creates internal heat, leading to the purification of the body through increased circulation and sweating. The combination of regular breathing cycles with the predetermined sequence of movements and positions also provides the practitioner with a calming, mental focal point.

Yoga at Badri Yoga School

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga at the Badri Yoga School is taught in true “Mysore Style”. This means each student practices and progresses at their own pace — receiving individual corrections and feedback when required and learning new positions when ready.

Of the highest priority for Badri is that he is able to provide each individual student with the support they need in order to advance their practice. Badri is very focussed on providing individual corrections on the spot and is always highlighting the importance of combining the correct breathing technique and timing to each individual asana. To ensure he is able to give each student the support they need, Badri organises the staggered arrival of students (especially those just starting at the school) so that he can time their need with his availability.

Badri teaches his Ashtanga Vinyasa Series composed of Fundamental Asanas, Primary Series, Intermediate Series and Advanced Series. Students move through their learning of the asanas at a steady and controlled pace — adding postures to their practice when both student and master feel they are ready. Badri is there with his students every step of the way.