Bellur Krishnamachar Sundararaja (B.K.S.) Iyengar is the world's most venerated yoga teacher and a living legend. He was one of the first yoga teachers to introduce yoga to the West, and his book, Light on Yoga, is regarded as a classic text for all students of yoga. It is the bestselling yoga book of all time.

He has taught cultural icons and world leaders and there are now hundreds of centers around the world where Iyengar Yoga is taught. In 2004, B.K.S. Iyengar was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the world in the last century.

B.K.S. Iyengar was born on December 14, 1918. At the age of 16, he was introduced to yoga by his Guru, Sri T. Krishnamacharya. At the age of 18, he was sent to Pune, Maharashtra by his guru to teach and preach yoga.
B.K.S. Iyengar has always been a sincere and committed practitioner. His own practice helped him to explore and achieve perfection in yoga asanas. Before he wrote Light on Yoga, he practised for 10 hours a day for thirty five years, and even now he still practices daily as he nears the age of ninety.

He is always at ease in any posture he performs. Precision and beauty mark the asana, and the regular practice he advocates integrates the body, mind and emotions.

The following silent film footage was taken in 1938 and shows BKS Iyengar giving a yoga demonstration (just click the triangle icon to play it):