The attentive and regular practice of Yoga postures and breathing exercises is well recognized as being an empowering self-help tool for building and maintaining vibrant health and fostering a feeling of inner balance and attunement. Yoga students commonly express the following as to why they practice: Yoga helps immensely in combating stress; Yoga helps to increase ones' energy, Yoga improves concentration and focus; Yoga is empowering, and Yoga makes one to feel more confident, more in command of oneself and ones' ability to deal with life; Yoga makes one more aware of one's body and how to treat it well; Yoga gives one concrete relief for back and neck problems, Yoga develops a quality of mindfulness, which carries over into everyday life,... and surprisingly much more. A vital healthy body, a sound mind, and confidence in our abilities are our greatest wealth.

The focus of the Center is yoga as taught in the tradition of the world-renowned Yoga Master BKS Iyengar, author of the classic texts, Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, and Light on Life. Iyengar-style hatha yoga is a graceful, precision-oriented approach to yoga that seeks to develop flexibility, strength, stamina, concentration, will power, and relaxation in a balanced way. Each student is provided with individualized instruction on how to nurture muscular and postural balance and stability and how to prevent injury and relieve discomfort. All of the Center's teachers have studied with BKS Iyengar, Geeta or Prashant Iyengar, or their longtime students, and are serious practitioners of yoga as well as down-to-earth, real human beings.

The purpose of the Center is to provide interested students the opportunity to develop the joyful discipline of yoga practice in order to achieve a higher quality of living. Our highly structured program of 4- to 8-week courses in yoga postures, 16-day early-morning and afternoon intensives, workshops in breath control, weekend workshops with our staff and noted out-of-town teachers, teacher training and apprenticeship programs, with attendees from throughout North America and abroad, and Yoga Eco-Vacations have grown over the years since establishment of the Center in 1980, so that the Center for Yoga of Seattle is today recognized as one of America's leading Iyengar Style Hatha Yoga Centers. Classes are now taught in 2 studios, 50 weeks per year.

Innovative use of simple props and teaching methods that break down postures into their component steps allows stiffer students to learn to perfect the basic postures and become more supple. Correct use of props and equipment in yoga also gives the student more control over the various parts of the body and hence further refinement in practice is possible. Iyengar Yoga is considered today the state-of-the-art yoga system and its meticulous approach has made it the most popular method worldwide. The Center for Yoga of Seattle is a welcoming place for the novice beginner as well as for the dedicated student of yoga. Four levels of yoga postures classes are taught by dedicated, caring and supportive teachers and practitioners of yoga who wish that you can enjoy the benefits of yoga practice. We welcome you to join us.