Practice Primary Series with Guruji BNS Iyengar

Sri BNS Iyengar, the world’s oldest living Ashtanga Yoga teacher, has allowed his full Primary Series class to be documented on film for the first time ever!

Practice the full Primary Series in real time with Guruji BNS and a group of his most dedicated students, as he guides you through the entire practice. Guruji’s manner of teaching is deeply philosophical, passionate, fiery, and humorous all at once. Experience the power and wisdom of Primary Series as it is traditionally taught in Mysore by the world’s elder living teacher of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

Professionally filmed in HD at the beautiful Chitravana Jungle Resort in Mysore in April 2022, you can hear the jungle birds singing in the background as Guruji guides us through the entire practice, from the opening mantra all the way to Shavasana. You will find more profound Yoga philosophy in this single class than in most 200 hour YTTs!

Sri BNS Iyengar is a direct student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, “the father of modern yoga,” and a renowned Vedic scholar. As part of the peer group that developed in Mysore in the formative years of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, he is an important figure in the parampara, or lineage, of Mysore’s rich yoga heritage. Today, at age 97, he is the world’s elder living master of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga who is still actively teaching yoga today. This is his first time ever teaching an entire asana class on video. Don’t miss out on this beautiful piece of Yoga history!

See you in Samasthiti!

Practice Primary Series with Joey Paz

The world’s first BNS Iyengar Primary Series instructional video is here.

The world's first BNS Iyengar Primary series instructional video is here! Practice the complete Primary Series in the lineage of Guruji BNS with your instructor, Joey Paz. Learn the complete sequence, step by step, with the correct breath and vinyasa placement, exactly as Guruji teaches it. This video will help you to memorize the order of the sequence as well as the Sanskrit names of the asanas and includes an audible breath count to help you maintain a perfect rhythm in your flow as you follow along. This HD-quality video also includes philosophy and mythology of the asanas, as described by BNS himself.

Welcome to the Primary Series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in the lineage of Guruji Sri BNS Iyengar of Mysore, India. BNS Iyengar is the last surviving student of Sri T. Krishnamacharya who is still living and teaching Ashtanga yoga today at age 94, as of the year 2020. As a direct student of Krishnamacharya, he is an important figure in the formative years of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. The philosophy contained herein is not my own, but comes directly from Guruji. This video is intended as a historical record of this alternative lineage of Ashtanga, as well as a visual guide to help memorize the order of the sequence, the names of the asanas, and the correct placement of breath and Vinyasa.

Practice the complete Primary Series in the lineage of Guruji BNS with one of his most dedicated students, Joey Paz. Learn the complete sequence, step by step, with the correct breath and vinyasa placement, exactly as Guruji teaches it in Mysore. This video will help you to memorize the order of the sequence as well as the Sanskrit names of the asanas and includes an audible breath count to help you maintain a perfect rhythm in your flow as you follow along. This full-length, HD-quality video also includes a healthy dose of philosophy and mythology of the asanas, as described by BNS himself over many years of practicing with him in Mysore.

This video is not intended to be a replacement for a qualified, knowledgeable yoga instructor. Please do not force yourself into any pose, rest when needed, and seek the guidance of a qualified Ashtanga teacher if you have any questions. You may skip any poses or modify as you wish, and continue through the practice. Guruji is fond of saying, "Do as much as you can. Enjoy the bliss."

Professionally directed by Dallos Paz, the cinematographer behind the groundbreaking documentary film Mysore Yoga Traditions, this video is the first attempt to document the Primary Series of Ashtanga elder BNS Iyengar. Don't miss out on this beautiful piece of Yoga history!

"The best Yoga video I have ever seen." -Vala, Arcata, CA

"Hi Joey, I just wanted to say thanks for offering this video to the world, I think it is a valuable gem.  You can tell that you embody this wisdom with your practice and your voice.  I thought I would just practice with your video once or twice and see the differences in lineage, but what you transmit is so essential that I will use it much more than that. What a blessing you have that BNS Iyengar is your teacher."  -Karen L, Kansas City

“This was so special! I loved the way you kept a breath track throughout the entire sequence, the pace was great. Also, I loved the dialogue and teaching throughout the series- I learned so many new things about the practice! Thank you so much for such a beautiful meditation.” -Amina B, Norman, OK