A Lens on Yoga

November 22, 2022
Community

A former photographer turns her lens on Iyengar yoga…

Lise Guyaz is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, Level I, from Vancouver BC. Lise discovered Iyengar yoga in 2014 and has been practising daily ever since. She consistently deepens her knowledge and attends classes and workshops regularly, with different local and international teachers.

As an Iyengar yoga teacher, Lise is methodical, energizing, and compassionate. She always encourages her students to be confident in exploring their possibilities, to listen to their bodies, and to immerse themselves in their own personal yoga practice. Lise teaches in English, French and German.

Lise Guyaz est une professeure certifiée de yoga Iyengar, niveau I, de Vancouver, en Colombie-Britannique. Lise a découvert le yoga Iyengar en 2014 et elle le pratique quotidiennement depuis. Elle approfondit constamment ses connaissances et assiste régulièrement à des cours et des ateliers, avec différents professeurs locaux et internationaux.

En tant que professeure de yoga Iyengar, Lise est méthodique, énergique et compatissante. Elle encourage toujours ses élèves à être confiants dans l’exploration de leurs possibilités, à écouter leur corps et à s’immerger dans leur pratique personnelle du yoga. Lise enseigne en anglais, en français et en allemand.

About the students and the studio:

Both Raffael and Derrick started their yoga journey in 2021. Lealle has been practising for decades and is in the final stages of Iyengar yoga teacher training in Vancouver.

The studio shown in the images is Vancity Yoga Studio in Vancouver, in the heart of Chinatown. It is a new studio in the city, and the photo shoot was organized by Lise to promote the method and the benefits of Iyengar yoga.

SUPTA VIRASANA –
Lealle (at the front) is doing Supta Virasana with her arms in Baddha Hastasana. Derrick (middle) is doing a variation of Supta Virasana with one leg bent, knee to the ceiling, support for a healing ankle and support for his back. Raffael is doing Supta Virasana with more support for stiffer bodies, and his arms are in Baddha Hastasana.

VIRABHADRASANA I – Two different arm variations and head in centre position.

UTTHITA PARSVAKONASANA –
Derrick and Raffael are using blocks as support for beginners and have the foot of the straight leg at the wall for stability.
All three students have their arms in front of their inner knee to better access the rotation of the upper body and open the front chest.

Lise is doing Salamba Sirsasana. Lealle and Derrick are doing Supta Padangusthasana II, one using a belt, one holding the big toe.
In these poses, we are emphasizing the extension of the leg from the top of the thigh to the extended big toe mounds in different poses.

Raffael attempting Pincha Mayurasana without a belt around the elbow area.
Derrick is doing Adho Mukha Vrksasana. Both are using the wall for support.

From left to right: Raffael in Pincha Mayurasana, Derrick in Adho Mukha Vrksasana and Lealle in Salamba Sarvangasana.
These asanas demonstrate the alignment from the arms to the extended feet.