St. Kilda Iyengar Yoga School (SKYS) is in the heart of St. Kilda. It’s close to the beach, restaurants, palm trees, and vibrant Luna Park. In September 2019 we celebrated more than 30 years teaching Iyengar Yoga to students, as well as training teachers.And in these Covid times we continue teaching online via Zoom and as of November 9 2020 we are back in the School with face to face teaching.

Our approach

At SKYS we focus on teaching you “How to do Yoga.” We offer yoga courses for beginners through to more advanced classes. And we teach yoga in sequences, using different poses to build-up strength or flexibility in the body.

Our approach is about precision and alignment, timing and the use of props to support you. For instance, in each class, we will use bolsters, straps, blocks and blankets to help you gradually ease into poses. This type of support is important.

Students will often tell us about the relaxation and flexibility they achieve. We have a lot of regular students, and through experience, we view Iyengar Yoga as a holistic health technique, suitable for young and old.

How we learn

Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar (pictured), also known as Guriji ‘Guru’ is a legend who taught yoga in a unique way to all his students.

His approach to yoga was based firmly on the yoga sutras ‘eight limbs of yoga,’ written some 2,500 years ago. Iyengar’s disciplined and deeply researched system was developed over a period of 80 years. He practiced daily – exploring, studying, writing, and teaching yoga. His style of teaching yoga is called “Iyengar Yoga” and is now being followed by certified teachers across the world.

Our teachers are trained through the BKS Iyengar Yoga Association of Australia. After passing, teachers maintain a regular practice of poses and pranayama in their everyday life. Furthermore, they visit our yoga home, the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Pune, India.

Our Guruji passed away peacefully in August 2014, he practiced right up to 2 weeks prior to his departure at the age of 95. Now the institute is under the guidance of Guruji’s daughter, Geeta Iyengar and son, Prashant Iyengar. Guruji’s good work is now being spread all over the world by his teachers.

About Simon Marrocco

Simon Marrocco is the founder and director of the St. Kilda Iyengar Yoga School in Melbourne.

The first time he met Guruji, it had such a profound impact on his yoga journey…

Guruji was in Australia for the second time. It was 1992. There was a Teacher’s Convention in Sydney, and I was a little late and rushing to the event. I ran to get into this lift. And to my surprise Guruji and two of his Indian students got in at the same time. It was a tiny space. I was forced to stand very close and up-front to Guruji. He gave me a smile. It was a very intense 10 seconds of my life. I was blessed on that day. I see it as a symbolic lesson in Tadasana (standing pose).

Since this time, India has become Simon’s second home. He travels almost every year to study with the Iyengar family. Simon attended Guruji’s 75th Birthday Yoga Intensive in Panchgani, India in 1993 and 1996. He was also fortunate to attend both of the Pranayama (Breathing) Intensives with Guruji in Pune in February 1995 and 1996, as well as the Rishikesh Intensives.

Further, Simon has attended many other conventions with Guruji & Geeta in India. Simon has served for many years on the BKS Iyengar Yoga Australian Association Certification Committee. He has also trained many teachers over the years through teacher training. He has taught in major cities around the world. And in 1995, Simon decided to purchase land in the northern rivers of New South Wales in the Tweed Valley. It is here that Simon built the Iyengar Yoga Retreat Centre ‘Yoga Gurukul’ in 1995.