UCLA honours yoga guru B K S Iyengar

B K S Iyengar, whose yoga techniques have provided relief to thousands of children worldwide suffering from chronic pain, was honoured at the University of California, Los Angeles. The octogenarian yoga practioner was conferred with the honour by the Pediatric Pain Program at Mattel Children's Hospital in American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday in a ceremony that drew the glitterati and yoga enthusiasts to the campus.

Iyengar's emphasis on correct anatomical postures and methodology, combined with novel use of props such as blankets, straps, pillows and ropes have eased the pain of children suffering from chronic illnesses, including cancer, hypertension, multiple sclerosis and auto immune diseases, a UCLA release said.

Combining a multitude of techniques, the now-famous brand of 'Iyengar Yoga' came in for high praise at the university on Wednesday for bringing "...truly remarkable results to children suffering from chronic pain."

"Iyengar's yoga is an extremely important part of our Pediatric Pain Program and we are honoured to present him with this award," Dr Lonnie Zeltzer, programme director at MCH said at the award ceremony. Iyengar's visit to the campus comes as part of a five-city United States tour to promote his new book 'Light on Life'.

Listed in Time magazine in 2004 among world's 100 most influential persons, Iyengar's yoga is also being used at the university to treat depression and mood fluctuations in young adults and persistent fatigue in breast cancer survivors.