Iyengar Yoga Circle is a shared community of learning and practice
Nasim Behrouzmehr
I’m Nasim Behrouzmehr, a Level II certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, and my relationship with yoga began in Tehran, Iran, in 2002. I was immediately drawn to the precision and clarity of the Iyengar method, which offered both structure and depth. Early in my practice, I studied under the guidance of Mahyar Raz, whose teaching helped me discover yoga as a meaningful way to cultivate awareness. I began teaching in 2010, and sharing this practice with others has been a source of joy and deep fulfillment ever since.
I am committed to sharing the Iyengar Yoga method with care and integrity. Learning is at the heart of my practice and continues to guide my growth and understanding of yoga. My ongoing self-practice and continued study with the Iyengar family—including regular visits to the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune—deeply inform my teaching and nurture my interest in the therapeutic and philosophical dimensions of yoga, which I explore alongside my students.
I am especially passionate about prenatal yoga and have studied, practiced, and taught in this area for many years. During my own pregnancy, I had the rare opportunity to practice with Abhijata Iyengar, Lois Steinberg, and Gulnaz Dashti. These experiences profoundly shaped my understanding of how yoga can support women physically, emotionally, and mentally during this transformative time.
My interest in yoga philosophy and its relevance to daily life has led me to pursue a master’s thesis in comparative literature, exploring the deeper meanings and contemporary applications of yoga.
Teaching, for me, is about clarity, connection, and helping each student discover what truly supports them. Every class is a shared space for learning, exploration, and the joy of practice in a supportive and nurturing environment.
In addition to teaching, I am committed to supporting the growth of the yoga community through mentoring new teachers and contributing to the Iyengar Yoga Association of Canada (IYAC), where I serve on the Professional Development Committee and the Education Roundtable.
Vision & Values
Community
At Iyengar Yoga Circle, we see a circle as a space of belonging—open, inclusive, and without hierarchy. Our community welcomes people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds, offering a shared place to practice, learn, and grow together.
“The young, the aged, the diseased, and the weak all may take to the practice of yoga
and derive its benefits without hindrance.” — Hatha Yoga Pradipika
This understanding of yoga as a shared and accessible practice lies at the heart of our circle.
Integrity
A circle has no beginning or end—it reflects continuity, balance, and wholeness. At Iyengar Yoga Circle, integrity means honoring this continuity through careful practice, thoughtful teaching, and a respectful relationship with the body, mind, and breath. As awareness deepens, care naturally extends beyond ourselves—to others, our shared spaces, and the wider environment.
“Yoga is firstly for individual growth, but through individual growth, society and community develop.” — B.K.S. Iyengar
Through integrity, yoga becomes not only a personal practice but also a way to nurture responsibility, compassion, and connection within the larger community.
Continuity of Learning & Practice
At Iyengar Yoga Circle, learning grows through practice, reflection, and shared experience. Classes and workshops inspire students to explore their own self-practice, build confidence, and stay connected to the Iyengar lineage and the wider community.
Teaching Method
At the Iyengar Yoga Circle, the Haṭha Yoga tradition is practiced through the Iyengar method.
Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to yoke or unite. In the classical tradition, Yoga refers to the union of the individual being with universal consciousness and the harmonious integration of body, breath, mind, intelligence, and soul.
Haṭha Yoga is a branch of this tradition, using yogic posture (āsana) and breath regulation (prāṇāyāma) to purify and balance the body and vital energy. This work creates stability and inner clarity, forming a foundation for meditation and the realization of unity.
The Iyengar approach to yoga is deeply rooted in the Eight Petals (Limbs) of the Yoga Sūtras, the foundational text of classical yoga compiled by the sage Patañjali over 2,500 years ago. In Iyengar Yoga, this classical framework is primarily explored through āsana and prāṇāyāma, the third and fourth limbs.
By engaging the body and breath with care and awareness, the other limbs of yoga are gradually awakened—ethical understanding, concentration, discernment, and inner stillness naturally emerge through practice. In this way, physical practice becomes a complete and integrated path toward stability, clarity, self-discipline, and inner transformation.
As B.K.S. Iyengar reminds us:
“All the eight petals of yoga are interlinked and interwoven.If one petal is explicit, others are implicit, and that is how yoga works.”
Why Iyengar Yoga?
Iyengar yoga offers a unique and transformative approach to the practice of yoga. In an Iyengar yoga class, whether in person or online, students feel confident being observed and receive individualized attention and adjustments tailored to their unique needs. Āsana (yogic postures) are demonstrated with clarity, ensuring that technical points are straightforward and easy to grasp. This system focuses on teaching students to practice wisely and safely, fostering a supportive environment for personal growth.
Ultimately, students learn not only the fundamental principles of āsana but also how to adapt classical postures to suit their personal practice. This encourages the development of self-practice, enhancing both physical and mental flexibility and strength.
Key Elements of Iyengar Yoga
Classes are offered in two locations:
Studio Villeray
8415 R. Saint-Denis 3e étage, Montréal, QC H2P 2H1
Studio Plateau
4529 Rue Clark Local 310, Montréal, QC H2T 2T3