A guide to style and usage for all communications of the Iyengar Yoga National Association of the United States.

To encourage conformity in all publications, website postings and communications, IYNAUS has established the following guidelines.

They may also be used by all Certified Teachers, institutes, associations, studios, etc.

Beyond them, we suggest you consult the New York Times Style Book or a similar resource.

CAPITALIZATION
1. "yoga" as a generic term is not capitalized.
2. With "Iyengar Yoga," a specific kind of yoga and our "brand", both words are always capitalized.
3. The word asana is not capitalized when it refers to a posture.
   As a limb of Astanga it is capitalized.
4. Pranayama is always capitalized, as are all the other limbs.
5. The names of individual Asanas and Pranayamas are capitalized. Multi-word names are capitalized at the beginning of each word.

ITALICS

6. Asana names, and all other Sankrit words, are printed in italic type.

DEFINITIONS OF SANSKRIT WORDS
7. At the first usage, names of poses and other Sanskrit words should be followed by a short, sensible definition enclosed in parentheses; the definition is in Roman type:
   
   asana (posture)
   
   In some situations -- for instance, a communication to Certified Teachers -- this sort of explanation may not be necessary, but err on the side of caution.
   
   GURUJI AND THE IYENGAR FAMILY
   NOTE: These usages were approved by Stephanie Quirk.
   
   
8. On first reference, Guruji should be identified as:
   
   B. K. S. Iyengar
   or
   Yogacharya B. K. S. Iyengar
   
   We will use periods after each initial: B. K. S.
   
   On second reference, he may be referred to as Mr. Iyengar (in communications for the general public) or as Guruji (in communications for his students and teachers.) Guruji may also be used in communications to the general public, although it should be defined (beloved Guru or beloved teacher).
   
   Geeta will be referred to on first reference as Dr. Geeta S. Iyengar.
   
   Prashant as Prashant S. Iyengar.
   
   They may be identified on second reference as Geetaji and Prashantji.
   
   CERTIFICATION
9. Certification Mark, Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher.
   
   These are essential elements of our "brand" and should appear with capital letters.
   
   When the word "teacher" or "instructor" appears without a specific qualifier or on second reference, no capital letter should be used.
   
   SPELLING OF ASANAS
10. As a guide for spelling of asanas, number of words in an asana name, etc. -- in fact for all spelling questions, consult Light on Yoga, Light on Pranayama, Light on the Yoga Sutras, etc.
    
    
IDENTIFYING TEACHERS
11. Teachers should be identified by name, certification level and the city in which they teach, for example, Christopher Beach, Intermediate Junior II, Irvine, CA.
    
    The recognized abbreviations for state names should be used.
    
    When teachers are not from the U.S., they should be identified by certification level, name of city, name of country.
    
    The Find a Teacher search engine on iynaus.org should be the checking mechanism for U.S. teacher, for names (Christopher vs. Chris, for example), cities, certification levels and the way the certification level is written (i.e., Intermediate Junior II, not Junior Intermediate II).
    
    If the teacher lives in a different community from where they do most of their teaching, they should be identified by where they teach. If the teacher is affiliated with one of the Iyengar Yoga Institutes, that should be included in identifying material.
    
    In addition, teachers and others may and should be identified by their regional association affiliations, including offices they may hold. "Beach, president of the IYNAUS Board," or: "President Beach."
    
    
12. At first reference, teachers will be identified by first and last name.
    
    Teachers will be identified on second reference by their last name only, without title as Mr., Mrs., Miss or Ms.
    
    Senior Teachers, however, will be identified on second reference by their first name only, in acknowledgment of our community's custom. For example, first reference: Patricia Walden. Second reference: Patricia.
    
    Senior teachers should be referred to on first reference or soon after as Senior Teacher Patricia Walden, with both Senior and Teacher beginning with capital letters. At some point in the article, the other identifying information -- actual certification level, city where they teach -- should be included.
    
    When the title precedes a name, as in Teacher-in-Training Jane Smith, all caps should be used. After the name, it is not necessary to capitalize. However, Senior Teacher should remain in caps in all instances, as a mark of respect.