--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am standing on my own altar; The poses…" description: "\"I am standing on my own altar; The poses are my prayers.\" — B.K.S. Iyengar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/b-k-s-iyengar-949_altar_i-am-standing-on-my-own-altar-the-poses_369451.png" --- # I am standing on my own altar; The poses are my prayers. ![“I am standing on my own altar; The poses are my prayers.” quote by B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/b-k-s-iyengar-949_altar_i-am-standing-on-my-own-altar-the-poses_369451.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/b-k-s-iyengar-949_altar_i-am-standing-on-my-own-altar-the-poses_369451.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4e0/b-k-s-iyengar-949_altar_i-am-standing-on-my-own-altar-the-poses_369451.png) > “I am standing on my own altar; The poses are my prayers.” [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One’s personal dedication is expressed through actions that serve as a form of prayer. **In simple terms:** Actions are personal prayers. Key Takeaway Treat your actions as sacred offerings. Themes dedication spirituality mindfulness Mood contemplative inspirational Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - daily practice - teaching - personal growth - creative work Key Concepts embodiment ritual self‑expression Questions to Reflect On - What daily act feels like a prayer to you? - How can you keep actions meaningful? A Different Perspective If actions become routine, they may lose sacred meaning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Altars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altars/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayers/) [Yoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yoga/) ## Related quotes > [This is the sacrifice: the endless possibility that is offered up on the altar of the form...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/this-is-the-sacrifice-the-endless-possibility-that-is-offered-up-on/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [All nature is the temple; earth the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alphonse-de-lamartine/all-nature-is-the-temple-earth-the-altar/) [Alphonse de Lamartine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alphonse-de-lamartine/) > [You can't find God before an altar if that is the only place you look for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-powell-davies/you-can-t-find-god-before-an-altar-if-that-is-the-only-place-you-look/) [A. Powell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-powell-davies/) > [You can call happy those who saw Him... But, come to the altar and you will see Him, you will touch Him, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/you-can-call-happy-those-who-saw-him-but-come-to-the-altar-and-you/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [To separate tabernacle from altar is to separate two things which by their origin and nature should remain united.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xii/to-separate-tabernacle-from-altar-is-to-separate-two-things-which-by/) [Pope Pius XII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xii/) > [My mother worshipped at the altar of the accessory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iris-apfel/my-mother-worshipped-at-the-altar-of-the-accessory/) [Iris Apfel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iris-apfel/) > [The goal isn't to be restrictive or tight about what passes through the altar (your mouth) and into the temple (your body). It's to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-carr/the-goal-isn-t-to-be-restrictive-or-tight-about-what-passes-through/) [Kris Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-carr/) > [The Devil is not afraid to sit on an altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/the-devil-is-not-afraid-to-sit-on-an-altar/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Don't sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-jones-sr/don-t-sacrifice-the-permanent-on-the-altar-of-the-immediate/) [Bob Jones, Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-jones-sr/) > [I acknowledge that the sacrament of the altar is very God's body in form of bread, but it is in another manner God's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wycliffe/i-acknowledge-that-the-sacrament-of-the-altar-is-very-god-s-body-in/) [John Wycliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wycliffe/) > [I was, not an altar boy, but a reader of the Epistle, and I walked in on a nun and a priest furiously French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-was-not-an-altar-boy-but-a-reader-of-the-epistle-and-i-walked-in-on/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [Since once again, O Lord, in the steppes of Asia, I have no bread, no wine, no altar, I will raise myself above those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/since-once-again-o-lord-in-the-steppes-of-asia-i-have-no-bread-no/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [We dare not trim stones to make God an altar, for if we do we ruin everything. We would spend time bringing people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/we-dare-not-trim-stones-to-make-god-an-altar-for-if-we-do-we-ruin/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [It is when we are in misery that we revere the gods; the prosperous seldom approach the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silius-italicus/it-is-when-we-are-in-misery-that-we-revere-the-gods-the-prosperous/) [Silius Italicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silius-italicus/) > [God calls us first... not to a platform, but to an altar!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear-2/god-calls-us-first-not-to-a-platform-but-to-an-altar/) [J. D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear-2/) ## More by B.K.S. Iyengar > [It is through the body that everything comes to the mind. It is through and with your body that you have to reach realization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/it-is-through-the-body-that-everything-comes-to-the-mind-it-is/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [A yogi's brain extends from the bottom of the foot to the top of his head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/a-yogi-s-brain-extends-from-the-bottom-of-the-foot-to-the-top-of-his/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Is it necessary to practice all these asanas, further and further? Is it necessary to develop scientific researches further and further? To a yogi,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/is-it-necessary-to-practice-all-these-asanas-further-and-further-is/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [The best way to overcome fear is to face with equanimity the situation of which one is afraid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-best-way-to-overcome-fear-is-to-face-with-equanimity-the/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [You have to create love and affection for your body, for what it can do for you. Love must be incarnated in the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/you-have-to-create-love-and-affection-for-your-body-for-what-it-can/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [In whatever position one is in, or in whatever condition in life one is placed, one must find balance. Balance is the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/in-whatever-position-one-is-in-or-in-whatever-condition-in-life-one/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Learning is as much an art as teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/learning-is-as-much-an-art-as-teaching/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Why should you practice Yoga? To kindle the divine fire within yourself. Everyone has a dormant spark of divinity in him which has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/why-should-you-practice-yoga-to-kindle-the-divine-fire-within/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Yoga is the method by which the restless mind is calmed And the energy directed into constructive channels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/yoga-is-the-method-by-which-the-restless-mind-is-calmed-and-the/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [The aim of yoga is to calm the chaos of conflicting impulses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/the-aim-of-yoga-is-to-calm-the-chaos-of-conflicting-impulses/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Live before you die, so that death is also a lively celebration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/live-before-you-die-so-that-death-is-also-a-lively-celebration/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [We have two physical eyes, but every pore of the body is also an eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/we-have-two-physical-eyes-but-every-pore-of-the-body-is-also-an-eye/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Breath is the vehicle of consciousness and so, by its slow measured observation and distribution, we learn to tug our attention away from external…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/breath-is-the-vehicle-of-consciousness-and-so-by-its-slow-measured/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Yoga releases the creative potential in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/yoga-releases-the-creative-potential-in-life/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Do not live in the future, only the present is real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/do-not-live-in-the-future-only-the-present-is-real/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) [Explore all 322 B.K.S. Iyengar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) ## More Altar quotes > [This is the sacrifice: the endless possibility that is offered up on the altar of the form...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-buber/this-is-the-sacrifice-the-endless-possibility-that-is-offered-up-on/) [Martin Buber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-buber/) > [“...those others - they're looking for trends - subjects to catch a spark - but I have you - a coal from God's altar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-geddes/those-others-they-re-looking-for-trends-subjects-to-catch-a-spark-but/) [John Geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-geddes/) > [There was a time I worshipped at the altar of Rudy Martzke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-johnson-jr/there-was-a-time-i-worshipped-at-the-altar-of-rudy-martzke/) [Ernie Johnson Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-johnson-jr/) > [I'm a lapsed altar boy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-m-a-lapsed-altar-boy/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [It is when we are in misery that we revere the gods; the prosperous seldom approach the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silius-italicus/it-is-when-we-are-in-misery-that-we-revere-the-gods-the-prosperous/) [Silius Italicus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silius-italicus/) > [We dare not trim stones to make God an altar, for if we do we ruin everything. We would spend time bringing people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/we-dare-not-trim-stones-to-make-god-an-altar-for-if-we-do-we-ruin/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bible/god-is-the-lord-which-hath-shewed-us-light-bind-the-sacrifice-with/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bible/) > [“Sacrifice your fear on the altar of your dreams.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-van-tuyl/sacrifice-your-fear-on-the-altar-of-your-dreams/) Barbara Van Tuyl > [“It doesn’t really matter what altar you’re being sacrificed on, it’s gonna sting either way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-roquet/it-doesn-t-really-matter-what-altar-you-re-being-sacrificed-on-it-s/) [Angela Roquet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-roquet/) > [Since once again, O Lord, in the steppes of Asia, I have no bread, no wine, no altar, I will raise myself above those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/since-once-again-o-lord-in-the-steppes-of-asia-i-have-no-bread-no/) [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-teilhard-de-chardin/) > [I was, not an altar boy, but a reader of the Epistle, and I walked in on a nun and a priest furiously French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-was-not-an-altar-boy-but-a-reader-of-the-epistle-and-i-walked-in-on/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“The quickest way to alter an altar is not with a hammer, or even religious deconstruction, but with a typo.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/the-quickest-way-to-alter-an-altar-is-not-with-a-hammer-or-even/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“Beyond the table, there is an altar, with candles lit for Billie Holiday and Willa Carter and Hypatia and Patsy Cline. Next to it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmen-maria-machado/beyond-the-table-there-is-an-altar-with-candles-lit-for-billie/) [Carmen Maria Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmen-maria-machado/) > [I acknowledge that the sacrament of the altar is very God's body in form of bread, but it is in another manner God's body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wycliffe/i-acknowledge-that-the-sacrament-of-the-altar-is-very-god-s-body-in/) [John Wycliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wycliffe/) > [“Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death, set up thine altar here, and dress it with such terrors as thou hast at thy command: for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dickens-charles/oh-cold-cold-rigid-dreadful-death-set-up-thine-altar-here-and-dress/) [Dickens, Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dickens-charles/) Browse all 131 Altar quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I am standing on my own altar; The poses are my prayers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B.K.S. 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