The lineage holder of the Viniyoga® tradition
INSPIRE is a blog through which inspiring articles and ideas on the topic of Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Yoga Philosophy and other related topics will be shared with readers.
What is the truth? And does it change with time?
As I contemplate on the aftermath of my father's passing, I am faced with this intriguing idea. Why does the transition of death bring about a change of truth with people who were associated with that person who passed
Read MoreIt is with a heavy heart that I write this article honoring the passing of my father, Sir TKV Desikachar, or Sir, as he was fondly called by millions of people around the world. After living an extraordinary life of service, he transitioned into the unknown domain on 08 August 2016 at 2.45 am Indian time.
Read MoreYoga is at an interesting crossroads. At the turn of the 20th century, the Yoga industry was non-existent, while there was an amazing depth of knowledge within the community of practicing Yogin-s of the time. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Yoga market is global with millions of practitioners, but yet there remains very little knowledge about this precious discipline. What are the challenges facing the Yoga world today? And what will happen to Yoga if these challenges are not appropriately addressed? Reflection is needed not only from the practitioners, but also from policy makers who have been inevitably endowed with powers, perhaps way beyond their capacity, in setting the direction of the future of Yoga
Read MoreDr. Kausthub Desikachar was recently interviewed by Pranamanasayoga on the theme of Yoga Therapy. The full transcript of the interview can be found here in Spanish language.
Link to Spanish interview - http://pranamanasyoga.es/el-yoga-terapeutico-segun-kausthub-desikachar
The English version of the interview is presented below
Read MoreSvatmarama is believed to belong to the Natha-sampradaya, an ancient lineage of spiritual masters, whose founding is often attributed to Lord Dattatreya, an incarnation of all the three Hindu gods, Brahma, Visnu and Siva. However, the establishment of the Natha tradition as a distinct sect perhaps began around the eighth century AD, with a simple fisherman called Matsyendra, who is also often known as Minanatha.
Matsyendranatha is often called the founding father of the Natha tradition and hence is held in high esteem by followers of this lineage. Tradition relates his story in the following manner. Long ago Lord Siva was teaching Yoga to Girijia, another name for Parvati, on an island which he thought to be uninhabited. A fish which was in the waters near the shore heard the teaching. Its mind became completely focused and its body motionless. Lord Siva saw how the fish was and assumed that it was due to hearing the teaching. He was kind and sprinkled sacred water on the fish. The fish thereby attained a divine body and became a celestial being (siddha) called Matsyendranatha. Thus started the lineage of the Natha tradition through Matsyendranatha.
Since the teachings actually originated from Lord Siva, the Natha-yogin-s call him Adinatha, meaning the first Natha. Matsyendranatha is acknowledged as his first successor.
Matsyendranatha's two most important disciples were Caurangi and the renowned Goraksanatha. It is believed that the latter eclipsed his master in importance in many of the branches and sub-sects of the Natha-sampradaya. It is the reason why even today, Gorakñanätha is regarded by many as the most influential of Natha teachers. He is reputed to have written the first books dealing with Laya-yoga and the movement of the Kundalini-sakti. Some regard him as the original inventor of Hathayoga.
The Natha-sampradaya does not recognize caste barriers, and their teachings were adopted by outcasts and kings alike. The heterodox Nätha tradition has many sub-sects, but all honor Matsyendranatha and Goraksanatha as their originators and supreme Masters.
In the first chapter of Hathayogapradipika (verses I.5-I.9), Svatmarama acknowledges that he belongs to this illustrious lineage of teachings and honors all the masters who preceded him.
Chennai, a South Indian city, one of the largest in India, faced an unprecedented situation that it neither anticipated, nor was it prepared for. Since 1916, there has not been so much rain recorded in one month. Within a four week period there has been relentless showers, including three cyclones, which have totally submerged most parts of the city under water. Many people have died (not easy to count how many), and even more have been displaced from their homes. A lot of people have lost their properties or assets in business. Varied reports from the media guesstimate the total loss of business in the entire state to be close to two billion dollars. Health in the form of transmitted diseases, as well as emotional and psychological damage has also occurred. Anger and frustration with government officials has been combined with the grief and sadness felt through the losses witnessed by so many. All in all these few weeks have been traumatic for many, to say the least. There can be so many reasons to complain and find the million faults in our flawed modern system.
Yet, so many lessons can be learnt from these past two weeks, and turn these sufferings into great opportunities for personal reflection and growth.
Read More“I am not stubborn, I am just standing up for my rights” said a young woman who came to me for Yoga Therapy classes. I wondered if this was indeed true. The woman had separated from her husband three years ago, and she would not let her son, who is twelve years old, to visit the father freely, nor visit the grandparents, nor let the son have a vacation with the father for even one or two days in a year. She also poisons the son to not visit the home where he was born, as there is now a “new-wife” living with his father
Read MoreRecently I was asked to comment on my feelings towards the school bombings in Oregon that occurred on the 01st of October 2015. I said I was very sad about this incident and felt great grief for those who suffered from it, directly or indirectly. To this one of the students retorted back “As Yogis, should we be moved by such things and not be still?”
This grieved me even further.
As Yogi-s we search stillness. But very often the result is stagnation.
Read More‘I do 2000 kapalabhati-s each day,’ proclaimed proudly, a man I recently met at a Yoga gathering in Europe. ‘500 at sunrise time, 500 at midday, 500 at sunset and 500 at midnight,’ he continued with an aura of vanity. He had come to me for a private Yoga therapy session, as he suffered from sever insomnia, erectile dysfunction and also incontinence.
At some point during my one-to-one session with him, I asked him if he ever thought that there was a connection between his problems and the numerous rapid-breathing techniques he was doing. He simply remarked ‘No. My teacher told me to do it 10 years ago, and I have never once missed it since then.’
Read MoreThe word tapas is often used in Yoga circles, and is normally translated as heat. While this could be a partial meaning of the word in Sanskrit language, it needs to be interpreted differently in the context of Yoga. There is a rule in Sanskrit grammar that meanings have to be interpreted based on the context of its usage. It is using this rule that one of the commentators of the Yogasutra-s of Patanjali has presented the above definition of tapas.
Read MoreBeing a Yoga teacher can be a very profound experience. It gives us an opportunity to learn about one of the most ancient disciplines that is both astute in its philosophy, yet very practical to implement.
Yoga is one of the six main philosophies to have originated from India, and offers a holistic path to health, well-being and spiritual transformation. By understanding this integrative approach that links body, mind and spirit, we can have the opportunity to discover ourselves both at the conscious and unconscious domains.
Read MoreOn its journey to gain acceptance into mainstream society, Yoga Therapy is at a very interesting place now. From being an obscure discipline that was reserved to saints living in caves and mountains, Yoga has found such a formidable acceptance by people around the world, that even 177 countries celebrated the International Day of Yoga on the 21st June 2015. Yet for all its current popularity, there remain many skeptics, who question its validity, especially as a form of healing.
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