“It is not possible for everyone to reach the same level of meditation (Dhyānam),
even meditation should be taught or presented in stages (viniyoga).
It should be used at a level suitable to the student and gradually increased,
start simply and increase in complexity.
This is dependant on the growth of the student and according to the purpose.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“Āsana practice should take into account:
– Where we are – Where am I?
– Where are we going – What is my goal?
– What happens afterwards – How do I continue with my life?
There needs to be steps in the sequence to lead to the goal and counter postures
to prepare for life after the Yoga practice, a Vinyāsa.
The postures need to be visualised prior to being executed, Bhāva.
It is important to prepare for life after a Yoga practice
so that a student is fully prepared for life outside the Yoga room.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar in England 1992
“Yoga is often attributed to Āsana practice alone,
which is only the part of Yoga focusing on the physical body or servicing the body.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“Planning should precede practice,
fix your goal, building step by step
and there should be check points along the way.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“Inhale (Pūraka) from top to bottom makes sure that the spine is erect.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“Moving into the posture after the exhale (Bāhya Kumbhaka) is an adaptation.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“The Doṣa and the Guṇa are related,
we need to be able to understand the Guṇa
to be able to understand the Doṣa.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“We can recognise which of our Guṇa is dominant by observation in Āsana practice.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“What we observe today might not be the same tomorrow.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“The position of a particular posture in an Āsana practice will change its effect
and will influence a particular part of the body.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“The practice of Yoga is like a mirror,
it helps us to know something about ourselves on a particular day,”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“In Āsana practice there is an expression of the state of the mind,
the practice can be a handle to hold the mind.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“The lower abdomen is the dullest part of the spine,
it is the starting point for the exhalation.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“So much happens in the spine with the breath,
we need to be aware of our breathing to have a maximum effect on the spine.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“It is usual to start a lesson be it, Chanting, Sūtra, Āsana, with a prayer.
A prayer is recited and repeated according to the study or purpose of the lesson,
to show respect for the subject.
When the student is familiar with the prayer they repeat it along with the teacher.
Focusing the study with a prayer helps to recall earlier study, lineage of repetition.
The student is given the meaning later.
After the lesson another prayer is said to offer thanks for the learning and for everybody.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“Krishnamacharya would introduce the Sūtra philosophy
when students were resting during an Āsana practice,
because he felt that this was the only time they had available to them.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“How do we know that the Āsana has served its purpose?”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“The attention is within the posture if we concentrate on the breath.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“A teacher needs to know a students body and state of mind
to prepare a suitable practice,
take into account the particular students problems,
be they physical or psychological.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
“Duḥkha is the expression of a problem.
Duḥkha is an emotion,
it could be an illusion.”
– From study notes with TKV Desikachar England 1992
