Commentaries around
“People come to study Yoga for many reasons,
however it comes into two groups.
1. They come to learn or study (Śikṣaṇa).
2. They come to us for support rather than to study (Rakṣaṇa).
So the Yoga we offer to the person who is inquiring
is not the Yoga we offer to the person seeking protection.
Therefore one can give the wrong advice (Asat Viniyoga) to the right person
and vice versa (Asat Viniyoga).
This can do more harm than if the person had not come.
The intention must be right as must be the execution.”
– TKV Desikachar Switzerland 1978
“This is what Patañjali says in that everything must be given step by step.
Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 6 reflects this idea.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
“The Ācārya has to examine the Sat Viniyoga or Asat Viniyoga,
the right offering or the wrong offering.
If the teacher is able to solve this problem
and establish that the students are serious,
then this is Sat Viniyoga.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
“To give the right thing to the right person
at the right time is Sat Viniyoga.
Don’t look at the file, look at the student!”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
“Sometimes we try to transmit
what we cherish.
This is not Viniyoga.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
“Even in the case of Śikṣaṇa Krama the ancient teachers had steps in the teaching:
- Yukta Śikṣaṇa
The teaching must be appropriate to the intelligence of the individual. - Grahaṇa Śikṣaṇa
Also able to absorb correctly what you have understood.
You must test them, confuse them to see if they have. - Yukta Smaraṇa
The teacher should find out how much the person remembers
what they have understood. - Yukta Abhyāsa
Is how much a person practices what he is given.
To see if he has learnt, understood and practiced. - Yukta Anu Bhāva
Even practice can be mechanical, even if it is regular.
So how much you have learnt from the practice.
What it has taught you. - Yukta Pracāram (skilful spreading)
Finally, you ask the person to transmit what they have received.
The transmission shows the Siddhi of the Sādhana.
This is viniyoga.
These outlines are valid whether Śikṣaṇa or Rakṣaṇa Krama.
If what is given is mechanical it is not viniyoga.
That is why the Viniyoga spirit is very important these days.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
“Viniyoga is an offering.
Every offering presents two aspects:
what is offered and the way it is offered.
Each of these aspects has two sides:
to give and to receive.
When there is harmony between these two sides,
the offering is perfect; it becomes Viniyoga,
like the Viniyoga of Prasādam in a modest temple in India.”
– TKV Desikachar 1983
“Even with my students they teach a posture
because it has been taught to them.
Like a rubber stamp.
This is not Viniyoga.
People have rigid ideas.
For example, why Cakravākāsana for this lady
after Śīrṣāsana, whereas something else,
say Mahāmudrā for somebody else.
So it does not follow what is good for me
is good for everybody.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983
“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
“The spirit of Viniyoga is starting from where one finds oneself.
As everybody is different and changes from time to time,
there can be no common starting point,
and ready-made answers are useless.
The present situation must be examined
and the habitually established status must be re-examined.”
– TKV Desikachar
“We should never forget what Patañjali has said –
Teach according to the strength, resources and weakness of the individual”.
– TKV Desikachar
“It is very sad that the style
has become more important
than the individual”.
– TKV Desikachar
“TKV Desikachar did not teach different people different things.
Nor did he just teach the same thing to different people.
He taught different people the same thing in different ways.
The same could be said of T Krishnamacharya’s teaching.
Hence the context of the phrase the Viniyoga of Yoga.”
“TKV Desikachar taught the viniyoga of Yoga or application of Yoga according to state of life, place, time and circumstance to optimise the student’s potential within that situation as seen from his own, forever evolving, innovating and maturing, developmental teaching thread.”
“The art of Viniyoga presumes that
the five application principles of
what is being taught,
why it is being taught,
when it is being taught
where it is being taught and especially
how it is being taught,
are personally applicable and
socially relevant to
who is being taught.”
“The Viniyoga of Yoga is about a system to teach to a student,
rather than about students to teach a system to.”
“The Viniyoga of Yoga is the art of
learning how to practice,
rather than what to practice.”
“Viniyoga is not a term that can be applied to group class teaching.”
“The concept of the Viniyoga of Yoga is a fundamental hallmark of the teachings of T Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar.
It is the application (viniyoga) of Yoga to the person rather than the person to Yoga.
It requires a profound understanding of only 3 numbers in order for it to work as intended by Krishnamacharya and Desikachar.
121.”
“I feel Krishnamacharya’s strength was not just in contexting ancient Yoga teachings or creating modern postural synthesises utilising Traditional Indian and Contemporary Western resources,
but in the Viniyoga or application of Yoga to the individual student
I feel this was his greatest strength and finest grace with his potential to empower individual students into profound experiences of what Yoga is within and beyond the Pañca Maya.”
“One of the key concepts in the viniyoga of Āsana is how to
facilitate movement in the spine rather than just movement of the spine.”
“The Viniyoga of Yoga perspective is that the role of Śavāsana is
its use as a recovery from the fatigue of the Āsana,
not its use as a recovery from the fatigue of life.”
“The Commercialised in-Corporation of Viniyoga
is in danger of becoming a parody of
the Personalised incorporation of viniyoga.’
“It is ironic when a collective term used to describe
an approach to teaching an individual,
becomes an individual term used to describe
an approach to teaching a collective.”
“Sat Viniyoga
is about learning to do more with less.
Asat Viniyoga
is about learning to do less with more.
Whether Āsana or Students!!”
“The ABC of the Viniyoga of Yoga
is the bespoke long term cultivation of
a personalised, pertinent and progressive
Āsana Practice as a foundation for a separate
Breathing Practice with its own identity alongside a
Chanting Practice to honour teachings and transmission.
Dhyānam is the fabric that time weaves from these related threads.”
Links to Related Posts:
What is the meaning and origin of the concept of the Viniyoga of Yoga?
An introduction to what is the art of the Viniyoga of Yoga Practice
Teaching 121 lessons remained at the heart of Krishnamacharya’s and Desikachar’s priorities
Principles behind why Krishnamacharya only taught adults 121……
Its potentially complex these days when something taught……
Yoga as a View, Practice and Tool – Part Three
The viniyoga of Yoga is about Relationship……
I feel reflecting on the recent three posts on Īśvara Praṇidhānā……
The breadth, depth and potential of Desikachar’s teachings on practice……
The Viniyoga of Āsana Part 4 of 15 – Considerations around the Direction of Āsana Practice
When reflecting on the intimacy of the relationship between Prāṇāyāma and Āsana experientially……
Yoga can be a mystery to be resolved or a question to be solved……
Know your breath and its unique characteristics in Āsana and you will……