The tradition
The yoga practice is adapted to the potentials and limitations of the practitioner
The programme to be practiced by each individual is designed, drawing from a comprehensive array of postural exercises, breathing patterns, meditation practices and mantras. The design is based upon the individual’s capacity, age, strength or ailments. It is not a standard set of exercises which every one does. In this way yoga is adapted to help fulfil the goals of the practitioner. The practitioner doesn’t have to force herself to practice things which do not clearly help her or which even bring about physical or mental stress. At the end of each lesson the practitioner is given a sheet guiding him through all the exercises he can practice at home.
The focus of the teaching is on one of the three aspects:
Shaktikrama
promoting strength and health. With the help of Asasas and Pranayamas, the student is led step by step into exploring the limits of his postural and breathing capacities. The goal is to develop strength, vitality and resistance power.
Chikitsakrama
overcoming weaknesses or ailments. Here we adapt the techniques of yoga – physical movements, breathing exercises, mental reflections or voice exercises using mantras – according to the needs and capacities of the student, to help resolve the debilities and their psychosomatic symptoms.
Adhyatmakrama
moving towards mental calmness and meditation. Aspercts of Yoga studies which include breathing techniques, mantras, comtemplative practices, text study and meditation which concur with the incliantions of the practitioner are taught to move towards a reflective and inwardly drawn mind.
The breath, or Prana, the essence of life, is at the core of all techniques.
Asanas and Vinyasas will always be coordinated with slow and long breathing with or without holding the breath. This helps to bring about a resonance between body and mind, because both mental as well as physical wellbeing depend on the wellbeing of the breath
For the therapeutic application of asanas too it is very important to learn to breathe slowly and harmoniously. That resolves wrong breathing patterns and makes the breath calm and thereby the mind calm too. Breath control is essential also for learning to meditate for reducing the distractions of the mind and making it alert and capable of meditation.
My teaching methods take these concepts of Sri T. Krishnamacharya – which I have learnt from my teacher Sri T.K.V. Desikachar – into account.
Yogasutra
Yogasutra The most important figure in the history of yoga is Patanjali,
who has composed the prime text on Yoga, Yogasutra around 2000 years ago.
A fair knowledge of this scripture is essential for every yoga teacher.
It reminds us of the main goal of yoga – to recognize one’s own illusions and weaknesses and to work against them with the help of the yoga practice.
Yogasutra offers us many simple but precise concepts for physical and mental practices.
Here are two examples:
Doing slow and complete exhalations helps us reduce stress and regain mental balance. (Yogasutra 1.34)
Consider two details, when you do physical exercises:
a) put effort into the exercises but remain relaxed,
b) keep the mind focussed on something constant. (Yogasutra 2.47)