Prāṇa-samyama | Master your vital energies!

A year long immersion into classical Prāṇāyāma practice | Beginning Jan 2022!

“tapo naḥ paramaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ” - There is no greater way to detoxify the body than the practice of Prāṇāyāma - Mahaṛṣi Vedavyāsa

The main focus of all Yogic practices is to allow Prāṇa (vital energy) to move within the body freely and harmoniously. The main reason the different energies don’t move with fluidity is the presence of different kinds of toxins which create blockages to the flow of Prāṇa. When these toxins are eliminated, the flow of Prāṇa becomes subtle through the different Cakra-s, smooth, bringing an array of benefits including health, healing and profound personal transformation that will bring out our best potential.

For this reason, the Yogin-s of the past developed sophisticated techniques to work with the Prāṇa and nurture it in an efficient and profound manner. These special methods include the appropriate sequencing of the steps to work with the different kinds of Prāṇāyāma techniques, as well as using special energetic locks (Mudrā-s & Bandha-s) where necessary and of course the utilization of Mantra-s.

Integrating them into practice would not only bring deeper experiences of Prāṇa but also bring a host of effects that can help us master the vital energies so that they can assist us in fulfilling our life dharma.

It is essential for every sincere Yoga student, and, more importantly, every Yoga teacher, to explore the various dimensions of Prāṇāyāma practice, and witness their benefits on the human body and mind, and thereby allow a better expression of their full potential.

This year-long immersion course has been planned with that focus in mind, allowing a step by step approach to the evolution of classical Prāṇāyāma practice, enhancing it progressively each fortnight.

It is designed in such a manner that serious Yoga practitioners, even those who have learnt and practised Prāṇāyāma for a long time, will be able to discover new life in the practice. Prāṇāyāma-s of all levels will be explored and practised in a progressive manner. It will also be very helpful to Yoga Teachers, to understand how classical Prāṇāyāma needs to be introduced in an appropriate and progressive manner. The program will allow each participant to explore their breath in different dimensions and gain insights into their strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.

Mode of Study

Each fortnight, every second Sunday, a document will be uploaded into the resource centre of this course, which will be in the form of a handwritten practice. Participants can download this course and practice it for a two-week duration. The next fortnight a new practice will be uploaded, which can then be downloaded and practiced for the following two weeks. This procedure will be repeated each fortnight till the end of 2022. A total of 26 practices will be offered during the calendar year.

Each practice will contain simple stick drawings, breath instructions, and the number of repetitions for each sequence. Any other instructions that are relevant will also be written down in the document.

All practices will be designed by Viniyoga lead instructor Dr. Kaustubha Desikachar, and will be in English.

Prior to uploading the first practice, participants will be invited to a group Zoom event, where the guidelines on practice and how to understand the practice sheets will be explained.

Every two months, an online review meeting will be set up via Zoom, where participants can ask questions related to the practices or related to experiences that come out of the practices.

For Best Results

For best results we ask you to consider the following seriously:

1) It is strongly recommended that you practice under the guidance of your Viniyoga mentor so that appropriate modifications can be suggested whenever needed. If you don’t have a Viniyoga mentor, we advise you to find one here - https://khyf-international.com/en/registry/

2) It is suggested that these practices be done only one time per day. Preferably at dawn. If you are unable to wake up at dawn, we suggest you practice it before breakfast or at least two hours after breakfast. If you already have a private practice recommended by your mentor, you could leave a short break between the two, or practice immediately after your personal practice, depending on the advice of your mentor.

3) It is recommended that you have a vegetarian diet. If you are a consumer of meat, we recommend that you consume meat not more than twice a week for best results.

4) It is recommended that you go to bed early, so that you are able to rise early for the practice.

5) It is also recommended not to be under the influence of intoxicants like tobacco, alcohol or any other drugs that may alter your state of mind.

6) It is recommended that you take time and space to fit these practices in your daily schedule, so they are not rushed.

Please Note | The above are only suggestions and follow them or not. However, you must understand that for the best results, following these guidelines would be most helpful.

Please Note Carefully | Each practitioner is responsible for their own health, and must practice not only under the guidance of their mentor, but also with full self-awareness of their body limitations. They must not push themselves beyond what the body allows, as Yoga is meant to be a spiritual practice and not a narcissistic exercise. This is why the guidance of your mentor is strongly recommended. If you harm yourself by pushing yourself beyond your capacity, we are not responsible for any damages that you may incur on yourself. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, kindly discuss them with us honestly with full details, before signing up for the course. If you have doubts about understanding these points, consider that you may not be ready to engage in this immersion course.

Please note that owing to the COVID-19 Crisis, this special price is offered. We are well aware of the financial stress this Coronavirus Crisis is causing to all around the world and we want to be of support. We hope all of you will take the chance to benefit from this special offer and invite you to join this very special course.