Yogācārya T Kṛṣṇamācārya’s practicing Samantraka-āsana | Circa 1960s
In Yogic understanding, the body is the temple or home of the divine consciousness (Paramātma) and should therefore be treated with great respect. And if the body is the temple, the practice should be a prayer. It is for this reason that the Yogin-s of the past utilized the subtle tool of Mantra in all Yogic practices so that the practice would become a prayer. Mantra-s are powerful sacred sounds that contain hidden power to bring about our best potential and also to balance the energetic domains of the subtle layers of the body. In the classical tradition of Yoga, consistent with the teachings of Mahaṛṣi Patañjali, all Yogic practices utilized Mantra-s. That is why all of them were called Samantraka-sādhana (practice with Mantra).
Not only did these make the practices more spiritual, but there were also numerous other benefits to Mantra in practices. These include changing the effect of practices, healing from different illnesses, influencing subconscious structures, and balancing energy in the various Cakra-s among many others.
The classical practice of Āsana involved practicing of these positions with conscious breath regulation and the recitation of sacred Mantra-s. This type of practice was called Samantraka-āsana. This is how Yogācārya T Krishnamacharya taught some of his closest and most intimate disciples, consistent with their Adhikāra-s (spiritual eligibilities).
This kind of traditional practice combined body, breath and mind, thereby creating a holistic and potent experience for the practitioner. This union of body, breath and mind is one of the meanings of the word Yoga, which means to link or to unite.
As time evolved, the secrets of these Samantraka practices have diminished greatly and are now known only among very few teachers.
It is essential for every sincere Yoga student, and, more importantly, every Yoga teacher, to learn, practice and experience the classical form of Āsana practice and explore its powerful benefits on our body.
To know more about how the Viniyoga tradition uses Mantra in Āsana and Prāṇāyama, kindly watch this video —->
This year-long immersion course has been planned to lead healthy and sincere practitioners, step by step, into classical Āsana practice, intensifying it progressively each fortnight.
It is designed in such a manner that serious Yoga practitioners, even those who have learnt and practised Āsana-s for a reasonable length of time, will be able to discover new life in the practice. Āsana-s of all levels will be explored and practised progressively along with sacred Mantra-s that hold great power and potency. It will also be very helpful to Yoga Teachers, to understand how classical Āsana needs to be introduced appropriately and progressively together with Mantra-s.
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 2024. A total of 26 practices will be offered during the calendar year. The first practice will be uploaded on 07 January 2024!
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.
The audio recording of the Mantra used for that practice will also be uploaded in the resource centre for participants to download and use as a reference to pronounce the Mantra-s correctly.
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 cannot 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 should have at least three hours between the two practices.
3) It is strongly recommended that you have a Vegetarian diet. If you are a meat consumer, 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 can rise early for the practice.
5) It is also recommended not to be under the influence of intoxicants like tobacco, alcohol or other drugs that may alter your mind.
6) It is recommended that you take time and space to fit these practices in your daily schedule, and not do it in a rush.
Please Note | The above are only suggestions and you are at your own discretion to 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 with us honestly with full details, before signing up for the course. If you have doubts about understanding these points, consider that you are not ready to engage in this immersion course.
Investment - €55 per month
Payments can be made through Bank Transfer using IBAN or Credit Card.
All Credit Card payments will be charged only in Singapore Dollars (A 5% Transaction Fee will be added to all Credit Card Payments).
Payments can also be made in the following other currencies through Bank Transfer - British £ (£50) | Australian $ (A$90) | New Zealand $ (NZ$95)
Once we receive your email, we will start sending the invoices at the beginning of each month.