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Basic Understanding on the Theory of Prāṇāyāma Followed by a Practice

One of Yoga’s most subtle and yet deeply powerful tools is Prāṇāyāma. In fact, Śrī T Krishnamacharya highlights the practice of Prāṇāyāma as one of the highest forms of Tapas, or discipline done to eliminate impurities from all dimensions of the body. Prāṇāyāma, when properly and systematically practiced, under the guidance on an experienced teacher, can offer diverse physical and mental health benefits.

Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram announces for the first time, a hundred hour certificate course in Yogasūtra and select commentaries.

The importance of Patañjali’s Yogasūtra as a source text for all students and teachers of Yoga can never be over emphasised. Beyond its relevance in a philosophical context, the Yogasūtra is also a remarkable work that offers deep insights into the human mind, its functioning, cognitive processes, its limitations and also the possibilities when  honed to its highest potentials.

The Yogasūtra, believed to be well over two millennia old marks the oldest extant complete text on Yoga, comprising  195 spread across four chapters. As an ancient Indian philosophical text, the Yogasūtra also offers some of the most nuanced and practical approaches to understanding human thought and behaviour, being innately applicable to any time, situation or context that we may find ourselves in. This makes it a text that offers great value not just to those with an interest in Yoga but to anyone who has an interest in understanding human motivation, personality, emotion and behaviour.

Given the unseen depth that is hidden behind short capsule like aphorisms, the commentarial literature on Yogasūtra that spans several millennia also offers a wealth of insight in not just unravelling the Yogasūtra, but also understanding the core teachings from multiple perspectives.

This 100 plus hours course offers participants an opportunity to study each Sutra at depth, also weaving together essential teachings from Vyāsabhāṣyam, along with several other sub commentaries and independent commentaries including Śrī Krishnamacharya’s Yogavallī and the interpretations of Śrī TKV Desikachar.The course will be taught by Nrithya Jagannathan, Director, KYM Institute of Yoga Studies. Widely recognised as an expert in the domain of Yogasūtra studies, Nrithya has studied the Yogasūtra under Śrī  TKV Desikachar and other senior mentors of the KYM multiple times over the last 23 years. She will anchor this course and also conduct the assessments at the end of each module.

This course would equip teachers of Yoga with the necessary knowledge to thoroughly understand and also teach the Yogasūtra to others.

At the end of each module, participants will be given a short break during which they would be required to take up and online assessment and submit an essay on the chapter completed.  Successful completion of all assessments would be required for final certification.

Video recordings will be made available for a limited period to all registered participants, the schedule of which will be shared.

The International conference on Yoga Texts, Traditions & Practice - A Pedagogical Exploration was hosted by the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram on March 29 & 30^th 2024.

In the opening keynote address, Dr Nagaraj Paturi likened the endeavour of Yoga pedagogy to a trekking expedition arranged by an educational institution, where the documentation can at most capture mundane logistical details, and live experience alone provides breath-taking sights and moments of elevation. The presentations by Dr. Vinayachandra Banavathy and Śrī Megh Kalyanasundaram were on Yoga in the textual trail from antiquity and in recent historiography, with a special emphasis on Dhyāna. The sustained traditional importance of Yoga praxis in accordance with Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava-āgama texts was expounded by Dr. T Ganesan and Śrī Abhinav Kadambi. The temple ecosystem as a setting for the thriving of Yoga Sādhanā  was the topic of an expert panel featuring Dr. Deepa Duraiswamy, Dr. Ramadevi Sekhar and Śrī Sushant Bharti. Śrīmati Nrithya Jagannathan spoke of the historic contribution of Śrī T Krishnamacharya and Śrī TKV Desikachar as teachers, in interpreting and transmitting Yoga texts with authenticity, and simultaneously making the timeless teaching relevant to contemporary practitioners.

The second day's proceedings began with a timely special address by Dr. R Elangovan on the importance of continuing education for those pursuing Yoga academics. Dr. M Jayaraman addressed the unbroken traditions represented by the Guruparaṁparā, stressing on the need for a competent teacher’s guidance in interpreting the Śāstra-s, to avoid distortions arising out of a contextual disconnect. Śrī S Sridharan shared the teaching of Śrī T Krishnamacharya on Dhyānam, tracing continuity in structure while rendering the practice accessible to the modern-day practitioner. Dr. Shilpa Pandit emphasised the essential integration of mind and body for holistic wellness, while Dr. Latha Satish outlined the necessity for Yoga therapists to deepen their skills of observation and diagnostics with attention and empathy. Dr A V Balasubramanian in an anecdote-filled oration showcased how Śrī Krishnamacharya and Śrī Desikachar lived what they taught.

Transitioning from texts and tradition into practice and applications, senior therapists of the KYM presented case studies showcasing KYM’s approach to Yogacikitsā, an individual-centric process, evolving to suit the needs of the care-seeker while not deviating from the fundamental principles of Yoga Śāstra. A panel on the future directions of Yoga Pedagogy in a scenario of Yoga’s increasing popularity and the proliferation of Yoga certification followed, with speakers highlighting the need for adaptability rooted in tradition without injustice to the timeless teachings of Yoga.

Both days ended with practice sessions of guided meditation, by Śmt. Padmini Narendran and Śrī S Sridharan.

Pañca Prāṇa Dhāraṇā

A Practice Integrated Study of Mukhyaprāṇa and the Pañcamahāprāṇa

At the heart of health, wellness, vitality and longevity lies an understanding of Mukhyaprāṇa and its functional aspects of Apāna, Vyāna, Udāna and Samāna. The importance of Prāṇa can never be understated and there is ample literature that demonstrates the remarkable interconnectedness of Prāṇa, Śarīra, Citta, Indriya and Ātma. While Prāṇa in and of itself is the subtlest essence of cosmic energy that pervades our world, the vehicle that makes Prāṇa circulate to be flowing unimpeded through our body is the breath. Yoga, specifically, Prāṇāyāma is one of the most effective methods to harnesses, regulate and enhance the flow of Prāṇa, making Prāṇāyāma quite literally the precious key that unlocks the doors to sustained health and wellness. 

This programme covers in detail the philosophical aspects that underpin the relevance of Prāṇā, textual references to Prāṇa and Prāṇāyāma, an overview of the Pañcamaya Śarīra that is powered by the Prāṇāyāma, Pañcamahāprāṇa and Pañcaupaprāṇa, weaving this theoretical foundation with guided practices of Prāṇāyāma using classical techniques of Prāṇāyāma along with Mantra, Mudrā, Nyāsam, Bandha and Bhāvana.

This programme was anchored by Ms. Nrithya Jagannathan, Director, KYM Institute of Yoga Studies and Śrī V Srinivasan, Executive Director, KYM.