Since the establishment of Ashtanga Yoga Lausanne, our teaching enthusiasm is growing day by day. Our intention is to gradually design a practice method that suits the individual according to individual needs.
A yoga teacher must always consider his students and ask, “Is this practice that I am teaching appropriate for this particular student?”
Before a student begins practicing yoga, he/she must ask himself/herself, “Is this practice appropriate for me?”
Underlying all of Krishnamacharya’s teaching was this principle:
“In recommending Yoga practices, teachers should always consider an individual’s particular circumstances. Just as other activities and practices must be adapted to the changes in one’s life, such as age, so too Yoga practices need to be adapted as the practitioner changes.”
– T Krishnamacharya on Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 34
In the bygone days of India, yoga was taught duly considering the individual constitution and immediate day to day living environment. Yoga Rahasya clearly delineates the methodology to be observed by a teacher in individualized application of yoga :
Śloka I-30: “One who is learned, who reflects and who has self control, after examining and analyzing the time, place, age, occupation and strength of the student, must accordingly adapt the teaching of yoga (to the needs of the student).”
Śloka I-31: “With regard to body structure, some people are heavy, some lean, some weak, some crooked and others lame. Therefore, all āsana-s are not suitable for everyone.”
Through adapting has highly stressed the validity of individual teaching. As there are not two identical beings, we respect every individual’s requirement. Any teaching must have the following conditions:
(1) Teachings must consider the situation, place, or country from which the student comes (Deśa).
(2) Each person needs to be taught according to his or her individual constitution, age (Vayaḥ), disposition, etc.(i.e., obese, lean, young, old, etc.) (Deha).
(3) The method of instruction depends on the time of year, the seasons, etc. (Kāla).
(4) Depending on the occupation of the student, he or she will need to be taught different things (e.g., a runner would be taught differently than a philosopher) (Vritti).
(5) One must understand the capacity of the student, how much endurance he or she has, how much memory, how much time to study or practice (Śakti).
(6)The teaching must conform to the direction of the mind (i.e., it must take a person’s interests into account, such as exercise, devotion, God, chanting, etc.) (mârga).
Therefore, we thought: In the modern era, this individual approach should carry forward, isn't it?
It is important to remember that the practice of yoga calls for direction. This direction does not require specific movements or predetermined ends. It does require us to watch cautiously the direction of each step we take in order that we know exactly how and where we are going. These cautious observations will lead to discovery. Whether this discovery leads to a better understanding of ourselves, or more content with life, or therapeutic healthcare, or another goal is a personal matter.
**Book: The Yoga Rahasya of Nathamuni
Publisher: Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation; 2018th edition (April 1, 2018)
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