Vinyasa Krama Yoga
VINYASA = variation in prescribed parameters
KARMA = step
YOGA = unity
From the direct lineage of T. Krishnamacharya
We studied the Vinyasa Krama Yoga method with real understanding with Srivatsa Ramaswami and A.G. Mohan.
The practice of Vinyasa Krama Yoga was described by T. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989). Currently regarded as the father of modern yoga. Many of today's best-known yoga teachers, including B.K.S. Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar and Pattabhi Jois studied with him and modelled their own styles of yoga after his teaching.
Srivatsa Ramaswami was T. Krishnamacharya's longest-standing student (1955-1988). During this 33 years, he learned the entire Vinyasa Krama Yoga from his Guru.
A. G. Mohan started as a disciple of T. Krishnamacharya in 1971 and spent 18 years studying with him personally, until his passing in 1989.
Vinyasa Krama is ‘an intelligent arrangement’ of yoga asana steps done in a systematic manner. It bases that path on what is currently happening in your life, body, and environment, and thereby accurately determines the best means for you to reach your goal.
It is a fundamental concept in yoga having to do with constructing a gradual and intelligent course for our practice, and is important to employ irrespective of whether we are dealing with asana practice, pranayama, or some other aspect of yoga. We start our practice where we are and look toward a certain goal. Then we choose the steps that will lead us toward realizing the goal and will then gradually bring us back into our everyday life. But our daily practice does not return us to the exact place we started. The practice changed us.
In Vinyasa Krama Yoga, there are many variations within 12 sequence. They are taught in a specific order. You are able to access different parts of the body, which you won't do if you do a fixed number of movements, a fixed number of asanas. There are so many different movements that you are likely to reach and exercise all parts of the body. It includes not only varied sequences of asanas (static) with linking movements (dynamic) on the breath in precise order and reflection, but also other aspects of yoga: pranayama, meditation, mantra, bhanava and mudra/bandha. It's a comprehensive practice that purifies, strengthens and gives flexibility to the body, purifies the nervous system, and purifies and stabilizes the functioning of the mind.
Each posture involves a counter-action or sequence of counter-movements which help to preserve the effects of the main asanas and counteract any undesirable aspects, to have proper straightening of the nerves on all sides. This results in a circulatory flow through the energy lines throughout the body.