What is Viniyoga?
A process of personalizing and adapting Yoga’s tools to the individual.
What does Viniyoga mean?
In Sanskrit, Viniyoga means “appropriate application”. It is a holistic healing discipline that addresses the entire person (body, breath, mind, behaviors, emotions, & spirit) in an interconnected way. In this tradition, the tools of Yoga: āsana (movement & body position), prāṇāyāma (breathing), mantra, Vedic chanting, meditation, and more are modified to meet the individual needs and capacities of each person.
As such, this discipline offers a broad range of tools for supporting health, promoting healing, and facilitating personal development and transformation.
Origins of Viniyoga
Viniyoga is a comprehensive transmission of authentic teachings from the Yoga Master T. Krishnamacharya. His son, T.K.V. Desikachar founded the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM) in Chennai, India where Chase Bossart learned this tradition. Chase studied with Mr. Desikachar for over 20 years.
Viniyoga is the term Mr. TKV Desikachar used to describe the teachings of his father T. Krishnamacharya.
Yoga “according to the ground one stands on”
In the third chapter of the Yogasūtra (III:6), Patañjali uses Viniyoga saying one must practice literally “according to the ground one stands on.”
This is the core of Viniyoga: that all the tools of Yoga be adapted to the individual’s capabilities and needs. Over time, the tools and practices used will evolve, reflecting the internal evolution of the student.
The Yoga Well Institute is grounded in the teachings of Śri T. Krishnamacharya as transmitted through his son Mr. TKV Desikachar. These teachings are rooted in the yoga of Patañjali, the Āyurvedic system of health & wellness and the wisdom of the Vedas; they emphasize the traditional Indian understanding of the human system and how it functions.
Ready to experience and apply the tools of Viniyoga?
Learn the basics of meditation: why it is a critical component of practice, what “meditation” means from a Yoga perspective, and how to meditate. If you ever find your mind wandering or struggle to focus your attention during practice, this is for you.