Mind Your Inner Harvest!

A new moon call to commit to your light and step out of borrowed darkness.

Dear friends,

As we welcome the first new moon of 2026, it arrives at a powerful moment — just as the sun begins its journey northward again. In India, this convergence is considered deeply auspicious. It marks the beginning of the harvest season and the time when daylight steadily grows longer for the next six months. Nature itself reminds us that light is on the rise.

This is an invitation for us to do the same inwardly. Just as farmers prepare their fields to cultivate what will nourish them, we are called to introspect — to harvest the inner light within us and allow it to grow. It is always tempting, and often easier, to feed the dark: old habits, fears, judgments, doubts. Yet the far more valuable investment is to feed our light — our clarity, compassion, steadiness, and wisdom. This is the true purpose of Yoga and every authentic spiritual path: to help us remember who we are beneath the noise.

Today, there is no shortage of drama competing for our attention — from geopolitical conflicts that threaten the very future of our world, to the overbearing entanglements of family, friends and known associates. So much of this turbulence is born from ego-based illusions, stories not anchored in reality — not rooted in satya, truth — and when we are not careful, we get pulled into storms that were never ours to navigate.

In modern life, the challenge has multiplied. We are not only accustomed to feeding our own darkness, but also to being pulled into the dramas and darkness of others’ stories, conflicts, and anxieties over which we have no control, responsibility, or real power to change. Without realising it, we can lose precious energy there. That is why staying anchored in our inner light is not a luxury; it is an essential commitment. The very first word of the Yogasūtra, atha — “now” or “commitment” — reminds us that the path begins the moment we choose to stay present and devoted to our inner work.

I share this not as theory, but from experience. I have faced this struggle many times — being distracted by darkness, my own and others’. Only later did I understand these moments as tests carrying important lessons. The more I choose to remain in my light now, the better person I become, and the better example I can be for the students I am honoured to guide.

May this first new moon be a fresh beginning for us all — a quiet, steady turning toward the light.

Namaste 🙏

New Moon Day, 18 January 2026

PILGRIMAGE OF SOUND!

THE VINIYOGA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2027!
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Following the phenomenal success of the Celebration of Viniyoga Conference earlier in 2025, we are delighted to announce our next international Viniyoga Conference, to be held in January 2027 in the beautiful city of Chiang Mai, Thailand. This special gathering, titled “Pilgrimage of Sound,” will take place at a serene, one-of-a-kind resort, with conference spaces nestled within a lush botanical garden—an ideal environment for reflection, connection, and inspiration.

This conference offers a heartfelt opportunity to immerse ourselves in the rich and living tradition of Viniyoga, rooted in the teachings of Yogācārya T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar. It will be an especially meaningful occasion as we come together to celebrate the 80th birthday of Śrī Menaka Desikachar.

Menaka Desikachar is today the seniormost living teacher in the Viniyoga tradition, carrying forward the lineage with grace, depth, and unwavering dedication. Over decades of teaching, especially through her profound transmission of Vedic chanting, she has touched the hearts of countless students worldwide. Her presence embodies the living continuity of the tradition, and this conference will be a rare and precious opportunity to come together in gratitude — to honour her life, her teachings, and her 80 remarkable years.

We are also thrilled to share that many senior Viniyoga faculty from around the world have already confirmed their participation. Their presence will make this an extraordinary event—one that promises depth of learning, shared wisdom, and collective inspiration.

Beyond learning and practice, this conference will be a unique chance to meet fellow practitioners and teachers from across the globe, to build friendships within the tradition, and to exchange ideas on how Viniyoga is understood and practiced in different cultural contexts. It will be a true international meeting of minds and hearts.

The conference dates are 21–24 January 2027, with a special pre-conference program planned for 18–20 January 2027.

We invite you to mark your calendars and hold these dates. More details will be shared soon (probably in the next newsletter, so you can start making the reservations)—we look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a deeply meaningful, joyful, and memorable gathering.

More information will be available soon on www.viniyoga.com.sg 

Mantra | Śrī Hanumān-gāyatrī-mantra

Hanumān is an important character in Indian mythology. He is among the most popular deities in the Vedic culture and is revered equally in India and many Asian countries. He has also inspired the creation of local deities in different countries such as Sun Wukong (Monkey King) in China.

Śrī Hanumān

His heroics in the epic Rāmāyaṇa have inspired people of all generations and ages. He is considered to have a heart filled with purity, devotion and strength. His unwavering devotion to Rāma is considered a great model of Aphala-prapatti (surrender without expectation).

This mantra is the Hanumān-gāyatrī-mantra and has the power to remove our fears and instil great confidence. Listen to it about 9 times, thrice a day, at sunrise, sunset and dusk.

The Viniyoga® tradition offers one of the most comprehensive and respected Therapy training programmes in the world, providing in-depth instruction in applying the holistic principles of Yoga as a complementary healing system. This programme is ideally suited for those who aspire to become Yoga Therapists, as well as for practitioners who wish to design individualised Yoga Therapy processes for students with diverse health conditions or concerns.

Recognised as one of the world’s most advanced Yoga Therapy training courses, the Viniyoga® Therapy programme embodies the teachings of Dr. Kausthub Desikachar. It equips practitioners with a wide range of Yoga tools and techniques, enabling a truly personalised and adaptive approach for every individual.

Beyond being purely informational, this training is profoundly transformational. It offers a complex, experiential understanding of Yoga as a holistic healing system while guiding participants on a deep spiritual journey of self-development. Through this process, trainees are invited to upgrade themselves from within — to refine awareness, cultivate clarity, and bring forth their highest healing potential in service of others and themselves.

Whether you are seeking to become a qualified Yoga Therapist or to develop personalised therapy processes for your own growth and for others, this programme provides the knowledge, experience, and inner transformation to support that path.

We are pleased to inform you that we have two new training batches starting this year. Choose the one that is suitable for you to join! Registrations open and are already flowing in!

Our Vedic Chant Teacher Training program has become popular worldwide, offering people the chance to learn and become teachers of Vedic chanting. We are one of the few organisations to offer this certification and have conducted this program in many countries worldwide.

Following the holistic teachings of T. Krishnamacharya, we have structured the practice of this ancient Viniyoga tradition into a well-organised course of study. The teaching method is traditional, with chants taught orally to students.

The main faculty for the program will be Mrs Menaka Desikachar, and ably assisted by her long-term students.