Dear Readers,

As we gather under the glow of this full moon—the final one of the year—I invite you to pause with me and reflect on the quiet blessings that have carried us to this moment. Full moons often illuminate more than the night sky; they reveal the contours of our inner world, reminding us to acknowledge the grace that has filled our lives and hearts in ways both subtle and profound.

It is natural that many of our expectations may have gone unmet this year. We all carry dreams that didn’t unfold as we hoped, plans that shifted, and desires that remained just out of reach. I understand this deeply. In my own past, I often lived more in the world of expectation than in the truth of what was right in front of me. That constant striving left me drained, disconnected, and unable to appreciate the goodness already present in my life.

Yoga gently teaches us a different path: that contentment—santosha—is a form of inner freedom. Happiness grows not from grasping at what we lack, but from honoring what we have. When I began to truly practice gratitude for the reality before me, rather than the vision in my mind, something shifted. Life became more spacious. My health improved. And joy showed up in the simplest places.

Tonight’s moon offers that same invitation to you.

If you feel called, recite this short gratitude prayer to help anchor your days in meaning:

I am grateful for the blessings already within and around me.
I invite gratitude to open my heart to peace.
I let go of the expectations of what has not come to be.
I welcome the grace of what is.
I am grateful for all the positive experiences of this year.
I am thankful for the lessons learnt from the challenges that came by.
And most importantly, I accept that the plan is perfect, even though it's not my plan!

May this full moon bring you clarity, contentment, and a renewed appreciation for the life you are already living.

With warmth and sincerity,

Dr Kausthub Desikachar, M.Sc, M.M.S, PhD

The Viniyoga Tradition

Full Moon, 05 Dec 2025

Embodying Dharma as a healing practice

In his fifth presentation in Chiang Mai earlier this year at the Celebration of Viniyoga conference, Dr Kausthub Desikachar explored the profound connection between dharma (our essential nature and inner purpose) and the process of healing. He reminded us that suffering often arises when we drift away from who we truly are, and that healing begins the moment we realign with our svadharma: our unique path. Drawing on Yoga, Āyurveda, and the philosophy of Viśiṣṭādvaita, he described dharma not as a rigid moral code but as a state of alignment in which our actions, breath, choices, and inner wisdom move in the same direction.

From the Viniyoga perspective, embodying dharma means living with presence and intention. It means recognising that each person has a distinct constitution, rhythm, and life context and that Yoga must adapt accordingly. Practices such as āsana, prāṇāyāma, mantra, and meditation become tools for grounding, clarifying, and reconnecting with our deeper truth. Āyurveda reinforces this by teaching that illness emerges when we stray from our natural balance, and that health is restored by returning to our innate nature, supporting vitality (ojas) and clarity (sattva).

Dr Kausthub Desikachar emphasised that the heart (hṛdaya) is the seat of dharma: the place where true guidance arises. When we listen inwardly, we begin to act from clarity rather than conditioning. And this inner alignment naturally extends outward: to our relationships, our communities, and our environment. Dharma is not only personal; it is ecological and social, reminding us that harmony within contributes to harmony around us.

Ultimately, embodying dharma is a daily, living practice. It’s less about fixing and more about remembering, choosing small actions that reflect our truth and nourish balance. With the integrated tools of Viniyoga, Āyurveda, and Vedānta, we learn to move through the world with purpose.

When we live our dharma, Dr Kausthub Desikachar concluded, we not only heal ourselves: we become agents of healing for the world.

His Master’s Voice | Patañjali's Yogasūtra

Yogasūtra II.17 - draṣṭṛ-dṛśyayoḥ saṁyogaḥ heya-hetuḥ

The cause of what is to be avoided, [suffering,] is the intimate union of the Seer and the seen.

In each of us, there exists the Seer, whose function is to perceive and experience this world, and fulfil our Dharma. To achieve this, It is given an instrument of perception that includes the body, mind and senses, which can be seen. Owing to their close relationship, over time we become unable to distinguish between them. This confusion is the cause of suffering.

Excerpt from Truth Unclouded by TKV Desikachar & Dr Kausthub Desikachar

Listen to an audio explaining this aphorism:» Click the Play button below

THE ZEN OF BEING THE ZEN OF BEING UNCOMFORTABLE 

Why Your Spiritual Path Really Begins Where Your Comfort Zone Ends

by Dr Kausthub Desikachar, PhD

For many people, the spiritual path begins with a sense of longing — a quiet intuition that there is more to life than our habits, histories, and conditioned responses. Yet the very moment we take our first step toward transformation, we also meet the invisible boundary of the comfort zone. In Yoga and Āyurveda, this boundary is not merely psychological; it is a woven tapestry of past conditioning, trauma, doṣic tendencies, family imprinting, and learned defensive strategies. And it is here, on this threshold, that true spiritual evolution begins.

In the teachings of the Viniyoga tradition of Sri T. Krishnamacharya, TKV Desikachar, growth is understood not as a dramatic leap into the unknown, but as a conscious, compassionate expansion of one’s capacity to meet life. Discomfort, in this sense, is not a sign of danger but an indicator that something in us is being asked to awaken.

Āyurveda adds that stepping out of the comfort zone is also a biological process. The mind and body adapt to familiarity because it conserves energy and reduces perceived threats. When we challenge these patterns — even gently — the doshas shift, old samskaras surface, and the nervous system renegotiates its sense of safety.

This article explores why stepping beyond the comfort zone is essential for spiritual growth and how five common signs of stagnation can help us recognise where we are stuck. It also highlights….

To read the full article, you may click below to download the PDF File>

Don’t miss Winter SOULstice 2025

A Journey of Reflection, Renewal & Light Date: 21 December 2025 | Online via Zoom

As the year slowly closes and the days grow shorter, Winter SOULstice invites us to pause, reflect and reconnect with our inner light. On 21 December 2025, join Viniyoga for a special online masterclass led by Dr. Kausthub Desikachar. This unique event blends asana, pranayāma, mantra and meditation with teachings drawn from the timeless wisdom of the Yoga Sūtra, guiding you to let go of what no longer serves, and prepare your mind, body and spirit for a new beginning.

The session is accessible for all levels, recorded for replay. Let’s welcome the return of light together. https://www.viniyoga.com.sg/winter-soulstice-2025

Don’t miss our 2026 Online Studies

1. The Yogayājñavalkya-saṁhitā – “The Yoga Treatise of Śrī Yājñavalkya”

The Yogayājñavalkya-saṁhitā is one of the most important and revered texts of Yoga. This programme explores a profound dialogue between the sage Śrī Yājñavalkya and his wise wife Śrī Gārgī, guiding you through a twelve-chapter classical text that spans the full breadth of Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga and more. Held online yet rooted in tradition, it offers two 50-minute sessions each month, all recorded for later viewing. Verses are chanted, meanings unpacked, and practical application discussed so the teachings become lived, not merely studied. Whether you teach, study, or simply want a practice with depth, begin in January 2026 and engage with one of yoga’s great classical voices.

2. The Taittirīya Upaniṣad Ongoing Studies

The Taittirīya Upaniṣad offers Yoga students a doorway into the deeper foundations of practice, revealing the human being from the physical to the subtle and blissful. This programme blends traditional Vedic chanting with study of the text’s meanings and spiritual insights into dharma, nourishment, gratitude, and the Self. Under the guidance of Dr. Kausthub Desikachar, teaching within a respected lineage, students receive both instruction and transmission. Beginning January 2026, classes meet twice monthly for 45–50 minutes, with recordings provided. Entry is limited to those prepared to uphold the Niyamas, ensuring the sanctity and integrity of this sacred study.

3. The Āsana-Prāṇa-Jayam Year-long Immersion

Yoga views the body as a sacred home for divine consciousness, making its holistic care a primary dharma. Classical Yogin-s created Āsana-s to vitalise and purify the body, but true mastery goes beyond technique: it requires breath-centred, integrated practice. This 52-week immersion guides sincere practitioners through a progressive evolution of classical Āsana, combining postures with specific Prāṇāyāma ratios that intensify and internalise the work. Students move from simple to advanced ratios, discovering new depth even in familiar postures. Designed for dedicated students and teachers alike, the course strengthens the body, refines energy, and supports personal and spiritual growth.