Dear Friends,

Namaste!

As we welcome this new moon, I invite you to pause and look inward — not with judgment, but with gentle reflection. Retrospective wisdom is one of the greatest gifts we can offer ourselves. So often, we look back on our missteps with shame or regret, but what if we saw them instead as teachers? Each past mistake, no matter how painful, carries within it the seed of growth — a message not of failure, but of possibility.

Maturity isn’t the absence of error. It’s the ability to recognise where we’ve stumbled and choose differently the next time. It’s not about striving for perfection, but about cultivating awareness — learning to respond, rather than react; to grow, rather than repeat. The past cannot be changed, but it can be mined for wisdom that shapes our present and our future with more profound compassion and clarity.

I recently realised how many decisions I made earlier in my life that I could have made differently. However, I did not have this wisdom earlier, and I acted based on what I knew and felt was the best I could do. It is also true that I cannot change the past. But I can certainly look forward to creating and living a different life, having learnt from the errors of the past.

I realised that wisdom isn’t living life perfectly, but instead learning from the mistakes we have made in our lives. I have learnt many profound lessons over the past few years, and I am trying to honour them and live a more diligent life. Invaluable lessons from each of these blunders have been instrumental in shaping who I am today. And I am grateful for that!

I invite you to share this reflection with me and grow in your own life's journey by looking at your past and learning from it.

This new moon is a quiet but powerful reminder: from darkness, light emerges. Though its face is hidden now, it begins its gentle return, waxing each night, barely perceptible at first, until it becomes full once more. In this way, it mirrors our path. We, too, can add just a sliver of light each day — a new insight, a kinder habit, a moment of grace — until we feel more whole.

So let us not chase giant leaps. Let us honour the steady work of becoming. Let us forgive our former selves, thank them for their lessons, and step forward illuminated by what we’ve learned. Every small flicker of awareness, every effort to do better, is enough.

May this lunar cycle remind you: you are always becoming. And even the tiniest light can guide you home.

Your fellow traveller…

Dr Kausthub Desikachar, MSc, MMS, PhD

The Viniyoga Tradition

27 May 2025. New Moon

Luminary | Tirumalai Kṛṣṇamācārya

The quiet force behind modern Yoga

You know how we often think yoga is all stretchy leggings, downward dogs, and smoothie bowls? Well, let’s rewind. Before yoga studios popped up on every corner, there was Tirumalai Kṛṣṇamācārya (now known around the world as Śrī T. Krishnamacharya), a humble genius who probably never imagined how far his teachings would travel.

Born in 1888 in South India, Krishnamacharya was a scholar, healer, and yogi who could stop his heartbeat at will. But what made him truly revolutionary was not his superhuman control; it was his profound understanding of the human condition.

Krishnamacharya believed yoga wasn’t one-size-fits-all. Instead, it should adapt to the individual: your age, your body, your life. Sound familiar? That’s because most of modern yoga, from Vinyasa to Iyengar to Viniyoga, traces back to him and his students (yes, even the famous ones like B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, Indra Devi, and his own son, T.K.V. Desikachar and grandson, Kausthub Desikachar).

He revolutionised Yoga in the 20th century and made it accessible to everyone. He was an outstanding Vedic scholar who was versed in all six philosophies of Indian thought, as well as in other Vedic disciplines such as Ayurveda and Astrology.

Later in life, he opened the doors of Vedic Chanting, previously reserved only for male Brahmins, to every sincere student, regardless of age, religion, nationality, caste, or gender. He stood for a profound yet practical approach to Yoga, where all the tools of Yoga are implemented and wisely adapted to meet the needs, abilities, goals and requirements of each individual. He understood the body not just as a physical construct, but as part of a holistic entity.

He propagated a Yoga that is not superficial but works on and with the subtle aspects of energy, what the Yogis call Prana. During his life he showed that Yoga can be used as a holistic practice, a way of life that connects body, mind and spirit, a spiritual path, and also as a highly potent healing tool. Apart from being a Yoga Teacher, Krishnamacharya was known as a powerful healer and helped many people with ailments in body, mind and spirit.

But beyond the asanas, Krishnamacharya saw yoga as a path of inner refinement. Not something to show off on Instagram, but a lifelong tool to heal, evolve, and ultimately remember who you are.

Maybe that’s his real gift not the headstands, but the heart-stand. The way he reminds us that our breath, attention, and sincerity are enough. That yoga doesn’t need to be impressive. It just needs to be true.

His work and its impact is not yet fully understood by the Yoga world. Hopefully the world carried on by his successors will eventually reveal the true depth of his contributions in the field of Health, Healing and Spirituality.

For these and many more reasons, we honour him as a Yoga luminary of this month!

Divya-deśa | Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram, tucked in Tamil Nadu, is known as the “City of a Thousand Temples” and yes, it really feels like every corner has a story, a shrine, or a sacred cow.

One of India’s most auspicious places, Kanchipuram has drawn seekers, yogis, and saints for centuries. It’s home to powerful temples like the Śrī Kamakshi Amman Temple, dedicated to the divine feminine, and Śrī Ekambareswarar Temple, where Lord Shiva is worshipped as the Earth element, one of India’s five sacred elemental sites. Nearby, the Śrī Varadarāja Perumāl Temple adds a calm and grounding energy, devoted to Lord Vishnu.

It is considered one of the holiest cities in India, mainly due to the number of Divyadeśa-s (holy temples) present. One can visit a different temple each day of the year and still not complete them all within a year. That is how sacred this city is!

But Kanchipuram isn’t just about rituals, it’s about presence. The scent of incense, the rhythm of bells, the quiet moments in temple courtyards... everything invites you inward.

It’s a place that reminds us that the sacred isn’t somewhere else…it’s right here, in the dust, the devotion, and the stillness between sounds.

Deva | Śakti

Śakti is the divine feminine power: the source, the force, the pulse behind all of creation. She’s not just a goddess; she’s the energy that makes everything move, from the galaxies in the sky to the breath in our bodies.

In Hindu philosophy, Śakti isn’t separate from the divine masculine (like Śiva), but rather the dynamic expression of it. If Śiva is pure consciousness, then Śakti is the movement of that consciousness. She’s flow, change, creation, and destruction all rolled into one. She’s the ultimate multitasker.

Śakti shows up in many forms: as Durga’s fierce protection, Lakshmi’s abundance, Saraswati’s wisdom, Kali’s transformative fire. She reminds us that feminine energy isn’t just soft or nurturing, it’s wild, bold, and full of knowing. She is the force that births worlds and breaks barriers. And honestly, she feels especially relevant right now.

Investing in yourself through a yoga therapy training is a beautiful way to connect deeply with this energy. It’s not just about learning techniques, it’s about tuning into a whole new dimension of understanding, connecting the dots between your body, mind, spirit, and the divine in ways that open new pathways for healing and growth. It’s a commitment to your well-being, your goals, and your inner transformation.

While you connect with Śrī Śakti, listen to this chant dedicated to Śrī Durgā, titled Śrī Durgāsūktam rendered by Dr Kausthub Desikachar.

Mantra | Śrī Navagraha-pīḍāhara-stotram

The Vedic tradition holds that our health is not just influenced by life on earth, but also by the cosmic influences of planetary positions, which we are affected by based on our astrological horoscope. The view of traditional systems like Yoga and Āyurveda is that many of our illnesses are dependent on the predispositions we have, which is again based on the strength of each of the nine houses of Astrology.

There are many mantras to honour the nine houses, both individually and collectively. This chant, titled Navagraha-pīḍāhara-stotram, is an offering to all the Navagrahas collectively. It requests them to pacify the disharmony in each of the nine houses of our astrological chart, so that we are relieved of the illnesses consequent to these disturbances.

Listen to this chant twice a day, at sunrise and sunset time.

Ready to go beyond ordinary yoga?

The Viniyoga Therapy Training Program in Italy!

Starting in September 2025!

Step into a truly transformational journey with Dr. Kausthub Desikachar’s Viniyoga Therapy Training—a deep dive into Yoga’s classical roots that empowers you with real wisdom, healing tools, and personal growth.

This isn’t just another certificate. It’s a return to authentic Yoga—personalized, therapeutic, and rooted in a sacred lineage.

Why this training stands apart:

✅ Lineage-Based & Authentic – Learn undiluted, classical Yoga from a trusted source.
✅ Deeply Transformational – Move beyond theory into healing, self-discovery, and real change.
✅ Made for Teachers & Professionals – Perfect for Yoga instructors and healthcare providers seeking true impact.

If you're ready for more than surface-level learning, this is your path.
Join Dr. Desikachar and experience Yoga Therapy as it was meant to be.

Imagine immersing yourself in delicious Italian cuisine, enjoying great company, soaking up beautiful weather, and experiencing everything that makes Italy pure magic. It’s like a bubble of transformation where the food, people, and sun create the perfect environment to tune in to yourself and others. And honestly, it’s Italy…once in a lifetime experience, a moment to take a leap of faith and step into a little bit of magic.

No worries for non-Italian speakers; the training will be taught in English by Dr Desikachar, with translation into Italian.