Where Shadows Bow to Light!

Dearest Friends

As this full moon graces the sky, bathing the night in its gentle silver glow, I invite you to pause and look within. The full moon often brings illumination—not just to the world around us, but to the hidden chambers of our own hearts. It reminds us that we can no longer hide from what lies in the shadows. And often, what we find there is fear—ancient, familiar, and deeply rooted.

Fear is an inefficient teacher. It keeps us circling the same lessons, replaying the same pain, convincing us that staying small is safer than stepping into the unknown. Fear builds comfortable cages, lined with the false security of what we already know. But these cages, no matter how familiar, rob us of growth, authenticity, and peace.

Conversely, faith invites us to move forward—to trust life even when the path is unclear. Faith teaches us to lean into truth, to walk with trembling yet open hearts toward what is real. It whispers that beyond every fear lies freedom, and beyond every uncertainty lies a deeper understanding of who we truly are.

I know this not as a distant ideal, but as lived experience. I, too, have faced my fears—the quiet ones that lingered for years, whispering doubt and resistance. Yet each time I have chosen faith over fear, I have discovered a new layer of freedom, a gentler way of being, and a clearer connection to truth.

So tonight, under this radiant moon, may you remember: an honest and sincere seeker will never be afraid to engage with the truth, no matter how difficult it appears. For truth, once embraced, is the light that dissolves every shadow.

With warmth and faith,

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

The Viniyoga Tradition

Full Moon, 05 Nov 2025

The significant contributions of TKV Desikachar to Yoga

During his fourth presentation in Chiang Mai, Dr. Kausthub Desikachar paid tribute to his father, Śrī T.K.V. Desikachar, the visionary who carried the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya into the modern world. Trained first as an engineer, he brought precision and compassion into Yoga, transforming it into a living, breathing practice accessible to everyone. His work made ancient wisdom feel profoundly relevant to contemporary life.

Among his many contributions, T.K.V. Desikachar opened his father’s teachings to the world, translating Sanskrit philosophy into clear, practical guidance for daily living. He breathed new life into Patañjali’s Yogasūtra, showing it as a map for personal transformation rather than a text of theory. Through his famous stick drawings, he simplified complex āsana sequences into a universal language that teachers around the globe still use today.

Most importantly, he defined the essence of Viniyoga: the art of adapting Yoga to each individual’s age, needs, and circumstances — shifting the focus from physical form to inner function. As a true pioneer of Yoga Therapy, he reintroduced Yoga as a tool for healing and self-care, creating a bridge between ancient tradition and modern well-being.

Through his centres: the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM) in India and the Krishnamacharya Healing & Yoga Foundation (KHYF) internationally — he nurtured thousands of teachers and therapists, ensuring that this lineage continues to serve humanity. He also gave special attention to Yoga for women, honouring their natural cycles and life stages, and built spiritual bridges that united people beyond culture and religion.

T.K.V. Desikachar’s legacy remains simple yet timeless: Yoga must serve the person, not the posture. His teachings remind us that true Yoga begins with listening to the breath, body, and heart.

Participate in our trainings, retreats, and conferences to delve deeper into the rich teachings of Yogācārya T Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar.

His Master’s Voice | Patañjali's Yogasūtra

Audio blog by Dr Kausthub Desikachar

Yogasūtra II.16 - heyaṁ duḥkham-anāgatam

[Anticipate and] avoid suffering that has not yet arrived.

Having made it clear that suffering does not discriminate and affects all beings, Patañjali now offers a way to deal with it. When we anticipate and prepare for a suffering that has not yet occurred, the pain is reduced. We learn to reflect and sometimes (though not always) may be able to avoid suffering altogether. The purpose of Yoga is to reduce suffering and increase clarity, and Kriyāyoga is particularly helpful in this.

Excerpt from Truth Unclouded by TKV Desikachar & Dr Kausthub Desikachar

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

GRATITUDE! 

The Original Superfood for the Spirit!

by Dr Kausthub Desikachar, PhD

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” — Cicero

If gratitude could be bottled and sold as a supplement, it would outsell turmeric lattes, ashwagandha gummies, and kale smoothies combined. However, gratitude doesn't require spending money, chanting in Sanskrit for ten minutes before brewing, or developing a tolerance for bitter greens. Gratitude is free, infinitely renewable, and has zero side effects unless you count increased joy and improved digestion as "side effects."

Yet, despite its accessibility, many of us treat gratitude like flossing: we know we should do it, we feel slightly guilty when we don't, and we manage to rediscover it only when something is painfully out of balance. But when we look closer through the twin lenses of Āyurveda (the science of life and balance) and Viniyoga (a tradition of yoga that adapts practice to the individual rather than bending the individual into pretzel poses), gratitude emerges as a daily necessity and a significant psychological and spiritual healing practice. It can regulate our doṣas, restore our nervous system, and remind us that enlightenment doesn't necessarily require a Himalayan cave—sometimes it begins with feeling grateful for your morning cup of coffee.

Part I: Gratitude in the Context of Modern Psychology

Modern psychology, ever fond of data and brain scans, has joined the gratitude bandwagon in recent decades. Studies show gratitude practices improve mood, sleep quality, and even cardiovascular health. Brain imaging reveals that….

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

Upcoming Courses!

🌙Winter Solstice Masterclass: A journey of reflection, renewal, and light
Date: 21 December 2025 | Online via Zoom

The Winter Solstice marks a sacred moment of stillness, the longest night, before light returns. This online masterclass, guided by Dr Kausthub Desikachar, invites you to honour this cosmic transition through reflection and practice. Drawing from the teachings of Patañjali’s Yogasūtra and the authentic Viniyoga tradition, we’ll explore how ancient wisdom can help us meet modern challenges with peace and clarity.
You’ll experience a holistic practice combining āsana (movement), mantra (chanting), prāṇāyāma (breathwork), and meditation, designed to help you release old patterns, rekindle your inner light, and enter the new season with balance and renewal.

Even if you can’t attend live, the audio recording will allow you to revisit the teachings at your own pace.

Join us for this heartfelt gathering and let the light within guide you forward. https://www.viniyoga.com.sg/winter-soulstice-2025

Mahamudrā Retreat: The Great Mudrā of Yoga (2026)

For practitioners yearning to go deeper, the Mahāmudrā Retreat offers a rare and profound immersion into one of Yoga’s highest teachings — the Great Seal, the ultimate integration of body, mind, and spirit.

Guided by Dr Kausthub Desikachar, this retreat creates space for true stillness, awareness, and awakening through traditional practice, chanting, philosophical exploration, and silence.

Participants will be guided to uncover the inner essence of Yoga beyond technique, touching the depth of meditative presence and insight that lies at its heart.

Click here for more info: viniyoga.com.sg/mahamudra-retreat-2026

Viniyoga Therapy Training – Brussels (2026)

The Viniyoga Therapy Training is a unique opportunity for yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners to study the therapeutic dimension of Yoga in depth.

Rooted in the lineage of T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar, this program integrates ancient wisdom with modern understanding of health and well-being.
Through a carefully structured curriculum, you’ll learn how to design and guide individualised practices that support physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.

Beyond professional skills, this training is also a journey of personal growth — deepening your relationship with Yoga as a living, adaptable, and compassionate practice.

Click here for more info: viniyoga.com.sg/therapy-training-eu-2026