Subtle Anatomy Education

​• Thoracoabdominal Breathing, How to Affect the Subtle Body with Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, and Dharaṇa
• Yogic and Āyurvedic constitution, Formal Prāṇāyāma Techniques, Therapeutic Chants in Āsana and Prāṇāyāma 
• Yogic Anatomy of the Mind, Understanding Yogic Meditation, Bhāvana, Trauma through a Yogic Lens, The Yoga Sūtra-s

The Vedic teachings about breath and breathing, our human constitution, our physiology, our mind, the deeper Self, meditation, visualization, and healing are deep and incredibly powerful. All of my teachings come directly through my lineage of Ante and Felicia Pavlovic (Yoga Therapy Toronto) and Dr N Chandrasekaran (Yoga Vaidya Śālā) through direct teachings of TKV Desikachar, son of T. Krishnamacharya unless otherwise noted.

7 key parts of learning and teaching in this way are:
śravanam (hear/listen) 
grahanam (hold in your mind) 
mananam (reflect again and again) 
nidhidhyāsam (apply to my life) 
anubhāvam (experience the effects of my practice in/on my own life) 
parīkṣa (verify in accordance with universal truths) 
​pravacanam (teach)

As a student and teacher of subtle anatomy, I share what I have understood through these 7 steps, and encourage my students to do the same.

I am able to cover through lecture and practice
​• Pañca Maya – Yogic Constitution (Annamaya, Prāṇāmaya, Manomaya, Vijñanamaya, Ānandamaya) and how to work with each
• How to use Bhāvanā to effect each Maya in Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, and Dhāraṇa
• Using therapeutic mantra to effect each Maya in Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, and Dhāraṇa
• 7 Parts of the subtle anatomy that can be affected by Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, and Dhāraṇa (body is the shadow of the prāṇa)
     – Prāṇa, Nāḍī-s, Cakras, Kunḍalini/mala, Agni, Jalaṃ/amṛtam, Pañca Vāyu
• 4 parts of the breath, how the 4 parts of the breath affect agni and mala, and how to use āsana to improve each part of the breath 
• Understanding the Pañca Prāṇa Vāyu-s (Prāṇa, Samāna, Apāna, Vyāna, Udāna) plus how to work with them through in depth practices
• Condition basics of the Pañca Prāṇa Vāyu-s
• 8 Classifications of Āsana and their Effect on Subtle Anatomy
• Scope of practice of a yoga teacher vs a yoga therapist and understanding therapeutic practice: Śamanam, Śodhanam, Svatantram
• 3 Āyurvedic Doṣa-s (Doshas) basics and how to work with each in a general group class, and seasonally 
• How to set the stage for yogic meditation with dhāraṇa, to be able to fall into dhyāna, and the attainable in this lifetime samadhi
• Practical exploration of formal prāṇāyāma techniques, their effects on the physical and subtle bodies, and building safe ratios for practice

I am able to cover through lecture and guiding personal lifestyle exploration
• 3 Āyurvedic Doṣa-s (Doshas), lifestyle and diet suggestions for each, and seasonal explorations
• Seven Cakra-s (combining yogic understanding with Western psychology)

I am able to cover through lecture
• Yoga Sūtra basics (particularly Chapters 1 and 2)
• How do the Yoga Sūtra-s connect to the Pañca Maya
• Understanding trauma through the lens of the Yoga Sūtra-s 
• 4 stage yoga methodology for practice (heyam, hetu, hanam, upāyam)
• 3 paths of yoga we can follow from the Yoga Sūtra-s (aṣṭāṇga yoga, kriya yoga, Īśvarapraṇidhāna) depending on our needs

I am able to guide practice of
• Proper Sanskrit pronunciation and basic teaching around effects of Sanskrit on the body 
• Chanting the entire Yoga Sūtra-s in their modified form (made easier by Krishnamacharya breaking up words into smaller pieces, to make it easier for Westerners to learn)
• Classical and/or therapeutic classes of Āsana, Prāṇāyāma, and Dhāraṇa

I currently teach
• 9 hour Subtle Body module in Union Yoga + Wellness's 225hr Yoga Teacher Training (Toronto, ON)
• 3.5 hour Mantra module in Union Yoga + Wellness's 225hr Yoga Teacher Training (Toronto, ON)
• 40+hr Therapeutic and Chair Yoga Training @ Union Yoga + Wellness and Kula Yoga (Toronto, ON) 
• TBA in Union Yoga + Wellness's upcoming 300hr Yoga Teacher Training (Toronto, ON)

Giving what is appropriate is Viniyoga.
By an appropriate person, to an appropriate individual,
at an appropriate time,
in an appropriate manner. It is not casual or routine. Not by anybody to everybody.
Not anything and everything. It is unique, highly individualized and very specific. This is Viniyoga. This is life.

You can only give what is inside you. Not what you have seen or heard. Not what you have read or collected. It has no relevance. It is not appropriate. It is living in memory. Living death
​
Internalize everything–collect, hold, reflect,  practice, verify, and live–and then give as it applies to the other. This is difficult, time consuming and not economical. But every individual deserves this.

Viniyoga expects a lot of responsibility, because it provides immense opportunity for both the student and the teacher.
Because in the process, they grow together.
Viniyoga insists the teacher to have complete practical wisdom of what they teach. Viniyoga expects the teacher to silently reflect-never to judge. Viniyoga demands the teacher to have complete mastery over their senses and mind.

Teach with total involvement, full commitment and with positive outlook. Do not teach if any of these qualities are missing, it is a waste of time for both the teacher and the student. A teacher's work is only done when they find an able student to carry on their teaching: the student helps the teacher to complete their mission, their life. So, teach your students with all respect and humbleness.

Teachers and students!
Do not allow your practical wisdom to stagnate and die! The more you spread, the more it springs inside you. It is not yours; it comes to you through eternity. Happy are the birds that are free! Let thousands of lamps receive their lights from you! Let thousands of people get new lives from you! Let the mighty river of Viniyoga flow forever and ever!
​
​~Dr N Chandrasekaran