Viniyoga Style
When is a style not a style? What does it mean that something is "a style". Is Iyengar Yoga a style? Is Ashtanga Yoga a style?
Many argue that "Viniyoga" is not a style because there are not fixed practices.
But if you watch a group of random people practice, can you tell those who have been taught in a "Viniyoga" way? Does that make it a style?
I'd be interested to hear what people think of this issue, since, as I understand it, it was a very major part of Desikachar's unhappiness with the term "Viniyoga". He felt it reduced what we teach into a style.
Personally, I'm confused because I think that what we do does have strong elements of style to it - but I don't think that's a big problem. What is a problem is when you can't adapt what you do or what you teach to who is in front of you. Or, you won't do something because "it's not what we do in Viniyoga...."
Any thoughts?
Ranju
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Viniyoga style
Hi Ranju. I think you’re right to say there are elements of style in ‘Viniyoga’, which is perhaps because there are necessarily elements of style in everything human beings do. If a group of people are all approaching something from a similar stance, this will show in the way they do things.
Personally I think it doesn’t matter unless style is emphasised in an unquestioned way. There was a time some years ago when, for instance, we all had our arms at half-mast when we raised them, and that was certainly part of the recognised style of practice. I think that was a mistake. Why should people soften their arms to that degree if they don’t need to?
For me the main thing has always been what Paul described in his publicity from the early days – ‘trying to keep the spirit of ‘Viniyoga’ whilst interpreting it for the West’. This is a delicate thing and we obviously need to be vigilant. But we’re all fallible and can only keep aiming for the sensitivity and flexibility of approach required to respond creatively to the student in front of us. And that’s why we practise, isn’t it? With or without style!
Hilary Norman
Viniyoga "style"
Hi Ranju
I feel Viniyoga is a style, it is a complete system also. It has a flowing, meditative style, especially because of the application of SLIBS and Vinyasa, making the practice flow coherently, whereas I have found other yoga sessions rather disjointed. Also the use of the breath makes movements more considered and meditative, and the fact that we have a practical application of the philosophy woven through asana makes the whole experience more contemplative.
How can this be a "reduction", it is surely an expansion of the whole asana experience!
Style
Hi Ranju
Yes, I think that "Viniyoga" is a style.
However, that's not to say that style dictates content. There may be no fixed content but I find that this style/approach informs the way that I consider new information and the way that I then present them to my students. I think that to allow a style to prohibit us from trying or developing new ways of working is a potential pitfall. Things evolve!
For instance; we could say "that in this approach we don't teach longer lying relaxations in group classes". However, I do teach them in the summer term as I find that it is useful for so many of my students. However, in the main I prefer to teach shorter, more practical relaxations. As far as I'm concerned this is a practical approach.
Jane H
Style
If we don't use the word "style", what do we do when people ask - as they do - "What kind (i.e."style") of yoga do you teach?"
Surely what we are doing is promoting ideas and techniques that derive ultimately from the teachings of Krishnamacharya and Desikachar. But saying that even to people who know or think they know something about yoga is only going to make their eyes glaze over. And right from the beginning in this approach, when we asked how we taught this or that, the response invariably began with, "Well, it depends..."
It seems to me simpler to fudge it a bit by saying, "We use viniyoga techniques. Why not try it and see what you think?" And there have been times when I've asked students new to my class but not new to yoga if there was much difference between what I taught and what they had done in other classes, and they scratch their heads and say a lot of it was much the same. Since I'm the only "viniyoga" teacher in the area that's interesting.
It's more important to remain true to the source teachings (which themselves change over time) than to put ourselves on the rack about the word "style".
As Shakespeare said, "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
But that's my opinion. What do you think?
Margo