Krishnamacharya's Legacy
By Fernando Pagés Ruiz
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Krishnamacharya didn't welcome his son's newfound interest in yoga. He told Desikachar to pursue his engineering career and leave yoga alone. Desikachar refused to listen. He rejected the Delhi job, found work at a local firm, and pestered his father for lessons. Eventually, Krishnamacharya relented. But to assure himself of his son's earnestness—or perhaps to discourage him—Krishnamacharya required Desikachar to begin lessons at 3:30 every morning. Desikachar agreed to submit to his father's requirements but insisted on one condition of his own: No God. A hard-nosed engineer, Desikachar thought he had no need for religion. Krishnamacharya respected this wish, and they began their lessons with asanas and chanting Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. Since they lived in a one-room apartment, the whole family was forced to join them, albeit half asleep. The lessons were to go on for 28 years, though not always quite so early.
During the years of tutoring his son, Krishnamacharya continued to refine the Viniyoga approach, tailoring yoga methods for the sick, pregnant women, young children—and, of course, those seeking spiritual enlightenment. He came to divide yoga practice into three stages representing youth, middle, and old age: First, develop muscular power and flexibility; second, maintain health during the years of working and raising a family; finally, go beyond the physical practice to focus on God.
Desikachar observed that, as students progressed, Krishnamacharya began
stressing not just more advanced asanas but also the spiritual aspects
of yoga. Desikachar realized that his father felt that every action
should be an act of devotion, that every asana should lead toward inner
calm. Similarly, Krishnamacharya's emphasis on the breath was meant to
convey spiritual implications along with physiological benefits.
According to Desikachar, Krishnamacharya described the cycle of breath
as an act of surrender: "Inhale, and God approaches you. Hold the
inhalation, and God remains with you. Exhale, and you approach God. Hold
the exhalation, and surrender to God."
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