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Viniyoga is more of a methodology than a name for a yoga style. It is an approach of putting together a personal practice comprising of asanas, pranayama, meditation and chanting. Viniyoga takes into consideration the fact that our methods must change as we grow older. The very purpose of doing yoga must be revised as the years go by.
Viniyoga makes for a gentle style of yoga that has been developed by Sri T. Krishnamacharya and his son T.K.V. Desikachar. Krishnamacharya is a descendant of the legendary 9th century yogi Nathamuni, and holds a lifetime scholarship of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. He is more famously known as the teacher to today's celebrated yogis Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois.
The originators believe that as children, our yoga practice should be focused on healthy growth and development of mind and body. As adults, our practice should be focused on sustaining our good health and enhancing our capabilities of contributing something to this world. And as seniors, our practice should focus on our inner quest for self realization while maintaining physical health.
Viniyoga also takes into consideration other factors like job and culture. Everybody's needs are different and should be addressed individually. This requires the teacher to understand the student's present condition, physical and mental abilities, aim in life, and the means at hand.
Viniyoga is less demanding on the joints and knees. Postures are performed with a slight bend in the knees. Features of Viniyoga that differentiate it from other styles of yoga can be summarized in four key points:
1. The use of repetition. Going in and coming out of postures is as important as holding the postures for long intervals.
2. More emphasis on breath as the medium for movement during the postures. The pattern of breathing gives rise to various effects in the postures.
3. More emphasis on function than on form in yoga practice. Forms of the postures are adapted to bring about various different results.
4. The artistic and scientific use of combination to generate sequences of different orientation, length and intensity. Each individual practice is customized to suit the intention of practice.
Viniyoga is not always very gentle. It looks into each and every need and appropriately applies the required intensity. Extremely athletic students are assigned challenging practices, while the frail and injured ones are assigned therapeutic practices.
The flowing style of Viniyoga largely resembles the ashtanga style of yoga, but is a much toned-down and slower paced version. Viniyoga is new but has already found roots in North America and many parts of Europe. It is fast gaining ground in other parts of the world.
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