So, what kind of Yoga do you teach?

Although we get asked this question a lot, it isn’t something we can answer in just a few simple words!

The problem comes because we don’t really have a name or a brand to fall back on as a catch all, easy answer so here’s the slightly longer version!

The Legacy of T Krishnamacharya

The approach that we take was shaped by a Yoga teacher called T Krishnamacharya who was born in 1888 in Southern India. He was a dedicated scholar and his approach to Yoga was unique at the time. Although he never travelled to the West, many of his students did. As a result, many of the approaches to Yoga we see in the West today can trace their roots back to his teachings and former students.

Respecting Individuality in Yoga Practice

Krishnamacharya insisted that each individual is unique and this always has to be respected. Therefore, the teacher should never simply teach what they want to; they must start from where the student currently is and adapt their approach accordingly. The Yoga practice is tailored to fit the person and never the other way round.

The Problem of Naming

It was this insistence that explains our current dilemma! The problem with having a name for an approach is that with it will, almost certainly, come expectations of what a lesson will include (or not!). This is the exact opposite of how we work! Instead, Yoga gives us a vast tool box we can utilise; the skill is in using the right tool for the right job at the right time; there can never be a standard solution. This is also why, as Yoga teachers, we never cease to be Yoga students too as there is always more to know!

Keywords are a problem!

In the world of Google, it would be great to have a single name to make life simpler (the Viniyoga of Yoga is as close as we come to this). However, we’d rather spend extra time explaining what we do than lose what makes this approach so special! We hope you agree.