Yoga and the 21st Century – Interview with TKV Desikachar May 1999

Question: Do you think that the teaching you received from your father is still relevant today, particularly in the West? Desikachar: It looks like it because, wherever I speak, more and more people come, and from all sorts of different backgrounds. It is relevant, and it is going to be.

Question: You studied the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali many times with your father. Could you say a few words about this text, and since it is about 2,000 years old, do you think its message is still valid today and for the future? Desikachar: This text is very old, and it deals with the mind. Anything we do, or intend to do, involves this instrument, and all pains and pleasures are rooted here.

Patañjali was very prophetic, because he spoke not only of yesterday’s mind, but also of tomorrow’s. His message concerns clarity, and it will become more and more pertinent as time goes by, because people are now questioning much more than before.

Earlier there was belief, and so people did not have to question, or even to think. Now, we all want to have more responsibility in what happens to us. Therefore, we need to have a clearer mind, and this is why the yoga sûtra is still valid and will remain so.

I believe that, unless a new religious order comes to the world in which case belief will take over, this text will have a wider and wider impact in times to come.

TKV Desikachar was in Narbonne, in the South of France, for a symposium on “Yoga and the XXIst Century” during May 1999. The purpose of the symposium was to consider the role of yoga for the coming century in the three fields of Health, Psychology and Spirituality.

With thanks to Paul Harvey – see also Yoga & Health, Yoga & Psycology

The emphasis of our yoga asana practice is to keep the spine healthy.  It is of vital importance to our health and well being on a structural and energetic level as well as playing a vital role in the function of the nervous system.

The 33 vertebrae support the head and allow the body to be upright and move as well as protecting the spinal cord, which delivers messages between your brain and the rest of your body.  The S-shape of the spine prevents shock to the head when walking or running

The Anatomy of the Spine

• 7 cervical vertebrae support the head and neck and allow the head to nod and shake
• 12 thoracic vertebrae attach to the ribs
• 5 lumbar vertebrae support most of the weight of the upper body
• 5 fused vertebrae sacrum make up the back wall of the pelvis
• 4 fused vertebrae coccyx/ tail

Shock absorbers

Between the vertebrae are pads of tough, fibrous cartilage which cushion and absorb shock. If they become damaged/prolapsed they may put pressure on spinal cord resulting in pain

Flexibility

The spine is supported and stabilised by strong ligaments and muscles around the vertebrae.  The facet joints of the vertebrae give flexibility to the spine allowing backward and forward bending as well as twisting.

Yoga asana/postures use the deep supporting spinal muscles as well as the larger superficial ones to release tension and bringing about optimal alignment and a balance between strength and flexibility, encouraging full use of the diaphragm when breathing

Energy

The spine is linked to the flow of prana/life force energy; the major chakras through which it passes are situated along the spine.  The way the spine is worked affects each of the different types of prana, it can help energise or calm, support digestion/elimination.

Many students report that their back pain has gone or is greatly reduced.

I was really pleased how much better my lower back felt after our session. Jane

I have osteoporosis and suffered from pain in my neck and joints. Since joining Suzan’s yoga class I have become stronger and have a greater range of movement.  I have been able to go hill walking again.  My latest scan showed that my bone density had increased 3% in the spine and 10% in the hips.  I am delighted to have gained so much, usually the best aim is to maintain density and avoid any further reduction Ann

The morning after my first yoga class I got out of bed and for the first time in 3 years had no back pain! JL

I used to suffer regularly with lower back pain, but this is now a rare occurrence.

Suzan’s yoga has worked wonders on my back! I can thoroughly recommend it. Nicola, Aylesbury

My back has been a million times better since I started your class

I look forward to my weekly class with Suzan as she offers a relaxing and non-competitive atmosphere in which to practise yoga.  Her focus on the back, neck and shoulders has helped to free up my upper back and has made me more aware of my posture on a day to day basis. MW

I had a discectomy 6 months ago and was quite concerned about how long my rehabilitation would take. The beauty of Suzan’s yoga classes are that she was able to give slightly easier versions of the exercises in the first few weeks to make sure I didn’t place any undue stress on my recovering back. Now that I am 6 months into my yoga classes, my core strength has increased considerably and I am now able to undertake the more challenging variations of the exercises, whilst always being reminded to listen to my body and make adjustments where necessary if there is too much of a strain. I am a real convert to yoga and would recommend it to anyone. I only wish I had taken it up before I began suffering with a serious back problem! Mark.