T. K. V. Desikachar
Encyclopedia
T.K.V. Desikachar is the son and one of the primary students of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
, a prominent yogi credited with being a driving force behind the resurgence of Hatha yoga
in recent decades.
TKV Desikachar started his career as a civil engineer. Inspired by his father's teachings on Yoga
in Madras (now Chennai
), he left his engineering career and became a student of his father in the sixties
. In 1976, along with A. G. Mohan, another long-time student of Sri Krishnamacharya, he established Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), to propagate the teachings of his father and teacher. The KYM is now a leading institute of Yoga and Yoga Studies based in Chennai, India
. Together with his son Kausthub Desikachar, TKV Desikachar founded the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation (KHYF) on January 1, 2006. KHYF is committed to spreading the holistic yoga teachings of Sri T Krishnamacharya.
Today, TKV Desikachar is known and respected the world over as an authority on Yoga
. This approach was briefly termed viniyoga
but Desikachar abandoned the term, preferring a more anonymous and brand-free approach to his father's teachings.
Teaching regularly in India and overseas, TKV Desikachar has participated in many international conventions and conferences. His books include Health, Healing and Beyond and The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice. In 2000 he authored a translation of the classical yoga text Yogayajnavalkya Samhita. He has also co-authored with his son Kausthub, a book titled Vedic Chant Companion. His latest work, The Viniyoga of Yoga, co-authored with Kausthub and Frans Moors, deals with the application of asana and pranayama to various needs.
Today the KYM is a multi-departmental institution with a faculty of over thirty dedicated teachers from varied backgrounds. Mrs. Menaka Desikachar, one of its founding members, is a senior yoga educator and therapy consultant. Her sons, daughter and daughter-in-law are also a part of KYM. The activities of KYM include Yoga Studies, Yoga Therapy, Research on Yoga and Publications. Vedavani, a separate unit of KYM, is solely dedicated to the teaching and transmitting of Vedic chanting and research into its many aspects. KYM's MITRA division carries out its philanthropy.
.
Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya was an Indian yoga teacher, ayurvedic healer and scholar. Often referred to as "the father of modern yoga," Krishnamacharya is widely regarded as one of the most influential yoga teachers of the 20th century and is credited with the revival of hatha...
, a prominent yogi credited with being a driving force behind the resurgence of Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga , also called hatha vidya , is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a Hindu sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika....
in recent decades.
TKV Desikachar started his career as a civil engineer. Inspired by his father's teachings on Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
in Madras (now Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
), he left his engineering career and became a student of his father in the sixties
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. In 1976, along with A. G. Mohan, another long-time student of Sri Krishnamacharya, he established Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), to propagate the teachings of his father and teacher. The KYM is now a leading institute of Yoga and Yoga Studies based in Chennai, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Together with his son Kausthub Desikachar, TKV Desikachar founded the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation (KHYF) on January 1, 2006. KHYF is committed to spreading the holistic yoga teachings of Sri T Krishnamacharya.
Today, TKV Desikachar is known and respected the world over as an authority on Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
. This approach was briefly termed viniyoga
Viniyoga
Viniyoga is a Sanskrit word that has multiple meanings. Literal meanings include "separation", "detachment", and "leaving", but the common meanings include "employment", "use", and "application"...
but Desikachar abandoned the term, preferring a more anonymous and brand-free approach to his father's teachings.
Teaching regularly in India and overseas, TKV Desikachar has participated in many international conventions and conferences. His books include Health, Healing and Beyond and The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice. In 2000 he authored a translation of the classical yoga text Yogayajnavalkya Samhita. He has also co-authored with his son Kausthub, a book titled Vedic Chant Companion. His latest work, The Viniyoga of Yoga, co-authored with Kausthub and Frans Moors, deals with the application of asana and pranayama to various needs.
Family
His wife, Menaka Desikachar, teaches yoga and Vedic chanting at the KYM. Kausthub Desikachar and Mekhala Desikachar are his children. Kausthub is also the Chief Executive of the KYM, as well as a senior teacher and yoga therapy consultant.Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram
The KYM is a registered Public Charitable Trust, recognized by the Department of Family Health and Welfare, Government of Tamil Nadu. http://www.tn.gov.in/department/hfw.htmToday the KYM is a multi-departmental institution with a faculty of over thirty dedicated teachers from varied backgrounds. Mrs. Menaka Desikachar, one of its founding members, is a senior yoga educator and therapy consultant. Her sons, daughter and daughter-in-law are also a part of KYM. The activities of KYM include Yoga Studies, Yoga Therapy, Research on Yoga and Publications. Vedavani, a separate unit of KYM, is solely dedicated to the teaching and transmitting of Vedic chanting and research into its many aspects. KYM's MITRA division carries out its philanthropy.
Yoga
Although he has distanced himself from the term, the style or school of yoga that he teaches has sometimes been called ViniyogaViniyoga
Viniyoga is a Sanskrit word that has multiple meanings. Literal meanings include "separation", "detachment", and "leaving", but the common meanings include "employment", "use", and "application"...
.
Notable Students
- Richard Miller, PhDRichard Miller (psychologist)Richard C. Miller, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, author, researcher and yogic scholar. He is the founding president of the Integrative Restoration Institute , co-founder of The International Association of Yoga Therapists and founding editor of the professional Journal of IAYT...
- Erich SchiffmannErich SchiffmannErich Schiffmann is an accomplished American Yoga Master widely known for his award-winning video, Yoga Mind & Body, featuring actress Ali MacGraw. He is the author of a best-selling book, Moving into Stillness...
- Gary Kraftsow
External links
- Government of Tamilnadu Department of Family Health and Welfare
- Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram
- Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation
- The Desikachars. An interview with TKV and son Kausthub at ascentmagazine.com.