Day 32
Excerpt from Interview with Meneka Desikachar
Do you have a favorite story from the Vedas?
My father-in-law (T. Krishnamacharya) used to tell me, God is always inside you, so you do not have to go to the temple to find him there. I liked that very much. He also told a story to accompany that idea. Long, long back God was moving like us in this world. But because people knew he was God, they used to chase him everywhere. And even though he was providing everything, they were so greedy, they only asked "give me this", "give me that". So he got fed up and he said I have to hide myself from these people, so that they don’t find me. So he went inside the heart of each one. And only those, who don’t look for more outside, but start looking for God within, will find him.
What is it that most people don’t understand about Yoga nowadays?
Everywhere you find a yoga school, people are aware of Yoga nowadays but how far has it changed and how much do they really understand? I don’t know. Some people think it is only a physical practice. And some say it is only a mental practice. But there is always a part that is beyond that. After the physical and mental, yoga reaches beyond. So people nowadays often get stuck. And then there is another extreme that thinks only sannyasins can do yoga.
What is for you the most important text for Yoga and Therapy?
For me the Yogasutra and the Bhagavad Gita. The Bhagavad Gita is very spiritual yet practical. The Yogasutra is also practical, but also good for the intellect. We need to put that into practice what we read in these teachings. This is the most important thing.
One wisdom that you have learnt from your teacher that has accompanied you through your work and life?
If you have really learnt yoga well it should change you. You have to try to apply a little bit of it in your life and try to become a bit better than you were yesterday. It should make you a better person. It might be difficult, but we can try our best. It will take a long time and many births.
Meneka Desikachar’s Biography
Meneka Desikachar is the wife of the late TKV Desikachar (Tirumalai Krishnamacharya’s son) and studied with him for 40 years. She is one of a select few that T Krishnamacharya graduated as a Yoga Teacher. She has been instrumental in spreading the teachings of her father-in-law and was head of Vedavani, the department for Vedic Chanting in the (KYM) Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram for many years. Together with her husband, her son and daughter, she has conducted numerous seminars and workshops around the world about Yoga, Vedic Chanting and Yoga Therapy. She is an authority in the field of Vedic Chanting and teaches chanting to people around the world. She is a force to be reckoned with and would never miss one mistake in the chanting of her students! Menaka is also a incredible yoga therapist.
THE DIGITAL STUDIO CLASS SCHEDULE
Today, Monday February 1st
7:45-8:30am PST Power Flow with Amy Chalmers
9-10am PST Vinyasa with Gicelle Magloire-Mayers
6-7:15pm PST Slow Flow + Restore with Ariffa Lalani
Tomorrow, Tuesday February 2nd
7-8am PST Karma Vinyasa with Drake Logan
8:30-9:45am PST Weekly Workshop with Ryan Leier
4-5pm PST Vinyasa with Malina Dawn