Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa’s tailor-made practice and sequences’ routine. 

The traditional approach,  like the Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa, is  based on methodology. As such stands on personalised practice.  Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa uses āsanas to work on the body and not  the body to work on the āsanas.  Students are guided individually and gradually  into a personalised practice according to their level.  Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa’s Methodology can be applied to all kind of settings: one-to-one (master and pupil), personalised self-practice either alone or in a group setting and teacher-led group class.

The four types settings for Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa’s practice

One to One

The Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa  “One-to-one” (master and pupil) is  the traditional and the ideal setting for learning and practicing Vinyāsa. The pupil learn the very foundation of both methodology and practice directly from the teacher. Teachers assists the pupils practice with adjustments, deep-stretch, postural corrections and finally creates a personalised sequences for the pupil.

Self-Practice

The “One to One”  is an endless process of learning and practice;  but just by the end of the first year the pupil can be guided by the master into a personalised routine of sequences that the pupil can practice  with the master or independently either alone or  in a group setting. In both cases it is Self-Practice.

Teacher-led Group Class

Even the Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa Teacher-led Group Class  offers options for a personalised practice. Those who come from the One-to-one have already learnt how to personalise their practice. Those who  approach  Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa directly from the teacher-led group class can learn different stages of the karaṇas and choose between  different options in order to personalise the practice. The sequences  are continuously rotated in a weekly schedule.  A complete cycle  of sequences is finally covered in about three weeks. Even in the Teacher-led Group Class Students practice everyday a different sequences and personalised practice according to their level.

Personalised Self-Practice in a Group Setting

This concept of practiced is also quite misunderstood. Personalised Practice in a Group Class does not mean that all the pupils practice at their own pace the same sequence in a group setting. That is neither personalised nor self-practice. “Personalised” means that everyone practice a personalised routine  of sequence according their level.  Self-Practice means that the pupils has reached mastery of the methodology of Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa and are ready to personalise or even create  sequences for themselves. If  this happen in a group setting or by practicing alone does not  make any difference. This is the most mature type of practice.

For those who discovered Yoga with the modern  approach (viz. the “fixed-sequence-for -all”)   it might be quite difficult at first to grasp the holistic approach of Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa.  Navakaraṇa Vinyāsa is a method and a such can be comprehended gradually during the course of time by those who are committed in the practice with dedication, constancy and determination.

Dario Calvaruso