In the western world, the modern yoga that we practice today is very different from the classical yoga which has roots spanning over 2000 years. It’s part of the rich cultural heritage of India.
What is Lineage in Yoga?
Traditionally, yoga teachings were passed on from teacher to student, through practice, oral tradition and study of the subtle energetic practices of yoga. Additionally, study of the cornerstone yogic texts – Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Of course, throughout the years a great amount of further writings have amassed.
So, when we refer to a yoga teacher’s lineage, we are talking about who they learned from, and how their teaching can be traced back to the origins and roots of yoga.
There’s no judgement or comparison here, it’s not to say ‘this is better that that’, its simply understanding how different teachings influence a teacher’s own practice and how they deliver their experience of yoga.
Tirumalai Krishnamacharya has often been called the father of modern yoga. Born over 100 years ago, he certainly wasn’t the earliest yogi, but his extensive learnings and teaching around India in the 1930s and 40s – where he gave many demonstrations – can be credited with breathing new life into the practice of asana. His four most arguably famous students were Pattabhi Jois, BKS Iyengar, TKV Desikachar (his son) and Indra Devi, who notably was initially turned away by Krishnamacharya as she was both western and female – very uncommon for yoga students of this time.
Yoga would typically follow one of the four traditional forms of yoga based in spiritual enlightenment, as opposed to the more asana-based practices we see today.
BKS Iyengar’s legacy is – amongst his many writings – the foundation of Iyengar Yoga as a practice. Iyengar classes are know for their detailed attention to the alignment of yoga asana.
Indra Devi went on to America, earning her the nickname of ‘the First Lady of Yoga’, teaching Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe.
TKV Desikachar, as Krishnamacharya’s son, was drawn in to his father’s teachings, especially as his work as a healer, becoming one of the most respected and known teachers of modern yoga. His work is continued by his son Kaustub.
Pattabhi Jois studied extensively with Krishnamacharya from the age of 12, and is renowned for bringing Ashtanga yoga to the west.
Ashtanga Teacher Tim Heywood says:
“I see Yoga as being a bit like a really old tree; having the trunk and roots at its core and then all of the many branches which have grown and blossomed over the centuries and in particular in most recent decades. Ashtanga-based yoga and Hatha could be considered as being at the core of all modern day yoga lineages, from which the many other branches have their origin and basis; Modern Ashtanga, Iyengar and more recently Jivamukti to name but a few of these branches.
When people think of Ashtanga Yoga, they immediately think of the practice brought to the west by the Jois family, but Ashtanga and its 8 limbs, including asana, is a lineage which goes back for a very long time preceding this. Over what is perhaps centuries, Yoga asana was passed verbally and encoded in the human body through repetition of movement and breath taught by teacher to student over generations in yoga shalas and schools rather than written down.
Eventually as people from the west visited eastern countries, the practices were documented and brought to our Yoga studios, health clubs and gyms – and even mixed in with a bit of western gymnastics in the case of Ashtanga! The early to mid 20th century yoga teachers in particular who were in contact with western people became the ‘torch bearers’ of Yoga to the west, with their names becoming well known in popular culture and in particular the fitness industries. However, before these people, the lineages go even further back to Krishnamacharya and before him Brahmachari and others.”
Svadhyaya
All of us – teachers included – are students of yoga, and so you may find yourself drawn to one style of yoga, or even to the teachings of a particular teacher.
This might be in part due to the influence of their lineage and understanding of the traditions and heritage of yoga, and how they use that to deliver their own teaching.
Understanding this is an important part of your own svadhyaya (self-study) as you come to explore yoga on and off the mat. You might feel called to explore yoga philosophy, reading or workshops that offer a deeper exploration of a certain area – try different styles, work with different teachers, explore different practices and modalities so that you can find the things that complement your own individual needs.
All branches of the same tree, with deep roots at its core.
Take a deep dive into your practice and explore our timetable. We’re proud to have knowledgeable teachers with a wide variety of experience, and a range of classes, workshops and retreats.
