Yoga Teacher of Yoga Teachers. Yoga Therapist. Yoga Educator. Spiritual Counsellor. Mentor | Dr. Kausthub Desikachar
Dr Kausthub Desikachar
Dr. Kausthub Desikachar is the successor and current lineage holder of the classical Viniyoga tradition of T Krishnamacharya & TKV Desikachar. He is an acclaimed yoga teacher, yoga therapist, healer and spiritual adviser. His objectives include the sharing of the authentic teachings of Yoga to the modern era, as well as building bridges between different healing modalities to promote physical, emotional social and spiritual health.
For more than twenty years, Kausthub has taught a multitude of students and teachers around the globe and has conducted numerous teacher and therapist training programs.
Dr. Kausthub Desikachar began studying yoga when he was 9 years old under the guidance of his teacher and father TKV Desikachar and started teaching at the age of 13. After completing his dual Masters degree from the renowned Birla Institute of Technology & Sciences, Pilani, he committed himself to becoming a full-time student and teacher of Yoga. Later in 2011, he concluded his doctoral studies from Psychology Department at the University of Madras, where his topic of research was “Effect of Individualised Yoga Training on Quality of Life.”
Dr. Kausthub Desikachar also works as a Yoga Therapist and offers clients astute and effective solutions for all sorts of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual illnesses. He combines his classical training in Yoga and Ayurveda, his modern education of psychology, and his interactions with traditional healers worldwide, to offer optimum and effective synergetic solutions to alleviate a wide range of problems. His approach to healing includes a wide range of Yoga Therapy tools including postures (asana), breath regulation (pranayama), meditation (dhyanam), dietary recommendations (ahara niyama), lifestyle suggestions (vihara niyama), chanting (mantra), visualisations / affirmations (bhavana), special energetic seals (mudra), symbolic gestures (nyasa) and guided self-inquiry (svadhyaya).
As a Yoga educator, Dr. Kausthub Desikachar is known for his remarkable, deep, and well-versed knowledge and his ability to present the ancient teachings in a way that is profound as well as applicable for modern-day practitioners. He treats each student with respect, compassion, and dignity, and honors their capacity for growth and transformation. His teachings are especially beneficial for yoga teachers and yoga therapists as he helps them grasp the fullness and deep insights of the ancient teachings so that they are able to apply them in a competent and sincere way.
He has also authored and co-authored numerous books on yoga, such as "The Heart of Asana: A comprehensive manual on Classical Yoga Postures” and a biography on his grandfather, the great yoga acharya T. Krishnamacharya, called "The Yoga of the Yogi".
Apart from Yoga Teaching, Kausthub is also an avid photographer, inspirational writer, and poet. He is the co-founder of "Synergies in Healing", an online journal that focuses on bridging ancient wisdom and modern-day science.
DETAILED RESUMÉ | WHO IS DR KAUSTHUB DESIKACHAR
Experience
Founder and Director: Viniyoga Pte. Ltd. - 2019 to present
Responsibilities include managing Viniyoga related activities (Yoga Teaching, Yoga Training and Yoga Therapy) in Asian countries including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia. To expand operations into Viniyoga merchandise to be accessible to Viniyoga members around the world. (Website - www.viniyoga.com.sg)
Founder & President: KHYF International, Belgium - 2016 to present
Responsibilities include building and sustaining a network of high quality yoga and yoga therapy professionals, oversee and supervise various yoga teacher training programs that are offered under the umbrella of Viniyoga. To build cultural connections between India and Belgium through Yoga. (Website - www.khyf-international.com)
Co-Founder, Chief Yoga Therapist & CEO: Krishnamacharya Healing & Yoga Foundation - 2006 to present
Responsibilities include creating and sustaining a network of high quality yoga and yoga therapy professionals, with access to related resources that continually supports and enhances the quality of their work. Also oversee and supervise various yoga teacher training programs that are offered under the umbrella of the Krishnamacharya Healing & Yoga Foundation. Offer Yoga Therapy and Healing to Clients who visit the centre. (Website - www.khyf.net)
Senior Yoga Therapy Consultant: Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram - 2000 to 2012
Responsibilities include providing yoga therapy consultation for students visiting the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, supervision (in groups and also individually) of yoga therapy trainees who are learning to becoming yoga therapists.
Chief Strategic Consultant: Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram - 2010 - 2012
Responsibilities include consulting on the overall vision and strategy of this non-profit Yoga Therapy and Education center, based in India. The responsibilities included creating and implementing projects in the field of Yoga Studies, Yoga Therapy, Vedic Chanting and Yoga Research.
Founder : KYM Mitra - 2001
Created a department of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, that has been taking yoga to the socially and economically under-privileged, thus taking yoga to those who “need” them most, and enhancing their quality of living.
Editor - Publications Department : Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram - 2000 to 2003
Responsibilities included content creation, editing, and production of books, CDs and other products relating to yoga in the tradition of T Krishnamacharya.
Economic Strategist : Murugappa Group - 1997 to 1999
Was part of a team that provided economic perspectives to the top management of the Group’s Companies. Was also part of a team that evaluated strategic decisions that the Group’s Companies made each year.
MEMBERSHIPS & ADVISORY POSITIONS
Dr. Kausthub Desikachar is a member of a number of professional organisations. The list of his memberships are presented below.
Adjunct Faculty of CYTER, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, India
Research Board Member, Patanjali Research Foundation, India
International Advisor to Mitra ASBL, Belgium
International Advisor to Pranamanas Yoga, Spain
International Advisor to Be Yoga, Norway
Yoga Therapy Advisor to Platinum Hospitals, Mumbai, India
Editorial Board Member - SPPPRC, Indian Yoga Association, INDIA
Editorial Board Member of Annals of Yoga and Physical Therapy, USA
Life Member of Indian Yoga Association, INDIA
Member of American Psychological Association, USA
Member of International Positive Psychological Association, USA
Life Member of Indian School of Psychology Association, India
In the past, he has also been an advisor to the International Association of Yoga Therapists and also a Patron to the British Wheel of Yoga.
EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
1) University of Madras | PhD, 2003 - 2010
2) KYM Institute of Yoga Studies | Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga, 1997 - 2000
3) B.I.T.S, Pilani | M.Sc Economics & Masters in Management Studies 1992 - 1997
OTHER INFORMATION
I. Author/Co-author of the following books
Vedic Chant Companion, co-author. Published February 2000
Viniyoga of Yoga: Applying Yoga for Healthy Living, co-author. Published May 2001
Adi Sankara’s Yoga Taravali, co-author. Published September 2003
The Yoga of The Yogi, author. Published February 2005
Masters in Focus, author. Published August 2008
Footsteps in the Heart, author. Published March 2010
The Heart of Asana: A comprehensive manual for Classical Yoga Postures. Published February 2012
The Hathayogapradipika | Jyotsnayuta. Published February 2016
The Yogarahasya of Nathamuni | Published February 2018
Truth Unclouded, co-author. Published June 2020
Most of these books can be purchased from here>
II. Speaker & Presenter
Travelling since 1997, to speak and present, a wide range of topics related to yoga, yoga therapy and yoga teaching, through international conferences, seminars and workshops at locations that include India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, China, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Germany, France, UK, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Canada, USA, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and Mexico.