Vijnana Yoga Roots
Vijnana Yoga stems from the yogic tradition of northern India, as taught by Sri Krishnamacharya, the teacher of Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar and T.K.V. Desikachar. Having studied briefly with Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar, Orit Sen-Gupta practiced for twelve years with Dona Holleman, a long time student of B.K.S. Iyengar. Integrating Dona's deep understanding of the body with the practice of meditation, pranayama and the study of yogic texts, Orit founded together with a group of experienced teachers Vijnana Yoga in 2003.

The four main practices of Vijnana Yoga
 

1. The Seven Vital Principles are guidelines for the asana practice. Through them we adhere to the skeletal lines and thus find our true alignment.
2. The extensive practice of pranayama utilizes the natural breath in a unique way. By practising the vayus, we gradually master the classical pranayama forms.
3. "Just sitting" meditation inspires deep listening, which is the ground for Vijnana (understanding from inside).
4. The study of yogic texts integrate our intuitions and understanding into a more comprehensive view of life and our path in it.

The origin of the term Vijnana
According to the great Vedantist philosopher Sankara, vijnana is a deep understanding or knowing that cannot come about merely through outer knowledge. Even the knowledge expounded by our teachers and the inspiration we receive from spiritual texts is not enough. Vijnana is when inner clarity is revealed through personal experience.

Ramakrishna explains vijnana thus: "The awareness and conviction that fire exists in wood is jñana (knowledge). But to cook rice on that fire, eat the rice and get nourishment from it is vijñana."
 

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About Orit Sen Gupta

30 years yoga experience
Orit has been practicing yoga for over 30 years. She has studied Iyengar Yoga in Puna and trained in the Eighties with Pattabhi Jois in Mysore. She studied and taught with Dona Holleman for 12 years. Together they wrote "Dancing the Body of Light",
a comprehensive text on yoga.

Practicing from inside
In searching for a way of moving the body as one un-fragmented unit she gradually discarded the overuse of anatomical terms, which tend to view the body from the outside. Listening from inside, she found that adhering to the skeletal line and using the vital principles, allows for a simple and precise asana practice. This, she feels, frees us to celebrate the pure joy of moving and being.

Philosophy, pranayama and vayus
Orit graduated from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem with a degree in Sanskrit and Indian Philosophy. She was the first to translate the Patanjali yoga sutras from Sanskrit into Hebrew, which were published in 1992. Orit believes that the research and study of yogic texts is important for the development of yoga in our times. Researching old pranayama texts, she deepened her understanding of the ancient techniques of vayu practice.

Vijnana Yoga School
In 2002, together with a group of experienced teachers, she founded the Vijnana Yoga School. Since 1996 she has been training yoga teachers in Israel and giving international retreats.

She lives currently in Jerusalem with her two daughters.