Vivekan’s teaching style is at once informed and candid; yet, it is also simultaneously playful, accepting and different.

Vivekan is widely appreciated for his:

– Clarity of instruction,

– Sequencing of poses,

– Broad yogic and postural knowledge, and,

– Ability to enrich his students’ experience by tying-in yogic philosophy with ordinary, everyday experiences.

Vivekan is the founder and director of Park Slope, Brooklyn’s Bodhisattva Yoga. For 3 years he practiced (hatha) yoga solely at home with only a book as a guide before he ever ventured out to explore yoga in a class. Upon doing so, he explored many of the presentations of yoga available in the budding New York yoga scene of the mid-to-late 1990’s. Having done so, for his certification, he chose to immerse himself in the Classical School of Indian Yoga under a direct disciple of Swami Satchidananda — Jayadeva, from whom he received his dharma name, Vivekan (Skt., One with spiritual discrimination and discernment; one who sees the world as impermanent; one with right view).

I accepted this name as a lodestar of sorts, for it captures what is sought in Buddhism — right view.

Vivekan credits Jayadeva as having instructed him in Classical Yoga, i.e., the Yoga Sutras, basic asanas, pranayama, bandhas, mudras and kriyas. After receiving his certification Vivekan continued studying with many teachers of varying (hatha) yogic traditions, ranging from the Iyengar Method, to Pattabhi Jois’ Primary Series-Ashtanga. Although Vivekan’s teaching method is quite different from theirs, he cites these three particular yoga styles (along with Mahayana Buddhism) as having influenced the development of Bodhisattva Yoga™. He credits Rodney Yee, as his principal asana form and sequence mentor.

Subsequently, Vivekan began a teaching career at a much more accelerated rate than the vast majority of yoga teachers — who teach only as a side-gig. Although he moonlighted as a yoga teacher prior to certification, Vivekan taught full-time (+ weekends) – as his sole livelihood – shortly after receiving his certification. By the end of 2002, he had already amassed over 5,000(!) teaching hours — less than four years after his certification.

This period of my teaching career was demanding. My Friday (then my easy day) in 2001, looked like this:

8am class in the Upper West Side, Manhattan

10:15am class in the Lower East Side, Manhattan

12:30pm class in Park Slope, Brooklyn

4:30pm class in the West Village, Manhattan

7:30pm class in the East Village, Manhattan (Whew! I had a lot of energy then!)

Vivekan attributes this amount of teaching experience — along with his continued studies and practices — to his ability to help others in their practice journey.

Philosophically and spiritually, he has  been especially moved and inspired by the Bodhisattvayana (Skt., the altruistic path to enlightenment, whereby the yogin’s goal is to liberate beings). The teachings and life examples of his Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist teachers have provided Vivekan with the philosophical basis that informed his motivation to become a yogi and instructor. These teachers chiefly being His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the late Sermey Khensur Lobsang Tharchin, the late Master Sheng Yen, and Khyongla Rato Rinpoche. From the West, however, is Vivekan’s principal teacher and kalyana mitra.

These peerless, authentic teachers of mine are the true yogis, siddhas and bodhisattvas.

Synthesizing these influences, Vivekan created his own unique, refreshing brand of instruction, Bodhisattva Yoga™:
Ample, well-sequenced sun flows imbued with awareness to breath,  safe alignment, and acceptance inspired from Buddhist thought. His classes transport his practitioners from their day-to-day activities into challenging, breath-based flows that strengthen, tone and limber the body, while increasing health and well-being.

In order to elucidate a philosophical or postural point, Vivekan often draws from the tenets of the Yoga Sutras, the richness of Buddhism (plus other world traditions), and scientific findings. His accessible yoga and meditation instruction, with his ability to tie-in yogic philosophy with ordinary, everyday experiences, enriches his students’ practice experience.

My instruction differs from class-to-class, day-to-day – I never come in with a script; it’s based on the group’s ability, and the premise that ananda (fun) and virya (joyous effort) are not mutually exclusive.

Vivekan regularly leads seminars, workshops, workplace yoga/meditation, and retreats themed around yoga, meditation and wellness — both domestically and internationally. With Vivekan’s oversight, Bodhisattva Yoga™ offers customized at home, in office or workplace, on tour, and vacation yoga instruction service packages for groups and individuals — for more information, e-mail us.

Vivekan has been featured on such popular media outlets as MTV Brazil and Channel 9 News, and inside the pages of Time-Out NY. He has also taught meditation in such notable settings as The New York Times.

 

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Jess Root got rocked in 2006 when she began to study under NYC’s authentic and hardcore Vinyasa yogi and Bodhisattva Yoga’s founder, Vivekan. She didn’t have to start strong, stick-thin or touching-her-toes to access the calm that came with his expertise, and challenging, no-BS classes. Today, she is a strong, mentally flexible practitioner thanks to his un-erring guidance infused with Bodhisattva Buddhist philosophy.

She received her 200-hr. teacher certification under Vivekan and continues to apprentice– having accrued approximately 1,000 professional hours leading classes, private sessions, workshops and retreats. In 2010 she took Bodhisattva vows with a qualified Tibetan Buddhist teacher, making a lifelong commitment to help benefit others. She joyfully lives, breathes, dreams the Dharma with her now partner in life — and (virtuous) crime — Vivekan. :)

In her classes, workshops and retreats, inspiration is drawn from her personal practice, her teachers and the Dharma.

You can expect a healthy balance of:
–building a strong, healthy core, toning and opening
–play (setting foundations for arm-balances and inversions)
–practices in fearlessness
–deep release and relaxation
–Bodhisattva and yogic food-for-thought

Among students and private clients she is known for her warmth, encouragement and her ability to communicate her personal tips, tricks and hacks to make life off — and on the mat — a little more laid back and rock star.

She regularly contributes to Discovery Communications’ PlanetGreen.com and TreeHugger.com, has been featured in Budget Travel, MSN, E, the Environmental Magazine. She has also presented talks at The Tibet Center and the Rubin Museum of Art, among others.

Follow her on Facebook and Twitter or contact her at Jessica@BodhisattvaYoga.com.

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