A 17th-century manual barely sounds like must-read material for a modern yoga studio, but the Gheranda Samhita’s seven-limb roadmap has quietly become the glue holding many teacher trainings and schools together. Rather than treating asana as the “be-all, end-all,” it champions a full-spectrum approach: purification (shatkarmas), posture, breathwork, energy locks, sense withdrawal, meditation and, ultimately, samadhi. Here’s how today’s teachers are taking cues:

• Resurrecting the Cleansing Rituals
Neti, dhauti and kapalabhati—once dismissed as too medieval—have seen a resurgence. Some schools now devote entire weekend intensives to internal washes and breath cleansers. At last year’s Yoga Alliance conference, workshops on shatkarmas sold out in minutes.

• Integrating Mudras and Bandhas
Instead of an asana-only focus, sequencing often weaves in specific hand seals and energy locks. Prana Vinyasa stylists like Shiva Rea lean on these techniques to deepen embodiment, lighting a spark in students who’d previously felt stuck in downward dog.

• A Fuller Pranayama Spectrum
Gheranda’s nuanced pranayama chapters inspire teachers to explore bellows breathing, alternate nostril variations and even breath-retention protocols. It’s not just inhale-exhale anymore—many studios now frame entire classes around the rise and fall of prana.

• Bridging to Mindfulness and Therapy
Integrative yoga therapy programs reference the text’s emphasis on pratyahara (sense withdrawal) as a forerunner to modern mindfulness. Clinical trainings in 2025 often cite Gheranda when teaching the art of turning inward.

• Rebalancing the Asana Obsession
Embracing a sevenfold vision reminds instructors that flexibility and balance extend beyond postural prowess. Modules on meditation and samadhi—sometimes sidelined—are becoming staples in 200-hour and 500-hour certifications.

From boutique studios in Brooklyn to sprawling retreats in Rishikesh, Gheranda’s blueprint is alive and kicking. It’s the secret backstage pass that helps teachers spin asana, breath, energy and stillness into one seamless practice—proving that old-school wisdom can still pack a punch.