Vision, Mission and Values

Guided by the Spirit of the Viniyoga Tradition

We have a unique opportunity in this century to become widely recognized as a leading educational institution dedicated to one of humankind’s most sophisticated and useful wellness and personal development modalities: Viniyoga. Our long-term goal is to grow as a diverse, international organization that provides programs around the world, with a growing staff of senior yoga teachers, Yoga Therapists, and educators of yoga professionals.

AVI® Mission

The American Viniyoga Institute (AVI) is an organization of yoga students and professionals who share core values and are guided by the spirit of the Viniyoga tradition.

We are dedicated to offering high quality educational experiences in the following areas:  personal transformation programs for students of yoga, professional certification programs for yoga teachers and Yoga Therapists and continuing education opportunities for yoga teachers, Yoga Therapists and professionals in the field of health and wellness.

Our goal is to contribute to the professions of yoga teaching and Yoga Therapy through educational programs, publications, products, and public service for diverse populations.

Values

Insight and Inspiration
Knowledge and Understanding
Reflection and Clarity
Tolerance, Compassion, and Generosity
Confidence
Creativity and Innovation
Stability, Perseverance, and Continuity

Ethics

  1. We assist our student/teachers in developing a personal practice that will help them realize and reduce the seeds of their own suffering, and help them fulfill their own potential.
    Tapaḥ Svādhyāya Īśvara Praṇidhānāni Kriyā Yogaḥ (Yoga Sutra II:1)
  2. Following the teachings of Patañjali, we exhort our student/teachers to cultivate within themselves qualities such as friendliness, compassion, joyfulness, and neutrality.
    Maitrī Karuṇā Mudita Upekṣāṇām Sukha Duḥkha Puṇyā Apuṇyā Viṣayāṇam Bhāvanātaḥ Citta Prasādanam (Yoga Sutra I:33)
  3. Following the Vedic teachings, we encourage students to recognize the four aims in life: dharma (responsibility, personal and to the greater good), artha (financial means of fulfilling our dharma), kāma (enjoyment of life), and mokṣa (permanent and ultimate freedom). We teach them that their own natural inclination to earn a living (artha) and to enjoy life (kāma) shall serve the aims of dharma and moksa, not destroy dharma and create more karmic entanglements that prevent moksa.
  4. Following the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya, we emphasize two principles:
    a. The teachings are about the student, not the teacher. Teachers must strive to understand the true needs of their students and adapt practices to serve those needs.
    b. The teacher must not leave their throne. That is, the role of the teacher must be respected. Thus, the teacher must strive to keep their own personal motivations out of the teaching context.