CURRENT SERIES

Living the Yoga Sutra

Patañjali is said to be the incarnation of Ananta, also known as the Nāgarāja.  Tradition explains that Patañjali incarnated in response to the prayers of his devotees to be freed from suffering. He is said to have brought forth three great texts that contained essential teachings for the purification of the:

• Body – Caraka Saṃhitā
• Speech – Mahābhāṣya
• Mind – Yoga Sūtra-s

In the Yoga Sūtra, Patañjali organized his teachings about Yoga into four chapters. Tradition suggests that each chapter was prepared for a different disciple, each at a different stage in their personal evolution. Within each chapter, there are groups of linked Sūtra-s—or Sūtra clusters—through which Patañjali transmits the core teachings that are contained in each chapter.

In this ongoing series, we will explore the core teachings presented in all four chapters progressively by focusing on key Sūtra-s within each Sūtra cluster. Each class will include āsana and prāṇāyāma to support meditation on one of these important Sūtra. We will follow the order presented by Patañjali, beginning with Y.S. Chapter 1, and continuing through Chapters 2, 3, and 4.

Fridays for 60 minutes at 10:00 am PT and recordings on demand.

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

Mentorship Saṅgha

In this 90 minute meeting, Gary will offer a short talk on a relevant topic of interest to the group, lead a related practice, and then open the session up to participants for Q&A and mentoring about their personal practice and teaching. We will meet together on a special Zoom link that will be shared with all registrants on the day of the session.

Meeting on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 4pmPT.

Exclusive to Ananta Pass holders. 

AVAILABLE ON DEMAND

Antya Krama:  Resolving Karma

Explore the use of āsana and prāṇāyāma to support a meditation practice oriented towards resolving karma-s in relation to oneself, others, and the world around us. During the seven weeks of this series, we will work with the methods of Bhūta Śuddhi and Cakra Sādhana. We will systematically examine our svabhava (personality) through:

• svādhyāya on each cakra to surface unresolved issues, projections, attachments, aversions, and fears; and
• pratipakṣa bhāvanam to reframe our understanding about what is truly meaningful and important in the face of impermanence.

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

Rakṣana Krama
Using āsana and prāṇāyāma to maintain lifelong health and wellbeing

Conceived by Nāthamuni as one of the most important orientations in personal practice that utilizes the tools of āsana and prāṇāyāma, rakṣana krama is designed to protect our health as we move through time and space.

In rakṣana krama with a structural focus (Tuesdays), āsana-s are adapted in order to deepen our understanding of how our structure is changing over time and, with that understanding, work to: maintain or regain proper alignment, maintain or improve joint stability and range of motion, strengthen weak muscles, release chronic muscular contraction, maintain or restore symmetry, increase circulation, and identify and transform dysfunction neuro-muscular movement patterns.  Learn the unique Viniyoga methods of adapting and sequencing breath-centric āsana. In this series of classes, experience well-designed sequences through which we will systematically explore and work with each of the key areas of our anatomy.

In rakṣana krama with a physiological focus (Fridays), breath-centric āsana and prāṇāyāma are adapted in order to deepen our understanding of how our physiological systems are impacted by the pressures and stresses of daily life in order to support or improve their function. Learn the unique Viniyoga methods of breath adaptation in āsana to prepare for specific prāṇāyāma ratios and techniques. We will use these tools to systematically explore and work with each of our major physiological systems.

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

Mahāvākya – A Path to Freedom

The Mahāvākya–s are short statements, usually taken from the Upaniṣad-s, which distill and reveal profound Truths about the Divine (Brahma), the Self (Ātman), and the Universe.

These Mahāvākya–s offer a path to find answers to life’s key questions, and ultimately Self-Realization (Ātmavidyā) and/or ‘God-Realization’ (Brahmavidyā). While the Devatā Yoga series focused on the Symbolic Language of the Gāyatrī Mantra–s for each Deity, this series will focus on the Philosophical Language of the Mahāvākya–s.

Each class will offer a truly integrated practice using āsana, prānāyāma, chanting, and meditation with a focus on one of the great Mahāvākya–s, using a different one for each session.

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

Bandha-s: Prānāyāma and Associated Practices

Bandha-s, which can be translated as “locks”, are practiced in association with prāṇāyāma. They are powerful tools developed in the context of Tantric Yoga, designed to accelerate the action of transformation in the human vessel. In this series, we will work with these powerful and often misunderstood tools, learning how to use them correctly in order to experience their benefits.

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

SERIES PASS AVAILABLE.

Kriyā-s: Prānāyāma and Associated Practices

Kriyā-s are cleansing exercises usually practiced in association with prāṇāyāma. Kriyā-s are traditionally practiced after āsana, before prāṇāyāma. In this series of practices, we will work with these powerful techniques, learning how to use them correctly in order to experience their benefits.

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

Prāṇāyāma & Meditation

Langhana:  Manage your stress and promote deep relaxation.

Bṛṁhaṇa:  Build courage and strengthen your immune system.

A progressive series of practices which will use a varying combination of breath and meditation techniques.

All practices can be done seated on the floor or on a chair.

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

SERIES PASS AVAILABLE.

The River of Life: The Inner Practices of Tantric Yoga

Resolve current issues and set a new direction for your future.  A progressive series of practices which will use a varying combination of breath, Mantra, self-reflective meditation, Cakra Sādhana , and Deity Yoga.

All practices can be done seated on the floor or on a chair.

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

SERIES PASS AVAILABLE.

Working with the Nāḍī-s

Bṛṁhaṇa & Samāna Prāṇāyāma

Langhana & Samāna Prāṇāyāma

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

Tantric Laya Yoga Meditations: Bhūta Śuddhi & Cakra Sādhana

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

Hṛdaya-Granthi Bhedanam:  The Knots of the Heart

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.

Devatā Yoga

The Ancient practice of Devatā Yoga uses the symbolism of the Vedic Gods and Goddesses as a means of helping practitioners realize and actualize what the tradition calls our ‘innate Divine potential.’

There are three practices for each Deity.

↝In the Bṛṁhaṇa class, learn to chant the a specific Gāyatrī Mantra and use it in Āsana & Prāṇāyāma

↝In the Langhana class, continue to learn the Gāyatrī Mantra, using a different combination of Āsana & Prāṇāyāma.

↝In the Samāna  meditation class, learn about the particular Deity that is the personification of the Gāyatrī Mantra, as well as specific techniques to support your meditative experience on/with that Deity.

Deities

❊ (Gaṇeśa) Gaṇapati
❊ Brahma
❊ Sarasvatī
❊ Viṣṇu
❊ Lakṣmī
❊ Rudra (Śiva)
❊ Durgā
❊ Dattātreya
❊ Sāvitrī 

Led by Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.