Gary talks to J Brown about the historical, philosophical, and religious context in which yoga appeared. They discuss the origins and substance of teachings given by TKV Desikachar at Colgate University in 1976, Patanjali’s interest in the phenomenon of faith rather than the metaphysical nature of the godhead, qualified non-dualism, escaping the materialism of asana,…

Listen to Gary’s interview with Mark Walsh of Embodied Yoga as he discusses his days with Deśikācar and Kriṣṇamācārya, Yoga Therapy, the importance of the breath, the lineage of Viniyoga, the multi-dimensional model of the human being, the ultimate goal of yoga as preparation for death.

Meet Gary Kraftsow. The first American yoga teacher to be certified by T.K.V. Desikachar and now the leading teacher of Viniyoga Therapy.

Listen to Gary and J. talk about: Gary’s time in India and his relationship with TKV Desikachar, the story behind the name of American Viniyoga Institute, and the potential role of Yoga Therapy in healthcare.

“By engaging every aspect of our being, yoga teaches us how to lift ourselves out of depression and move toward a deeper sense of self.” –Gary Kraftsow, MA, E-RYT 500, Founder and Director American Viniyoga Institute Gary Kraftsow’s latest article on Viniyoga Therapy appears in the Winter 2011-12 issue of Yoga International. Gary reminds us…

Karen Sherman’s first randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effectiveness of yoga for low back pain was published in 2005 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Her initial study was met by high enthusiasm among Viniyoga teachers and therapists as well as the broader yoga community. Recently, results from Sherman’s second, larger study using the…

“It’s not about the postures, it’s about the practitioner.” — Gary Kraftsow KQED (NPR affiliate station in Northern California) held a radio show on January 12, 2012 about a recent New York Times Magazine article focused on how yoga can cause serious injury. The safety of yoga practice was addressed by a panel of speakers…

An article in the September 2014 issue of Consumer Reports lists five alternative treatments for back pain. Along with Spinal Manipulation (performed by a chiropractor, osteopath or physical therapist), Massage, Acupuncture and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Viniyoga was specifically mentioned as “the most effective form of yoga for back pain”.

“I have practiced Yoga on and off  for 44 years, but until a client raved about what Viniyoga had done for her, I had not heard of it.” Read what Sandra Levy of Alexandria Myotherapy in Alexandria, Virginia has to say about discovering and then re-discovering the therapeutic benefits of Viniyoga.

View a segment from PBS NewsHour on the classes provided for Aetna employees by the American Viniyoga Institute.

How a breast cancer survivor and Viniyoga Therapist, Patricia Sanzone, used her love of yoga to help others.

An article about Yoga Therapy, featuring two American Viniyoga Institute graduates.

“Pranayama, the formal practice of controlling the breath, lies at the heart of yoga. It has a mysterious power to soothe and revitalize a tired body, a flagging spirit, or a wild mind.” Read inspiration from a variety of yogic traditions and teachers (including Gary Kraftsow) about the ancient practice of Pranayama

The nationally acclaimed yoga teacher couldn’t move when he woke up from brain surgery. But that didn’t stop him from practicing yoga.

The Inner Art of Yoga Therapy

The city dweller and the nine cities.

Vedic Roots of Wisdom

Join Ana Forrest, Gary Kraftsow, David Swenson, and William Broad, author of the highly-publicized book, The Science of Yoga: The Risks and Rewards, as they discuss the complexities of this controversial topic. Moderated by Yoga Journal Editor in Chief, Kaitlin Quistgaard.

Spending too much time at your desk?  Try this Viniyoga sequence for neck and shoulder relief.

Viniyoga and mindfulness program helps participants reduce their perceived stress levels.

El yoga nos señala el camino para salir de la depresión y dirigirnos a un nivel más profundo de nuestro ser. Prueba estas posturas, ejercicios de respiración y mantras.

This article originally appeared in the International Journal of Yoga Therapy — No. 24 (2014). Although yoga as a practice is therapeutic, there are significant differences between a yoga teacher and a yoga therapist, and between a yoga class and a yoga therapy session.

This article originally appeared in the International Journal of Yoga Therapy — No. 24 (2014). A yoga teacher training program differs from a yoga therapist training program. We present an overview of the essential contents of each type of program in order to illustrate the differences.

Bertolini found healing in Viniyoga, and it helped change the way he viewed recovery.

Gary Kraftsow talks about the meaning of life.

A video excerpt from the course, Pranayama Unlocked: A Practice-Based Intensive.

Yoga teaches us how to lift ourselves out of depression and move toward a deeper sense of self. Find out how—and try these poses, breathing exercises, and mantras.

Gary Kraftsow was a member of a panel that discussed issues of yoga and religion with Yoga Journal. When asked if it’s possible to teach the deeper aspects of yoga in a way that doesn’t cross boundaries of ideology and belief, Gary responded, “I think that we can definitely teach a mind-body connection and teach…

The Aetna Mind Body Pilot won the Top Research Abstract Award at the International Association of Yoga Therapists’ Symposium on Yoga Research on September 23 – 25, 2011 at Kripalu, Lenox, MA. Viniyoga and mindfulness at work: 12 week worksite stress reduction programs reduce perceived stress and improve sleep quality and autonomic balance. Authors: G…

Gary joins a panel with Seane Corn, Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman at the Omega Institute to discuss the commercialization of yoga.