Systems: Viniyoga

Gary Kraftsow & Claire Collins

Based on the teachings of TKV Deskishar and Krishnamacharya out of Chennai India

Viniyoga ™ is a comprehensive and authentic transmission of the teachings of yoga including asana, pranayama, bandha, sound, chanting, meditation, personal ritual and study of texts. Viniyoga ™ (prefixes vi and ni plus yoga) is an ancient Sanskrit term that implies differentiation, adaptation, and appropriate application.

The American Viniyoga™ Institute uses the term Viniyoga™ to refer to an approach to Yoga that adapts the various means and methods of practice to the unique condition, needs and interests of each individual - giving each practitioner the tools to individualize and actualize the process of self-discovery and personal transformation.

The practices of Yoga provide the means to bring out the best in each practitioner. This requires an understanding of a person's present condition, personal potential, appropriate goals and the means available. Just as every person is different, these aspects will vary with each individual.

Principles of practice:

• repeat and stay
• The use of repetition into and out of postures in addition to holding postures
• function over form
• The emphasis on function rather than form in asana practice, and the science of adapting the forms of the postures to achieve different results
• breath and adaptation
• The emphasis on breath as the medium for movement in asana, and the science of adapting the pattern of breathing in asana to produce different effects
• art and science of sequencing
• The refined art and science of combination which allows teachers to create sequences of different orientation, length, and intensity to suit the intention and context of each practice.

Yoga Therapy:

• long term goals
• reduce symptoms of suffering
• manage symptoms that cannot be reduced
• root out causes where possible
• improve life function
• shift attitude and perspective in relationship to life's challenges
• Empowewrment:
• self-observation
• behavioral modification
• adaption of methods of practice

• Multidimensional approach
• Persona
• behavior
• thoughts
• mood
• physiology
• anatomy
• family
• society
• environment
• cosmos

Technique:

• breath science teaches proper breathing
• this breathing is matched with proper targeted movements
• posture move with the breath and are broken down into kramas
• precision is based on functional anatomy