Yoga For The Dancer
On your quest for a yoga way of life, you can affirm your highest resolve. For example, repeat (in your mind or out aloud even) your resolution, such as your intentions to act all day long in accordance to the highest spiritual and moral principles. Or maybe you intend on being more compassionate today, or intend to harm no one and benefit as many people as possible. More intentions you can include could be kind and loving today, to speak only healing words today, think only positive and benign thoughts today and to bless everyone today. And most importantly, intend to remember your true nature as often as possible throughout the day. Repeat your intention with great conviction three or more times and start believing in your intentions so they will become true.
American Viniyoga Institute (AVI) is an organization of Yoga practitioners and professionals sharing core values, guided by the spirit of Viniyoga and dedicated to offering quality experimental educational and professional opportunities in the fields of health and fitness, therapy, self-care and personal transformation. AVI shares these teachings in a rich array of professional training programs, seminars and retreats.
The term Viniyoga is used to describe the Yoga taught by Sri T. Krishnamacharya. A descendent of the legendary ninth century Yogi Nathamuni, his Viniyoga is firmly rooted in his lifetime scholarship of Patanjali's "Yoga Sutras." Krishnamacharya was the most influential yoga teacher of his time. His son, T.K.Y. Desikachar, had the good fortune to live and study with his father for 35 years and is the current Viniyoga lineage holder. This is a quote from his son's book Health, Healing and Beyond: "In the years following India's Independence until Krishnamacharya's death in 1989 at the age of 100, his efforts were concentrated on adapting, even revolutionizing, yogic practice for modern life. He swept aside ancient prohibitions against certain yogic practices by women, and innovated therapeutic treatments for respiratory, cardiac, stroke and injury victims, as well as new therapies for mental illnesses and disabilities. His great mission was to make yoga available to each individual, regardless of age, sex, race, culture, station in life and belief or non-belief."
Gary Kraftsow is founder and director of the AVI. At the age of 19, he traveled to Madras to study with the father and son great masters, initiating a link to the Viniyoga tradition that has become his lifelong dedication. In 1974 he received a Viniyoga Special Diploma from Viniyoga International in Paris, France. Gary has been a pioneer in the transmission of yoga for health, healing and personal transformation for 30 years. He has taught and practiced yoga therapy since 1976. In 1983 he completed a Master's program in psychology and religion at the University of California at Santa Barbara, focusing his study on health as a paradigm for spiritual transformation. At this time he also opened Maui School of Yoga Therapy.