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| Yoga Tailored to the Individual |
Viniyoga: Yoga Tailored to the Individual
Viniyoga is an approach to yoga popularized by American yogi Gary Kraftsow. It is not so much the name of a yoga as an approach to developing a personal practice of yoga. Kraftsow began his studies of yoga with the highly respected East Indian teacher, T.K.V. Desikachar, son of Sri Krishnamacharya, one of the 20th century’s greatest yoga masters. With Desikachar’s blessing, Kraftsow established the American Viniyoga Institute (AVI), where he and his wife, Mirka, make the teachings of Viniyoga accessible to the public.
Viniyoga is characterized by its emphasis on the breath and the flowing manner in which postures are executed. It incorporates meditation, prayer, and ritual. Viniyoga draws upon the teachings of the South Indian yogi and sage Nathamuni (circa 800 C.E.) Nathamuni traces his lineage to Patanjali (believed to have lived between 200 and 500 C.E.), who, as the author of the oldest text on yoga, is sometimes referred to as the “father of yoga.” Nathamuni taught that as we grow, the methods we use must be modified and the very purpose of our practice changed.
Viniyoga is thus ideally suited to the man (or boy) who wants to tailor a yoga practice suited to his individual needs—in particular, in respect to his age. For children, Viniyoga practice supports the balanced growth and development of the body and mind. For adult men, the practice aims to safeguard health and promote the ability to be productive in the world. For senior men, Viniyoga practice helps to maintain health while inspiring a deeper quest for self-realization. (For more guidance on how yoga can help men at different stages of their life’s journey, see Chapter 11, which reflects much of the teachings of Viniyoga.)
