Yantra Yoga Breathing Yoga

Yantra Yoga is a system of yoga movements like poses in motion and using the breath to clear the mind and bring health to the body.

Table of Contents

1. What is Yantra Yoga?
2. How do you practice Yantra Yoga?
3. What are the benefits of Yantra Yoga?
4. Yantra Yoga Books
   1. Breathe As You Are
   2. Tibetan Yoga of Movement
   3. Yantra Yoga
5. Yantra Yoga DVDs
   1. Breathe
   2. Tibetan Yoga of Movement Level 1
   3. Tibetan Yoga of Movement Level 2
6. About the Authors
7. Conclusion

What is Yantra Yoga?

Yantra Yoga is one of the oldest recorded systems of yoga techniques in the world. Its unique series of poses and movements, combined with breathing, can help coordinate and harmonize one’s vital energy so that the body and mind can relax and find its authentic balance. These Yoga postures contain a wide range of movements and breathing techniques that can be applied by everyone, and it is a superb method to attain optimal balance, health, and relaxation.

How do you practice Yantra Yoga?

If you are familiar with yoga these books and DVDs will be a strong introduction to the movements and breathing practices. It is best to find a teacher or work within the community or take an online course.

What are the benefits of Yantra Yoga?

Yoga is the Hundi word for union or yoke, meaning bringing the body and mind together and Yantra Yoga is based on the ancient text known as The Union of the Sun and Moon, written by Vairotsana, who brought Dzogchen and this yoga practice to Tibet.

So Yantra Yoga can be understood as bringing together the subtle energies of body and mind and this practice will bring about a stronger clarity of mind and a healthier body.

Books

Breath Yoga

Breathe As You Are

If you have any questions about the breath during Yantra yoga practice this is the book. There are very detailed explanations about theroy and practice.

Some of the major topics include

• The 7 point posture
• The 4 phases of breathing and how to coordinate them
• Complete explanation of breathing patterns for Yantra warm up exercises.

Tibetan Yoga of Movement

Yantra Yoga is a unique method of yoga movements and breathing that has been preserved since it was first brought to Tibet. This text comes from one of the oldest known documents relating to yoga in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. There is a brief description of 75 movements or poses similar to those of Hatha Yoga forms, but different in the coordination of movement and breath. 18 Preliminary Movements This book provides instructions on the 18 preliminary movements or warmups, divided into three groups, that are not taught in Indian systems. We can only speculate where these instructions came from. Their purposes are to warm up the body; train the different aspects of the breathing, in particular, the holds; and open the energy channels, and these three groups of exercises are linked with the main practice.

Yantra Yoga

Yantra Yoga or Trul Khor, the Buddhist parallel to the Hathayoga of the Hindu tradition, is a system of practice entailing bodily movements, breathing exercises, and visualizations.

Originally transmitted by the mahasiddhas of India and Oddiyana, its practice is nowadays found in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, more generally known under the Tibetan term Trul Khor.

The Sanskrit equivalent of Trul Khor is Yantra, meaning the Union of the Sun and Moon, transmitted in Tibet in the eighth century by the great master Padmasambhava to the Tibetan translator and Dzogchen master Vairochana, can be considered the most ancient of all the yoga systems of Yantra, and it contains also numerous movements which are also found in the classic Yoga tradition.

Yantra Yoga DVDs

Beginner Practice

This practice is an introduction and sets the stage for the Yantra Yoga exercise practice. BreAthe DVD The Perfect Harmony of Breathing Even though simple and effective, the sequences help deepen and clarify the practitioner’s experience of breathing.
DVD Details
~ Actors Fabio Andrico and Yamila Diaz ~ Number of discs 1 ~ Studio Shang Shung Institute ~ Directors Fabio Andrico ~ Run Time 133 minutes

This DVD series covers the full spectrum of Yantra Yoga. Each volume contains two discs: the first features detailed instruction in the movements, while the second is to follow during practice.

Tibetan Yoga of Movement Level 1

Level 1 includes beginning instruction on the three preliminary series, as well as the 1^st Series of Yantras. Level 1 DVD Details
~ Director Tatyana Khodakivska
~ Run time 2 hours and 26 minutes
~ Actors Fabio Andrico, Laura Evangelisti, and Various Yantra Yoga Practitioners & teachers
~ Studio Shang Shug Institute
~ Number of discs 2

Practices covered in Level 1:
– Vairocana Posture
– Warm-Ups
– The Nine Purification Breathings
– Tsigjong: Loosening the Joints
– Lungsang: Purifying the Prana – Tsadul: Controlling the Energy Channels
– The Five Yantras of the First Series
– Vajra Wave: Overcoming Energy Obstacles

Tibetan Yoga of Movement Level 2

Level 2 is designed for those already proficient at the 1^st level, including instruction on the remaining four series of Yantras and the Pranayama of Rhythmic Breathing.

Level 2 DVD Details
~ Director Tatyana Khodakivska
~ Run time 2 hours and 28 minutes
~ Actors Fabio Andrico and Laura Evangelisti
~ Studio Shang Shung Institute
~ Number of Discs 2

Movements covered in Level Two:
– The Five Yantras of the Second Series
– The Five Yantras of the Third Series
– The Five Yantras of the Fourth Series
– The Five Yantras of the Fifth Series
– Rhythmic Breathing: Pranayama
– Vajra Wave: Overcoming Energy Obstacles

This DVD series covers the full spectrum of Yantra Yoga.

Each volume contains two discs, the first features detailed instruction in the movements, while the second is to follow during practice.

Special attention is placed on the way to begin and end each practice session.

About The Authors

Chogyal Namkhai Norbu
At the age of 3, Namkhai Norbu was recognized as an incarnation of a great Dzogchen Master in Tibet. He received a full eduction as a truiku lama and started practicing with several great masters.

Norbu left Tibet because of political events and at one point became a Professor of Tibetan Language at the University of Naples.

About Fabio Andrico
Andrico has been exposed to many different yoga traditions. He met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu and had the rare opportunity to learn the Tibetan Yantra Yoga directly from this lineage.

He is both a Hatha Yoga and Yantra Yoga instructor and is authorized to train new Yantra Yoga teachers. He has thought internationally to large groups on six continents.

Conclusion

The information in these books and DVDs come directly from Chogyal Namkhai Norbu and Fabio Andrico who both used one of the oldest text on yoga handed down from to Vairotsana that was the first introduction to Dzogchen and this style of yoga to Tibet.