Yantra Yoga: The Tibetan Yoga of Movement
Product Description
Yantra Yoga offers the practitioner a unique approach to yoga practice, parallel to the Hatha Yoga of the Hindu tradition. Called “The Union of Sun and Moon,” it is a dynamic system of trulkhor (movements) and tsalung (pranayamas, breath control) and differs from more widespread yogas in that it is done as a sequence of movements coordinated with the breath and specific ways of holding it. Yantra Yoga helps the practitioner to relax and achieve a state of well-being and harmony, at the same time enhancing physical health, energy, and mental balance. At a more profound level, it is an important practice to integrate body, speech, and mind in a state that is beyond normal dualistic concepts. Yantra Yoga is a very rich body of knowledge that includes three preliminary series, 75 yantras (asanas), 7 breathing practices, 7 lotuses, and the vajra wave–108 exercises in all. Profusely illustrated with drawings and photographs, Yantra Yoga presents Tibet’s t… More >>
Yantra Yoga: The Tibetan Yoga of Movement
Tagged with: Asanas • Body Of Knowledge • Breath Control • Breathing Practices • Dynamic System • Harmony • Hatha Yoga • Health Energy • Hindu Tradition • Lotuses • Mental Balance • Movement • Physical Health • Product Description • Profound Level • Sun And Moon • Sun Moon • Tibet • Tibetan • Tibetan Yoga • Yantra • Yoga • Yoga Practice • Yogas
This book is well written. It gives detailed descriptions and instruction. Quite different than most yoga books available. It will take some time to get through the 108 moves.
Most yoga taught in the West is descended from Indian hatha traditions. Yantra yoga, or trul khor, is a Tibetan Buddhist form that is now available in the West, thanks to Chogyal Namkai Norbu, the commentator of this translation. Norbu was recognized as a tulku, or reincarnated emanation of a Tibetan Lama, at a young age, and is now one of the premiere living Dzogchen teachers – Dzogchen is the core teaching within the Nyingma tradition, one of the four main Tibetan Buddhist branches.
Yantra yoga consists of 75 asanas or positions, coordinated with specific breathing patterns, mantras and visualizations. This book consists of Chogyal Namkai Norbu’s commentary on the Union of Sun and Moon Yantra, a translation of the definitive guide to this yoga by the 8th century translator Vairocana. The book contains detailed pictures and explanations and is best used as a companion to studying with a certified yantra yoga teacher.
in this book, chogyal namkhai norbu presents a detailed explanation of a medieval yoga text, as informed by his receipt of oral transmission. he makes no mention of whether in doing so he violates tradition, or whether an initiation is considered necessary to practice the exercises.
in general, tibetan buddhists are required to complete a series of purification exercises that last about two years before undertaking the higher levels of tantric instruction. one can only assume the practices in this book are an exception, because norbu does not discuss that point. there’s a brief, obligatory statement at the introduction of the text stating that one should seek instruction from a qualified practitioner, but aside from that the reader is not discouraged from giving the material a go.
the text itself is basically a manual, presenting the exercises verbatim without frills or discussion. one might infer that the text was intended for an academic audience if it weren’t for the fact that the instructions are so clear and specific. perhaps it was intended as a reference for the author’s students, but if so that statement is not made anywhere.
if you are like me and are fascinated by the various schools of yoga and their practices, you will find in this book a real treat. it presents a highly esoteric system from a lineage totally distinct from modern hatha yoga. the exercises themselves, however, are quite complicated, and it is probably unrealistic to think you can learn to perform them correctly from this book. you should probably check out the videos available freely online by norbu’s students and others, under the titles “yantra yoga” and “trul khor.” there is a very specific rhythm and form to the exercises that cannot be gleaned from the text itself. if the author’s assumptions are correct and these exercises act to free blocked energies in the subtle body, performing them incorrectly could conceivably lead to temporary psychosis or other problems.
Written by Dzogchen and Tantra master Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, Yantra Yoga: The Tibetan Yoga of Movement is an in-depth study of Yantra Yoga, the Buddhism-influenced line of yoga in parallel to the Hathayoga of Hindu tradition. This system of poses, body movements, breathing exercises, and visualization, currently found in all schools of Tibetan Buddhism in relation to the Anuttaratantras, is described in depth with a number of black-and-white photographs and diagrams serving as visual aid to anyone interesting in learning and performing Yantra Yoga. An extensive commentary of the oral instruction of Tibetan yogins and siddhas of the twentieth century, Yantra Yoga is an enthusiastically recommended addition to Tibetan Buddhism studies shelves.
This book saves many years of research. It clearly explains purpose of many methods which are usually assigned to domain of Hatha yoga. Available books with commentaries in twilight language of Natha sampradaya can be understood much better now. Also, it is a real treasure for practitioners of Vajrayana.
Sw. Santosh Suraj