Tibetan Yoga for Health Well-Being: The Science and Practice of Healing Your Body, Energy, and Mind

109 Pages·2018·5.6 MB·English

by  Alejandro Chaoul

PRAISE FOR
Tibetan Yoga for Health & Well-Being
“Alejandro Chaoul weaves the world of a traditional practice together with
modern life. This opens a method for patients, clinicians, and anyone interested
to experience ways of healing that once were inaccessible. This powerful and
generous gift opens a doorway into kindness, both for oneself and others.”
— Sharon Salzberg, New York Times best-selling author of Real Happiness and
Real Love
“No need to decipher ancient translations and puzzle out the hidden meanings of
ancient texts—Alejandro has done that for us in plain and useful language that
allows us to integrate Tibetan yoga into our lives immediately. When you start to
apply Alejandro’s instructions to these beautiful practices, you will find a new
way to practice that will enhance your breathing, your circulation, your mind,
and your life.”
— Cyndi Lee, founder of New York City’s OM Yoga Center and author of May
I Be Happy
“Alejandro Chaoul brilliantly captures the essence, depth, and joy of an ancient
yogic tradition that heals us from the inside out. Using simple, step-by-step
breathing, movement, and meditation practices, Chaoul guides readers in
practices that demonstrate it is not only possible but immediately close at hand
for any of us to gain a natural balance, calm, and moreover optimum health.”
— Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, co-authors of The Art of Vinyasa
“An extraordinary book on the ancient practices of Tibetan yoga. This book will
be a resource and inspiration to all who read it.”
— Roshi Joan Halifax, Ph.D., founder, abbot, and head teacher of Upaya
Institute and Zen Center and author of Standing at the Edge
“Chaoul is a modern yogi, a man who possesses all of the technical training and
cultural gifts necessary to transmit a practice that was once a hidden treasure of
Bon Tibetan yoga, but is now open to any and all.”
— Jeffrey J. Kripal, author of Secret Body
“Alejandro Chaoul has given us the gift of this powerful practice in practical
easy steps. This has been a generous and lifelong devotion to bring these to the
West and in particular to patients who could most benefit. This is a beautifully
written and transformative book.”
— Elissa Epel, Ph.D., professor, University of California, San Francisco;
president elect, Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research; and best-selling co-
author of The Telomere Effect
“Tibetan Yoga for Health & Well-Being is both ancient wisdom and an evidence-
based clinical approach of value to anyone, whether you are living with illness or
simply want to improve your sense of well-being. Alejandro Chaoul’s extensive
experience and passion come through in this practical guide to finding one’s
‘inner home’ and living with openheartedness and vitality.”
— Susan Bauer-Wu, Ph.D., president of the Mind & Life Institute and author of
Leaves Falling Gently
“A wonderful combination of personal reflections, philosophy, science, and
practical application. In Tibetan Yoga for Health & Well-Being, Alejandro
Chaoul provides a narrative with specific practices to apply and help transform
our daily lives.”
— Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., professor and director, Integrative Medicine Program,
the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

ALSO BY ALEJANDRO CHAOUL, PH.D.
CHÖD PRACTICE IN THE BON TRADITION
EDITED BY ALEJANDRO CHAOUL, PH.D.
UN BUEN CORAZÓN ES LA MEJOR RELIGIÓN

Copyright © 2018 by Alejandro Chaoul Published in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.:
®
www.hayhouse.com
Published in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au
Published in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk
Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in
Cover design: Howie Severson • Interior design: Bryn Starr Best Interior photos/illustrations:
Calligraphies by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, photo by Angel Alcalá Illustrations of chakras and channels by Lhari-
la Kalsang Nyima Tibetan yoga poses in motion by Andreas Zihler, Zurich Video of all Tibetan magical
movements by Volker Graf, Vision is Mind Productions Tibetan yoga still photos and hand details by Tom
Maroshegyi All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic,
or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system,
transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use—other than for “fair use” as brief quotations
embodied in articles and reviews—without prior written permission of the publisher.
The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form
of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly
or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your
quest for emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this
book for yourself, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress Tradepaper ISBN: 978-1-4019-
5434-5
E-book ISBN: 978-1-4019-5435-2
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1st edition, July 2018
Printed in the United States of America
I dedicate this book to my teacher His Holiness
Lungtok Tenpai Nyima, the 33rd Menri Trizin, who passed away
recently.
From him I first learned the Tibetan Yoga of the Instructions of the A
at his enchanting Menri Monastery in Dolanji, India, and as I write
this, I am here again for his cremation ceremony.
In the 20-plus years I studied with him, I was very fortunate to receive
many teachings, as well as my dharma name, Sherab Ozer (Wisdom
Rays of Light).
Contents
Foreword by TENZIN WANGYAL RINPOCHE
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1:
The Ligmincha Yoga of Instructions of the A: Tibetan Yoga for Everyone and
Everyday Life
Step 1: Stating Your Purpose or Intention
Step 2: Using Proper Body Posture and Breathings
Step 3: Subtle Body Practice: Incorporating Your Channels and Guiding
Your Breath through Them
Chapter 2:
The Tibetan Yoga Movements from the Instructions of the A
Step 4: Incorporating the Movements
Step 5: Sharing the Benefits of Your Practice
Chapter 3:
A Brief History of the Bon Tibetan Yoga
Chapter 4:
The Modern Yogi
Afterword
Resources
Endnotes
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Foreword
Alejandro Chaoul has been my student for more than 25 years. Over the years I
have known him, he has fully engaged in Bon study and practice both
academically and experientially and has played an important role in establishing
some of the activities of Ligmincha International through teaching, creating
support materials for practice and study, directing the research initiatives and
conferences, and otherwise offering his dedicated assistance. In addition, he was
in the first group of The 3 Doors trainees and is now a Senior Teacher.
From almost the beginning, he expressed interest in our Tsa lung and Trul
khor Tibetan yogas, furthering his training at Triten Norbutse Monastery in
Nepal and Menri Monastery in India, under the supervision of my beloved
teachers Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak and His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima,
respectively.
Since 1994, I have worked closely with Alejandro in the Tibetan Yoga texts
and practice, supporting his teaching and trainings in the United States, Latin
America, and Europe. Furthermore, with our shared interest in the healing aspect
of these yogas, I was happy to support him in bringing these ancient practices
into hospitals and other health-care environments, in both research and the
clinic.
In Tibetan Yoga for Health & Well-Being, Alejandro Chaoul brings an
accessible presentation of the A-tri Trul khor, or Tibetan Yoga of Instructions of
the A, that we condensed together and have been teaching at Ligmincha
International since 2007.