Yoga for Wellness: Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga

353 Pages·1999·132.64 MB·English

by  Gary Kraftsow

PRAISE FORYOGA FOR WELLNESS
"GaryKraftsowisone ofAmerica's leading sourceson Yogatherapy. He represents
the best ofthe generationofpeoplewhowent to India inthe seventiestolearnYoga.
Becauseofhismatureunderstandingandexperience,Yoga forWellness isatreasure.
Itshouldbe includedon everyYogapractitioner'sbookshelf."
-SwamiChetanananda,Abbott,NityanandaInstitute,
andauthorofChoosetoBeHappy
"Gary has done a great service to the Yogaworld by putting his understanding of
Viniyogaon paper. There isso much valuable informationwithin these pages. Read
itandlearn!"
-ErichSchiffmann,
authorofYoga:TheSpiritandPracticeofMovingIntoStillness
"Aprofoundanddetailedguldetoyogatherapyandyogaforhealing. Itcontainsone
ofthe most sophisticatedpresentationsofasanasinprint, showing howtoadaptthe
Yogaposestospecial individualhealthandenergy requirements."
-DavidFrawley,
authorofYogaandAyurvedaandAyurvedaandtheMind
ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
Gary Kraftsow's interest in the spiritual dimension of lifewas awakened at a very
young age. HisconnectiontoYogaandthe spiritual traditionsofIndia was strength
enedthrough his studies at Colgate University,where he graduatedwith honors. At
the ageofnineteen, hetraveledtoMadrastomeetT.K.V.DesikacharandT.Krishna
macharya, initiatinga link to the Viniyogatradition thatwas to becomehis lifelong
dedication.
GaryhastaughtYogaandhaspracticedYogatherapysince 1976.In 1983hecom
pletedaMaster'sprogram inpsychology andreligionat the University ofCalifornia,
Santa Barbara, focusing his studyon health as a paradigm forspiritual transforma
tion. Gary isan internationallyknown educatorinthe Viniyogalineage, conducting
retreats, trainings, and seminars throughout the UnitedStates and Europe. He cur
rently offersin-depth training programs forbothteachersand therapistsandhas re
ceived the Viniyoga Special Diploma, recognizing his ability to train teachers and'
therapistsinthislineage. Garycontinueshis studieswithT.K.V. Desikachar. Helives
on the islandofMaui withhis family.
PEN8UIll
COMPASS

Yoga for We ness
Healinq
with the
Timeless
Teachinqs
ofYiniyoqa
GARY KRAFTSOW
FOREWORD BY SCOTT GERSON . M,D ,
MEDICAL I LLUSTRATIO N S BY SUSA N G ILBERT
PENGUIN COMPASS
COMPASS
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First publishedinArkana 1999
19 20
Copyright©Gary Kraftsow, 1999
Allrights reserved
ANOTE TOTHE READER
The information inthis book isnot intendedas a substitute forthe advice
ofphysicians or other qualified health professionals. It is not intendedto
be prescriptivewithreferencetoanyspecificailment orcondition ortothe
generalhealth ofthe reader,but, rather,descriptiveofone approach tofos
teringhealthandwellness.Thereader isadvisedtoconsultwithhis orher
physician before undertakingany ofthe practices containedin this book.
The reader shouldalso continuetoconsultregularlywith his orher physi
cian in matters relatingto his or her health, particularly in respect to any
symptoms that mayrequirediagnosisormedicaltreatment. Neitherthe au
thor nor the publishershall be liableorresponsible forany loss,injury,or
damageallegedlyarisingfromthe use ofany informationcontainedinthis
book.
ISBN978-0-14-019569-9
(CIP dataavailable)
Printedin the UnitedStatesofAmerica
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dition that itshall not, bywayoftrade or otherwise,be lent, re-sold,hired
out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any
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For Matteo and future generations

foreword
It has been more than twenty years since I first tion in the Arthavaveda ofagreat many plants used
arrived in south India to begin my study of in the treatment of specific diseases. Certainly,
Ayurveda.the traditional systemofIndian medicine. Ayurvedacan be said to have its roots in this Arth
Naturally. I have an avid interest in the originsand avavedic era.
influences of this healing system and have taken Gradually,withthe dawningofscientificthought.
every opportunity to delve into the original ancient these early Vedicconcepts of anatomy. physiology,
texts for evidence of its philosophical and intellec pathology.and pharmacologyweregreatlyexpanded
tual underpinnings. We know. for example. from and developed. Finally.during the firstand second
archeologicalremainsthatAyurvedacan betracedto centuries A.D.. these ideas were organized and
the ancient cities ofMohenjo-Daro and Harappa in recorded as the famous encyclopedic compendiums
the regionknown as the Indus Valley.Atthat timea of Charaka and Sushruta. Even today these books
system of healing prevailed, amongst a people are regarded as the main textbooks ofIndian medi
known as the Aryans. in which sophisticated medi cine.
cines ofvegetable. animal. and mineral originwere H was durlng this period that the Ayurvedic
used.The Rgveda,the oldest known documentfrom vavldyas began to incorporate ideas from other
the Aryancivilization.containsabundantreferences schools ofthought apart fromthe Samkhya doctrine
toplants and herbal medicines.Theconcepts ofagni that was its main affiliation. One of these schools
and soma. the seed concepts forlater medical theo was the YogaSchool, the most celebrated and earli
riesofdigestion and reproduction. are likewisedis est textofwhich isascribed to Patafijali,a sagewho
cussed in detail in this ancient metrical scripture. lived at the end of the second century A.D. This
The Rgveda and the other two early Vedas (Ya school set forth the concept ofpsychophysiological
jurveda and Samaveda) are distinctly ritualisticand constitutions of human beings, a system of con
magical. full of references to sacrifice and deities. trolling the mind and body through physical and
The deities were often personifications of natural behavioral disciplines, and methods of attaining
forces,such as sun.wind.andearth. Thelatertextof one-pointed concentration. This latter goal could
the Vedicperiod. the Arthavaveda, provides a much leadtheaspiranttoknowledgeofthespirituntainted
morespecificand detailed viewofmedicineas itex bymatter.
istedinancientIndia.Thedetaileddescription ofthe Oneofthefeatures that setsGaryKraftsow'sbook
human body is evidence of a highly developed apartfromhundredsofothers onthesubjectisitsin
knowledge ofanatomy. In addition, we finda great clusion of an enlightening discussion of negative
many disease conditions delineated including hrdy emotions and conditioning. which are obstacles to
ota (heart disease). kustha (leprosy). rajayaksma our evolution into conscious beings. Gary draws
(consumption). asmari (kidneystones), andunmada on modern neurophysiology to help us understand
(insanity). to mention onlya few.There isalso men- ancient concepts of ahamkaric self-limiting mls-
vii
conceptions of ourselves and our world.The praqa tardedchildren. Other renownedinstitutionsinclude
yama-asana-meditation triad ofinterventionswhich the Kaivalyadhama Samiti Yogic Health Center in
are beautifully elucidated with clinical cases ts Lonavia and the Vivekananda Kendra in Bangalore.
practical and inspiring. In this section generous ref However, these two latter schools, in my opinion,
erences are also made to concentrative and visual share the limitation of their research having a no
ization techniquesas therapeutictools.Althoughitis table lackofcorrelation withmodem medical under
commonly assumed that Patafijali was the founder standing ofdisease. Another limitation is that often
of the Yoga system. his own compendium, Yoga the recommended asanas are beyond the ability of
Surra,stateshewasonlythecompilerandeditor.The the individual in need. The message ofYogaaccord
originoftheYogasystem ismoreaccuratelyascribed ingto Patafijali is prayatna saithilya.nanta samiipat
to more ancient priest-physicians of the Vedic era. tibhytun (YS, 2:47),which means that the forceand
The system of Yoga. although popularized in the effortexpendedindoingasanas shouldbe the mini
West as a system ofphysical asanas, was originally mum. The postures are intended to be comfortable
considerably medical in its purpose. The Yogasys andsteady(sthirasukhamiisanam, YS,2:46).Athird
temspeaksofunderstandingdisease.itsetiologyand limitation ofmany Yogainstructionsisthe emphasis
course. and the methods bywhich to best eliminate on the achievement of a fixed, rigid form of each
it.This is in close agreementwith the Ayurvedicap asana: this negates the individual constitutional dif
proachtodisease. ItisclearthatCharakawasgreatly ferences ofeach practitionerandcan even be injuri
influenced by the YogaSchool. Among the health ous. Finally,the importance ofthe breath as the key
promoting measurescommon toYogaandAyurveda to one's Yoga practice is often not emphasized
are the use of mantras, dietary measures, fasting. enough.
controlled breathing practices, fomentation, relax Thepresentvolume adeptlyaddressesallofthese
ation, adherence to natural urges, and abstinence issuesandbrilliantlyfulfillsthe needsofthe beginner
fromexcess andimmoralbehavior.Perhapsthe most and the initiate. Gary Kraftsow is one of the most
important link. however, istheir commongrounding highlyrespectedcontemporaryteachersofViniyoga,
inthe tenetsofthe Sarnkhya philosophy. a tradition that invites, even demands, self-aware
Forexample, there isa discussion inthe Charaka ness and attunement to one's physical, emotional,
Samhita of the relation between Yoga and moksha and mental reality.
(CS, 2:137-156). Moksha, the summum bonum of Its ultimate goal is to bring about nothing less
human life,is defined by Charaka as the "complete than a complete transformation of its sincere stu
annihilation of all material attachments," moksho dents. One ofthe distinguishingfeatures ofthisYoga
ntvttitmthsesha(CS,lbid., 137). Chakrapani,another system towhich the readerisdirected isthe concept
noted Ayurvedic commentator, defines moksha as of release valves. These unconscious compensatory
"absolute annihilation of the body" (atyantika sari movements thatdilute the value ofan asanaare ex
radyucchedeh). Both of these physicians identify tremelyrelevantforallofuswhopractice any formof
Yogaas the means ofattaining this ultimate state of therapeutic movement.Throughoutthe bookthe au
human liberation. Patafijali takes this idea further thor makes us aware of these patterns and offers
andprovides the practical means beginning with his methodsofadaptation.Viniyoga,practicedregularly,
second siitra:yogaScittavrtti nirodhal] ("Yoga isthe can no doubt transform the physically and mentally
control offluxesinthe mind"). limited individual into a harmonious and balanced
Today,there isagreatneedtoclearlyelucidatethe being.Wewitness the fulfillmentofthis tradition toa
therapeutic applications ofYogaand its asanas. Al largeextent inthe author,who has pursuedthe path
though much is known, not much is written on the ofYogafull-timeformorethan twentyyears.He isa
uses ofasanas in the treatment ofspecificdiseases. teacherandguidetomany individuals, amongwhom
Among informed Ayurvedicphysicians interested in are many knowledgeable and experienced health
well-founded Yogaresearch, the general consensus care providers.
today isthatthree Indianinstitutionsare conducting What makes this volume unique and fresh is not
well-designed Yogaresearch. Ofthe three, the most only thatithas arisen fromyears ofpersonal discov
respected is the Krishnamacharya YogaMandiram ery,but also thatGary has inadditionyears ofexpe
in Madras, where ground-breaking research is cur rience in clearly expounding these techniques to
rently addressing the role of Yoga in mentally re- students of all levels of practice. I am gratifiedand
viii foreword
astonished how well the grace and wisdom of this patience and refreshing insight, born out ofyears of
man translates into words. This is certainly not a teaching experience, through the often daunting
booktobe read cursorilyandthen put down. Herein challenge ofself-discovery.With some perseverance
liesagoldmineofpractical knowledge forenlivening and much letting-go, you will be amply rewarded.
all aspects of the physiology. It is a book worthy of Andmaythe nextstep onyourjourneybringsurprise
study, which no doubt will enlighten the reader in anddelight.
unexpected ways each time it is opened. I therefore
SCOTIGERSON,M.D.
urgeyou toread this bookandtake the timetodigest
TheNationalInstituteofAyurvedlcMedicine
the words; practice the posturesand breathingtech Brewster;NewYork
niques asyou proceed. Thisbookwillguideyouwith
Foreword ix