Tibetan Heart Yoga continues a lineage of yoga that comes from Indian Master Naropa (1100 AD) thru the Gelukpa tradition of the Dalai Lamas. This joyful form of Raja Yoga (Royal Union) cultivates the mind and body with the goal of bringing about total liberation from suffering for all. It is the heart offering of Geshe Michael Roach (the first American to ever earn the title of Geshe, which means something like a doctorate of Buddhist philosophy) and Lama Christy McNally (highly accomplished Yogini, meditator and Sanskirt scholar). The asana sequences are based on ancient yoga manuscripts, the oldest in existence, combined with modern yoga poses. Each series is designed to facilitate a specific inner realization that practitioners can then apply "off the mat," in their daily life. There are eight Tibetan Heart Yoga series in total.
Theory
The goal of Tibetan Heart Yoga is to experience results of (any) spiritual path quickly thru a combination of inner and outer method. The inner methods include heart-centered intention, guided meditation and visualization, and analysis of the nature of reality. The outer methods are the physical techniques of yoga including mantra (chanting in Sanskrit), mudra (hand and body seals), pranayama (breathing) and asana (postures). The inner methods can be applied in a general way to any other yoga practice but Tibetan Heart Yoga sequences are specifically designed to move prana (energy) in a way which facilitates particular types of liberating wisdom. For this kind of effect they must be learned from a qualified teacher. Tibetan Heart Yoga brings inner healing, awareness and freedom from the mental and physical patterns which perpetuate suffering. Students report feeling refreshed and peaceful after class, but more lasting and profound benefits come with repeated practice as the techniques of the practice make a more permanent impression on the mind of the practitioner. The foundation of all Tibetan Heart Yoga teachings are Karma (laws of cause and effect) and Emptiness (the fact that nothing is coming from anywhere else). Understanding this is the key to ultimate happiness and permanent liberation from suffering.
Practice
For best results, Tibetan Heart Yoga should be approached as a daily sadhana (spiritual practice). This may include the inner method of a particular series or both the outer and inner together. In order to learn the divine sadhana of a particular series it is best to receive the lung (verbal transmission) from a live teacher in the form of a series of classes, workshop or teacher training course. To request classes you may contact Cassandra or the Yoga Studies Institute. For further detail of each Tibetan Heart Yoga series, please see the Workshop link below.
In order to become certified to teach Tibetan Heart Yoga one must complete five requirements for each series, including study of original translations of Sutra (holy text) such as the Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Bhagavad Gita, reviews of Geshela and Lama Christy's books such as The Tibetan Book of Yoga, How Yoga Works and The Essential Yoga Sutras, as well as training in the philosophy and asana sequence specific to that series. Further instruction in the philosophy of Tibetan Heart Yoga is offered at Prajna Dallas (see link below), by request or online for free thru the Asian Classics Institute.
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