Based on 30 years of distinguished work in yoga therapy, Gary Kraftsow's new Viniyoga Therapy DVD series presents his acclaimed use of yoga postures and breath techniques to promote sustained back health. The DVDs are based on his book, Yoga for Wellness, and his many years treating patients for upper back, neck and shoulder pain. Gary’s expertise is now available over the counter—no prescription necessary!

Gentle • Accessible • Effective

This DVD features short, simple therapeutic yoga practices carefully designed to alleviate pain and promote health in the upper back, neck and shoulders.

For the first time ever on DVD, benefit from the expert guidance of Gary Kraftsow, one of the world's leading yoga therapists. Founder of the American Viniyoga Institute, Gary is the designer of the only yoga practices demonstrated to be effective for back pain in a National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical study.

If you are one of the 8 out of 10 Americans who have or will experience back pain, make the powerful therapeutic practices on this DVD a part of your daily regimen for health and well-being!

Highlights from this DVD include:

• Presentation on Understanding Back Pain and the application of yoga therapy
• Technique Workshop on how to safely perform postures and movements
• Focused practice for Upper Back and Neck Therapy (22 minutes)
• Focused practice for Neck and Shoulder Therapy (32 minutes)
• Integrated practice for sustained upper back Strength and Stability (40 minutes)

Special features:

• English Subtitle option for all material
• Bonus MP3s of all practices for audio-only classes at home or on the go

Back pain is an enormous problem in this modern age. Over 70 million people will experience back pain in their lives, and it is the most common cause of job-related disability. As the 2nd most frequent reason for primary care visits, back pain costs over $100 billion/year in the US alone. Clearly there is a need for a better way to reduce and eliminate this debilitating condition.

Yoga Therapy and Viniyoga™

Yoga Therapy, derived from the Yoga tradition of Patanjali and the Ayurvedic system of health, refers to the adaptation and application of yoga techniques and practices to help individuals facing health challenges manage their condition, reduce symptoms, restore balance, increase vitality and improve attitude. The practices in this DVD seek to acheive those goals by:

Viniyoga (prefixes vi and ni plus yoga) is an ancient Sanskrit term that implies differentiation, adaptation, and appropriate application. The American Viniyoga Institute uses the term Viniyoga to refer to an approach to Yoga that adapts the means and methods of practice to the condition, needs and interests of each individual - giving each practitioner the tools to individualize and actualize the process of self-discovery and personal transformation. This approach to yoga evolved out of the teachings transmitted by T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar of Madras, India.

Gary Kraftsow, MA has been a pioneer in the transmission of yoga for health, healing and personal transformation for 30 years. He began his study of yoga in India with T.K.V. Desikachar in 1974 and received a Viniyoga Special Diploma from Viniyoga International in Paris in the mid 80’s.

Gary graduated with a BA, Magna Cum Laude, from Colgate University in 1976, and received his Masters Degree in Psychology and Religion from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1983. He spent many years in private yoga therapy practice, teaching workshops and training teachers. Since then, he has become a renowned speaker and teacher of the Viniyoga methodology at many conferences and schools nationally and internationally. In 1999 he founded American Viniyoga Institute.

Gary has successfully developed protocol for two National Institute of Health studies: “Evaluating Yoga for Chronic Low Back Pain” and “Yoga Therapy for Generalized Anxiety.”

He is the Founder, Director and Senior Teacher of American Viniyoga™ Institute's Teacher and Therapist Trainings, and the author of two books published by Peguin: Yoga for Wellness and Yoga for Transformation. For more information please visit Gary’s website at www.viniyoga.com.