Viniyoga Foundations Program

Established 2026

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American Viniyoga Institute

207 Barsana Ave, Austin, TX 78737, USA

Austin, TX

Program Instances

Hybrid

Aug 27 – Jun 1, 2029

645 days • 500 hours • $ 3659+

Austin, TX, US

Led by

Gary Kraftsow

CYT-L4

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Purpose

The Viniyoga Foundations Program is:-> the first part of the Viniyoga Therapist certificationand-> a comprehensive yoga teacher training program

Whether you are a serious yoga practitioner, aspiring/current yoga teacherorYoga Therapist, or a healthcare professional interested in Viniyoga, we offer options to advance your studies in the Viniyoga methodology for personal development, teaching, or to enter theAVI® Viniyoga Therapist Training.

What to expect

Program Content

Introduction to Yoga Philosophy
In-depth study of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra text
Breath-centric Āsana
The Art & Science of Sequencing
Principles of Adaptation
Guided Relaxation
Human Energy System
Prāṇāyāma: Threshold, Directional Flow of Breath, Breath Adaptation in Āsana, Ratio, Technique
Chanting and Mantra
Meditation: Dhāraṇa, Dhyānam, Samādhi
Tantra and Inner Transformation
Development of an integrated personal practice: weaving together all elements of practice
Teaching Methodology and Ethics: group, private & specific class demographics
Teaching & communications skills
Application of yoga methods in different teaching contexts

MAJOR CONTENT AREAS BY SESSION

Session 1: Viniyoga and Breath-Centric Āsana

Session 2: Prāṇāyāma and Human Energy

Session 3: Meditation and Chanting

Session 4: Tantra and the Cakra Model

PROGRAM FORMAT

Mentoring and consultation are important aspects of the development of the Viniyoga Foundations Program. Each student develops an ongoing relationship with an experienced faculty mentor to guide their development in personal practice and Viniyoga skills. Mentoring includes homework review and consultation between each program session. More extensive individual mentoring is available over the course of the program and on an ongoing basis after certification. Additional fees will apply.

Style/Lineage

Take your yoga knowledge to the next level.

AVI’s® Viniyoga Foundations Program for Teaching and Yoga Therapy(VFP) is an immersion in the Viniyoga tradition with an emphasis on personal practice and a comprehensive study of āsana, prāṇāyāma, chanting, meditation, tantra, teaching methodology and yoga philosophy.

Additional Information

Core competencies

By the end of this program, graduates will be able to…

Teaching Skills	Assess your teaching approach, according Viniyoga methodology, for clarity of language and appropriate use of demonstration, touch, and use of props, justifying which skill set most affected student understanding. Design a private session plan built around a single student's stated needs and goals, formulating adaptations that addresses that. Construct an adapted sequence for a named population, formulating modifications that address that group's distinct physical or attentional needs. Develop a themed teaching series built around a chosen population and/or intention, formulating a cohesive arc across the series.
Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics	Construct a sequence that moves systematically through each direction of movement, formulating transitions that prepare the body for the next direction and position of the body. Formulate a sequence intended to shift the students' energetic in a desired direction, to energize, stabilize, or soothe based on the time of day, and students' upcoming activities or sleep. Develop an integrated practice for yourself or another, that engages multiple dimensions of being, formulating a progression from outer to inner focus. Differentiate what a teacher should observe in both static postures, and dynamic movement, discerning the distinct cues each requires.
Business Skills	Design a teaching offering structure suited to a specific community, formulating a format that balances accessibility with depth of practice. Identify and acquire the specific insurance, licensing, and credentialing documentation in the community in which you wish to teach. Differentiate and assess one-time cost from a recurring cost in an independent teaching practice, examining how each affects long-term planning.
Lifestyle & Ethics	Formulate a personal code of conduct addressing touch, confidentiality, and scope of practice, rooted in the teachings of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, constructing guidelines suited to one's own teaching context. Explain Samkhya philosophy as the root from which yoga evolved, describing the qualities of the guna's, five elements, and the multi-dimensionality of the human experience. Formulate a refined personal intention to guide an ongoing practice, using methods that reflects both clarity and personal meaning. Formulate a personal approach to inner transformation informed by tantric principles, constructing practices that integrate both outer and inner orientations.
Practice Skills	Evaluate a personal sequence for structural balance, assessing whether preparation and compensation stages are present and appropriate. Develop a personal practice sequence integrating breath-centric asana, pranayama, kriya, and/or bandha, that prepares and supports the demands and intention of the practice. Design practices using sound appropriate for the practitioner and the context in which it is practiced, taking into account the energetic, cognitive, and symbolic qualities of the choice of chant/mantra and the way it is applied in the sequence. Develop sequences including breath-centric asana, pranayama, and sound, to build vital energy and support the intention of a seated meditation appropriate to the practitioners' goals. Formulate an explanation of how the cakra/nadi symbol system supports inner transformation and using it, design integrated practices for oneself and others. Apply an understanding of sound's energetic, cognitive, and symbolic value to select a chant suited to a specific theme to be used in practice.
Yoga History & Theory	Reflect on the meaning of a chosen sutra as it applied to one's own practice and teaching and daily life. Use individual or groups of sutras to formulate a theme around which to construct meaningful practice for oneself and others. Formulate an explanation of Viniyoga methodology suited to a new student, constructing language that conveys its emphasis integrated practice and individualized adaptation.

AYC allows each school to state and evaluate the competencies each student acquires. Students rate how well the program delivered them.

Program Emphasis

Evaluation methods

Program evaluations

Oral Exam
Solo Project Or Presentation
Written Exam
Written Submission
Direct Observation
Graded Skill Demonstration

Attend Sessions 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Viniyoga Foundations Program and complete any assigned home study
Complete a final project (develop, teach, and evaluate a Viniyoga class series)
Complete 20 additional hours of study in human anatomy (hours from 200 or 500 hour prior trainings are acceptable)