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

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 textsAlejandro 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 Alejandros 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 Citys 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 Chaouls extensive experience and passion come through in this practical guide to finding ones 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.

CHD PRACTICE IN THE BON TRADITION

EDITED BY ALEJANDRO CHAOUL, PH.D.

UN BUEN CORAZN ES LA MEJOR RELIGIN

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 Alcal

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 useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout 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).

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.