The Human System & the Integrated Practice – Outer, Inner, and Secret Orientations for Holistic Health & Wellbeing

In this session, we’ll explore the most important practices that evolved in the yoga tradition — including āsana, prāṇāyāma, chanting, mantra japa, and the meditation method, Saṁyama — and consider their outer, inner, and secret orientations.

Gary will guide you in an integrated practice, exploring how these practices work together in preparation for the deeper work of Antya Krama that is the focus of sessions 6-12 of this series.

In this session, you’ll:

• • Receive an introduction to the components of an integrated practice — the outer, inner, and secret orientations of āsana, prāṇāyāma, chanting, and mantra japa
  • Learn how to create physical resilience, manage stress, deepen focus, and train your memory
  • Understand the 3 stages of the meditation method, Saṁyama — dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and samādhi

• Experience an integrated practice in preparation for Antya Krama techniques

Puruṣārtha-s, Āśrama Dharma & Tri-Krama – Tools for a Peaceful & Purposeful Existence

Explore key Vedic frameworks that bring deeper meaning and direction to life’s journey. You’ll discover the four puruṣārthas — life’s essential aims — and how they guide a balanced and purposeful existence.

You’ll also delve into the Tri-Karma: tapas (self-discipline), dana (generosity), and yajña (ritual or self-offering), which form the heart of yoga practice and serve as tools for personal and spiritual evolution.

Traditional views on the four life stages (asrama dharma) and the Viniyoga lens on the three practice stages (Tri-Krama) will provide context for tailoring your practice to meet you where you are.

A special emphasis will be placed on Antya Krama — the inward, releasing orientation traditionally associated with life’s final phase, but deeply supportive at any age for resolving karma, letting go, and cultivating peace.

This module concludes with an integrated practice for embodying the transformative power of tapas, dana, and yajña.

In this session, you’ll:

• Discover what the ancients considered to be the 4 purposes that lead to a fulfilled life
• Learn the 3 essential responsibilities of a practitioner on the path of yoga
• Explore the traditional view of the life cycle — and how practices should be adapted to each cycle
• Discover the different ways that practices can be adapted, depending on one’s personal orientations and goals for practice

Dukha Paramparā and Hdaya-Granti Bhedanam – Cutting the Knots of the Heart to Free Yourself From the Ongoing Succession of Suffering

In this session, you’ll explore the human condition, the sources of suffering, and the symbolism of the Knots of the Heart that perpetuate the ongoing succession of suffering — and the yoga path to cut the knots and free yourself from suffering.

Gary will guide you in an integrated practice that includes a meditation on the Ajña Cakra and the knot of ignorance.

In this session, you’ll:

• Discover the causes of the ongoing succession of frustration, tension, and suffering that we all experience
• Explore the symbolism of the 3 knots that keep us locked into that cycle — kama (desire), karma (action), and avidya (ignorance)
• Gain a deeper understanding of karma and samskaras (conditioning) — and how we become entangled in the world of name and form
• Experience the process of meditative self-inquiry — svadhyaya — and its role in cutting through the Knot of the Heart

Ṣadaraṁ Saṁsāra Cakram — Cultivating Non-Attachment by Understanding the Six-Spoked Wheel of Cyclic Existence

Explore teachings about the four links to the chain that binds us to what the ancients called the Six-Spoked Wheel of Cyclic Existence — Ṣadaraṁ Saṁsāra Cakram — and how these four links play out in our lives.

Gary will guide you in an integrated practice focusing on Sutra IV.11 from Patañjali’s Yoga Sutra, which presents the teachings about these four links, and how they bind us to the world of name and form.

In this session, you’ll:

• Discover the 4 links to the chain that binds you to the Six-Spoked Wheel of Cyclic Existence — and how they play out in your day-to-day experience
• Explore the relationships between your actions, corresponding experiences of happiness and suffering, and patterns of attachment and aversion
• Experience the power of meditative self-inquiry as a means of weakening the links of the chain and their power to bind us
• Cultivate non-attachment to objects that will never be true sources of freedom, or fulfillment
• Discover who you truly are, according to the ancients, and the true source of freedom and fulfillment

Laya Yoga – Bhūta Śhuddhi & Maṇipūra Cakra Inner Practices of Tantric Yoga to Dissolve Blocks & Activate Greater Awareness

Explore the Tantric Laya Yoga practices known as bhuta shuddhi (elemental purification) and cakra sadhana (chakra-focused spiritual practice). These two are foundational inner alchemical processes designed to purify the subtle body and awaken deep spiritual awareness.

Bhūta śhuddhi purifies the subtle body and prepares the energetic system to hold higher frequencies, dissolving emotional blocks, fears, and karmic imprints associated with each element.

Cakra sadhana activates our higher potentials and opens a path of return from our physical manifestation, through our subtle body, back to the Source from whence we came.

Gary will guide you in a practice that includes asana, prāṇāyāma, and chanting to prepare for the meditative practice of bhuta śhuddhi on the maṇipūra cakra.

In this session, you’ll:

• Discover the purpose and method of the practice known as bhūta śhuddhi — purification of the elements — as it applies to Antya Krama practices
• Explore the practice known as cakra sādhana for resolving karma
• Explore the purpose and method of the practice known as cakra sadhana
• Understand the symbolism of the maṇipūra cakra (solar plexus chakra)
• Delve deeply into the relationship between light, the sense of sight, attraction motivation, and your capacity for movement — enabling you to move towards the people and things you need or want

Antya Krama – Bhūta Śhuddhi & Cakra Sādhana on the Mūlādhāra Cakra Fulfill Its Survival & Safety Bio-Imperative

Now that you’ve learned the series of techniques at the heart of the Antya Krama orientation, you’ll begin applying them to each of the cakras to bring healing to recurring patterns of karma.

You’ll start by exploring the symbolism of the mūlādhāra cakra (root chakra), its relationship to the bio-imperative of survival, and to psycho-physical issues of safety and trust.

Gary will guide you in the Antya Krama orientation to practice that integrates āsana, prāṇāyāma, chanting, and bhūta śhuddhi to prepare for the meditative practice of cakra sādhana on the mūlādhāra cakra to resolve recurring patterns of insecurity and instability and cultivate feelings of safety and trust.

In this session, you’ll:

• Recognize how the bio-imperative of survival underlies your desires, which then shape your feelings, thoughts, and behavior
• Surface, explore, and resolve unresolved issues, projections, attachments and aversions, and fears around issues related to safety and trust
• Reframe your understanding of what is truly meaningful and important in the face of the inevitability of change, impermanence, and the ultimate end of life from the perspective of the root chakra
• Recognize and awaken to the true source of safety that is independent from your identification with, and attachment to, the world of name and form

Antya Krama – Bhūta Śuddhi & Cakra Sādhana on the Svādhiṣṭhāna Cakra Fulfill Its Reproductive, Joy & Creativity

Explore the symbolism of the svādhiṣṭhāna cakra (sacral chakra), its relationship to the bio-imperative of reproduction, and to psycho-physical issues of pleasure, joy, and creativity.

Gary will guide you in the Antya Krama orientation to a practice that integrates yogic techniques to prepare for the meditative practice of cakra sādhana on the svādhiṣṭhāna cakra to heal cycles of repressed emotions or unfulfilled desires and foster joy and pleasure.

In this session, you’ll:

• Recognize how the bio-imperative of reproduction underlies your desires, which then shape your feelings, thoughts, and behavior
• Surface, explore, and resolve unresolved issues, projections, attachments and aversions, and fears around issues related to pleasure and creativity
• Reframe your understanding of what is truly meaningful and important in the face of the inevitability of change, impermanence, and the ultimate end of life
• Recognize and awaken to the true source of joy that is independent from your identification with, and attachment to, the world of name and form

Antya Krama – Bhūta Śhuddhi & Cakra Sādhana on the Maṇipūra Cakra Fulfill Its Bio-Imperative for Self-Esteem & Sovereignty

Explore the symbolism of the maṇipūra cakra (solar plexus chakra), its relationship to the bio-imperative of competition and territorialism…

… as well as to transformation and psycho-physical issues of self-worth, self-esteem, and self-empowerment.

Gary will guide you in the Antya Krama orientation to a practice that integrates yogic techniques to prepare for the meditative practice of cakra sādhana on the maṇipūra cakra to release karmic imprints of low self-esteem and awakens personal empowerment.

In this session, you’ll:

• Recognize how the bio-imperative of competition and territorialism underlies your desires — which then shape your feelings, thoughts, and behavior
• Surface, explore, and resolve previously unresolved issues, projections, attachments, and aversions — along with fears around issues related to your sense of self-worth and self-esteem
• Reframe your understanding of what is truly meaningful and important in the face of the inevitability of change, impermanence, and the ultimate end of life
• Awaken to the true source of self-worth and personal power, independent from your identification with things, people, and your worldly accomplishments

Antya Krama — Bhūta Śhuddhi & Cakra Sādhana on the Anāhata Cakra Fulfill the Bio-Imperative for Connection, Belonging & Love

Explore the symbolism of the anahata cakra (heart chakra), its relationship to the impulses toward group formation, family, and social connection…

… and to issues of compassion and your ability to form healthy and loving relationships.

Gary will guide you in the Antya Krama orientation to a practice that integrates yogic techniques to prepare for the meditative practice of cakra sādhana on the anāhata cakra to release anger and judgement and replace it with feelings of love, tolerance, and generosity.

In this session, you’ll:

• Recognize how the impulses toward group formation, family, social connection, and relationships underlies your desires — which then shape your feelings, thoughts, and behavior
• Surface, explore, and resolve issues, projections, attachments, and aversions, along with fears around issues related to your sense of belonging, of being accepted, of being loved — and of being loving
• Reframe your understanding of what is truly meaningful and important in the face of the inevitability of change, impermanence, and the ultimate end of life
• Awaken to the true source of your sense of being accepted and belonging — and understand why being loved and being loving are never dependent on individual relationships

Antya Krama — Bhūta Śhuddhi & Cakra Sādhana on the Viśhuddhi Cakra Fulfill the Bio-imperative to Communicate & Express Yourself

Explore the symbolism of the viśuddhi cakra (throat chakra), its relationship to language, speech, and the impulse to communicate…

… and to issues of communication, self-expression and listening, and creativity.

Gary will guide you in the Antya Krama orientation to a practice that integrates yogic techniques to prepare for the meditative practice of cakra sādhana on the viśuddhi cakra, to release patterns of repressed emotions and not being heard and foster authentic expression and communication with others.

In this session, you’ll:

• Recognize how the impulse to communicate and express yourself underlies your desires — which then shape your feelings, thoughts, and behavior
• Surface, explore, and resolve unresolved issues, projections, attachments and aversions — and fears around issues related to your ability to communicate, express yourself, and listen to others
• Reframe your understanding of what is truly meaningful and important in the face of the inevitability of change, impermanence, and the ultimate end of life
• Awaken to what is truly important for you to communicate — that which will elevate yourself and others towards what is most meaningful and true

Bhūta Śhuddhi & Cakra Sādhana on the Ājñā Cakra — Fulfill the Bio-Imperative to Perceive, Imagine & Make Aligned Decisions

Explore the symbolism of the ajña cakra (Third Eye chakra), its relationship to intelligence and your innate capacity to perceive, cognize, feel, understand, imagine, remember, decide, and choose.

Gary will guide you in a practice that includes asana, pra?ayama, chanting, and bhuta shuddhi to prepare for the meditative practice of cakra sa¯dhana on the ajña cakra.

In this session, you’ll:

• Recognize the role of intelligence to balance our impulses which, symbolically, come from the lower cakras, and our values, properties, and higher aspirations
• Surface, explore, and resolve unresolved issues, projections, attachments and aversions, and fears around establishing values, setting priorities, making healthy choices and decisions, and finding meaning and purpose in life
• Reframe your understanding of what is truly meaningful and important in the face of the inevitability of change, impermanence, and the ultimate end of life
• Realize the truth that your innate intelligence is not dependent on your self-concept and worldview, on your feelings, attitudes and opinions, or on your decisions and choices
• Recognize that all these things are mental constructs, and that your true intelligence is independent from them

Antya Krama – Bhuta Shuddhi & Cakra Sādhana on the Sahasrara Fulfill the Bio-Imperative to Connect With Your True Nature

Explore the symbolism of the sahasrara which, technically, is not considered a cakra but more of a portal between the different planes of existence.

The sahasrara is associated with your true nature, what the ancients called atman, and with Source, the dimension of the Sacred or Divine, however that is conceived.

The sahasrara is associated with revelation, intuition, and inspiration.

Gary will guide you in a practice that includes asana, pra?ayama, chanting, and bhuta shuddhi, to prepare for the meditative practice of cakra sa¯dhana on the sahasrara.

In this session, you’ll:

• Reflect on the meaning of revelation — and the role of intuition and inspiration in our lives
• Learn the path to awakening intuition — and to receiving inspiration
• Realize that your own true nature is pure being — and that you are never separated from this reality
• Experience practices for working with sahasrara

Yoga for Wellness: Balance; Nādī Śodhana
Video Practice of a Classic Pranayama With Gary Kraftsow

Mahāvākya-s: A Path to Freedom — Tat Tvam Asi From the Chāndogya Upaniṣad
Video Exploration With Gary Kraftsow

Profiling 5 Dedicated Yogis at Different Life Stages
PDF With Insights From Gary Kraftsow