Yoga Alchemy · Courses

Vira Vinyasa: The Tantric Origins of Hatha Yoga Unveiled

Overview

A note from the course: read the original letter to students

Dear All,

Thank you very much for registering for our Vira Vinyasa course. I know many of you are waiting for the ‘Intro’ class, which reveals the connection between the Varahi Tantra and Hatha Yoga as taught by the ‘Hatha Yoga Pradipika,’ widely considered to be the source of Hatha Yoga. In this I-movie-based class, I reveal just how the HYP plagiarized from the Varahi Tantra, and in so doing omitted postural vinyasa, women practitioners, etc.

It is still work in progress, but nearly done. My mistake was to name it as an ‘Intro’ Class instead of a ‘bonus’ class to our course; for the delay in its release has been due to the deeper revelations I am finding while preparing the course each week, on practices in the Varahi Tantra, particularly Warrior-based sequenced, later omitted in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

I sincerely apologize for the delay and incorrect advertising on my part. The I-movie is coming soon. In the meantime, I would like to offer my two-part ‘Intro to Tantra’ I-movie series as an extra gift for your patience. It provides extra insight into the yoga rituals we are discussing in the current course. I hope you can accept my apology, and understand that this is no small undertaking on my part, i.e. to show the roots of Hatha Yoga – its been my life’s work for many years, hence the delay here.

yours truly, Chris.

What's inside

Intro

3 lessons

45:18

Part I History of Tantra

Chant Om and Shreem, settle into mindful breathing, and explore Tantra’s history, Shiva-Shakti, Saraswati, and the origins of Hatha yoga.

1h 7m

Part II History of Tantra

Explores Tantra’s historical lineages, the mantra marga, Shiva and Shakti, and Tantric Shaivism’s life-affirming view of body and world.

1h 1m

Vira Vinyasa Intro Session

Chants the Tantric Heart Gayatri and explores Surya Namaskara, mantra-powered breath pauses, Kundalini, and the original sequencing of Hatha Yoga.

Session 1

3 lessons

Docs

Session 1 with Chris Tompkins

Audio

Avahana Meditation with Shiva Rea

Docs

Download

Session 2

2 lessons

Docs

Session 2 with Chris Tompkins

Audio

Varahi Nyasa Meditation with Shiva Rea

Varahi Nyasa meditation is a meditation session focused on Varahi Nyasa.

Session 3

2 lessons

Docs

Session 3 with Chris Tompkins

Docs

Pradakshina with Vira Gayatri with Shiva Rea

A class practicing Pradakshina with Vira Gayatri in one combined session.

Session 4

2 lessons

14:02

Surya Namaskar with Bija Mantras with Shiva Rea

Surya Namaskar flows through 12 movements, including forward bends, lunges, plank, cobra or upward dog, and downward dog, honoring the inner sun.

Docs

Session 4 with Chris Tompkins

Session 5

3 lessons

57:53

Meditations from the Varahi Tantra with Shiva Rea

Avahana invocation, Om Varahi mantras, inner-light visualization, incense, and candle rituals honor Kundalini Shakti while blessing the practice space.

Docs