The Yoga of Niguma - by Kalu Rinpoche & Michele Loew (Paperback)

About the Book

"The yoga of Niguma comes to us from a secret tradition passed down over hundreds of years by Buddhist yogis in Tibet. The practice originated with the eleventh-century female yogini Niguma, who mastered and transmitted a tradition of remarkable practices that culminate in physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness. In this book, His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, a Tibetan master who holds this lineage for today's generation, is now opening up the practice to make its extraordinary benefits accessible to the modern yogi. The yoga of Niguma consists of twenty-five sets of yogic exercises. Some are physically challenging while others are quite subtle in nature; all are grounded in meditation on the breath. Kalu Rinpoche illuminates the practice by sharing his own personal journey with the yoga of Niguma and how the lineage came to be. He also teaches us how we can prepare the mind for this practice with meditation and how to balance our emotions. Then, Rinpoche takes us step-by-step through the twenty-five illustrated sequences of Niguma yoga. Coauthor Ira D. Zunin, MD, follows with special insight into the health benefits of the practice and reports on initial findings of what was discovered when an EEG recorded Kalu Rinpoche's brain activity during the practice. Furthermore, international yoga teacher Michele Loew shares supportive Hatha yoga techniques that will bolster your Niguma yoga practice. The yoga of Niguma is a revered method that integrates body, mind, and breath. Dive in to discover for yourself a gradual, profound groundswell of subtle awakening"--

Book Synopsis

Immerse yourself in the extraordinarily transcendent practice of the yoga of Niguma.

The yoga of Niguma comes to us from a secret tradition passed down over hundreds of years by Buddhist yogis in Tibet. The practice originated with the eleventh-century female yogini Niguma, who mastered and transmitted a tradition of remarkable practices that culminate in physical, spiritual, and emotional wellness. In this book, His Eminence Kalu Rinpoche, a Tibetan master who holds this lineage for today's generation, is now opening up the practice to make its extraordinary benefits accessible to the modern yogi.

The yoga of Niguma consists of twenty-five sets of yogic exercises. Some are physically challenging while others are quite subtle in nature; all are grounded in meditation on the breath. Kalu Rinpoche illuminates the practice by sharing his own personal journey with the yoga of Niguma and how the lineage came to be. He also teaches us how we can prepare the mind for this practice with meditation and how to balance our emotions. Then, Rinpoche takes us step-by-step through the twenty-five illustrated sequences of Niguma yoga. Coauthor Michele Loew, an international yoga teacher, shares supportive Hatha yoga techniques that will bolster your Niguma yoga practice. Video resources to support your practice of the yoga of Niguma are available online, including demonstrations of the twenty-five sequences of Niguma yoga and supporting hatha yoga poses, when you scan a special QR code in the back of the book.

The yoga of Niguma is a revered method that integrates body, mind, and breath. Dive in to discover for yourself a gradual, profound groundswell of subtle awakening.

Review Quotes

"The Yoga of Niguma brings together the deepest and often hidden practices of ancient yet vibrantly living Tibetan yoga in a way that opens the heart and the entire nervous system into the direct experience of all. Kalu Rinpoche and Michele Loew present the tradition clearly and include practices that are adaptable for all types of conditions so that longtime practitioners and beginners alike may feel the joyous and occasionally stunning effect of these powerful teachings."--Richard Freeman, author of The Mirror of Yoga

"Never has there been a more accessible and detailed description of these practices in any language than The Yoga of Niguma. Joining this beloved lineage with the Indian yoga tradition, from which it departed a millennia ago, is especially remarkable. So many will benefit."--Sarah Harding

"Niguma, a revered Indian yogini, established the Shangpa Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Kalu Rinpoche, as a key lineage holder, continues this sacred tradition with The Yoga of Niguma, a comprehensive guide that offers clear and practical instruction on a practice that harmonizes body, breath, and mind to cultivate inner well-being. Rooted in loving-kindness, this transformative approach fosters mental tranquility and the joy of sharing it with others. Here Kalu Rinpoche collaborates with Michele Loew, whose deep expertise in hatha yoga and along with her knowledge of Sowa Rigpa, the Tibetan healing system, enriches the teachings presented. I highly recommend this insightful book to all who seek personal growth, inner harmony, and the well-being of others."--His Eminence Ling Rinpoche

"This wonderful book opens the door to a precious yoga that vitally enhances life. Kalu Rinpoche shares his wisdom and kindness and instructs us in a path of self-development that benefits our mind and health, and Michele Loew carefully points out the dos and don'ts of working successfully with the method. I am totally enchanted by Kalu Rinpoche's sharing of this great gift of the ancient Indian holy woman Niguma. I cannot recommend this cheerful and life-changing yoga highly enough."--Robert Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa Professor Emeritus, Columbia University

About the Author

His Eminence the Second Kalu Rinpoche was born in 1990 in Darjeeling, India. The Second Kalu Rinpoche was recognized on March 25, 1992 by Tai Situ Rinpoche. His Holiness the Dalai Lama officially confirmed the recognition. In 1993, he was inducted into Samdrub Darjay Choling (Sonada). After his father passed away in 1999, he asked to live in the monastery of Bokar Rinpoche in order to grow and study under his direction. In 2004, he began the traditional three-year retreat, and in 2009, he received from Tai Situ Rinpoche all the transmissions of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage. On this occasion, the cycle of initiations of the lineage was conferred on him 108 times; he is now holder of this lineage. In 2010, Kalu Rinpoche traveled to the West and took charge of the meditation centers created by the first Kalu Rinpoche around the world. In 2014, he returned to Palden Shangpa La Boulaye in France to teach and to resume the tradition of Monlam Shangpa initiated by his predecessor. He did the same in the United States in 2019. Each year, Kalu Rinpoche gives initiations and teachings around the world.

Michele Loew is an international yoga teacher who has been dedicated to the practice and science of yoga since 1999. She is the founder of the Yoga Space in Portland, Oregon, and Vajra Yoga, a school she created with Robert Thurman for Tibet House US that teaches Indian yogic inner science in the Buddhist context of the reality of clear light. She is known as a teacher's teacher, and her yoga schools have been respected by students worldwide for teaching lineage-based yoga focusing on the deeper philosophical and esoteric aspects of the practice alongside cutting edge modern science and kinesiology. She serves on the board of directors of Tibet House US and leads retreats and workshops internationally with an altruistic intention to serve and inspire all to discover their enlightened nature.