424 pp., YAYOTI
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Long-time yoga teacher Fabio Andrico, who teaches and travels with Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche, talks about the potent, ancient Tibetan system of Yantra Yoga—and why he switched from Hatha Yoga.

Snow Lion: Yantra Yoga seems to be a system that goes beyond the psycho-physical to actually serve as a basis for deep practice. I've heard of the physical and emotional benefits, but I'm just beginning to understand that Yantra is also Dzogchen practice.

Fabio Andrico: As far as I know, there is no other system that is so complete. It's a very powerful system—especially at the level of energy. The potentiality is really incredible, that's for sure. I've practiced other kinds of yoga; but Yantra, well, let's say it really works! And it is directly part of Dzogchen.

SL: How does it differ from Hatha Yoga?

FA: In several ways. One of the main aspects is that the various positions themselves are not so important in themselves, but rather, it's what those positions do to the breathing. In most Hatha Yoga systems, you take a position and then work with the breath, stronger or weaker. In contrast, in Yantra the positions are such that they help create specific retentions of the breath. What really works at a more subtle level is this holding of the breath, modifying the energy. It all operates at a much deeper level than can be attained through just working with positions in the body.

SL: What are the effects?

FA: If you are able to harmonize the condition of the prana, you are able to control the condition of your energy—then your mind becomes really relaxed.

SL: Yantra works deeper than relaxation, doesn't it?

FA: It depends how you define relaxation! It's more than "letting go" when you're tense. We're talking about relaxation as the condition of your energy that is really free from obstacles, so that it becomes free to flow and manifest.

Being really relaxed is when you can really express your potentialities. And there's nothing to construct—you simply manifest because there are no impediments and obstacles.

SL: That sounds like the Dzogchen aspect of the practice.

FA: Yes, you're not transforming into something else; you're letting manifest what's already there. But, really, the practice works well at all levels—physical and emotional. Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche always told me that the practice of Yantra Yoga is not limited to Buddhists. Everyone can receive benefit from it.

Chogyal Namkhai Norbu

Most of the problems we have are rooted in imbalances in the functioning of prana—the book discusses this according to Tibetan medicine. The various movements—the Yantras—work to coordinate all the functions of prana.

Yantra Yoga is a set of really powerful tools to coordinate, balance, and harmonize our energies. And when you do that, it strengthens you in general. There's a real benefit to daily life—that's why we did the book. It's not just a book for yogis! But if people want to go deeper, that's there too.

SL: Besides the health benefits detailed in the book, what are some of the other results?

FA: Cool things—walking on water and flying. [laughs].

SL: No, really.

FA: Probably if you really dedicated your time and your practice to the system, well, those could actually be the results. There are many examples in the Tibetan tradition of practitioners who did miracles—or things that look to us like miracles. According to the text [The Union of the Sun and Moon Yantra on which the system is based] they're not miracles but the maturation of capacity and control that is coming to full bloom. Obviously, that happens generally under ideal conditions! In our normal Western life, with so many things to do, I don't know if it's possible.

In any case, besides being its own complete path, Yantra is a very good base for Dzogchen and Tantric practices—and not only a base, but also an aid. Through Yantra you learn how to practice certain breaths and visualize the channels and so forth. It's a training that serves as a common base for most advanced methods.

SL: I read that the system comes in an unbroken line from Padmasambhava to Vairocana all the way to Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche.

FA: Yes, Rinpoche mainly learned it from his uncle, who practiced it every day—and at the end of his life attained the rainbow body.

SL: And how did you come to learn it?

FA: Many years ago when Norbu started to teach it, I had just come back from India where I had been studying Hatha Yoga for some time. I heard that he was giving a retreat on advanced breathing techniques. That was what hooked me—I wanted to deepen my knowledge of pranayama [breath practices].

SL: How has doing the practice affected you?

FA: It's really changed me, in many ways—and this is a good thing! For example, before I started Yantra I used to be a little stressed out. Practicing helped me balance my energy.

Yantra Yoga is extremely powerful—and quick. If you practice Yantra, in a short time you understand what a powerful and beautiful system it is. Really.