As for other practices meant to transform the inner body, Geshe Michael received empowerment into the “unsurpassed yoga” (anuttara) systems of the Tibetan tradition–including Bhairava, Vajra Yogini, Chakra Samvara, and Kalachakra–beginning in the early 1980´s, from some of the highest Lamas in the world at that time, including Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin (1921-2004), Kyabje Ling Rinpoche (1903-1983), and Kyabje Zong Rinpoche (1905-1984).
For the last 12 years he has also maintained a daily practice of Indian styles of yoga, which began with training under David Life, Sharon Gannon, Ruth Lauer, and David Swenson of the jivamukti and ashtanga systems. He has since also studied with other teachers such as Shri Dharma Mittra and Ana Forrest.
For his personal practice and public yoga teaching, Geshe Michael specializes in the yoga practice of Lady Niguma, an Indian yogini who lived a thousand years ago, and whose teachings came to Tibet. He has taught this system worldwide, especially in Asia and in the ACI Prison Program in the United States.
In recent years, Geshe Michael has helped found the Yoga Studies Institute, which provides training in the traditional yoga of Tibet, as well as a series of courses based on Indian classics of yoga such as the Yoga Sutra; the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (Light on the Yoga of Sun and Moon), and the Bhagavad Gita. The idea here is to get the millions of people doing yoga to appreciate and benefit from the deeper meaning of the practice.
Link to YSI: https://www.yogastudiesinstitute.org
