Faculty

Viniyoga Therapist Training

Gary Kraftsow, MA, E-RYT 500,
Founder & Director of the American Viniyoga Institute.
Gary Kraftsow, MA, E-RYT 500, is Founder and Director of the American Viniyoga Institute. He has been actively involved as a practitioner of Viniyoga for over 30 years. Students at the training benefit from his presence and many years of experience as a teacher, Yoga Therapist, and trainer of teachers and Yoga Therapists in the Viniyoga methodology. He is author of Yoga for Wellness, Yoga for Transformation, Viniyoga Therapy for Low Back, Sacrum and Hips DVD, Viniyoga Therapy for Upper Back, Neck and Shoulders DVD, Chanting Live Gary Kraftsow CD and the Yoga Sutra-s of Patanjali Chapter One 4 CD set. Gary is directly involved in the training on a daily basis and is the main lecturer.
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Clare Collins, RN, PhD, FAAN, CYT, E-RYT-500,
Training Coordinator,
AVI Viniyoga Therapist Training & AVI Foundation for Yoga Therapy.
Clare Collins is certified by the American Viniyoga Institute as a ViniyogaTeacher (2003) and Viniyoga Therapist (2005). She completed a Master's Degree in Mental Health Nursing at Yale University, Ph.D. in Counseling at University of Michigan and a 5-year post doctoral research fellowship in geriatric mental health at NIMH. Clare has assisted and taught in AVI programs since 2002 and is a consultant to AVI for trainings and projects. Currently, she is a Viniyoga Therapist in East Lansing, Michigan, Professor Emeritus of Nursing at Michigan State University and has served on the Board of the International Association of Viniyoga Therapists. Clare is the Training Coordinator for the AVI Viniyoga Therapist Training and been Training Coordinator for the AVI Foundation for Yoga Therapy 2009 Program and past AVI Teacher Training Programs.
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Mary Hallway, OTR/L, CYT,
Curriculum consultant & staff assistant with AVI.
Mary is a licensed occupational therapist and owner of a multidisciplinary pediatric private practice in Southern California. She teaches post graduate education courses for therapists nationally and internationally. Mary received her advanced teacher certification from AVI in 2003 and certification as Viniyoga Therapist in 2005. She conducts group and individual Viniyoga therapy for a variety of individuals with health conditions and disabilities. Mary has been a staff assistant with the AVI Teacher Training. She has assisted and taught in the Viniyoga Therapist Training Program and is a consultant with AVI on curriculum planning and development.

In addition, several experienced AVI-Trained Viniyoga Therapists join the training as guest faculty.