2025 Tibetan Yoga Training Part 1

Tibetan Yoga from the Oral Tradition of Zhang Zhung:
The Magical Movements (Trul Khor) of Body, Breath & Mind

with Alejandro Chaoul

Beginners and experienced students alike are invited to this Tibetan Yoga retreat!

The distinctive Tibetan practice of yoga known as Trul Khor or ‘magical movement’ incorporates breath retention, awareness and dynamic physical movements. In this four day retreat we will focus on the Foundational (Ngondro) and Special (Chedrag) magical movements from the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyu (Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung).

Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche calls Trul Khor “a wonderful support for all spiritual practitioners, not just for those with an interest in physical yogas.” By harmonizing the winds (lung, prana, or chi) and guiding their flow through physical and energetic dimensions, Trul khor can clear long-held blocks in the practitioner’s body, energy, and mind, supporting the spontaneous arising of awareness during formal meditation and in everyday life.

Trul khor has different sets of movements composed by different masters. This retreat, will focus on practices from Pongyal Tsenpo and Orgom Kundul, two great yogis who are among the masters of the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyu.

Students that complete this retreat are eligible to participate in Trul Khor 4-part training.

About Dr. Alejandro ‘Ale’ Chaoul

Alejandro has studied in the Tibetan tradition since 1989, and for more than 30 years with Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak, His Holiness Lungtok Tenpa Nyima and Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, completing the 7-year training at Ligmincha Institute in 2000. He also received Tibetan Yoga (Tsa Lung & Trul Khor) training in Triten Norbutse monastery in Nepal and Menri monastery in India; and holds a PhD in Tibetan religions from Rice University, with his dissertation on Tibetan Yoga from the Bon tradition and applications in contemporary medical settings.

Since 1995, Ale has been teaching meditation classes and Tibetan Yoga workshops nationally and internationally under the auspices of Ligmincha International. In 1999 he began teaching these techniques at the Integrative Medicine Program of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, where he holds an adjunct faculty position and for the last twenty years has conducted research on the effect of these practices in people with cancer and their caregivers. His research and publications focus on mind-body practices in integrative care, examining how these practices can reduce chronic stress, anxiety and sleep disorders and improve quality of life.  He is the author of Chod Practice in the Bon Tradition (SnowLion, 2009), Tibetan Yoga for Health and Wellbeing (Hay House, 2018), and Tibetan Yoga: Magical Movements of Body, Breath and Mind (Wisdom Publications, 2021), which describes the movements we will be practicing. Ale has also published in the area of religion and medicine, medical anthropology and the interface of spirituality and healing. In 2018 he was recognized as a Fellow at the Mind & Life Institute.

Dr. Chaoul is currently the Scholar and Founding Director of the Mind Body Spirit Institute at the Jung Center of Houston, bringing a new approach for helping healthcare professionals flourish by reducing stress and burnout, and improving health, resilience and nourish the human spirit.

Tentative Schedule (New York Time)

Link to your local time zone

Monday, April 14, 2025
11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Onsite registration/Check-in
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Teachings
6:00 p.m.–6:45 p.m. Dinner

Tuesday–Wednesday April 15–16, 2025
8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Teaching
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Teaching
12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Break
1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m. Lunch
1:45 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Teaching
4:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Break
4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Teaching
5:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Break
6:00 p.m.–6:45 p.m. Dinner

Thursday, April 17, 2025
8:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Teaching
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Teaching
12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Break
1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m. Lunch
1:45 p.m.–2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. Teaching
4:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m. Break
4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. Teaching
5:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Break
6:00 p.m.–6:45 p.m. Dinner