I like the asana movements of Viniyoga (as per Kraftsow’s book) but they are a bit slow for my tastes. I do the asanas a bit faster with faster breathing. It feels very refreshing. But I have never seen this recommended. Do you think it is bad to do it like that?
There is nothing wrong with doing it this way, but usually the object of doing these type of vinyasa practices is to extend the breath and make it flow smoother. By doing them slowly, you are increasing the stamina of your breath and your flexibility. It also makes you more aware of your movements, which decreases the chance of injury and brings you more in tune with your body. Breathing and moving faster is in opposition to these ideals, but it doesn’t make it wrong. In the end, you should do what feels right for you.
I am not sure which book you are reading, but just in case it doesn’t say… if would like to make them more challenging, you could also try staying in a posture for a few breaths at the end of an asana vinyasa - start with forward bends and work your way to staying those breaths in the back arches. The back bending ones should also increase your energy and make you feel more invigorated. If you can find a teacher trained by Kraftsow on the AVI website, they could probably design some creative and interesting home sequences that are more quickly paced and designed to give you that refreshed feeling. 
Thanks suryadaya. The book I am using is Yoga for Wellness. I really like the movements (I used to do Kundalini Yoga, before I became disillusioned with Yogi Bhajan). I like the movements, the rapid breathing and the breath of fire. Atleast I know for sure the the Viniyoga movements are structurally sound.
While I don’t speak FOR Gary I believe the practice he’s learned from his teacher and shares with others actually includes the pace as part of the structure. I don’t believe the efficacy of what he’s offering is “the same” when one of the variables is altered. And that alteration in this case would exacerbate rather than enhance - based on his expression of the practice. Why? Because there is an inverse relationship between feeling and pace.
It would be like trying to do feldenkrais at the pace of a pie eating contest. At that point it simply isn’t Feldenkrais and it’s anyone’s guess how that bears on efficacy.
But I agree there’s nothing “wrong” with doing the practice in whatever way one wishes in their personal practice. I just hope those who do it have only positive result and don’t blame Yoga as a whole if their “mileage may vary”.
Thanks Inner. I appreciate the observations.
My thinking is that I know the movements/structures of Viniyoga are sound. Quite honestly, the slow pace kinda drives me crazy. I know it is there for a reason-- to feel the structure of your body, but I have to move things up a bit. The movements back and forth at a quicker pace almost gives me an aerobic thing. I know, that may not be what yoga is about. But it does generate a fire within that seems to make the practice feel really good. At the end, sometimes I move the asana into a static pose and do breath of fire. Then relax completely. It does feel good.
Sure I understand your position completely having likely been right there at least once in this life. Perhaps you are a young person with a furtive mind and therefore need a practice which abates that furtiveness. For that person a slower pace in practice would be maddening.
Or perhaps you are a pitta person who is constantly on the go, constantly doing, scheduled, running, hurrying…and that person too would be agitated by a practice which required stillness or slower pacing.
With my students I caution about something that only “feels good” or something they “like” or “prefer” as we learn over time this is not always what is in our best interest. Ice cream, for example, feels very good (to me) and yet I k now it’s not that good for me with it’s enormous amounts of refined sugars and pasteurized dairy products.
In fact this very thing, called Klesha, is part of the Yoga Sutras and Patanjali is quite clear that our own ignorance inhibits our evolution AND that ignorance comes in several forms including mistaking the pure for the impure and vice versa.
But do proceed on as you see fit knowing that there are two basic actions…those which take one toward spirit and those which take one toward ego.
Yes there may be more to be gained by stepping outside your comfort zone, fast to slow?slow to fast