Vinyasa yoga is also known as "flow” as it is comprised of various poses that transition smoothly from one to another and are synchronized with breathing. It is also referred to as vinyasa flow due to its fluid transitions. Breathing is of prime importance in this form of yoga, as the poses and their transitions are centered around breathing. It is a strong form of yoga and is exceedingly popular. It differs from other forms of yoga, like Bikram yoga and Ashtanga yoga, in which a fixed sequence of movements is performed. On the other hand, this yoga involves a string of poses that do not follow a rigid structure and are performed in a random order.
The philosophy behind this yoga is that nothing is permanent in this world. We enter a pose for a while and then move to the next one creating a flow. It is not a good choice of yoga for beginners as it can get quite challenging to change poses quickly.
What are the benefits?
This type of yoga is fast paced, with numerous benefits for physical and mental health. This yoga can warm up the body and make you sweat profusely, which carries additional benefits. You can benefit from this yoga in the following ways:
Excretes harmful chemicals from the body
Increases flexibility
Protects you from injuries
Reduces stress and anxiety
Optimizes heart health
Reduces the risk of high blood pressure by keeping the arteries patent
Lowers blood sugar levels
Decreases cholesterol levels
Boosts mood
Makes you more resilient
Promotes relaxation
Builds endurance
Encourages you to stay in the moment
Moreover, this yoga is fun to engage in. It is more challenging than other types of yoga and carries additional benefits for your cardiovascular health.
What should I expect from a Session?
As mentioned above, vinyasa flow does not follow a rigid structure. Instead, you will learn to move from pose to pose in a smooth manner. Sessions can vary in pace, format, and other aspects that depend on the instructor and how a session will take place. A few things you can expect to be the same are the beginning of the session with an intention-setting phase and ending it in relaxation.
Your instructor will either say aloud the names of poses, and you will need to assume them, or it can be an alignment-based vinyasa class where your instructor will guide you to perform them.
Different Styles
Vinyasa yoga can take many forms and styles, a few of which are:
Vinyasa Flow Yoga
This yoga involves different poses chained through smooth transitions and is guided by breath.
Vinyasa Hot Yoga
It is a fast-paced form, which is performed in a heated room. The room is commonly heated up to 26 degrees Celsius and can even reach 35 degrees Celsius in some cases.
Power Vinyasa Yoga
This is an active type of yoga that can be physically challenging. The goal of this yoga is to go through rigorous movements in a flow and produce body heat. Profuse sweating during this practice helps detoxify the body.
Dynamic Vinyasa Yoga
You will need to be agile and have a good balance to practice this type of yoga. It requires you to move from pose to pose seamlessly. However, if you are a beginner, it will take you some time to master it.
Conclusion
Vinyasa flow is a challenging type of yoga that involves a chain of movements that does not follow a particular pattern. Many variations of this yoga exist today that also vary in their benefits.
Check out our related articles:
You must be logged in to post a comment.