Vinyasa YogaWhen the word Vinyasa is used to describe a style of yoga, it suggests that asanas will flow from one to another in breath-synchronized movement.
That means in conjunction with the breath. The term Vinyasa is also used as a noun – to describe the sequence of poses performed between different poses as part of the series in Sun Salutation. If your instructor tells you to go through Vinyasa at you own time and tempo, he probably is referring to Plank, Chaturanga, and Upward Facing Dog. In Vinyasa Yoga, the Yoga poses flow in a gently balanced series.
Your breath is supposed to lead the way and your form, movement and breath are integrated into each other. In Vinyasa Yoga, you are supposed to let your body turn soft – as soft as cotton wool. Let your body flow fluidly; let it be as light as a feather.
Go through the sequences with flowing grace. The result, automatically, over time, is the gift of light and enlightenment from above, from everything Divine.
There are any number of instances of Vinyasa Yoga sequences you will find at Yoga classes. With a bit of luck you will find them easily. They will influence your practices and Sadhana (spiritual quest). Once you have mastered the sequences quite well, feel free in your practice to proceed unhindered. This will set you free from structured sequences. In the process of exploring Yoga pose sequencing you will discover the perfect series for your personal practice. This is vital to healing and moving ahead in Yoga practice.
All of the Sun Salutations are intended to flow with your breath in one incessant movement, so to speak. At any point of time you are free to retain hold a posture for as long as you feel comfortable, but not to long. Remember, Vinyasa is about flow. But you can do this prior to flowing through the whole Sun Salutation or after you have finished it a couple of times. After that you can start afresh and flow once again; or you may do it at the end of the Sun Salutations. One posture can be retained or a number of poses can be retained. The secret is always to explore numerous methods and check your responses within. |
