Today I’m sharing a post all about vinyasa yoga.
When I was new to yoga the lists of classes at my local yoga studios seemed overwhelming. I had no idea what the difference was between vinyasa, yin, and restorative classes. I had no idea what the names of the classes meant and there fore had no idea what class would be right for me as someone new to yoga. Today I’m sharing the details on vinyasa yoga – everything from what to expect from a vinyasa class to what style of yoga it is.
The basics
Vinyasa yoga is yoga with poses that flow from one to the next. Poses flow from one another with no pauses or rests in between. Movements feel like to connected to each other. vinyasa yoga is also sometimes called flow yoga, which I think is a good way to visualize vinyasa yoga. You may stay in poses for just one breath or several, though the transition between poses happens during just one breath.
The breath
Just like in other kinds of yoga like ashtanga, the breath or pranayama is important in vinyasa yoga. The movements in vinyasa yoga are connected to the breath. Moving from one pose to another is done during an inhale/exhale cycle. The first priority in vinyasa is always the breath and keeping it smooth and even. If you start holding your breath and breathing too fast, it’s a reminder to come back to basics and maybe even pull back on the pose to be able to get your breath back to being smooth and even.
Sequences
In terms of the poses that are done in class, each vinyasa yoga class will be different. There’s no set order of poses, so when a teacher puts together a vinyasa class, it’s up to their discretion and creativity for how and what poses to include. In that sense it’s very different from an ashtanga class that goes through the same series of classes in the same order every single class. Ashtanga doesn’t vary based on the teacher or the location of the class. Teachers are able to get really creative with vinyasa classes.
Kind of yoga
I think vinyasa is the type of yoga that people generally think of when it comes to yoga. It’s a more vigorous class than a yin or restorative. I’m generally sweating within just a few minutes of starting a vinyasa class. Generally you’re moving from start to finish when you get into savasana. Unless your focusing on a specific body part during a vinyasa class like (hips or chest opening), you’ll typically go through a range of poses that will be a balanced class. Think everything from standing to twisting to forward folds to sitting.
Finding a great vinyasa class
Because vinyasa classes vary so much, especially depending on who’s teaching them, it’s important to find a yoga teacher than you feel like you can connect with and enjoy their sequencing. That may mean that it takes a few classes with different teachers to find one that you love. To get started on finding a great vnyasa class, ask your friends who their favorite teachers are. Call up a new studio and ask whoever answers the phone their favorite vinyasa classes to take there. Check out reviews online.
Do you like taking vinyasa yoga classes? What’s your favorite kind of yoga?