One of the difficulties most commonly encountered by novice students in yoga is that of keeping the asanas in a static way : the body rebels, the mind paws and the elegant martiality of the positions crumbles in the impatience of the beginner yogi.
Indeed, perpetual motion is a dominant feature of our inflated lifestyle of the motto "He who stops is lost".
We believe that, on the contrary, it is indispensable to carve out moments within which to take the luxury of slowing down, of temporarily abandoning the grip of existence.
How to reconcile these two opposing tendencies in yoga practice ? A very popular strategy in recent years is that of the vinyasa style, one of the many children of hatha yoga .
Let's find out what it is!
What is vinyasa yoga?
The term " vinyasa " means a dynamic yoga style where one "flows" from one position to another in accordance with the breath . It therefore passes from one asana to the next dynamically and smoothly guided by inspiration and expiration.
The practice is constituted by a sequence that draws from the repertoire of classical postures, those of hatha yoga, linked to each other in a sort of moving meditation. A classic example of this style is the sun salutation, practiced also by more static yoga traditions.
The vinyasa is a potentially imaginative and creative style because the teacher can elaborate an almost infinite number of combinations based on the students in front of him. Even the level can vary a lot from class to class, coming to be very energetic and physically demanding (until it ends up in fitness in its most extreme versions).
There are different contexts in which the term vinyasa is used, but the basic principle set out above always applies: where you read this yogic label, know that you are facing a dynamic style, even eclectic, probably vigorous and intense .
Benefits and limitations of vinyasa yoga
The vinyasa is certainly a style of yoga very suitable for the western mindset that bends to the austere immobility of hatha yoga . Furthermore, it can act beneficially on a cardiovascular level and increase strength and endurance.
However, it is important to underline the fact that adherence to a yogically choreographed sequence can greatly distract the students : taken from having to follow the teacher, the lesson could turn into a frantic pursuit of the position which, among other things, as soon as reached, will be abandoned.
The asana may not be tasted and enjoyed to the full, because there is no time to descend into it or fully understand it. All this could water down the spiritual contents of the discipline bringing it a little too close to gymnastics.
In conclusion, vinyasa yoga is certainly an interesting style that could satisfy a large pool of practitioners. In our opinion, it is more suitable for students who are on average proficient and in moderate physical shape in search of a rather physical and dynamic type of yoga .
Our invitation is to always experiment all the styles in the first person, in the fascinating search for that perfectly adhering to personal aspirations.
