Yoga exercises are becoming increasingly popular due to their proven benefits to the physical and mental well-being of a person. One type of yoga is vinyasa yoga, which is characterized by continuous smooth movements linked to your breathing. When your instructor tells you to do vinyasa flow yoga, s/he means a set of graceful movements that complement your breathing.
Are you interested to know more about vinyasa yoga? This article presents a brief history of the yoga style, its benefits, and how you can practice it at home.
A Brief History of Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa yoga traces its roots to Mysore, India. In the 20th century, K. Pattabhi Jois established and popularized the Vinyasa Ashtanga, which was taught by his teacher Sri T. Krishnamacharya.
In his teachings, Krishnamacharya used the ancient text “Yoga Korunta” by Vamana Rishi as a guide. The book features the Vinyasa Krama, which is a flowing sequence of yoga poses that connects hand gestures (Mudra), breathing exercises (Pranayama), posture (Asana), focused gaze (Drishti), physical locks (Bandhas), mantra repetition (Japa), and meditation.
Jois introduced the yoga style to the western world and has evolved over the years. One of its modifications is vinyasa flow yoga, which involves more flexible and creative sequences of yoga poses that flow seamlessly from one pose to another.
Benefits of Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa yoga is an excellent way to improve your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It can also help tone up your body and lose weight. Here are other benefits of the yoga style:
- Better flexibility – By doing the continuous movements, your muscles are stretched and strengthened, thus, improving your flexibility and mobility.
- Strength builder – This yoga style works well as a strength training exercise. It allows you to achieve lean muscle mass throughout your body through poses like backbends, inversions, arm balances, and standing poses.
- Effective stress reliever – The mindful exercises in this yoga style connect your body and mind to help ease your anxiety and stress.
- Improves cardiovascular health – This style can also serve as a cardio workout because it is more fast-paced than other yoga forms.
- Effective detoxification strategy – Effective breathing helps eliminate the toxins inside your body. Your body movements during your practice also generate heat that improves blood circulation.
- Teaches proper breathing –It focuses on breathing, so that you will learn the proper breathing techniques. It employs the Ujjayi breathing method, which helps reduce the risk of severe diseases like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
Tips in Establishing a Successful Yoga Self-Practice
- Choose an area in your home as your private yoga space. Having a dedicated area in your home will allow you to concentrate during your session.
- Set a goal before every practice.
- Be flexible and realistic in planning your yoga routine.
- Determine the sequences you want to do before you start.
- ● Follow free online classes.Try online programs to diversify your routine. You can also look for other online resources as a guide.
- Meditate and rest in corpse pose (savasana) after each session.
Vinyasa yoga is a useful exercise routine to improve your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. By practicing this yoga style in your home or class, you will experience a wholesome makeover that will enhance your outlook in life.