Different Yoga styles – 3. Vinyasa Yoga.

Just like the term Hatha, Vinyasa is a pretty broad umbrella term.

Let’s see if I can break it down to what it should be and how the actual meaning is meant…

Vinyasa yoga is the energetic cousin of Hatha, it moves quicker, in time with your breath, and will bring a sweat up when flowed through correctly.

Maybe you have seen the words, “flow Yoga”, this is basically Vinyasa.

Vinyasa will more vigorously and rapidly in time with the inhale and exhale of the breath from pose to pose.

I personally don’t teach this although I add the occasional “FLOW” into my classes where we move from Downward dog, to plank, chaturanga (four-limb staff pose) to upward, and back to a downward dog or extended child pose.

This is as far as I usually take vinyasa in my particular classes and mainly focus that energy on the winter months more.

Vinyasa in my book is the aerobic version of Hatha, bringing the heart rate up, getting the sweat to flow, and increasing the movement of energy throughout the body.

So, who is Vinyasa for?

Moderate-to-serve pain sufferers are generally seen as the people who benefit the most from Vinyasa yoga.

Cat-Cow pose will be given by most healthcare professionals as a backache reliever for chronic sufferers.

People who have weak core strength will benefit a lot from the movement-based flow of vinyasa as a weak core can put unnecessary strain on legs and hips.

Most people who experience lower back and hip pain have weaker cores and vinyasa yoga due to the diverse range of poses will engage, strengthen, and build the core back to the place where pain will reduce.

What are the benefits of Vinyasa yoga?

Vinyasa yoga has many benefits, here are just the top few.

• Builds bone strength.
• Builds muscles
• Builds connective tissue
• Due to the above three, an increase in the metabolic system of the body makes it more efficient.
• Healthy posture
• Active, aligned body
• Depending on the amount done per week… 3-5 times a week
  • Reduces pain
  • Reduces symptoms of arthritis
  • Boost cardio function
  • Moves toxins out of the body quicker
  • Boosts metabolism

Is Vinyasa hard?

I can’t lie to you here, vinyasa for those who are not used to a cardio, fitness-style workout could find starting out on vinyasa a little difficult, and for this reason, I would always suggest to people to try Hatha first as a starting point.

Vinyasa is more difficult due to the speed hat it flows in if you find breathing and moving at the same time into positions that you’re unaccustomed to difficult, this will challenge you.

Saying all that, however, there are always modifications and steps that can be taken to enjoy the class, atmosphere, and experience at your own pace and comfort.

An example of that is, child pose or downward dog are know as resting poses when the going gets tough (yep, I use them myself when I need to rest before going again)

So what’s the round-up?

Simply put, all fitness in every form can be tough at first, but that doesn’t ever mean not to start.

Sometimes, we just need to jump feet first in, grab that bull by the horns, and have a go whether that is yoga, a fitness class, dance class, or weight training.

Just have a look and see what you may like to try, every activity has those picture and reels of a person making it look SUPER EASY, however if it is worth doing it will be a little tough at the beginning.

Sticking with it and trying to work with who you are is going to be the way you enjoy any form of fitness from today.

Grab your mat, find a youtube, studio or gym and give a class a crack..

Happy flowing on you mats

xx

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