When you’re choosing a yoga class, do you immediately avoid Vinyasa because you believe you must have a certain level of fitness and strength? Don’t be intimidated by Vinyasa Flow Yoga––there’s a class suited for your unique abilities. If you have physical limitations, are recovering from an injury, are new to yoga, or are approaching your golden years, there is a class for you.
The definition of Vinyasa comes from Sanskrit and means to place in a special way. This style of class usually links the asanas to the breath in a continuous flow. The focus on breathing with the movement helps you quiet your mind and settle into sensations arising inside and out. While certain classes, like Power Yoga and Ashtanga, from which Vinyasa evolved, can be quite athletic and vigorous, not all classes are.
The Father of Modern Yoga, T. Krishnamacharya is credited with creating what we know as Vinyasa yoga. One of his guiding principles was "Teach what is good for an individual." One of his most famous students, B.K.S. Iyengar, left a legacy of yoga focused on alignment and breath control. Iyengar was a child plagued with severe physical ailments, and he implemented the use of props, like blocks, straps, and chairs into the yoga practice to allow students to experience the poses they might not be able to do otherwise.
These days, you can find yoga to accommodate most physical or perceived limitations. Vinyasa can have a slower pace, omit chaturangas, and offer modifications and modifications to suit your energy level and ability. The true yoga practice is internal. Yoga is for every body and is accessible. No matter who you are, whether you are thin or heavy, tall or short, in a wheelchair or an Olympic athlete, yoga is for you.
This week’s Vinyasa classes are specifically designed to appeal to a wide range of students. We encourage everyone to give these classes a try.
Quick Slow Flow - Claire Petretti Marti
The Discipline to Heel - Christen Bakken
Finding Peace & Stillness Flow - Mary Baker
Flow with the Go - Dana Smith