What is Vinyasa or Flow Yoga?
Do you practice Vinyasa Yoga and have you ever wondered what is Vinyasa Yoga? Vinyasa Yoga is a widely popular style nowadays linking breath to movement. Typically, it is described as a practice with a theme or purpose composed of poses linked and associated together. There are as many versions, sequences, and definitions as there are teachers. So, what is Vinyasa Yoga and how did it develop?
Simple, modern Vinyasa Flow Yoga (also known as Flow Yoga) is best described as freestyle Ashtanga Vinyasa as it doesn’t adhere to the rigid structure of the Ashtanga Vinyasa series set out by K. Pattabhi Jois. It allows for movement from one pose to the next rather than moving through poses statically.
Many Vinyasa Flow classes found at yoga studios follow the basic structure of the Ashtanga Primary Series, starting with Suryanamskara A and B and offering different sequences thereafter. Many classes also closely follow the basic standing sequence of the Ashtanga tradition and the finishing sequence. There are no fixed series of poses. Each class can be different. The basic syntax of Vinyasa yoga allows one to explore a changing syllabus of poses. You can explore poses from the Ashtanga first, second and third series in a more accessible manner than in the Ashtanga Vinyasa series practice.
Where Did Vinyasa Yoga Originate?
Vinyasa Yoga or Vinyasa Flow is not a system and does not follow a clear lineage, hierarchy, or leading guru. There is no official founder of Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa Yoga is a modern style of yoga, born out of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga tradition. The Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition, in turn, is based on the teachings of Sri Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya taught that the movements between each asana should be considered just as significant as the postures themselves. His idea behind this was to deepen concentration and body consciousness throughout the entire practice. Rather than focusing on “getting into the posture” and then breathing, in Vinyasa Yoga, the aim is to keep the deep breathing and body consciousness consistent throughout all movements during the practice.
Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
Krishnamacharya is considered to be the grandfather of modern yoga. He travelled to the Himalayas in 1916 to learn yoga. There, he met his guru, Sri Ramamohan Brahmachari, and spent seven-and-a-half years with him. During this time he studied the Ashtanga (Raja) Yoga system, also known as the Eight Limbs of Yoga.
In 1933 he began teaching yoga in Mysore, India, and later in Madras, India, to many Indian and Western students. In addition to Pattabhi Jois, his best-known students include Indra Devi, BKS Iyengar, and his son, TKV Desikachar. Influenced by these masters, various styles of yoga have developed from one source, as their representatives were students of Krishnamacharya at different times. Krishnamacharya taught a diverse practice along with more traditional and original forms of Ashtanga Yoga, in Mysore. In Madras, he changed his style, which ultimately became Viniyoga.
T.K.V. Desikachar
T.K.V. Desikachar (1938-2016) was the son of Krishnamacharya. He believed that yoga should be tailored to the individual's needs. He initially used the term, Viniyoga, to describe his style of Hatha Yoga; later he dropped the term, but not the approach.
Although he spent much of his adult life lecturing and teaching yoga, Desikachar was trained as a structural engineer. He was also the founder of Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, India. Born in India, T.K.V. Desikachar was disinterested in yoga as a child and early adulthood. In his 20s, he returned to his roots and studied under his father.
Desikachar first lectured in the United States in 1976 and later visited regularly, teaching and lecturing on his approach to yoga and yogic healing. He believed that yoga could be relevant for all people, regardless of physical capabilities. Adapting yoga practices to meet the needs of each yogi was central to his approach. Through yoga therapy, he integrated the physical practice of asana, pranayama, meditation, and the traditional medical system of Ayurveda to promote overall wellbeing and mental health.
K.S. Patthabi Jois
The Ashtanga school was developed by Patthabi Jois. He taught in Mysore, India in the first half of the 20th century. Later Ashtanga Yoga was taught by Jois as moving meditation which he also began to call Ashtanga Vinyasa.
In the practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, breath is coordinated with movement. This Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is the source of almost all Vinyasa Yoga, Power Yoga, and Yoga Flow styles that have become so popular in the West these days.
What Does Vinyasa Mean?
The term vinyasa is a combination of two words. Nyasa has several meanings like "to place", “special order”, “attention”, “and vi, which means “specially". Vinyasa has many meanings in the Sanskrit language, however, in the context of yoga, Vinyasa can be best interpreted as
- Special way
- Special order
- With attention
It is often understood as a practice with a theme or purpose consisting of poses linked and associated together.
There are as many versions, sequences, and definitions as there are teachers. Vinyasa Yoga or Vinyasa Flow is not a system. There is no clear lineage, no hierarchy, and no leading guru.
Vinyasa, written in lowercase, usually refers to the progression and continuity between the asanas. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is known for its fluid transitions from one pose to another, or jump-backs and jump-throughs. The most common usage is to define a specific linking sequence (based on the sun salutation -- chaturanga/up dog/down dog) that is coordinated with the breath and gets you from pose to pose. The practice becomes a flow timed to the breath instead of just a series of discrete postures.
The vinyasa gives rhythm to the practice, keeps the heat building, builds upper body strength, and acts as a counterpoise to stretch the legs and re-set the spine to neutral for the next sequence.
Any sequence flowing from asana to asana can be called a vinyasa -- it doesn't have to be related to the sun salutation movements encountered in Ashtanga Vinyasa style practice.
Keeping the concept of moving consciously, "in a special way" in mind a Vinyasa Flow class focuses on relationships between poses and, progressing from simpler to more complex asanas. Teachers also often work with setting an intention and keeping the body-breath-mind connection.
What are the Characteristics of Vinyasa or Flow Yoga
Vinyasa Yoga & Linking of Poses
Vinyasa Yoga links one posture to the next through the breath. When the postures are practised together, they flow into each other. This is why it’s sometimes called “Flow Yoga”. The opposite of Vinyasa Yoga is the more classical style of yoga such as Hatha Yoga, where students come into an asana, steadily stay in the pose and then “break the posture” by coming out.
The Flow of Vinyasa Yoga - Breath Initiates Movement
The transition from one asana to the next is always initiated from the breath. The breath might become deeper and more strained due to physical activity, but ideally, it should remain regular and through the nose. The breath creates the rhythm and timing that underlie the linking of the postures. Krishnamacharya used to travel from town to town giving yoga performances with his students. To have them move in synchrony, he instructed them to breathe deeper and with a slight construction in the throat. This is commonly called 'Ocean Breath' or 'Ujjayi Breathing'.
Vinyasa Yoga is a Cardiovascular Work-out
A Vinyasa Yoga practice usually involves intense movements and generates a cardiovascular work-out not always present in other forms of yoga asana practice. This is in contrast to classical Hatha Yoga principles in which we aim to keep the heart rate at a resting pace so that we stimulate more subtle processes in the physical body (the endocrine system, the lymphatic system, etc.).
The Variety of VariationVariations in Flow Yoga
A defining characteristic of Vinyasa Flow classes is the variation in sequence from class to class. No two classes are alike. If you have done a Vinyasa Yoga class at your yoga studio, you may have noticed this. This stands in stark contrast to fixed form systems such as Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and Bikram Yoga.
Vinyasa Yoga is a Moving Meditation
Vinyasa Yoga, due to its intensity and variety requires intense focus. The practice can bring you into a state that can be described as moving meditation.
What to Expect in a Vinyasa Yoga Class
A Vinyasa Yoga class is different from a Hatha Yoga class. Generally speaking, a Vinyasa Flow class is challenging in that it is focused on continuous deep breathing, and constantly evolving as your practice deepens.
The Sun Salutations from the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition form the backbone of a Vinyasa Flow Class. The Surya Namaskara A and B are used in their "pure" form to warm up the body, and then they are used as a red thread throughout the practice to weave in different asanas and exercises.
Click Here to Practice an Easy Morning Vinyasa Flow with Kalyani Hauswirth-Jain
1. Surya Namaskara A
Instructions for Surya Namaskara A
- Starting in Samasthiti (Tadasana), with the toes together, the heels can be slightly apart. Arms by your side, spine long.
- Inhale - raise your arms overhead in line with your forehead, palms together, and gaze along with your thumbs.
- Exhale - Opening the arms sideways, bend forward with a flat back and bring the hands to the ground next to your feet, the crown of your head reaching toward the floor.
- Inhale - Lift your chest and gaze forward
- Exhale - step or lightly hop into High Plank and lower down to Chaturanga Dandasana
- Inhale - Point your feet and open your chest, shoulders wide and looking ahead or diagonally up (Upward-Facing Dog)
- Exhale - Curl your toes and push your hips back and up (you may walk your feet slightly in). Find a steady position in Downward Facing Dog and hold for 5 breaths.... 1....2.....3.....4.....5.... as you exhale, bend your knees and gaze between your hands.
- Inhale - step or lightly hop-forward, with your feet in between your hands and look forward with your chest lifted
- Exhale - Fold-down, hands next to your feet, the crown of your head reaching toward the floor
- Inhale - reach your arms wide to the side, come up with a flat back and bring your hands overhead. Gaze along with your thumbs to the ceiling, neck elongated
- Exhale - Samasthiti.
2. Surya Namaskara B
Instructions for Surya Namaskara B
- Starting in Samasthiti (Tadasana), with the toes together, the heels can be slightly apart. Arms by your side, spine long.
- Inhale - bend your knees and raise your arms overhead in line with your forehead, palms together, and gaze along with your thumbs (Utkatasana).
- Exhale - straighten your knees and fold forward with a flat back, bring the hands to the ground next to your feet, the crown of your head reaching toward the floor.
- Inhale - Lift your chest and gaze forward
- Exhale - step or lightly hop into High Plank and lower down to Chaturanga Dandasana
- Inhale - Point your feet and open your chest, shoulders wide and looking forward or diagonally up (Upward-Facing Dog)
- Exhale - Curl your toes and push your hips back and up (Downward-Facing Dog)
- Inhale - Bring your left heel 45 degrees forward and step your right foot forward in between your hands (Virabadhrasana I). Right knee is above the ankle, left leg straight, arms raised overhead, gaze along with your thumbs
- Exhale - Place your hands on the mat and step back with your right foot, to High Plank and lower down into Chaturanga Dandasana
- Inhale - Point your feet and open your chest, shoulders wide and looking forward or diagonally up (Upward-Facing Dog)
- Exhale - Curl your toes and push your hips back and up (Downward-Facing Dog)
- Inhale - Bring your right heel 45 degrees forward and step your left foot forward in between your hands (Virabadhrasana I). Left knee is above the ankle, right leg straight, arms raised overhead, gaze along with your thumbs
- Exhale - Place your hands on the mat and step back with your left foot, to High Plank and lower down into Chaturanga Dandasana
- Inhale - Point your feet and open your chest, shoulders wide and looking forward or diagonally up (Upward-Facing Dog)
- Exhale - Curl your toes and push your hips back and up (you may walk your feet slightly in). Finding a steady position in Downward- Facing Dog and hold for 5 breaths.... 1.....2.....3.....4.....5.... as you exhale - bend your knees and look between your hands
- Inhale - step or lightly hop forward, with your feet in between your hands and look forward with your chest lifted
- Exhale - Fold-down, hands next to your feet, the crown of your head reaching toward the floor
- Inhale - bend your knees and raise your hands overhead to come into Utkatasana, gaze along with your thumbs to the ceiling, neck elongated
- Exhale - Straighten the legs, arms by your side,
3. Vinyasa Yoga Transitions & Key Poses
When telling students to "take a vinyasa", the teacher asks them to transition from one asana to the other by doing the sequence of:
Plank - Chaturanga Dandasana to Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana to Adho Mukha Shvanasana and from there either to:
- jump/ step forward to a seated position
- or enter a standing asana by stepping one foot forward.
When coming out of a seated asana, the vinyasa includes:
- A lift-up
- followed by a jump/step back into Chaturanga Dandasana to Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana to Adho Mukha Shvanasana.
This is the traditional Vinyasa, as taken from the Ashtanga Vinyasa Practice by K. Patthabi Jois.
There are numerous ways to create variety with the vinyasas as well as within Surya Namaskara A and B, for example:
Replace Utkatasana (In Surya Namaskar B) with:
- Malasana (Garland Pose)
- Parshva Utkatasana (Twisted Chair Pose)
Replace Chaturanga Dandasana with:
- Low Plank on elbows
- Sashtang Pranamasana (Prone Prostration Pose)
- Supta Eka Pada Rajkapotasana (Sleeping Pigeon Pose)
Replace Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana with:
- Low Cobra / extended Cobra
- Anahatasana (Melting Heart)
- Shalabhasana (Locust Post)
- Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)
Replace Virabadhrasana I (Surya Namaskara B) with:
- Virabhadrasana II and variation (Warrior II and variations)
- Ashta Chandrasana (Eight Crescent Moon Pose)
- Sukha Hanumanasana (Easy Monkey Pose)
- Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose)
- Utthita Parshvakonasana (Extended Side-Angle Pose)
- Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend)
Replace Adho Mukha Shvanasana with:
- Shashankasana (Child's Pose)
- Khagasana (Hare Pose)
- Steady Dolphin or for more advanced practitioners Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Stand)
4. Counting the Breaths in Vinyasa Yoga and Ujjayi Breathing
During the first part of the class (before we sit down), we count our breaths. In most Vinyasa Yoga classes the teacher counts the number of breaths that students should hold the pose. Usually, that is 5 breaths per pose.
Slow and controlled breathing is commonly referred to as Ujjayi Breathing or Ocean Breathing. It is technically not the proper (classical) Ujjayi Pranayama, but a Full Yogic Breath. While breathing deeply, to produce the "ocean noise," slightly restricts the opening of the throat to create some resistance to the passage of air. Gently pulling the breath in on inhalation and gently pushing the breath out on exhalation against this resistance creates a well-modulated and soothing sound—something like the sound of ocean waves rolling in and out.
Read more: The Difference Between Pranayama and Breathing Exercises
How to Teach Vinyasa Yoga
Teaching Vinyasa Yoga can be relatively easy and quite challenging. It depends on how you choose to teach: Do you prefer to mainly stay on your mat and physically demonstrate most of the poses and exercises, while explaining the flow? Or, do you choose to keep walking around and verbally guide your students through the practice?
In the first scenario, it is rather easy to teach, once you know the flow of the sequence well. However, you won't be able to see your students well and you won't be able to adapt your class to their needs and level. Teaching Vinyasa Yoga while still being in a position to observe, adjust and adjust is a more challenging feat and takes practice.
It is our deeply rooted conviction here at Arhanta, that to grow as a teacher and truly serve your students your full attention should be on the student. Being attentive to your students and observing them will make the difference between them returning to your classes over and over again. Rather than practising at home with a video, this is a more effective method. And, it makes teaching so much more interesting, exciting, and enlightening!
Also read: How Much Experience Do you Need to Become a Yoga Teacher?
