Vinyasa - Benefits, Poses & Types

Introduction

There exist 8 dominant branches of Yoga of which one happens to be Vinyasa. After reading this article you will have more clarity on all that this form of Yoga entails.

What is Vinyasa Yoga?

Vinyasa Yoga refers to a style of Yoga that involves several Yoga poses being performed one after another. A Vinyasa Yoga practitioner transitions from one movement to another seamlessly by breathing in a certain manner. The breathing technique adopted during Vinyasa Yoga is Ujjayi Pranayama (or Victory Breath).

Vinyasa Yoga has a variable nature as the sequence of poses adopted in one round of Vinyasa Yoga may not be the same as those adopted in the next round.

Types of Vinyasa Yoga

Listed below are some of the variations of Vinyasa Yoga.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga

In contrast to classic Vinyasa Yoga which involves different Yoga poses being adopted each time it is practised, Ashtanga Yoga employs the same Yoga positions consistently.

Baptiste Yoga

This form of Vinyasa Yoga also features a defined set of postures as opposed to them being freestyle. It is practised in a hot and humid room where the temperature is set to 32 degree Celsius.

Power Flow Yoga

This form of Vinyasa Yoga is accompanied by music that helps relax the body and mind.

Benefits of Vinyasa Yoga

Vinyasa Yoga poses provide your body with several benefits provided they are practised on a regular basis. Some of these benefits have been mentioned below-

• Endurance and Strength Training

Owing to the fact, this form of Yoga requires you to perform challenging poses in quick succession, it helps your body develop muscle strength and improves your level of fitness.

 

• Stability and Balance

When you practice Vinyasa Yoga on a regular basis, you enhance your balancing skills and become more stable.

 

• Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Vinyasa Yoga has been found to help lower feelings of stress and anxiety.

 

• Ideal Workout

The physical challenge of Vinyasa Yoga makes it ideal for those seeking to do a low-intensity cardiovascular workout.

How to Practice Vinyasa Yoga?

Given the fact that Vinyasa Yoga is variable, there exist many different sequences that a practitioner can perform under Vinyasa Yoga. Follow the steps listed below to create a good Vinyasa Yoga sequence-

Step 1. Determine what the theme of your Vinyasa yoga sequence will be. It should feature a peak posture that determines what the remaining poses will be.

 

Step 2. Each Vinyasa yoga sequence must begin with a warm up pose.

 

Step 3. You can incorporate a Surya Namaskar or “Sun Salutation” into your Vinyasa yoga and modify it to add an element of variation.

 

Step 4. The main poses that constitute your Vinyasa yoga sequence should be powerful and should help strengthen the largest muscle groups of your body.

 

Step 5. Incorporate yoga poses that require you to balance yourself and twist. These poses should ideally be incorporated into the middle of the Vinyasa yoga sequence when energy levels are likely to be high.

 

Step 6. Following a yoga pose that requires you to balance, you can incorporate a more challenging yoga pose at this stage of your Vinyasa yoga sequence provided you are able to do it with ease.

 

Step 7. Wrap up your Vinyasa sequence with a forward-fold pose or a yoga pose that helps open the heart.

 

Beginner’s Tip for Vinyasa Yoga

Beginners with no previous exposure to Vinyasa Yoga must understand that it may take some time for them to acquire the “flow” that is synonymous with this branch of Yoga. Beginners must ensure that they only attempt to practise Vinyasa yoga under the guidance and instruction of a trained Yoga instructor.

How Often Should I Do Vinyasa Yoga?

A single session of Vinyasa Yoga can be practised 3 to 5 times a week depending on how advanced the practitioner is. It is crucial to rest between each Vinyasa Yoga session as it helps your body recuperate.

Precautions to Take to Perform Vinyasa Yoga

Before you attempt to practise Vinyasa Yoga, it is important that you take into account the following considerations.

• In the event that you find it hard to keep up with the pace of Vinyasa Yoga, you should slow down and take a break.

• Do not attempt to practise Vinyasa Yoga if you experience chronic pain in your knees, neck, shoulders or back. The same holds true in case you have injured any of these parts of your body.

• Vinyasa Yoga must not be attempted by pregnant women unless it has specifically been modified to accommodate their pregnancy.

• Vinyasa Yoga must be practised on an empty stomach.

Conclusion

Vinyasa yoga and its variations are often followed by people seeking to follow a healthy lifestyle. However, even though one might take several precautions such that they remain in the pink of health, life is unpredictable, and they can fall sick at any point in time. In order to adequately protect yourself in the event that such a situation arises, consider buying a viable health insurance plan. This plan is important as it can provide you with coverage in case you fall ill or injure yourself in an accident.