yoga in sacramento:
vinyasa and power yoga
vinyasa and power yoga
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
What can I expect in a Vinyasa or Power Yoga class?
Expect a energetic flow style practice with different poses each time
and lots of emphasis on the breath. We try to make the classes
comfortable for fit beginners yet include enough advanced poses to
give experienced students a challenge. If you're new, just set some
limits in class and work on modified versions that we'll suggest for the
more esoteric poses. The class should be fun, not an ordeal. Cheat,
skip things, take a break and just breathe occasionally. You'll
develop strength, endurance and mental focus over time.
Do the different brand names for flow classes mean anything?
Vinyasa yoga, power yoga, vinyasa flow and other similar class titles
don't really mean much as every teacher has their own take on how
to structure a flow style practice. You'll find easy power yoga classes
and very wild classes with other teachers labeled vinyasa flow. Our
classes are on the more adventurous end of the spectrum. Some
teachers do the same routine all the time. We like to have more fun
by doing different poses each class. It's fun to explore and find a
class and teacher right for you at this point in your practice.
What is a vinyasa, anyway?
The sanskrit word has several meanings. 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 counterpose to stretch the legs
and re-set the spine to neutral for the next sequence.
Where does the vinyasa yoga style come from?
The specific vinyasa format of linking poses with a chaturanga/up
dog/downdog sequence comes from the ashtanga system of
practice. Some classical hatha styles use sun salutations but
generally only as a warm-up. In a vinyasa based practice the flow
continues throughout the class. The ashtanga style sun salutation
practice of jumping to a plank is unique compared to the classical
practice of taking one leg back at a time. Of course, the ashtanga
salutations have become common in all sorts of hybrid practice
styles.
What are other uses of the word vinyasa?
It can also be used (less commonly) to designate the particular
variations cycled through in the practice of a pose. Leg out in front is
vinyasa 1, folding forward onto it vinyasa 2, inhaling up vinyasa 3,
exhaling out to the side vinyasa 4, etc. Any sequence of 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
style practice.
What else is borrowed from ashtanga?
The idea that the practice should be challenging, focused on
continuous ujjayi breathing, and constantly evolving as your practice
deepens. It all works toward the physical practice becoming a
meditation.
What is the main difference between these classes and
ashtanga?
There are no fixed series of poses. Each class can be different. The
basic syntax of vinyasa yoga allows us to explore a changing
syllabus of poses. We can explore poses from the ashtanga first,
second and third series in a more accessible manner than in series
practice. While a fixed series practice has its advantages, it's also
nice to explore different combinations, different pacing, different
variations and different ways of entering and exiting the poses.
How does this differ from Iyengar yoga?
The poses come from the same source in both the Iyengar and
ashtanga systems. When we talk about alignment and form in a
vinyasa class, that body of technique comes from Iyengar yoga.
Pattabhi Jois, the head of the ashtanga lineage, and B.K.S. Iyengar
both had the same teacher, Krishnamacharya. Iyengar chose to
ignore the breathwork (which he likes teaching separately) and the
vinyasas of the ashtanga system for his basic classes. More
advanced Iyengar practice involves what he calls "jumpings" -- much
like Surya Namaskara A from the ashtanga system.
Is this related to Bikram "hot yoga"?
Not at all. That's from a different planet. We develop the heat
internally via challenging poses, vinyasas, ujjayi breathing and
bandhas rather than turning up the thermostat. The Bikram yoga
series is not a flow practice, at least not as we understand the word
in the ashtanga tradition. The Bikram series of 26 poses is good in a
number of ways but we like to do a wider variety of poses, include
upper body work and inversions, and teach yoga as a meditative
tradition rather than just exercise.
| back to top | yoga class descriptions | sacramento class schedule |
| home | classical hatha yoga FAQs | ashtanga FAQs |
See you in class soon!
copyright 2007 bill counter
Expect a energetic flow style practice with different poses each time
and lots of emphasis on the breath. We try to make the classes
comfortable for fit beginners yet include enough advanced poses to
give experienced students a challenge. If you're new, just set some
limits in class and work on modified versions that we'll suggest for the
more esoteric poses. The class should be fun, not an ordeal. Cheat,
skip things, take a break and just breathe occasionally. You'll
develop strength, endurance and mental focus over time.
Do the different brand names for flow classes mean anything?
Vinyasa yoga, power yoga, vinyasa flow and other similar class titles
don't really mean much as every teacher has their own take on how
to structure a flow style practice. You'll find easy power yoga classes
and very wild classes with other teachers labeled vinyasa flow. Our
classes are on the more adventurous end of the spectrum. Some
teachers do the same routine all the time. We like to have more fun
by doing different poses each class. It's fun to explore and find a
class and teacher right for you at this point in your practice.
What is a vinyasa, anyway?
The sanskrit word has several meanings. 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 counterpose to stretch the legs
and re-set the spine to neutral for the next sequence.
Where does the vinyasa yoga style come from?
The specific vinyasa format of linking poses with a chaturanga/up
dog/downdog sequence comes from the ashtanga system of
practice. Some classical hatha styles use sun salutations but
generally only as a warm-up. In a vinyasa based practice the flow
continues throughout the class. The ashtanga style sun salutation
practice of jumping to a plank is unique compared to the classical
practice of taking one leg back at a time. Of course, the ashtanga
salutations have become common in all sorts of hybrid practice
styles.
What are other uses of the word vinyasa?
It can also be used (less commonly) to designate the particular
variations cycled through in the practice of a pose. Leg out in front is
vinyasa 1, folding forward onto it vinyasa 2, inhaling up vinyasa 3,
exhaling out to the side vinyasa 4, etc. Any sequence of 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
style practice.
What else is borrowed from ashtanga?
The idea that the practice should be challenging, focused on
continuous ujjayi breathing, and constantly evolving as your practice
deepens. It all works toward the physical practice becoming a
meditation.
What is the main difference between these classes and
ashtanga?
There are no fixed series of poses. Each class can be different. The
basic syntax of vinyasa yoga allows us to explore a changing
syllabus of poses. We can explore poses from the ashtanga first,
second and third series in a more accessible manner than in series
practice. While a fixed series practice has its advantages, it's also
nice to explore different combinations, different pacing, different
variations and different ways of entering and exiting the poses.
How does this differ from Iyengar yoga?
The poses come from the same source in both the Iyengar and
ashtanga systems. When we talk about alignment and form in a
vinyasa class, that body of technique comes from Iyengar yoga.
Pattabhi Jois, the head of the ashtanga lineage, and B.K.S. Iyengar
both had the same teacher, Krishnamacharya. Iyengar chose to
ignore the breathwork (which he likes teaching separately) and the
vinyasas of the ashtanga system for his basic classes. More
advanced Iyengar practice involves what he calls "jumpings" -- much
like Surya Namaskara A from the ashtanga system.
Is this related to Bikram "hot yoga"?
Not at all. That's from a different planet. We develop the heat
internally via challenging poses, vinyasas, ujjayi breathing and
bandhas rather than turning up the thermostat. The Bikram yoga
series is not a flow practice, at least not as we understand the word
in the ashtanga tradition. The Bikram series of 26 poses is good in a
number of ways but we like to do a wider variety of poses, include
upper body work and inversions, and teach yoga as a meditative
tradition rather than just exercise.
| back to top | yoga class descriptions | sacramento class schedule |
| home | classical hatha yoga FAQs | ashtanga FAQs |
See you in class soon!
copyright 2007 bill counter
classes with
Bill Counter
in Sacramento, California
(916) 441-4914
Vinyasa and Power Yoga FAQs
Bill Counter
in Sacramento, California
(916) 441-4914
Vinyasa and Power Yoga FAQs
OM