If you live in America and you are walking into a typical yoga studio, most likely, you are going to a vinyasa style class. Sometimes it's called Power Yoga or Flow yoga, and this type of yoga is very popular in Western cultures as it offers both strength and flexibility while staying fresh and new each day.

In this post, I'll offer up a very simplified introduction to this beautiful practice that is so much more than it first seems.

*This blog post is not meant to be a research paper or a resource for the history of vinyasa yoga. This is just my understanding of the style.

A very simple history of Vinyasa Yoga

Like much of yoga, when you start to dig into the lineage of what we are currently practicing, the stories become a little muddy. I was taught that vinyasa came from ashtanga style yoga, but as I researched I found it to be less of an off-shoot and more of a hybrid of two styles, reaping the rewards of both ashtanga and hatha yoga.

Ashtanga is a very strong, methodical practice that has a codified set of poses that are practiced in order, starting with the primary series and then graduating into more advanced poses as you practice the 8 limbs of yoga Meanwhile, Hatha yoga is the combination of movement, breath, mudra, and other practices with the intent to master body-mind-spirit.

What are the benefits of practicing vinyasa?

When you practice vinyasa regularly, you will notice:

• more strength and flexibility
• better endurance and stamina
• deeper sleep
• lower stress and anxiety
• lowers blood pressure
• better body composition
• reduced risk of many common health issues

Who should NOT practice vinyasa yoga?

Always check with your doctor before beginning a wellness practice to make sure it's safe for you.

Vinyasa in general is safe for most bodies and conditions, however, certain poses may need to be modified or avoided for a specific condition.

For example, if you have had knee surgery recently, kneeling poses should be avoided or modified and done seated or even laying on the back. Pregnant people should take care in vinyasa, and seek out a teacher who is skilled with guiding for prenatal bodies. Lastly, if you have asthma or other breathing issues, you might consider taking a more gentle version of vinyasa.

Vinyasa Practice on YouTube

Are you ready to get on your mat and try out a vinyasa class? Fantastic! Here are some videos on YouTube you might enjoy:

🔥Morning Wake Up: https://youtu.be/l27J6dAEL6k

🔥Practice Gratitude: https://youtu.be/x_lqsaZNPLQ

🔥Discipline: https://youtu.be/gjGctw1uWf4

My own experience with vinyasa

I started my yoga practice with vinyasa. I was introduced to the style in a special class when I was a part of a small dance company. I spent an hour moving through the poses on Sun Salutation A, linking each pose to a part of the sound of OHM. From that day, I was hooked.

From there, I practiced with several teachers before moving into a teacher training in vinyasa yoga while living in New Orleans, then advancing my training with My Vinyasa Practice in Austin, TX. Even when I taught aerial yoga, elements of vinyasa yoga were there, because I consider it the foundation of my own yoga practice. I personally practice vinyasa daily, it is my go-to when I get on my mat.