By Clyde Granger
Yoga presents itself as a complete lifestyle, and while most people in the west associate Yoga with a physical discipline involving a series of poses, the entire concept involves an eight pronged approach to realizing your best self, each component coming together helping individuals achieve what some refer to as a state of enlightenment.
While Hatha Yoga is physical Yoga in its most pure form, physical Yoga has grown to incorporate more of the aerobic and strengthening aspects that are associated with physical fitness. Vinyasa Yoga, which stresses the use of breath as the impetus to move from one pose to the next, has emerged as one of the most popular ways to tailor the practice to fit your needs.
As the popularity of Vinyasa grew, more and more teachers began to adapt the style to fit both the needs of their students and their growing knowledge of the discipline, resulting in a number of varieties including Vinyasa Flow and Power Yoga.
The origins of Vinyasa Yoga can be traced back to 200 B.C. when Patanjali began constructing his ashta-ang, or eight limbed discipline that involves meditation, mental, and physical conditioning. Since then followers like Sri K. Pattabhi Jois from Mysore, India have committed themselves to refining the techniques of Patanjali to use more movement with breath as opposed to remaining in poses, or asanas, while breathing.
In 1964 Andre van Lysebeth visited Jois and studied with him for two months, after returning to Belgium he wrote a book entitled “Pranayama,” that included Jois’ photo and address. As a result, mostly European westerners began seeking out Jois, and gradually the practice of Vinayasa began to spread. Later in 1973, Norman Allen attended a seminar taught by Jois and became the first American to be exposed to, and consequently spread, the theories of Vinyasa in the United States.
Vinyasa itself is the series of movements that are done between each asana, so as a student moves from one pose to the next, they are said to have completed one “vinyasa.” Physically, the breath increases heat in the body and causes more sweating, which is meant to be purifying.
It is believed that the inspiration for these movements can be found in Vamana Rishi’s Yoga Korunta, and was later inspired by the training of Indian wrestlers and British gymnasts. Today, the practice of Vinayasa has been expanded to include styles suitable for adolescents, expecting mothers, and physically challenged individuals.
To see Aura Wellness Center’s Vinyasa Yoga teacher training home study course, please visit the following link.
http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/Vinyasa-Yoga-Teacher-Training-Course-Level-1.html
© Copyright 2011 – Aura Wellness Center – Publications Division
To see our selection of Online Yoga teacher certification courses, please visit the following link.
http://www.aurawellnesscenter.com/store/
FREE Yoga Report. FREE Yoga Newsletter. FREE Yoga Videos. Free Podcasts. Bonus: Free Yoga e-Book, “Yoga in Practice.”
FREE CONTENT: If you are a Yoga Teacher, Yoga studio, blogger, e-zine, or website publisher, and are in need of quality content, please feel free to use my blog entries (articles). Please be sure to reprint each article, as is, including the resource box above. Namaste!
The Yoga Circle 