What is YogaFlow Style?
Yoga Breathing and Pranayama
9 בDecember 2018
Yoga Philosophy
11 בDecember 2018
What is YogaFlow Style?
YogaFlow is a dynamic yoga style focusing on flow and meditative movement led by the breath.
YogaFlow incorporates and merges dynamic, rhythmic, precise elements together with fluid, free, calm, peaceful and spiritual elements.
YogaFlow Yoga Style is a combination of two dynamic yoga styles:
1. Ashtanga Yoga
Ashtanga yoga is characterized by a focus on vinyasa which is a dynamic connecting posture that creates a flow between the more static traditional yoga postures.
The Vinyasa is the connecting sequence that links between the postures and is also the linking of the movement to the breath. The breath dictates the movement and the length of time held in the postures. Attention is also placed on the journey between the postures and not just the postures themselves.
The purpose of vinyasa is to create heat in the body, which leads to purification of the body through increased circulation and perspiration. It also improves flexibility, as well as tendon and tissue strength, allowing us to practice advanced postures (āsanas) with reduced risk of injury.
Traditional Ashtanga yoga practice is composed of different series, each defined by a specific series of postures, always done in the same order, combined with specific breathing patterns.
2. Prana Vinyasa or Vinyasa Flow
This style of yoga has been inspired by the Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga and is similar to it in terms of having “breath-synchronized movement.” The movement from one pose to the next will be synchronized with an inhale or an exhale. Thus, the poses run together and “flow” like a dance.
Unlike Ashtanga Vinyasa, however, the postures are not always done in the same specific order and there is more versatility and diversity in the structure of the sequence and the practice.
YogaFlow is a combination of Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga styles, focusing on flow, freedom and meditative movement led by the breath.
Here are a few demonstrations:
Incorporating Mandala Vinayasa in the YogaFlow Practice
Circular YogaFlow in a circular mandala around the mat is a YogaFlow practice based on the four basic elements of the universe (air, fire, earth, water) and four directions of the earth (north, south, east, west).
Mandala is a round geometric figure representing the universe and our “whole self”. When we practice in a circle around the mat, we reduce the rigidity of the poses, enhance our awareness to our body and breath and enable the body to move and flow freely and naturally and experience meditation in motion.
Here is a video demonstrating the concept of incorporating Circular YogaFlow in a circular mandala around the mat:
A fluid YogaFlow practice calms the mind and transforms the practice into a meditative experience that reduces stress, tension, fear and doubt. We experience calmness, empowerment, softness, joy and love.
“Yoga is like music: The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind and the harmony of the soul creates the symphony of life!” ~ Iyengar
“All our joy is on the frequency of love: the highest and the most powerful frequency of all. We can’t hold love in our hand, we can only feel it in our heart. Our ability to generate feelings of love is unlimited, and when we love we are in complete and utter harmony with the universe.” ~ The Secret Daily Teachings
