One of the best things about yoga is the wide variety of classes and styles available today. This makes it easy to find a class that you enjoy, and that fits your abilities and fitness goals.
One popular class at Sun Rock Yoga is Vinyasa yoga. This modern class combines continuous yoga poses with deep, structured breathing. It can be a great class for beginners, experienced yogis, and even athletes who want to improve their strength, stability, stamina, and breathing.
Thinking about joining a Vinyasa yoga class at our yoga Utah studio? Keep reading to learn more about this special style of yoga, its history, and how to find “Vinyasa yoga near me.”
What is Vinyasa Yoga?
Vinyasa yoga is a style of yoga that focuses on stringing together poses in a continuous fashion. Rather than pausing between each new pose, your instructor will guide you directly into the next one. This is why many Vinyasa yoga classes, including the ones offered at our St George studio, are also called “flow” classes because you flow from one pose to the next.
In addition to moving seamlessly through your poses, you’ll also be syncing your movements with your breathing. Your yoga teacher will instruct you to breathe in as you move into a certain posture, and breathe out as you transition into the next.
Some forms of yoga, like Ashtanga or Bikram Yoga, use the same set of poses and postures for every class. However, this isn’t the case with Vinyasa yoga. Instead, each class will be unique. Instead, it’s the continuous movement from one pose to the next in sync with your breathing that makes this class unique.
A History of Vinyasa Yoga
Vinyasa yoga has its roots in Ashtanga Yoga. This method of yoga was developed by an instructor named T. Krishnamacharya in the early 20th century. It was actually developed as an individual practice for one of his students, named K. Pattabhi Jois. The practice included fast-paced poses and many postures based on sun salutations.
T. Krishnamacharya is attributed with later developing the idea of Vinyasa in yoga. He was constantly adapting his yoga classes to fit the needs and personalities of his students. The result was fast-paced, constantly changing yoga classes, which differed from other popular forms of yoga from that time that usually followed set patterns or included specific poses.
In the U.S., Vinyasa yoga rose in popularity around the same time as Ashtanga yoga, in the 1980s and 1990s. In fact, the term forms of yoga are often used interchangeably, despite their differences.
What Does “Vinyasa” Mean?
The name for this form of yoga comes from Sanskrit terms. “Vinyasa” in Sanskrit has two parts. The first is the prefix “vi,” which roughly translates to “in a special place.” The second part, “nyasa,” translates to “within parameters” or “a place.”
Together, this means that the word Vinyasa roughly translates to “arranging something in a special way within specific structures.” The movements and poses of a Vinyasa yoga class are arranged in a way that lets you move seamlessly through them while sticking to the structure of focusing on breathing in and out and aligning your breathing with your movements.
The Benefits of Vinyasa
Wondering whether it’s time to find “Vinyasa classes near me?” Vinyasa offers a number of physical and mental benefits.
The continuous flow of poses helps to get your heart rate going, and keeps it going throughout your class. While moving through a variety of poses, you’ll be strengthening many different muscles, including your core, arms, and legs, as well as building stamina, flexibility, and stability. The focus on breathing alongside continuous movements helps to quiet your mind, helping you find your focus and feel calmer.
Finding Vinyasa Yoga Near Me
If you think that a Vinyasa class could be a good addition to your yoga practice or fitness routine, you’ll need to search for a “Vinyasa yoga class near me.” If you’re in the St George area or visiting, Sun Rock Studio is a great choice.
At our St George studio, we offer a Vinyasa Flow class. During this restorative class, you’ll link your breath with your body’s movements. Move through a variety of poses focused on building strength, improving your balance, and increasing your overall flexibility.
You’ll not only be working your body but your mind as well, as you let go of tension and find greater emotional awareness. Each class sends with a Savasana pose to help you find stillness and engage in meditation.
Enjoying Your First Vinyasa Yoga Class at Our St George Studio
Whether you’re looking to build strength and stamina, focus on mindfulness, or simply want to mix up your yoga practice, a Vinyasa yoga class can be a great choice. At Sun Rock Yoga, this class is a great option for those who are still fairly new to yoga, as well as for experienced yogis.
If you’re brand new to yoga, it may be helpful to start with our Yoga Foundations class. In this class, you’ll learn the basics of many common poses and practices. Your instructor will move through the poses at a slower pace and help you focus on proper alignment and form, as well as on your meditation and breathwork. This class can be a great entryway into other forms of yoga, including our Vinyasa Flow. Other great classes for beginners include our Chair Yoga, Mindful Flow, and Restore classes.
Ready to try a Vinyasa Flow or Chair Yoga class for yourself? If you’re new to our St George studio, our 30 for $30 pass is a great way to try out some classes at our yoga Utah studio to find what you like. Available to new Sun Rock Yogis, the class allows you to join in 30 days of classes for just $30. Sign up today to get started!