Zen Vinyasa Yoga
In the vast world of yoga, there are many styles of yoga to fit a wide variety of needs. Regardless of your skill level, spiritual devotion, or interests, you are sure to find a form of yoga that is right for you.
Zen Vinyasa Yoga offers a hybrid of Vinyasa Yoga techniques with a Zen Yoga mindset. This yoga class includes intense physical demand, as well as deep meditation and relaxation. If you are looking to experience the full spectrum of yoga, Zen Vinyasa Yoga may be right for you.
What is Zen Vinyasa Yoga?
Zen Vinyasa Yoga is a great combination of two strong forms of yoga; Zen Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga. To better understand what Zen Vinyasa Yoga is, it is important to have an understanding of what these two forms of yoga are first.
Zen Yoga is a form of yoga that focuses on meditation, movement, and looking inward. Zen Yoga offers a unique experience when it comes to meditation and flexibility. There is a great emphasis on how the physical alignment of the body affects the alignment of the mind. The importance of having a well-trained body to have a clear and focused mind is crucial to Zen Yoga.
On its own, Zen Yoga is not a very intense practice, offering the participant a step back from life’s great intensities. This is why we pair it with Vinyasa Yoga. Vinyasa Yoga is a practice of yoga that offers great emphasis on the flow of movement and breathing on the participant. Offering similar methods as Ashtanga Yoga, it is less about holding specific positions with great accuracy and more about how gracefully you move through the asana styles.
One of the key focuses of Vinyasa Yoga is the vinyasa flow. This is the connection between each posture and how well your body operates in this transitionary state. Increased strength and confidence in this area allows the participant to move more swiftly and focus on their internal struggles rather than their physical struggles.
A big focus of Vinyasa Yoga is breathing. It is important to have an uninterrupted flow of movement, as well as a clear flow of breathing. By having this flow of breathing the participant can better focus on the present, entering a state of meditation.
By combining these two forms of yoga, two sides of the yoga mindset are offered that are equally needed in bettering yourself. Zen Yoga offers a way to recover from the intense toll that Vinyasa Yoga can take on the body. Similarly, Vinyasa Yoga can offer the physical demand needed to push the mind and body to a higher level of introspection. Working in tandem, these two practices work to strengthen each other.
What is a Zen Vinyasa Class Like?
Due to the varied nature of Zen Vinyasa Yoga, no one Zen Vinyasa Yoga class is alike. At Yoga Now we offer a class that is an eclectic blend of asana styles. The nature of our class is free flowing, allowing for a new and unique experience every time you practice. Based on what the instructor sees fit and the comfortability level of the participants, the class can be easily modified to fit everyone’s needs.
Bringing in Zen teachings and practices, each class will end with an extended savasana; which offers participants a relaxing transition from the classroom back into the outside world. This stage of the class incorporates crystal bowls and Yoga Nidra meditation.
Yoga Nidra is a powerful form of meditation that alleviates the mind and relaxes the participant. Also known as yogic sleep, Yoga Nidra is an ancient yogic form of meditation. This can be a great way to end an intense class and relax after a hard day. To enhance the state of relaxation, we incorporate a crystal bowl into this exercise. The calming environment this creates offers a centering point for meditation.
By getting into the habit of practicing Yoga Nidra in class you can start incorporating those methods of meditation into your personal life. The benefits of Yoga Nidra and Zen Vinyasa Yoga can then be spread to the rest of your life.
We could all use more relaxation. While the end of a Zen Vinyasa Yoga class is not designed for you to fall asleep, it is a great place to build relaxation skills.
Yoga Nidra offers a dedicated moment of reflection that the participant can use in many ways. You can step back from everything going on and offer yourself the personal attention you need. Without outside influence or any demanding task at hand, you can focus your attention on your current needs.
This can be as simple as just relaxing and finding a moment to recover from the class and external tasks. You can also give yourself the much needed time to consider some bigger affairs. Everyone has their own stressor and demanding problems that require attention. This isn’t a time to escape these problems, but a time where you can focus on the task at hand. Instead of pushing yourself too hard by making difficult decisions in a stressful environment, use this time to focus on serious problems with a clear mind and an undivided attention.
If you are interested in a Yoga Now class in Zen Vinyasa Yoga we’d love to have you join us. For further details and inquiries, please contact us.