Flow Yoga: A Graceful Shape-Shifting Practice to Keep You in the Zone

Flow Yoga: A Graceful Shape-Shifting Practice to Keep You in the Zone
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Moving Action

Flow Yoga, also known as Vinyasa, is a method of yoga where the practitioner emphasizes controlled breathing meaning the inhalation and exhalation of the lungs in conjunction with a particular sequence of flexibility exercises which are called poses (asanas) in yoga. This particular kind of yoga may be especially appealing to those who don’t like the idea of holding a pose for an extended period of time, which is the norm in Iyengar Yoga. In Flow Yoga the student is constantly moving from one position to another in a controlled manner while endeavoring to maintain the correct alignment. Vinyasa Yoga poses for clearing lungs are obviously healthy for anyone but if you are planning on quitting smoking, sign up for a class like this right after you quit because it will really help. Believe me, at one time many moons ago I smoked more than a pack a day, but yoga helped me kick that bad habit because of its inherent emphasis on relaxation.

In this manner of practicing yoga, the practitioner becomes almost entranced in a contemplative state of being while the exercises go to work on increasing flexibility, alleviating the pain of stiff joints and creating a sense of ease and serenity like you’re a stream meandering through a meadow of wild Mountain Thyme. A typical Vinyasa flow sequence might include beginning one pose like Cat on an inhalation then moving to another pose such as Cow on the exhalation. What that means is essentially beginning on the mat on your hands and knees with a concave spine and transitioning to a position where your spine is arched up toward the ceiling.

I think the best place for learning these poses is from a qualified instructor in a class. A Sun Sequence is a series that you will definitely encounter and I assure you it’s worth experiencing first hand. For you older grooving rockers out there, Flow Yoga is not all that unlike a Grateful Dead concert the way they merged one song right into another during their live concerts.

Variety and the Zone

Vinyasa Flow also offers a little more variety as the teachers of this practice vary the arrangement of flowing through poses and there are many for each part of the body so that might appeal to people who would rather not necessarily know exactly what is coming every time. Some teachers move fast, and some slow, so ask before you get into a class depending on your preference. Drop in on a class before you take it and shop around for the teacher you like best. Getting the sequence perfect is not a priority here and everyone works at their own pace in yoga but with practice, you’ll find the zone.

One other component I would like to touch upon here is something that I find related and that is the concept of flow that Positive Psychologists refer to. It is a state when an individual becomes totally absorbed in a challenging activity in which their skills are stretched to the peak. You might be more familiar with the term ‘in the zone.’ “Rock climbers, musicians and athletes enter the state of flow relatively often, but there are innumerable ways of doing so, and we could all find ways of getting more flow into our lives.”(Nettle, p. 25) I happen to believe that Vinyasa Yoga is one of those ways.

The flexibility, strength, and stamina one receives in the repeated practice of yoga poses benefits the athlete tremendously in whatever sport they engage in. I happen to believe that it neutralizes and can seemingly even reverse the aging process to some degree. Refer to the descriptions of Iyengar and Kundalini listed below in this article series to get a working knowledge of each in order to decide which practice may be most appealing to you. But I do think “any kind” is the answer to the question: “what is the best kind of yoga for the beginner?”

Sources:

Official Iyengar Site https://www.bksiyengar.com/modules/Iyoga/iyoga.htm,

YogaFit at https://www.yogafit.com/news/flow-yoga.html

Northern Lights Yoga, 9 West Placer Helena, MT 59601 https://www.northernlightsyoga.com/

Daniel Nettle, Happiness – The Science Behind Your Smile. (New York: Oxford University Press, 2005)