Yoga Flow - dynamic Vinyasas in the Asana practice and their special fascination

Flowing vinyasas have been very popular in asana practice for many years. Many modern yoga styles are characterized by yoga flows, i.e. dynamic sequences.

What is a yoga flow?

In a flow, the various asanas are not practiced one after the other, but are strung together and connected. The transitions from one posture to the next are fluid, and the practitioner "flows" through the asana sequence, so to speak - hence the term yoga flow . Yoga flows are often referred to as "meditation in motion" because they definitely have a meditative component. At the same time, they have something dynamic about them. Fast and powerful yoga flows sometimes also have a sporty aspect.

How are the asanas combined into a yoga flow?

In static yoga practice, one asana is practiced after the other - you come out of one yoga posture and move into the next, with a certain break between the individual postures. In a yoga flow, however, the practitioners move directly from one asana to the next. This requires a skillful transition that allows you to move from one posture to the other fluidly and sensibly. Yoga teachers who teach Vinyasa must therefore also pay due attention to these transitions and consider them carefully when putting together the asana sequences.

Creating an asana sequence always requires careful consideration, because different postures have a variety of different effects, and it is always advisable to arrange them in such a way that a harmonious composition results from different perspectives. (After a posture that particularly stresses a certain muscle group, for example, a balancing posture is added; demanding asanas are followed by gentle postures for relaxation, etc.) But in a yoga flow, the transitions also play a role so that an uninterrupted flow can really be created.

Why are yoga flows also called Vinyasa?

In yoga, a sequence is also called Vinyasa ("stringing together", "sequence of movements"; from the Sanskrit root as with the prefixes vi - and ni -), and the flowing sequence with which it is practiced is called Krama (from the Sanskrit root kram - in old texts, for example, it is also used to describe the movements of animals). Here, even in the modern yoga styles in which the flows are located (in so-called "Flow Yoga"), the ancient Indian tradition with its Sanskrit terms is used.

Why are yoga flows so popular?

Flowing sequences are very popular among the workshops and courses offered by yoga schools. Many yogis and yoginis like the dynamic element, which can be expressed in a more workout-like style as well as in a more gentle, playful or dance-like way. Yoga flows also leave a lot of room for creativity, as they always offer new ways of linking the various asanas together and allowing them to flow into one another. In Vinyasa yoga, choreography-like exercise sequences can be created. Some of the internationally renowned yoga teachers of recent years have become known in particular for their characteristic flows.

Are props and yoga tools also used in yoga flows?

Yoga tools such as yoga straps and yoga blocks are traditionally used in Iyengar yoga and other more "static" asana styles. In fast yoga flows there is usually little room for the use of such aids , but yoga tools are occasionally used in vinyasas. A non-slip yoga mat that is still reliable even when exposed to sweat is just as important in vinyasa yoga or flow yoga as it is in less dynamic yoga styles. Yoga towels can also be helpful.

Our competent YOGISTAR service team will be happy to advise you if you are looking for the right equipment for your individual exercise style.

Does breathing play a special role in yoga flows?

Breathing always plays a special role in yoga. On the one hand, yogic breathing exercises, called pranayama , are an important branch of yoga practice in their own right, but breathing is also fundamentally important in asana practice. Most yoga teachers consider it important to combine physical practice with conscious breathing. Their instructions often include the advice not to let your breath falter or become shallow. In yoga flows, the central importance of breathing is often particularly emphasized, and it can be experienced and felt particularly clearly here - in Vinyasa Yoga or Flow Yoga you flow in harmony with your breath and can literally let it carry and guide you through the Vinyasas.

Yoga flows and the focus on individual asanas ("one at a time") complement each other

Yoga flows can be a wonderful addition to your asana practice. Of course, dynamic Vinyasa flows and more static practice are not mutually exclusive. Rather, they complement each other, and before you "flow" through the asanas, it is advisable to first work through the postures thoroughly one by one so that you gain a good feel for the subtleties and an advantageous alignment. We wish you lots of joy and wonderful experiences on the mat with all your yoga flows!