1 BREATH
Pranayama – the harnessing and control of the breath.
Steady, complete, mindful breathing maintains the rhythm required for the practice. This is the key to unlocking the body’s true potential.
The breath links the mind and body like a bridge.
One movement flows into the next.
Long smooth breath allows for smooth, effortless movement.
The breath ensures the practitioner remains in the present moment.
It is the mantra for the practice, continually enabling the mind to become one focused.
The breath also allows for calm, as we meet the challenges of the practice, and to break through resistance in the mind and body.
A specific breathing method is introduced called Ujjayi breathing.
This is learnt and incorporated into the practice.
Breathing practiced this way, has a profound effect on overall health and well-being.
The breath is the most important, but overlooked aspect of health and longevity.
Prana, extracted through the breath, is converted to life giving energy.
This life force connects us, and is shared with everything on the earth.
Ujjayi breathing is the single most important aspect of the practice.
2 STRENGTH AND FLEXIBILITY
This is developed and becomes essential for attaining a healthy, functioning body that allows us to move through life with ease, agility, stability and grace.
The postures and movements are the tools that will open the heart and transcend the limitations of the mind and body.
Internal organs are also massaged and the endocrine system flushed and stimulated.
Balanced, overall strength is built. Alignment is gradually achieved as the body opens in response to correct, continuous movement.
Stored tension and stress melts away, pain disappears, and the mind has a chance to settle.
3 HEAT
The practice builds internal heat and should be done in a warm environment.
This heat radiates through the entire body.
This allows the muscles and connective tissue to become supple and more fluid.
Circulation is enhanced. This helps prevent strain and injury.
The blood is thinned and enriched with oxygen, revitalizing the body on a cellular level.
The combination of heat, the breath, and movement combine to build the body’s internal furnace which burns away and flushes out toxins and impurities.
The entire system is revitalized.
This activates the body’s natural healing power and the immune system is enhanced and strengthened.
Excess body fat is dissolved and unwanted fluids are released.
4 FLOW
Asana posture and movement.
Vinyasa means flow, and is a process of linking postures with breath.
This allows for smooth, fluid, graceful motion from one position to the next.
Meditation in motion.
The Sun Salutation is the basic movement of all Vinyasa yoga and creates dynamic energy, internal heat, flexibility, alignment and strength as well as a calm mind and mental focus.
Vinyasa yoga is one of the most powerful, unique, effective and unexplored fitness and health activities available.
5 GAZE
Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses, leading to concentration.
Yogic gaze is called drishti.
The eyes softly focus on a specific point.
This encourages deep concentration and eliminates distractions. The mind becomes clear and calm. This is the essence of a non-reactive, equanimious mind.
6 CORE STRENGTHENING AND CONNECTION
Uddiyana bandha is awakened.
This is the connection to the central hub or core of the body.
Located between the navel and the pubic bone, it begins the pathway for the breath or energy to rise up and open the “wings of the kidneys” or the diaphragm.
This leads to the ability to develop a much longer, more complete breath as it moves into the upper respiratory area of the lungs and opens the heart.
The chance to take full advantage of the active, energizing affect of the inhalation and the passive releasing affect of the exhalation is given. This provides stability and strength that radiates from the core of the body, also giving support to the lower back
This is the key to building stability in all yoga asana and movement and is the foundation to true strength.
The body becomes light and movement effortless.
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These 6 elements, practiced with integrity, is the formula for true inner freedom – the ultimate goal of yoga.
Yoga is evolving to meet the needs of the western world.
Tristhana Vinyasa Yoga helps us to deal with the physical, mental and emotional stresses of daily life by getting back in touch with our bodies, on a basic and holistic level.
Learning to surrender into postures and releasing pain and tension accumulated over the years, deep in the body, healing restoring and rejuvenating from the inside out, and enabling your perception to shift beyond the physical to the emotional, mental and spiritual, unfolds our true potential.
