FAQs - VINYASA (KRAMA)
1. What does Vinyasa mean?
In traditional Indian culture a vinyasa is a planned course of action. It is the conscious intention to complete a task in a systematic-like fashion.
When we step onto our yoga mat a vinyasa is the planned course of action we apply to mindfully transition the body from one asana (posture) to the next. Without this deliberate transitional movement (vinyasa), moving from posture A to posture B is often where the presence of the mind is lost and in turn the state of union (yoga) of mind, body and breath.
A vinyasa should be breath-initiated and seek to efficiently align and prepare the body bio-mechanically for the ensuing posture.
2. What does Krama mean?
Krama means order and in our vinyasa practice refers to the order or sequencing of the vinyasas.
Thus, vinyasa krama simply means the order (krama) of the transitional movements (vinyasas). It is the movement sequence methodology of the practice.
3. What is a Vinyasa (Krama) practice like?
All vinyasa yoga is traditionally characterized by the synchronization of conscious breathing and bodily movement. The breath is the most important aspect of vinyasa yoga, acting as the harness through which the mind and body find access to unified presence (yoga).
Simply put, vinyasa yoga is the integration of movement, breath and mindfulness.
4. How to breathe in Vinyasa practice?
It is the breath that is our guru/teacher in vinyasa yoga. Traditionally, during our practice we are asked to reduce the number of breaths taken per minute by applying conscious breath control. This conscious breathing that guides and animates vinyasa practice is referred to as ujjayi breathing.
5. Why practice Vinyasa Yoga? What are the results of practicing it?
Vinyasa yoga is a transformative practice and perhaps one of the most direct points of access for the mind to arrive in a state of concentrated absorption. By integrating conscious breathing and deliberate movements (vinyasas), the mind is corralled from past and future, bringing us luminously into the present moment.
Vinyasa yoga offers innumerable physical benefits including, but not limited to, an increase in blood circulation, cleansing the stagnant energy that the Yoga tradition believes to be the precursor to disease. Vinyasa practice makes the body stronger and more energized, the mind calmer and more focussed.
It should, like any practice, be approached with respect and patience.
6. Is Vinyasa good for everyone?
Vinyasa yoga can be both beneficial and detrimental to our health depending on the mind-set we bring to practice, and the way in which the medicine of vinyasa yoga is administered.
Properly and respectfully applied a traditional vinyasa approach can benefit all human bodies.
7. How hard is Vinyasa Krama?
This depends in large part upon the mind we bring with us to the mat. It is often the mind (ego) that makes the practice difficult through excessive force, will power and by ignoring the teachings of the breath.
Nonetheless, vinyasa krama or any vinyasa practice will at first (and at times) be physically challenging. For from one perspective, our vinyasa practice is one of purposefully placing the body into challenging, stressful physical positions and learning how to consciously respond instead of habitually react, training our minds how to override their own overreactive stress response.
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