“Yoga is not a work-out it is a work-in, and this is the point of spiritual practice to make us teachable to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are.”
Vinyasa Yoga is a style that focuses on moving in a flow and using your breath. We basically do one breath and one movement. The poses have certain alignments which will help your body posture to improve and release tension and compression in your muscles. A Vinyasa flow will include many different poses in a faster pace to get your heart rate up and create a dynamic movement in your body.
Through the movement and the use of our breath we are exercising a moving meditation to balance our mind and body at the same time. Vinyasa Yoga helps your body to regain flexibility and strength. Why do I love Vinyasa?
Vinyasa is for me a dance I have with myself. Moving through a flow, connecting poses together in a soft and gentle way brings me pure joy to move my body on the mat. It also creates strength in a playful way, that you do not even realize it. With different, more advanced poses you can challenge yourself and will be proud of yourself when you are able to hold it finally. This is what Vinyasa allows me to do. It creates a deeper connection and awareness to the ability of my body. |
Yin Yoga is more of a relaxing practice that focuses only on a few poses each class. These poses target one area in the body and fully relaxing into it helps you getting to your deep tissues to release trauma and tension. Especially fascia, ligaments and tendons are targeted to help the body heal the deeper components. In general, it is a slower movement practice with extra focus on mindfulness and the natural breath rhythm.
Each pose is held for a few minutes and you are invited to do nothing other than relax. To do so you are allowed to use as many props as you like to get comfortable. Yin Yoga is a mindfulness practice and draws the attention inwards. It provides a deep release in the connective tissues, creates space and integrity in the joints and removes blockages in your energy flow. Why do I love Yin Yoga? For me Yin Yoga forces me to slow down and create a deeper connection to my own body. Laying in one pose in total stillness for a few minutes is definitely challenging, but the beauty happens when you overcome your racing mind and are finally fully melting into the pose. The awareness towards your body will change and you will see the wisdom that lies within waiting for you to pick up. |
Meditation is used to calm the mind down by focussing on something. Bringing your focus onto one particular object, quality, body part with withdrawal of judgement of the outside and inside world will help to slow down your thoughts and create a sense of peace within. Often meditation is practiced sitting down, but it can be exercised in different ways and with different focuses. Benefits of meditation are slowing down, calming your thoughts, connecting deeper to your inner world and/ or the divine, and to stay calm in stressful situations. You will be able to handle our daily routine in a much more relaxed way with a clearer head.
Why do I love meditation? I think I have been practicing meditation way longer than Yoga. Meditation is used in all different ways and if you start looking into personal development and self-exploration you cannot miss it. And this is definitely valid. Meditation is an easy-to-use tool with an amazing outcome but requires a bit of practice. I have tried so many kinds of meditations – seated, guided, laying down, walking, dancing, standing, combined with breathwork – the key is to find a style that suits you and brings you the peace of mind. Meditation on a regular basis has enhanced my sense of self and increased the connection to the present. It keeps me sane in stressful situation and centred within myself. |
Breathwork or Pranayama is an essential part of Yoga. Prana means breath, life force or vitality and yama or ayama constriction and expansion. We are able to use our breath to calm ourselves down in stressful situations or to activate energy to stay focused and alert. Controlling your breath will help control your emotions, desires, and mood. This will help you to get further into stillness.
In Yoga we belief that the slower you breathe, the longer you live. Each pranayama technique has a different focus and uses the three parts of the breath in different ways – inhalation, exhalation, pause in between. Why do I love breathwork? I never really understood it, but in my Yoga Teacher training breathwork has been a fundamental part. I was introduced to so many different breathworks each for a different purpose and realized how powerful it is. Our breath is essential for us and by consciously adjusting it, it can help you handle situations better, enhance your energy, and increase your mood. Breathwork is a powerful tool and has to be practiced carefully and under the correct guidance. Use your breath to live a longer and more defined life. |