Grounded Vinyasa Yoga
Let’s talk about yoga, California yoga. We are a far cry from India, let’s be honest. Around these parts, San Francisco and most of California, Vinyasa yoga or Flow yoga, as it has come to be called, is the most widely practiced. Its active style is a well-matched entrée for a Western results-oriented audience into an ancient attunement practice.
Definition: Vinyasa (a.k.a. flow)
A “collection” or “arrangement” which links poses together to create an active class. For the most part this yoga style is derived from Ashtanga yoga with a more freeform and creative format.
IO Yoga is intended to be a Grounded Vinyasa Practice that offers students the ability to sweat, enjoy, challenge themselves and begin to explore their inner life on the mat with echoes into life off the mat. Our emphasis on the grounding is very intentional. Many, many yoga studios and healing techniques in general, especially in the New Age arena, lose sight of grounding. Big no-no. Grounding is of the utmost importance. At IO, we balance out our flowing Vinyasa yoga classes with some quiet Restorative yoga class options, which make an ideal compliment to a more active practice.
What we attempt with our IO Yoga is that though it may be flowing, we intend it to be stabilizing and rooted at the same time. Becoming flexible in the body but scattered, air-headed and all-over-the-place in the mind is not the goal. Yoga by design was intended to help us come into our bodies and the experience of the body and as a preparation for sitting in silence and stillness more comfortably and presently.
Let’s get grounded,
Amy
08 Jun 2010
Lena Chavez
I agree and I think this is well said and awesome…
09 Jun 2010
Carolyn Cohen
Brilliant…well-put and much needed!
13 Jun 2010
Elle Bieling
Sounds like I would enjoy your studio very much. Staying in tune with your inner workings is what yoga is all about. I am assuming that is what you mean by staying ‘grounded.’ I love to go inward with yoga. I learned years ago that an achievement and results mentality were counter-intuitive to inner work. Thanks for teaching this. ‘Intuitive movement’ is what brings to oneself the most insight, the most peace and the most presence!