The term vinyasa is often used to describe movement from one posture
to another and the flow in the movement. The original vinyasa system of
yoga was the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as taught by Krishna Pattabhi Jois.
The
teachings of Pattabhi Jois tell us that Vinyasa is a breath and
movement system. This means that one breath is used per movement. This
helps with coordinating the breath with the movement, with regulating
the breath and with focusing the mind on the breath - helping to bring
you closer towards a state of meditation. Vinyasa helps you also to keep
the body warm and this helps with keeping the muscles supple, ready for
stretching and with a good supply of oxygenated blood so that they are
ready for exercise
.
.
Pattabhi Jois taught that vinyasa is used for
internal cleansing. His theory stated that thick blood is bad for you
and causes disease inside the body. By practising ashtanga yoga and
particularly the vinyasas, we heat the blood and make it thin so that it
can circulate freely. In terms of scientific theory we can say that
oxygenated blood is transported more efficiently around the body as the
blood circulation improves allowing for repair of tissue more easily.
Pattabhi Jois's theory also talks about the increased circulation
helping to remove toxins from all parts of the body
.
.
Hence yoga is
used to purify the body. However, after this, the nervous system is
also cleansed. The second series of ashtanga yoga involves many
backbends. Backbends open up the spaces between the vertebrae and hence
allow for increased circulation around the vertebrae. Also backbends
bring about compression on certain areas of the spine. This helps to
hydrate the spine and the tissues around the spine as well as spinal
nerves. When this happens you relax
.
.
The teachings of Pattabhi
Jois tell us as well that the sense organs are purified through yoga
practice. If we are attached to the sense organs then we easily become
attached to the outside world. Yoga teaches us to look within and to
seek contentment within. Through vinyasa practice we do not only move
towards mind control (as we learn to focus more and more on the breath)
but also we learn to move towards pratyahara (sense withdrawal).
Physical yoga practice, especially forward bending postures, all take
you deeper within yourself where you come to a state of pratyahara.
Vinyasa, especially, takes you towards pratyahara as you focus more and
more on the breath. Vinyasa practice moves you towards a very deep
awareness of yourself and teaches you control over your mind.
