Vinyasa Yoga

I tried a Vinyasa Yoga class today for the first time with my beautiful sister, Tara. She has done a lot of Yoga, so she was quite comfortable and happy to do it with me. Thanks, Tara! 

Vinyasa Krama Yoga, employs the technique of "connecting postures," but is not limited to the six series of postures like other versions of Yoga. This style allows for a lot of variety, but will almost certainly include Sun Salutations. If your yoga class schedule lists a Vinyasa class, expect movement, not just stretching. Whether the class is fast or slow, includes chanting, or is very alignment-oriented will depend on the individual teacher. (quoted from yoga.about.com)

The class today was quite challenging for me, mainly because it was so long! One and a half hours of holding poses, and lengthening the spine, and moving from one pose to the other quite quickly, being aware of your breath, and stretching for long strenuous periods of time, and being in the moment and thinking only of the pose you're in, and being grounded and centered, etc etc... it was just as mentally exhausting as physically. But, really great!

This class was FAR more challenging the one I did last week, and some of the poses I was amazed I was able to do, and hold for more than 2 seconds.  (maybe one day I'll be able to do this? )

Side Information: "When vinyasa is used as a noun, it describes a series of three poses that are done as part of a Sun Salutation sequence. When the teacher says, "go through the vinyasa at your own pace," she means do Plank, Chaturanga, and Upward Facing Dog. It felt like we did these three poses about 20 times, and each time I could feel myself getting better and more comfortable in them. " http://yoga.about.com/