| Life is a stretch, frequently presenting | | | | famousstudents B.K.S. Iyengar, Bikram Choudry, and P. |
| last-minute,unexpected change. Through our yoga | | | | Jois, Vinyasa yoga isfocused on progressive |
| practice we gain experience atbending our bodies, our | | | | sequences that unfold with an inherent harmonyand |
| wills, and mind to any task with a certainamount of | | | | intelligence. |
| equanimity and ease. One of the gifts of yoga is that it | | | | In life, and in Krishnamacharya's "viniyoga", we need to |
| teachesus that true flexibility means adapting to the | | | | make a carefulassessment before we begin to |
| change in every moment,while maintaining a spirit of | | | | determine our needs and then build acomplementary |
| calm, devotion and love. Given the time andattention | | | | step-by-step practice to meet those needs. |
| we can create our own source of comfort. No matter | | | | Aftercreating the foundation of our practice, paying |
| what thecircumstances we can draw flexibility and | | | | attention to how webegin, we can build our practice. |
| strength from our practice | | | | We complete our practice, putting theroof on, being |
| (and our community). This resource allows us tap into | | | | sure we have carefully addressed our stated needs. |
| a powerful sourceof personal energy composed of: | | | | The flow of the breath, of life itself, and of a vinyasa |
| physical resiliency, emotionalmaturity, and spiritual | | | | practice is well-described by a sailing metaphor. All |
| optimism. | | | | three require us to synchronizenatural forces that |
| The great yoga master Krishnamacharya emphasized | | | | require skill and intuition. Before we take to the 'sea'we |
| "Vinyasa" as anartful approach to living and central to | | | | must assess the conditions; boat, wind, tides, waves. |
| the transformative process ofyoga. "Vinyasa" literally | | | | Theseconditions constantly fluctuate, as do our |
| means 'linking a movement to the breath', yetalso | | | | physical, emotional, andspiritual states. Then we are |
| refers to progressive sequences that are led by the | | | | ready to build power, take determinedaction, and tack |
| flow of thebreath pattern. These vinyasa sequences | | | | with the wind as conditions change. If we get it |
| are considered 'the sacreddance of the yogis' referring | | | | togetherwe are in for a fabulous ride! |
| to the natural, deep rhythm of the breathacting as the | | | | At the heart of this approach is the deep honoring and |
| sacred beat. For Krishnamacharya, and his | | | | attention paid tothe individual. |