Vinyasa Yoga - with Maya

Vinyasa means a dynamic concentrating posture.

I am teaching Vinyasa and I can say with confidence that no two Vinyasa classeses are the same and if you hate routine and you love to test your physical limits then Vinyasa is for you.  Take it, practice and you will love it!
Moreover – you will save money since you will not need to go to gym to 5 different classes (as Zumba, Pilates, kick-boxing…) to achieve what one Vinyasa class can offer – any time! 

In early eighties Westerners became obsessed with aerobic, fitness or what we call today – workout. Gym enthusiast had a need to sweat. And that was the perfect timing to expend Vinyasa Yoga since these classes would always offer fluid, movement and -intensive practices and that appealed to all Westerners.
 
Vinyasa is movement, stretching, and breath, specifically - Ujjayi breath.
​Great tool to learn more about Ujjay breath is this video from Kino.

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There is no single rule or philosophy that teachers must follow in Vinyasa but I have to
say that every Vinyasa class include either A or B type of ‘Sun Salutations’. 
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My Vinyasa classes are not the same but in every class I always include some period of good warm up stretches. I want my students to open their shoulders, hips, to relax their shoulder blades, their neck, and to warm up their spine before they do any high intense postures.
Although my classes are very alignment-oriented I firmly follow my Anatomy teacher Karusia's advice that not one body is the same therefore not everyone can follow all the rules in the same way. So adapting and adjusting is – my ‘rule’.

Plank, Photo - courtesy of Bigstock

Chaturanga Dandasana, photo courtesy of Bigstock

​We all know that Yoga is not competitive sport but somehow, westerners always expect ‘good workout’ and that ‘every class is different’. Nothing wrong with a 'good workout' but my main focus is on connection between mind, body  and breath and not necessarily on how much we are going to get 'sweaty' as a result of a rigorous practice.

Therefore please, allow yourself to sink into your mat, to relax and sync your mind with your breath. Breath and movement of your body is the only thing that matters in your yoga class. Relax. And – remember – there is no competition. Knowing that - you should feel Free. Free to be who you are.
 
Vinyasa classes are known for their fluid, for that flow from one pose to the next without stopping, therefore Vinyasa Yoga is a good workout. But Vinyasa classes can offer much more, and that solely depend on a teacher that you meet.
 
When I teach a serial of 10 classes I always  use first 3 classes just for warm ups and for students to get to know poses. Later I am working on syncing their bodies with their mind. Vinyasa should be based on high concentration on breath and correct, aligned postures, all in nice flow, almost like a dance. Yes, it is fast paced, but it can be slower too. I like to play with dynamics and that is one defining point that would be always recognizable as Maya’s class. Plus – my great selection of songs  that are in tune with your Breath and Movement.

 Welcome to my Vinyasa Class.
Namaste.
​Maya