I am not sure what it is. Is it my vagabonding through India to study Yoga or is it Vancouver or is it my injured knee? Western “vinyasa” does not make sense at all to my body. This is the style I have practiced for so many years until I went to India. My teachers at my teacher training in San Francisco were primarily trained in this style, for they were direct disciples of the California Yoga queen Shiva Rea. I used to enjoy this style a lot. Not anymore. I am trying to figure out what happened.
I was at a “vinyasa” class last week. Music was Jazz. Sade and others were taking turns to provide the vocals. The instructor told us to press on the golden egg between the root chakra and the genitals. Some more chakra talk continued. My golden rule of thumb had always been to avoid a class where the teacher talks about chakras. I normally draw the line at bandhas. Most instructors understand bandhas. Chakra talk is so DC (Deepak Chopra) and is what I classify as saccharine sweet. It is mostly mumbo jumbo to me. I understand chakras in the real yogic sense, but not in a yoga class where the instructor is trying to sound cool.
In my home practice, I follow the KYM and astanga style. The breath is super long, the asanas look like it is done in slow motion. There is no hurry to jump through things in milliseconds. The “Vinyasa power” uses a lot of movements so quickly, that my knees buckle. Moving from a mostly hyper extended trikonasana to warrior 2 to ardha chandrasana to standing splits. What does it all mean to the knee? Is it okay to put your knee through all these movements one after the other? This style is torture to my knees and my breath. My knee screams violence. Especially the ardha chandrasana, the standing splits and the lunges. The darling poses of western vinyasa power.
One aspect of my issue is the knee injury, for sure. What matters is also the yoga instructor. I believe any style of yoga can be good if the instructor is good. I have attended amazing Bikram, Vinyasa, Hatha, Astanga classes. Each one of them can turn bad if the instructor is just so so. The yoga education, practice of a teacher matters a lot and how they translate their knowledge to guide the class. It is a combination of things.
For now, I have decided to take a break from vinyasa power in Vancouver. It is quite possible the teachers are not as good as in San Francisco. Or it may be that I am attached to my experiences of San Francisco. I have also been studying a lot about Yoga and I have changed a lot too since I went to India and KYM. My understanding of Yoga has gained a lot of depth as well.
Vinyasa power feels like Bollywood yoga and Disney combined in one. Everything is perfect, color coordinated, sweet, cute, lots of songs, nice outfits and so predictable. I have decided to go Indie and try other styles. “Hatha” seems to make sense to me as the asanas are done at a much slower pace and does not feel too scripted. I keep reading about Yin. I will try that as well. Ultimately, I will be happy in a yoga class which does not use music. Silence must be encouraged and that is the style what I enjoy the most. Astanga fits the bill for most part, but just a little too aggressive for me.
I am looking for a style that has no music and a little mild. I hope this is not too much to ask. No offense to Sade, Marvin Gaye, Beatles, Reggae, Rock, Trance and others.
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I am not sure what it is. Is it my vagabonding through India to study Yoga or is it Vancouver or is it
my injured knee? Western “vinyasa” does not make sense at all to my body. This is the style I have
practiced for so many years until I went to India. My teachers at my teacher training in San Francisco
were primarily trained in this style, for they were direct disciples of the California Yoga queen Shiva
Rea. I used to enjoy this style a lot. Not anymore. I am trying to figure out what happened.
I was at a “vinyasa” class last week. Music was Jazz. Sade and others were taking turns to provide the
vocals. The instructor told us to press on the golden egg between the root chakra and the genitals.
There was a lot more of the chakra talk. My golden rule of thumb had always been to avoid a class where
the teacher talks about chakras. I normally draw the line at bandhas. Most instructors understand
bandhas. Chakra talk is so DC (Deepak Chopra) and is what I classify as saccharine sweet. It is mostly
mumbo jumbo to me. I understand chakras in the real yogic sense, but not in a yoga class where the
instructor is trying to sound cool.
In my home practice, I follow the KYM and astanga style. The breath is super long, the asanas look like
it is done in slow motion. There is no hurry to jump through things in milliseconds. The “Vinyasa power”
uses a lot of movements so quickly, that my knees buckle. Moving from a mostly hyper extended
trikonasana to warrior 2 to ardha chandrasana to standing splits. What does it all mean to the knee? Is
it okay to put your knee through all these movements one after the other? This style is torture to my
knees and my breath. My knee screams violence. Especially the ardha chandrasana, the standing splits and
the lunges. The darling poses of western vinyasa power.
One aspect of my issue is the knee injury, for sure. What matters is also the yoga instructor. I believe
any style of yoga can be good if the instructor is good. I have attended amazing Bikram, Vinyasa, Hatha,
Astanga classes. Each one of them can turn bad if the instructor is just so so. The yoga eductaion of a
teacher matters a lot and how they translate their knwoledge to guide the class. It is a combination of
things.
For now, I have decided to take a break from vinyasa power in Vancouver. It is quite possible the
teachers are not as good as in San Francisco. Or it may be that I am attached to my experiences of San
Francisco. I have also been studying a lot about Yoga and I have changed a lot too since I went to India
and KYM. My understanding of Yoga has gained a lot of depth as well.
Vinyasa power feels like Bollywood yoga and disney combined in one. Everything is perfect, color
coordinated, sweet,cute, lots of songs, nice outfits and so predictable. I have decided to go Indie and
try other styles. “Hatha” seems to make sense to me as the asanas are done at a much slower pace and
does not feel too scripted. I keep reading about Yin. I will try that as well. Ultimately, I will be
happy in a yoga class which does not use music. Silence must be encouraged and that is the style what I
enjoy the most. Astanga fits the bill for most part, but just a little too aggressive for me.
I am looking for a style that has no music and a little mild. I hope this is not too much to ask.
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