Yoga FAQ: What is a Vinyasa?

Here’s what it means to “take a Vinyasa.”

Photo by Elina Fairytale from Pexels

In general yoga usage, a Vinyasa is a short sequence that’s often repeated several times in a yoga class.

The Vinyasa sequence we practice today originates from the Ashtanga system of yoga. In general, it consists of the following poses:

• Chaturanga Dandasana
• Upward-Facing Dog
• Downward-Facing Dog

Chaturanga isn’t the most accessible pose, so a common variation might involve a low plank with the knees down, or lowering to the belly. Generally, the next pose would be Cobra, followed by Downward Dog.

The most important part of a Vinyasa is to link the movement to the breath — one breath per movement.

Practiced during a class, Vinyasa sequences can warm and loosen the body. If an entire yoga class is done in a similar breath-to-movement style, it’s often dubbed a Vinyasa flow.