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What Are the Best Tips for Doing Flow Yoga?

Misty Amber Brighton
Misty Amber Brighton

People who would like to improve their concentration and flexibility may want to try flow yoga, sometimes called vinyasa. When looking for a class, it is helpful if the instructor first teaches the poses and then concentrates on helping people to breathe properly while doing them. There may be special breathing exercises, which can be done before or after a workout in order to improve breathing techniques and make the exercises flow more smoothly.

When learning flow yoga, choosing the right instructor is very important. A good teacher will be able to demonstrate the exercises before having her students attempt them. After students begin doing poses, she may need to make corrections to their style and technique. This can be a tedious process, so it is helpful to have an instructor who is very patient with her students and not overly critical.

Upward facing dog is one of the basic exercises in flow yoga.
Upward facing dog is one of the basic exercises in flow yoga.

A small class size can be very helpful because students will be able to receive more personalized instruction. People who are beginners may want to consider taking private lessons until they feel comfortable doing vinyasa poses on their own. There should ideally be one instructor for every four to six students if it is a beginner class and no more than ten students per instructor for an advanced session.

Vinyasa yoga, also called flow yoga, features a continuous series of poses that can provide a challenging workout.
Vinyasa yoga, also called flow yoga, features a continuous series of poses that can provide a challenging workout.

Students will also need to concentrate on their breathing while doing flow yoga. This means that vinyasa should be done in a very quiet room where there are no distractions if possible. If vinyasa yoga is being done at a gym, there may be a special room set aside for this, but people could also designate a room in their home for this exercise. Whether being done at home or in a gym, it can be a good idea to turn off cell phones or leave them outside so they will not interrupt the workout session.

Practicing flow yoga involves concentrating on breathing.
Practicing flow yoga involves concentrating on breathing.

Flow yoga consists of three basic exercises: plank, chaturanga, and upward facing dog. These are normally done in succession without any pauses between each pose. This means it can be important to use a mat when performing vinyasa yoga. One that is smooth on top will help an exerciser glide from one pose to the next; however, the mat should have a little bit of cushion in order to make it comfortable to do yoga breathing.

Vinyasa can be done any time of the day, but some people may find it relaxing to do this workout at night. Each flow yoga session is normally very short, which means people who are very busy can still find time to do this workout. Wearing loose-fitting clothing can help people perform these poses better no matter where or when they do vinyasa yoga.

Discussion Comments

literally45

@fify-- All type of flow yoga is not fast. Flow yoga or vinyasa is basically any type of yoga where the poses smoothly connect to one another and are synchronized. Whether the movement is fast or slow depends on the yoga teacher and the poses he or she selects.

A type of flow yoga, called power yoga, is also popular now. This is a very fast moving flow yoga that uses cardio exercises in addition to yoga poses for a demanding workout. Your tips is best for this type of yoga because one may suddenly find himself doing push-ups before a downward dog pose. So the mat needs to be suitable for both types of exercise.

fify

@discographer-- Actually, those doing flow yoga need to be more particular about their clothing and mat. It's necessary to wear comfortable but well fitting clothing or the repetitive movements of flow yoga may cause discomfort, even chafing. The mat is also very important. It needs to be a firm mat, but a little bit of thickness may make it easier and more comfortable to move from one pose to the next.

Flow yoga burns more calories and causes more sweating. So it's also important to clean the mat properly after each use. Otherwise accumulating sweat and oil will cause bacteria and consequently odor problems. So it's best to have a mat that is washable or easy to clean.

discographer

These recommendations seem to be the same ones for other types of yoga. I think flow yoga is more demanding since it's rapid without breaks. But anyone who practices yoga regularly will be able to do it in my opinion. It may seem challenging and tiring at first, but it's worth it.

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    • Upward facing dog is one of the basic exercises in flow yoga.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      Upward facing dog is one of the basic exercises in flow yoga.
    • Vinyasa yoga, also called flow yoga, features a continuous series of poses that can provide a challenging workout.
      By: WavebreakmediaMicro
      Vinyasa yoga, also called flow yoga, features a continuous series of poses that can provide a challenging workout.
    • Practicing flow yoga involves concentrating on breathing.
      By: Antonioguillem
      Practicing flow yoga involves concentrating on breathing.