24/04/2025
A special feature of the asana system of Krishnamacharya was vinyasa. Many yoga students today are no doubt familiar with this word—it is increasingly used now, often to describe the “style” of a yoga class, as in “hatha vinyasa” or “vinyasa flow.” Vinyasa is essential, and probably unique, to Krishnamacharya’s teachings.
The vinyasa method of practice transforms yoga from a static exercise to a dynamic one. Without vinyasa, yoga chiefly involves staying in certain body positions for a number of seconds or even minutes. Add vinyasa and it becomes a flowing exercise, integrating movement with breathing.
However, a good asana practice also incorporates staying in position for several breaths in selected asanas. Physical and mental benefits accrue from long, deep breathing while holding certain positions.
If you are also practicing pranayama (and pranayama should generally be done after asanas), you may find it useful to end your asana practice with staying in asanas or with slow movements and long breathing. This will help to smoothly transition from asana to pranayama.
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