Last updated on September 26th, 2023.
ViniYoga is a sort of Hatha yoga that tailors the sessions to the individual’s needs. It helps with a wide array of ailments, including everything from arthritis to depression.
ViniYoga is a form of application that helps people therapeutically. It creates the marriage between breath and movement. The art of ViniYoga nourishes the teacher-student relationship utilized in the practice of yoga.
ViniYoga teaches that the breath pattern is equally important as posture and poses. If you want to discover more information about ViniYoga, peruse this article.
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What is the Meaning of ViniYoga?
ViniYoga is a therapeutic form of yoga that personalizes or tailors yoga to the individual’s therapeutic needs. ViniYoga refers to the understanding of the person’s condition and personal goals, and it offers a variety of tools promoting health and healing and assisting with personal development.
ViniYoga is an ancient Sanskrit term that suggests adaptation and “appropriate application.” ViniYoga also refers to the teachings of:
- Asana
- Bandha sound
- Chanting
- Meditation
- Personal ritual
- Pranayama
- Study of text
ViniYoga is based on science and standard evolving patterns of movement. Postures and poses are modified to the suitability of the individual yogi. The practice of ViniYoga is to allow for greater awareness of the spine and breath, working together in tandem with core strengthening and stretching.
With each movement, the breath is connected, and concentration should be on the harmony of both in unison. The breath guides the action. The better grasp you have on the breath and movement, your strength, balance, and core stability are better. The focus of ViniYoga is to be aware of the body as you learn to recognize what it needs.
What Are the Benefits of ViniYoga?
There are benefits to ViniYoga according to the body, mind, and spirit. Therapeutic ViniYoga sessions can help with specific ailments, including:
- Arthritis
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
The benefits are many, and the above is just a sampling. ViniYoga can help relieve general pain, depression, and anxiety. Also, it can help alleviate allergies and asthma and help with the pain of scoliosis. Some of the other benefits of ViniYoga include strength, range of motion, flexibility, and balance. ViniYoga can also foster self-awareness and consciousness awareness.
Many people who prefer to move at a slower pace are the ones who benefit from ViniYoga the most.
During a ViniYoga session, the teacher will organize their class to prepare students for each asana. The body is subsequently stretched appropriately, and spiritual energy is released afterward.
Who Created ViniYoga?
ViniYoga was created and nurtured by Krishnamacharya, nicknamed “the father of modern yoga.” He was born in 1888 in southern India. When he was very young, he decided that he would take a spiritual path. He learned Sanskrit and was taught yoga principles by his father. He moved to Mysore when his father passed away.
He first studied Hatha yoga with his guru, Brahmacharya, who lived in a cave in the Himalayas. He studied Sanskrit, Vedic rituals, and philosophy. He later shared what he learned with his students as he was brought to the Mysore Palace, where he opened a yoga school. His form of yoga was the first to emphasize the importance of using the breath to control movement.
His way of teaching became the gospel of ViniYoga, a new form that his son later popularized. His philosophy was simple: “Teach what is good for the individual.” He was known as a true healer who was instrumental in restoring the health and well-being of many students. He taught them to perfect yoga postures and sequence them with ultimate precision. He combined asanas and pranayama in his yoga teachings. Learn 7 tips on how to sequence a class for beginners on your own.
His teachings combined ancient yoga with gymnastics and wrestling to create a dynamic new style. He was known as the creator of the form of yoga in which you did not need to be worried about holding your yoga poses for long periods. It taught students how to modify their breath to connect with the exercises, as it improves respiratory and cardiovascular function.
The Modernization of ViniYoga
Krishnamacharya’s son modernized the art of ViniYoga. In 1976, he opened Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in India. He used what he learned from his father to create his revolutionary form of yoga, ViniYoga. ViniYoga has helped many individuals who wanted their yoga tailored to their personal or therapeutic needs.
What Are the Four Principles of ViniYoga?
ViniYoga often requires one-on-one instruction, as the movements often need to be modified. ViniYoga is a gentler form of yoga, but it does render itself in need of more concentration than other types of yoga. There are four main principles of ViniYoga:
Function Over Form
The aim is not to hold a pose perfectly well or be the best at it. ViniYoga utilizes its postures to create positive changes in the body. There is more emphasis on the therapeutic benefits, such as less stress on the back or less pain in the knee. It is about what works for each body.
Breath and Adaption
Breath is to be used to guide movement, and movement is essential for energy flow in the body. The breath pattern is just as important as posture and poses. These variables promote a positive experience, and movement should flow with the breath. You can practice your breathwork with any of the 5 best breathwork apps out there.
Repetition and Stay
In ViniYoga, the yogi practices repetition with the art of posture and pose. Repetition increases circulation in the muscles and challenges opposing muscles as you move in and out of the pose. When you extend a stay in the pose, the muscles learn to lengthen and stretch.
Sequencing
Sequencing determines how you put asanas together. Each pose is carefully considered regarding the sequencing. The session can be personalized to the correct time and intensity or for the muscle groups that may take the most time, effort, and attention.
Where Can I Find Out More About ViniYoga?
If you want to explore more about ViniYoga, visit ViniYoga here. You can take online classes and learn more about the practice. Master teacher, Gary Kraftsow, leads the class. He is the creator and principal of the American ViniYoga Institute, which is the educational institution of ViniYoga. It is an international organization with programs around the world.
The website also offers training for yoga teachers and yoga therapists in ViniYoga. If you select the link, you will find out how to join the comprehensive yoga teacher training program. You could also find the best yoga teacher training in Bali, if you are planning on having an experience out of country