Yoga Vinyasa Krama is not a style of yoga, but a complete system focused on mental one pointedness, purification, conscious breath refinement & precision (distinct use of breath different from ashtanga & modern vinyasa), energetics - balancing prana - awakening subtle energy, neuromuscular fitness & internal discipline. It's architecture encompasses a vast presentation of these tonic, energetic & psychophysiological practices that are designed for the developing yogi or used as a therapy, catered to the unique individual through the stages of life - through lineage designed sequencing of the mind completely focused on breath with SLOW smooth & controlled breathing (with pause) & SLOW motion, vinyasa variations, vaseth (important asanas are held for a long duration), bandha, mudra, nada, mantra, pranayama & dharana. Vinyasa is foremost a breathing system and it's original form is slow and precise and rest breaks are taken when needed - the modern fast pace is contradictory to the philosophical parameters. Vinyasa is also not a continuous flow, it has a structure.
Note - many practices may use the term vinyasa or vinyasa krama to refer to a particular style often missing a complete methodology, but the vinyasa krama I am referring to is a traditional comprehensive system, beyond just standardized physical movements, that Srivatsa Ramaswami learned under Sri Krishnamacharya through one on one studies for over 33 years - and insight from a similar Himalayan vinyasa krama method of my meditation lineage. Sri Krishnamacharya also studied in the Himalayas under a Nath Yogi, Sri Ramamohan Brahmachari, as well as received teachings through an experience with Nathamuni revealing the Yoga Rahasya - how to apply yoga individually through the stages of life and as a therapy.
Traditional yoga requires abhyasa, the consistent practice and effort within a bonafide system designed intelligently to create the stability of a still mind. Yoga is a profound system, not meant to be a trend or a mere fitness, relaxation, mindfulness or nervous system reset class, a dance party, a social gathering, wellness hack or quick fix, a forced "activation" workshop for cathartic releases and fleeting feelings of bliss, spa like pampering, or instant gratification. Pairing yoga with a cacao ceremony (no relation), stimulating lights or ambiance, playlists & live music (distracting and evokes feelings, ruins the ekagrata & samapatti), heated room (too many reasons to note here), wine tasting or beer after (alcohol is an intoxicant & in the Sankrit tradition it is tamasic and creates a dull mind - yoga is meant to bring balance & clarity, sattva - if one wants to use it, just don't pair it with a yoga practice) or yoga retreats full of leisure, luxury and pampering - are all commercial exploitations.
Modern yoga is co-opted & somewhat dominated by a western colonial lens of fitness culture, medicine, physical therapy, psychotherapy, self help, new ageism & festival culture - contradictory to the original sciences of yogic wisdom and ayurveda. Although modern medicine, neuroscience, etc now acknowledges & has proven many of the benefits of yoga expressed through western science, that is distinct from the exploitation, dilution, commodification & repackaging.
Most modern yoga fits industry demands using comfort & convenience over depth with ungrounded and magical thinking - piecemealed into class styles of random postures or "creative sequencing" practiced casually with distractions & playlists, often taking Sanskrit concepts/philosophy out of context and given new meanings. Modern yoga is an off shoot from yogic philosophy based methods of hatha & raja yoga, but often distorted and watered down, missing the essence, complete system and correct approach. With the development of Certifications, Yoga Teacher Trainings & Yoga Alliance (only a registry not a governing body) anyone without experience can become a yoga teacher and anyone can offer a yoga training. And most of the trainings being offered are far from yogic tradition. It's the only art, science and philosophy where one can become a teacher before they have become an adept or at least a competent student! Some people taking YTT's are completely new to yoga & there are many teachers who do not have a personal discipline practice - what an upside down world we live in. Even well studied practitioners of lets say a bhakti path may learn and teach these "styles" without understanding the correct application of a hatha or raja "yoga philosophy" based practice, but use a lot of authentic sounding Sanskrit terms.
Yoga is an inward path, approached with reverence, honoring those who have tread the path before us - of self mastery - purifying our body-mind, refining our senses, refining our character, balancing our energy, quieting and stilling the mind - aligning with the Divine truth. It is a gradual process (a dharmic tradition which includes lifestyle guidance and body/mind training) that requires patience, reducing our rajas (restlessness, anxiety, overexertion, body/mind disturbances), tamas (dullness, inactivity, lethargy, laziness, depression) and promoting sattva (purity, clarity, calmness, peace).
Distinct from modern styles, the vinyasa krama system has variations of approach while adhering to the architecture, guidelines, parameters & nuances via lineage & scriptural translations - targeting the physical body including the internal organs, the mental & pranic bodies. The nature of a daily practice may vary depending on daily intention, needs & goals & time of day - varying from physically moderate to very vigorous & conditioning, with energetic and therapeutic effects, use of bandha, vaseth & mudra, breath ratio, mantra, the specific kramas & variations practiced, subtle aspects & important morning kriyas, extensive pranayama, pratyahara & dharana practices. One can use the system intelligently and apply appropriate practices more than once a day, lets say a morning and evening practice.
My Classes and Teaching Philosophy
Unlike styles, there are variations of practice and not one size fits all. Every class may be extremely different depending on the practices. Dropping in for a class here and there, one would never get an accurate understanding of the system. It is not intended to be just a random class for a particular experience. It has practices that build upon one another & is designed for the practitioner to embrace self empowerment & establish a home practice and gradually progress on the subtle inward path to silence & stillness.
Learning the foundations & philosophy of the system & attending classes regularly, the practitioner can get a better understanding of the method & nuances and be able to begin a home practice. The system doesn't fit into the modern studio format and presentation of yoga. Sometimes, there may be a bit of a shift and "unlearning" certain modern tendencies when embarking on a traditional system. Not all yoga is meant for everyone and general classes cannot accommodate or properly benefit everyone's unique needs. Traditionally, yoga is taught one on one & in small groups. Vinyasa Krama, and yoga in general, is designed to address that.
The modern day "shopping around yoga" - style after style, workshop after workshop in "hodge podge" (as many Indian Masters call it) creates confusion. Any traditional system requires discipline & consistency and it's best not to mix things up.
My teaching draws from over 30 years of studies and teaching for 25 years, immersed in the teachings of Sanatana Dharma with very disciplined & long time personal practices and studies within bonafide lineages, sanskrit philosophy and lived experience, not easily acquired certifications or new techniques & information used as embellishment or for monetization without integration. My classes are not "fluffy" or a "bootcamp" and do not have music or distractions in the background. My teaching is warm hearted, but direct & straight forward, honoring who's standing in front of me and where the teachings came from and how I have been taught to apply them. I do my best to keep the teachings pure without my own unfounded interpretations.
Through my own personal experience and teaching in modern spaces, I have observed the incorrect narratives, approaches & habitual tendencies that have become the normalized accepted consensus of yoga. I went through some "unlearning" and clarity about things I picked up in modern yogaland, which resolved the inner confusion & frustration I had with modern approaches . When I first encountered this system, I was in awe and wondered why I had not known about it. It clarified the internal conflict I was experiencing of why the mainstream presentation of asana/vinyasa (and my personal practice of ashtanga vinyasa, modern vinyasa & other applications of asana I learned) seemed completely contradictory to my meditation practices, the philosophy & yogic science & parameters of the breath - and was missing so many elements and preliminary and counter practices which are designed to create sattva & balance the rajas and tamas - not increase or agitate them. It was the first movement based system that felt aligned with my longtime (pranic) Himalayan meditation practices. I left my first class feeling grounded, clear, oxygenated & filled with prana and immediately pursued learning the system in-depth. I have been teaching for over 25 years and gradually transitioned to exclusively teaching this system about 12 years ago from more mainstream & popular practices. I have other long time personal practices with vows, only learned through my Masters & Satguru, but highly inform me.
With all the challenges and demands of our modern world, I understand why people just want to go somewhere and have an experience, but that is not yoga. We go to class to learn, but the real yoga happens at home through a personal practice. Yoga is self empowerment. There are millions of excuses why we can't develop a home practice, but we have to recognize where that block is coming from and notice how our excess rajas & tamas influence it - feeling sluggish, restless or impatient, our past conditioning, intrusive & self defeating thoughts, guilt from feeling it's selfish or thinking about the all the other things we need to be doing. We won't all have an extra room dedicated for our practices, a nanny, partner or relative to help take care of the house, errands, chores, pets & kids so we can practice, which may be a privilege only for some. It just takes a shift in our thinking and attitude and making our practices a priority in managing our time and make the space (even if just a quiet corner) and find a bonafide practice that makes sense and can grip us. As a single mom with no local family or support & many life challenges, I managed to do it. I get it.
Presently I am only teaching a few public classes a week, but also teach private one on one and small group classes. This system is designed to adapt to different life stages, ages & physical abilities, providing various facets, practices, & intensity.