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.
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.
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.
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.