Viniyoga is a unique term to describe a specific practice of Yoga. By definition, it means “leaving” and focuses on detachment. It also means application, so you could say that Viniyoga stands for practicing the applications of detachment. The creator of Viniyoga developed it in the 1970s, and to this day his original plans and passion for the practice are still being used. With Viniyoga you will practice deepening your self awareness, heightening your health, strengthening your core, and improving your mental well being. Like many yoga variations, the benefits of practicing it are intensified and doubled each time you take a class.

Viniyoga is special, and requires knowledge of oneself and the willingness to hand over that information to a Viniyoga practitioner and teacher of the art. When performed properly and with full belief that it will benefit you wholly, Viniyoga can change your entire life around for the positive as well as physically beneficial side effects.

Unlike other yoga practices, Viniyoga is very much an individual practice. When taking part in viniyoga sessions, you will likely be alone with a mentor or teacher and no one else. This allows you to fully focus on the asanas and poses that are taking place. It is used as a therapeutic yoga practice and is far less strenuous than other yoga forms, such as power yoga. That being said, breathing exercises are a large part of this yoga style, and breathing is incorporated into every pose and focused on as if it were the single most important thing. The deep breathing technique allows you to bend to certain degrees, and opens your body up for the healing that takes place during yoga sessions.

Four parted breaths, lengthening breathing exercises, and meditation are examples of important breathing components of Viniyoga. Individuals engaging in Viniyoga will experience relieved lower back pain, peace of mind, calm mentalities, and strong hips. This yoga style is easy enough for anyone, and highly recommended for those in physical therapy, mental therapy, and individuals who have difficult with other more intense yoga styles.

Yoga is considered the only form of activity that massages the internal glands and organs in a thorough manner especially organs that hardly get stimulated. Yoga has so many benefits which include; increasing flexibility, increasing lubrication of joints, ligaments and tendons, massaging all organs of the body, complete detoxification, and excellent toning of muscles. The ultimate goals of yoga are improving overall health, and freedom from all worldly suffering, and the cycle of birth and death.

There are 5 major branches of Yoga: Raja, Karma, Jnana, Bhakti, and Hatha. Each form has it’s own practices and meanings. Raja Yoga practices meditation and is more involved with the enhancement of the mind to achieve mental liberation. Where Karma Yoga is about maintaining focus and discipline of action without considering the ultimate reward. Jnana Yoga practices are focused on salvation and separation of body and soul. Bhakti Yoga practices an overwhelming and selfless love of God. Hatha Yoga practices are focused on purifying the body and the mind, producing balance and a greater power in the individual. Hatha means the sun and the moon and when you practice this form of Yoga you are learning how to infuse the two.

Yoga offers a retreat for the body and mind through meditation, poses, and life. It offers a wealth of choices for the beginner to consider using and then it becomes a way of life. Yoga is considered one of the most energizing and refreshing ways to invigorate your mind, body and soul.

Yoga for Beginners

Yoga is one of the best activities for someone who is concerned about both physical fitness and mental clarity. If you’re taking your first step to understand this varied and rewarding discipline, there’s a couple things you should ask yourself when choosing how to practice.

Just like any other fitness discipline, yoga builds upon its own principles, and there are several different types of yoga to choose from. Once you’ve found a style and venue that you like, there are a couple pointers that will allow you to make the most of your time.

What to Bring
Make sure you wear form-fitting but flexible clothing. Anything too tight could rip during certain positions, but anything too loose could cause slips or trips during some of the movements. Make sure you have a water bottle handy – just like any other physical activity, it’s important to stay hydrated. Finally, you’ll probably want to practice yoga barefoot. While you’ll likely have a yoga mat, socks can still slip if your feet are being supported by other parts of your body, and shoes are too bulky to allow you to reach some of the poses easily.

Be Comfortable
Many of the poses your instructor does may not be attainable by the average beginner. Never try to force your body to do anything that causes pain or high level of discomfort. However, the point of yoga, like any discipline, is to train your body to become stronger and more flexible. So during any hold times during a position, try to hold your body on the brink of comfort and discomfort. Sometimes an instructor will prompt you to “push” for the next couple of seconds, or you can prompt yourself – during the last 5 seconds of a position, push your body so that a level of slight discomfort is reached. Nothing should ever cause pain, but you should feel yourself stretching muscles you may have never paid any attention to in the past.

Remember to Breath
Many beginners are so concerned about trying to achieve the given position that they forget that one of the tenants of yoga is mental clarity. You are working out, but you’re also focusing your mind. Listen to your instructor when they explain how to breath during the class. While the breathing may seem arbitrary at first, practicing the correct time to inhale and exhale can help you perform the position better in the future as the movement of the lungs corresponds to the movements of the body.