Vinyasa Krama

What Does Vinyasa Krama Mean?

Vinyasa krama is the synchronized movement of yoga asanas through various stages in order to achieve a specific goal. Most commonly, this goal is to progress from simple asana to more advanced asana. The term comes from the Sanskrit, vi, meaning “order,” nyasa, meaning “placement,” and karma, meaning “succession.” The name for this type of yoga practice is often shortened to vinyasa.

Vinyasa krama helps the yogi prepare his/her body for the more advanced asana by starting with basic poses then building on those with progressively more challenging asanas. By the time the yogi reaches his/her goal – typically an advanced asana – he/she is physically and mentally prepared to successfully practice it.

Yogapedia Explains Vinyasa Krama

Vinyasa refers to practicing a sequence of asanas that are synchronized with the breath. Each movement in the vinyasa krama sequence is linked to an inhalation or an exhalation and each asana becomes a step within the flow. The yogi learns to listen to his/her body and when it is ready to advance to a more challenging asana.

Rather than performing each asana as an independent pose disconnected from the whole, vinyasa krama mimics the flowing energy of the universe. The mind, body and breath are unified into a state of harmony. Vinyasa krama also uses variations of each asana to open the potential of the mind and body.

The 20^th century yoga master known as the father of modern yoga, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, is credited with developing vinyasa krama as an approach to yoga practice. He saw it as key to the transforming process of yoga and not only applied it to asana practice but to all aspects of yoga.