While many have taken up the forms of yoga that are designed to increase the cardio rate and help burn off excess fat, vinyasa yoga has become more popular thanks to its calm approach and surprising effects on the body. For many, vinyasa yoga goes to the true roots of this form of meditation, focusing on breathing and balance to achieve its remarkable results.
The popularity of this form of yoga is being spurred by celebrities like Madonna who have maintained an extraordinary physical condition all through was is seemingly a calm yoga process. So, what is the secret to vinyasa yoga that it helps people achieve their fitness goals?
Why Vinyasa Yoga is Different
Vinyasa yoga is a gentle way of increasing flexibility and strength without having to push the cardiovascular system. The yoga itself consists of a series of poses that lasts 10 seconds, sometimes a little more depending on the pose. This means that vinyasa yoga achieves its goals not by holding a single pose for an extended time but going one pose to another in rapid succession.
What separates this form of yoga from those which may be more familiar is the movement from one pose to another is more rapid, but the poses themselves are not held for long nor are they difficult to hold for most people. This means that the benefits derived from vinyasa yoga comes mostly from the movement and breathing while briefly holding different poses that have a positive effect on the body.
Benefits
There are positive benefits to be gained, even from those who are just starting out an exercise routine. This is because you only hold the poses for a brief time before gently moving to the next one. Even those who are not in shape can perform the basic poses and rest when needed until they gain in strength and flexibility.
Burning Calories: A typical 45-minute routine of vinyasa yoga may burn over 400 calories, which is considering more than 45 minutes of jogging or doing jumping jacks. However, you will need to be moving for the 45 minutes, so bear that in mind when you start this type of routine.
Tone: While vinyasa yoga will not turn you into a bodybuilder, but it does tone the muscles and provide considerable definition when combined with a proper diet. One reason why this form of yoga is so popular is how Madonna appears, especially her well-defined arms and shoulders. This can be achieved through vinyasa yoga.
Relaxes the Mind: Arguably the greatest benefit derived from vinyasa yoga is how it calms the mind and puts you in a state of tranquility. This form of yoga provides a meditational benefit that takes your focus away from your daily life and provides a place of comfort and serenity. You can use vinyasa yoga to help you deal with everyday stress and anxiety to calm the nerves and put you in a more serene state.
The benefits of vinyasa yoga are considerable for those who practice it three times a week or more depending on your physical condition. While it takes time to learn the poses and the 45-minute routine may not be for everyone, it does provide a low-impact means of increasing tone, flexibility, and calorie-burning.