Balance in Transitions
Written by Jen M.
Transitions are a MAJOR part of flow-style yoga! This month at Funky Buddha, we’ll explore how we can maintaining balance – mental, physical, with our eyes, with our breath- in transitions.
Flow yoga, or vinyasa yoga is all about transitions-
in fact, it’s a big thing that sets this style of practice apart from many other forms of physical yoga, in that the asanas are linked together with breath, movement, and gaze for great focus. The word vinyasa itself means “to place in a special way,” and often we notice how lovingly teachers link each pose through a practice in all of the special ways. Below are some ways YOU may choose to bring more awareness to these special ways of moving. And the great thing about awareness is that it unveils CHOICE. There are often some blind spots where we may move through the practice on autopilot– when brought to light, we can then make a choice to keep with those transitions or explore others as they best serve.
How do you travel to the top of your mat?
Do you run, hop, float, shimmy, shuffle or take one big step? Does the same foot step first every time?One way to bring greater awareness here is to alternate which foot leads you forward each time. Or if you always hop, step! If you always step, try lots of little steps!
How do you cycle through from the top of your mat back to downward facing dog?
“Taking a vinyasa” when said in a yoga class often means cycling chaturanga to updog or cobra back to downward facing dog. This is another place where we tend to go on autopilot.
✨ To bring greater awareness to this transition, consider placing knees down to allow your body strong posturing through the core and shoulders as you use control to move through.
✨ Another option is to lower all the way to your mat for a slow eccentric strengthener, then choosing how you like to place your hands as you take a belly backbend.
✨Notice even here, how do your feet flip from toenails back to pads for down dog? Consider
alternating which foot flips first, or for a real challenge with strength and stretch for the feet, flip both
at the same time, rolling over the toes!
(And if your body says NO THANK YOU to any of these options, now you know and you got to make a choice!)
Through your warriors, your triangles, your side lunges and chairs and more-
notice how fluidly you can move from pose to pose. One way we can hone this is through the arms- sweeping, gliding, or circling through. Another option, how does your gaze land in each pose? Notice how at times, guiding your gaze to the next pose can lead you there smoothly.
And finally, for a broader awareness beyond the physical practice, note how this translates to yoga OFF the mat.
Have you ever arrived somewhere and find you don’t remember much of the drive? Or maybe you have an errand in mind, but somehow end up driving straight home without noticing… Seasons change in the blink of an eye, young ones grow quickly, summers’ bounty wilts and fades, and this beautiful life sometimes feels as if it speeds up through some transitions! On your mat, take a rich slow breath in and out, and notice not just this pose and the next, but the movement in between. Off your mat, take a rich slow breath in and out, and notice not just where you are and what’s coming next, but the beauty and presence in the movement in between.
