Dynamic yoga classes at the Sarzana school
4Movimento also offers Ashtanga Yoga, a form of dynamic and rigorous yoga, born in the first half of the '900s in Mysore, southern India, initiated by the great master Krishnamacharia and his disciple K. Pattabhi Jois. The discipline is based on the ancient Indian texts of yoga, but differs because it focuses on the connection between breath and movement, known in Sanskrit as vinyasa: the student must learn to let the breath guide and accompany the movement of the body, transforming the physical practice into a moving meditation.
The principles of vinyasa
At the core of this form of dynamic yoga lies vinyasa, which in turn involves the combination of 3 elements:
- Asana, the postures, to make the body flexible and strong; to be performed dynamically, according to predefined sequences to be gradually learned, starting from the primary series
- Breath, to awaken the internal heat of the body and purify the nervous system
- Dristhi, or the focus of the gaze on certain points to promote internal concentration while performing the positions
The Mysore Style method
The traditional method for learning Ashtanga Yoga is the Mysore Style, named after the Indian city where this form of dynamic yoga originated. The method involves practitioners learning the asana sequences individually, each following the rhythm of their own breath and gradually adding positions under the guidance of the teacher. This technique can be learned in Sarzana at the 4Movimento dance school.
