What is a yoga sequence and how does it benefit yoga classes?

Some dismiss yoga as a new age mumbo jumbo or a fitness fad that’s meant to fade away with time. In reality, though, yoga is an ancient key to wellness. It’s the art (and science) of centering and connecting spirit, mind, and body. In that unity of trinity, all possibilities in fitness and mental health abide.

You get to live life to the fullest, slash down your medical costs, and live longer. If you buy into the idea, a yoga sequence is what you need to get started.

What is a Yoga Sequence?

More than 20 million Americans practice yoga. You must have noticed that in many yoga classes, they do yoga poses in a specific order. That structure and continuity of your session are what make up the yoga sequence. Different yoga classes often have varying routines for each sequence.

A Yoga Sequence Leads to Better Results

The way you change the flow of your yoga poses impacts the effects of those routines. The correct sequencing in a wellness studio should facilitate uninhibited energy flow and relaxation and reduce the risk of injuries.

Your yoga session then becomes more productive in terms of balance, stimulation, and relaxation.

  • Stimulating poses, including Virabhadrasana and Ardha Matsyendrasana, are ideal for when you are low on energy; they may help you deal with anxiety and stress and promote good health and nutrition
  • Restorative poses such as corpse pose reclined bound angle pose, and child’s poses are relaxing and may relieve fatigue, headaches, and pain
  • Balance poses help to build your body’s flexibility and equilibrium; they also increase focus and concentration
  • Functional yoga poses, such as the plank, dolphin pose, and locust pose are for working out your entire body; they build your strength, burn calories and tone your muscles

Yoga in Palm Harbor: Sample Sequence

Centering

Yoga should be about mindfulness, right? A few minutes of meditation or breathing exercises (pranayama), does the trick. Centering helps you to relax and settle your thoughts for better results in the yoga session.

Warm-up

Warm-up is a must-do, considering the intricate poses and angles that you are going to put your body through. Eagle arms, pelvic tilts, and cat-cow stretches are an ideal first-port-of-call to get your body ready and excited for injury-free stretches, twists, and balancing.

Vinyasa flow

After your body is nice and warmed up, you would want to move a little before you get into the balancing stuff. Vinyasa flow yoga poses, including sun salutations, are ideal in this case. They involve seamlessly moving from one moderate pose to another.

Standing poses

Standing pose sequences like the Warrior series are a safe way to open the body for beginners. Standing poses practiced in yoga studios in Palm Harbor may combine strength building, balancing, and relaxation. The Guru jee may also throw in arm balances and abdominal strengtheners for a complete functional yoga sequence.

Peak pose

Peak poses are the most challenging. They need more strength, flexibility, and concentration. Your peak pose may be a backbend such as Wheel Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana) or a forward fold such as Sleeping Yogi (Yoganidrasana). Peak poses may focus on one part of the body or be all about concentration.

Floor poses

Floor poses take you towards the cool-down stage. These yoga routines help to balm the strenuous effects of the previous routines. Floor poses include Bound Angle, seated forward folds, and ab exercises, among others.

Cool-down

Cool-down poses help to sync and harmonize your physical equilibrium. They also calm your mind and center your emotions and breath. Such poses include Reclining Big Toe Pose (Supta Padangusthasana) and Shoulder stand (Sarvangasana), all leading to the final pose, Savasana (Corpse Pose). Corpse Pose takes you deeper into renewal, restoration, and peace.

Contact East West Healing Solutions for More Information About Yoga Sequences

Whether you are looking for a workout, want to relax, or get in touch with your spirit, there is a yoga routine for everything. The benefits of regular yoga practice are immense, from heightened body awareness to cognitive strengthening as you age and self-esteem and confidence, among others. The correct sequencing will help you reap all these benefits and more.

Contact East West Healing Solutions for more information about yoga in Palm Harbor and schedule a Palm Harbor Yoga class today.