Where the word comes from
In Sanskrit the word is built from the prefix vi ("in a special way") and nyasa (from ni and as: "to lay down, to place, to arrange"). It is often explained as "placing in a deliberate order", that is, poses set out in a planned sequence. In yoga the word came to stand for the principle that every movement is tied to an inhale or an exhale.
This is a modern use and schools describe it in their own ways, so read the description of the class itself, not only its name.
How to say it
Say vin-YAH-suh, with the stress on the second syllable. The first part is short and light.
How it sounds in class
The first meaning is a style or format: "I am going to a vinyasa class". The class is made of smooth chains of poses and the teacher tells you on which inhale or exhale to change position. A class can be slow or energetic.
The second meaning is a link. When a teacher says "take a vinyasa", they usually mean the move from plank through a low plank and cobra or upward dog into downward dog. It is optional, and if you are tired you can simplify it or skip it by coming down to your knees. In a class description look for words such as "beginners", "gentle" or "slow flow", and for the length. A good sign is a teacher who explains how to enter and leave poses, offers an easier version and does not rush the group.
Vinyasa, asana and pranayama
Vinyasa stands between the other two terms. From asana it takes the poses, from pranayama the attention to the breath. If asana is "what we do", vinyasa answers "how we move between": on the inhale or the exhale, fast or slow.
The name of a class does not always tell you the effort. A "vinyasa flow" can be gentle and a "power vinyasa" energetic, and the description often gives a level. If you come for the first time, pick a beginners' class and tell the teacher. Comfortable clothes that let you move and a mat that does not slip often matter more than the choice of style. If the pace feels too fast, slow down: a good vinyasa rests on the breath, not on speed.
Common misunderstandings
- "Vinyasa is a fast cardio workout." The pace varies, and a gentle vinyasa class is calm.
- "Vinyasa is always the same sequence." Teachers build their own; in a fixed system such as ashtanga the order is set.
- "You have to do the link every time." You can skip it and rest in child's pose, and the teacher will not mind.