YM Hatha Vinyasa Yoga  and   Hatha Yoga Asana

Step 1: moving the mental and physical to release blockages and reduce physical tension

Step 2 : moving the mental and physical and emotional body to release blockages and reduce tensions

Step 3 : moving the mental and physical and emotional and energetic body to release blockages and reduce tensions

Step 4 : moving with spirit

These steps are part of an energy dance that involves all the steps, over and over again, turning and returning.

The YM Vinyasa Method has many mini vinyasa routines in the foundation practices that then become more complex and longer in the advanced practices. 

Most of the foundation practices do not look like Hatha Yoga postures, yet the energetics of the asanas are embedded in the shape making of the vinyasa. We release undue tension that is in the way of us experiencing the asana and its energetics naturally. We remove what is in the way. We put ourselves in a position where Vinyasa and Asana can happen within an initial structure or meditative direction of movement. Then we allow ourselves to be moved. One of our epigrams is Your Being Moved*. 

Some primary Principles of the YM Method

Body as One Unit

Reach

Masculine Feminine

Close and Open

Natural movement - the juxtaposition of energy

Find the Downward/descending and manifesting current to experience the Upward/ascending and liberating current - connecting to Mum, Ground, Mother Earth as the primary direction of energy meditation

Breath in Movement 

In the YM Method we use the natural breathing in our movement practices. This means we relax enough to not hold our breath, and yet not breathe either :-D. By not holding the breath, and not breathing either, the movement can breathe us. The breath that comes naturally to the body in each movement happens. If the natural breath we expect in each movement does not happen we can see that we are holding tension unnecessarily and can then relax it. We can also take as many breaths as we need in each movement and to the pace that suits each individual body. This is what we mean by let the movement breathe you. As we get more at ease, the better we breathe in and through movements. The less breaths we need and the less energy, or least possible effort is applied to be in the movement.  

I find that the practitioner who breathes naturally through movement can experience better mobility in breath and in movement than when trying to guide the breath whilst in movement. This has to do with that we are most of us unable to move the breath or our bodies very freely. With regular practice of helpful movements this thankfully changes and we experience greater mobility in body and breath.

I consider the use of Breath and Movement combined (the true definition of Hatha Yoga Asana), as an advanced practice and something we come into after some years of preparation. We do practice movement with natural breathing and breath-work techniques separately in stillness. They combine themselves naturally over time and years of practice as the more ease and openness the practitioner gains through their Sadhana of Yoga Movement, Breath and Meditations. The YM Method provides the preparations that lead you naturally into Asana and Pranayama.

For types of YM classes read here.

For an A-Z overview of the Scrolls to keep scrolling at your own devise, go here.