Why is practicing Power Vinyasa Yoga such a magical experience? Soon after opening up to the experience you realize there is more to it than meets the eye. Inspired by Baron Baptiste’s flow a 90 min class takes you on an expedition up to the spiritual mount Everest and back…
Within the Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga philosophy the yoga practice lends itself very much to be used as a metaphor for life. The whole structure of the flow is used to give people tools to enhance the quality of their awareness. The integration series is about coming home, setting up base camp, getting our bearings and acclimatize. Through the activations of the sun salutations and warrior series we start to get into action, creating flow and moving away from stagnation. The body is starting to get energized and we are giving direction and rhythm to our life and practice. We are moving from base camp up to camp I and II on our ascent up the mountain, scouting the terrain, getting used the ‘altitude’ and strengthening and preparing our body and mind for the journey to the summit.
As we get higher the environment is demanding presence. Our awareness heightens giving us more choice and therefore more responsibility. This is true whether we are climbing the Everest, raising a family, running a company or simply going with the flow. The more energy available the more responsible we are for its use and direction. Hence presence.
After having ourselves anchored into the blissful light of our own presence we need to stay grounded as we start to expand our awareness. Through the triangles series we remain firmly rooted to the earth and our body while we allow our energy to expand up and out. The camps and ropes on our route to the top are set, we have done all the preparatory work and it’s time to ride the wave of our momentum. We are ready for our final ascent. This is where the practice starts to peak into the backbends where we unleash all our reserves and potential. We are ready to open to life and go for it. No more holding back, we are all set now. We make it to the top of Everest and transition into the culmination of our journey. We are on the peak of bliss but still need to contain what we have been building as later we are going to come down the mountain. The abdominal series harnesses the winds we have been sailing and is like the last step on our travels. We know we have made it, no more reserves. We want to capture this moment fully and capitalize on it. We turn our world upside down with inversions. This is where we take in the view, our inner view.
We see the mountain tops around us and know we are standing on top of the world, yet, we stay within, calm, serene and equanimous. We naturally start to let go as we realize everything is in flux and we embrace the change. Through the hip openers we allow ourselves to remain open and present. It is said that the most dangerous part of mountaineering is coming down the mountain. We are still attentive, aware and willing to let go as we descent back towards base camp. We start to realize we’ve experienced the grace of life by having it made this far and arriving at base camp safely. We surrender ourselves to our inspiration and give thanks symbolized through the forward bends. The internalizing quality of the forward bends allows us to go totally within and recognize we are not the doer. This realization and maturity just links us with the greatest of joy as we naturally and effortlessly slip into a state of deep relaxation and complete yogic bliss…
Wow, and all this in just 90 minutes!!
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