Do you practice Hatha yoga or Vinyasa yoga?
There are a lot of different styles of yoga, in my opinion, it is essential to know how to differentiate them in order to choose the type of yoga that suits your needs. In this article, I will introduce you to Hatha Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga.
My name is Hélène, I am a yoga teacher and organizer of wellness events in Laval in Mayenne. Yoga represents for me a true art of living, a state of mind, going well beyond the postural practice. I teach two styles of yoga: Hatha Flow (a modern and dynamic form of traditional Hatha) and Vinyasa. These styles of yoga increase flexibility and strength of the body, improve breathing and calm the mind. These are energizing practices that strengthen the body and circulate energy.
Summary:
1. What is Hatha Flow?
2. What is Vinyasa Yoga?
3. Which style is best to practice and according to which criteria?
4. Want to learn Hatha Yoga or Vinyasa Yoga?
5. Becoming a professional in yoga: Hélène’s story
What is Hatha Flow?
Hatha Flow is halfway between the Hatha and Vinyasa yoga styles. The term “flow” means flow, it invites fluidity in the practice. It is an energizing practice, where we work on the postures, asana, in a static way, coupled with a series of sequences or more or less dynamic, to the rhythm of the breath. Hatha Flow yoga is a gentle yet invigorating practice, as relaxing as it is invigorating. The postures are respectful of the body and the level of each person.
Because the pace of a Hatha yoga session is slower and gentler than a Vinyasa session, it is an ideal starting point for beginners. Perfect for a return to the roots and calm. During a Hatha Yoga session we hold each posture through several breaths, while in Vinyasa we breathe in or out for each yoga posture.
What is the Vinyasa Yoga style?
Vinyasa, more dynamic than Hatha, consists of a series of fluid and conscious transitions between asanas (postures) in rhythm with the breath during a session. For each posture, there is a breath. Vinyasa requires a more advanced knowledge of yoga than Hatha, in that it demands more physically, through the postures. There is not much respite in Vinyasa yoga, the postures are performed in a fluid sequence and in an almost choreographed movement, set to a lively playlist. All postures are linked and combined with a rhythm of inhalations and exhalations to create heat in the body, with the aim of internal cleansing. The heat created from the asanas cleanses the blood, so that it can circulate more freely throughout the joints, and removes pain from the body. The heated blood also moves through all the internal organs eliminating impurities and diseases, which are put out of the body by the sweating that occurs during practice. Through this internal cleansing, a Vinyasa session has the benefit of creating a healthier, lighter and stronger body and mind. Discover our article dedicated to Vinyasa Yoga.
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Which one is better to practice and according to which criteria?
Yoga is a practice that is respectful of everyone’s level. I therefore welcome all types of levels, ages and body types in my classes. It is important to convey the message that there is not one yoga for everyone but a yoga for everyone. Whatever yoga we practice, it is yoga that adapts to us and not the other way around.
If the yogi is looking to improve his flexibility and eliminate stress and fatigue, I would direct him towards Hatha, and if he is looking for a tonic yoga, it will be Vinyasa. However, Vinyasa requires a more advanced knowledge of yoga than Hatha, in that it is more physically demanding through the postures. I therefore recommend doing a few Hatha classes before doing your first Vinyasa class.
The goal of yoga, whether Vinyasa or Hatha, is to bring yogis to listen to themselves, to become aware of their body and to work with their own blockages and tensions. And the work is not only physical. The practice teaches us to drive out negative behaviors and thoughts that have a negative impact on our lives. Having a positive attitude is essential to being fulfilled in your daily life.
Discover our special folder on all styles of yoga to choose the one(s) that will suit you best! Discover the other yogas: Ashtanga, Iyengar, Kundalini, Yin, Nidra, etc.
Want to learn Hatha Yoga or Vinyasa Yoga?
I did my training in Bali, Indonesia at the Yoga Center Serenity . I am certified Yoga alliance, 200h RYT Yoga, in Hatha and Vinyasa.
Why Bali?
Mostly Hindu, the island of Bali is imbued with a great spirituality. Known as “the island of the gods”, Bali is for me an ideal place for yoga training. More than a work on the body, Bali invites us to a true spiritual journey, which I transmit through the events and yoga classes I organize.
My training was led by international and local teachers. The 200-hour training included daily morning meditations, daily vinyasa and hatha yoga classes, anatomy and yogic philosophy workshops (strength, flexibility, heart opening…), mantras…
I chose this training center for several reasons. First of all, it had been recommended to me, and moreover it corresponded to my values. This training center is turned permaculture and in terms of food it offers vegan meals made from organic products from their garden. Moreover, Serenity is located by the sea, which allowed me to go for short breaks and regularly recharge my batteries in front of the sea.
Becoming a professional in yoga: Helen’s story
I started my career as a sales manager in tourism, before starting a professional reconversion last summer as a yoga teacher. Explorer at heart, I like to take advantage of my vacations to go and recharge my batteries in countries where well-being is very present. My travels have greatly influenced my philosophy of life, and my practice of yoga, which has emerged as a true lifestyle and a great tool for personal development. It is after an umpteenth stay in Asia that I decided to really start conquering my dream: to bring well-being around me. So I slowly built my path and went to Indonesia to train at the Serenity Yoga Center. I then created Be Yogi upon my return to share my teaching in Hatha and Vinyasa and to organize events combining yoga and healthy cooking.
My attraction to wellness is not new. Already as a teenager I loved to do massages, and my reading was very much linked to this universe. I therefore oriented my studies in tourism in order to approach the world of well-being by working in various thalassotherapy centers. I also went to Indonesia for 6 months to study for a Masters in Tourism. This semester was very formative and allowed me to better understand the philosophy of well-being in Asian countries. So I’ve always had this attraction to wellness, and the further along I got in my career, the more I was convinced that a job behind a desk was not for me. So I started my reconversion slowly, until I decided to leave everything to go train as a yoga teacher in Indonesia.
I don’t regret anything about my career, quite the contrary. Everything I have done so far (marketing in thalassotherapy, sales manager in tourism, professor of tourism in University…) has helped me a lot in the development of my project. Today, I love my job, and I wake up every morning full of enthusiasm. What I do is valuable to me and to those around me, and I finally feel like I belong.
Tips for starting a business
Simply to be surrounded by your family and friends but also by professionals, in order to limit the stress and loneliness linked to the creation and development of your own business. It helps to get good advice!
Taking the advice of those around us or of professionals allows us to take stock of our project and to make adjustments that we would not have considered alone.
Even now I am still very attentive to both positive and negative comments. This is what makes me grow and makes my activity evolve in the right direction.
Get out of your comfort zone
My mantra is that you are the architect of your own happiness. It helps me a lot in the personal and professional sphere. It’s never too late to start, especially when you are driven by a passion, and you have the will to invest 300% of your time. However, getting out of your comfort zone by taking the bold step of starting your own business is far from easy. There are always good excuses for not taking the plunge “financially it’s not possible”, “it’s not the right time” …. But taking the plunge brings so much! Getting out of this famous zone makes me live a rich and fulfilling life. It allows me to develop new skills and competences, to meet extremely interesting people, and to conquer new challenges.
Today I feel very lucky to have been able to turn my passion for yoga and wellness into a real profession. As I mentioned earlier, I went to a tourism school and refused a permanent job that was offered to me, in order to work 100% on my project. At that time, I liked my colleagues, the atmosphere, etc… but I was not fully satisfied with my professional life. Today I am happy with what I do and with the knowledge that I am helping people towards a better well-being, by giving yoga classes and organizing wellness events. Knowing that my job has meaning is also what drives me every day!
Find me online: Instagram: @helene.beyogi
