Five Element Archetypal Yoga
Five Element Archetypal Yoga combines the science of ancient Chinese Meridian Theory, modern physiology and psychology with the art of movement, and mythology. Machelle weaves poetry with science through the practice of Vinyasa and Yin Yoga as a means of bridging the gap between the rational mind and the soulful body in a creative process of recognizing a life of meaning.
Vinyasa
Vinyasa Yoga is an ever evolving form of Hatha yoga that synchronizes breath and movement into a dynamic and poetic-like flow of postures. Vinyasa is a combination of two Sanskrit words that translate as "to place in a special way." This fluid practice is often referred to as the "creative little sister" of Ashtanga yoga. Ashtanga was formed out of the teachings of the yogic sage Krishnamacharya and carried on by his student Pattabhi Jois. Vinyasa evolved in the 1990's out of the creative and playful vision of several dedicated Ashtanga students such as Shiva Rea, Beryl Bender Birch, Rod Stryker, Baron Baptiste and others. The practice is rooted in the classic Surya Namaskara (sun salutations) and frequently links a creative flow of poses through chutterunga, updog, downdog transitions.
Vinyasa's flowing and playful nature is active and "yang' relying on muscular rhythmic movements that lend nicely to storytelling around themes of heroine and hero journeys, as well as tales of warriors and lovers. Bringing these myths into the practice allows us mimic these stories through the body, creating confidence and assureadenss from the inside out.
Vinyasa's flowing and playful nature is active and "yang' relying on muscular rhythmic movements that lend nicely to storytelling around themes of heroine and hero journeys, as well as tales of warriors and lovers. Bringing these myths into the practice allows us mimic these stories through the body, creating confidence and assureadenss from the inside out.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a contemplative practice that utilizes modest floor poses held for 3-5 minutes each in order to stimulate ligaments through 'stretching' and compressing joint tissue - particularly of the hips, sacrum, low spine, knees, and ankles.
Unlike Vinyasa (and most muscular forms of movements including most sports) that dynamically moves energies through muscular rhythm and repetition, Yin Yoga addresses where energy and circulation gets stuck - in connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and joint disc spaces. Muscle responds best to brief but repetitive movement, while connective tissues like ligaments rehabilitate when they are provided a steady moderate stress over a period of several minutes. Yin Yoga is an excellent modality for long-term health and function of the joints. This approach simultaneously calms and recharges the nervous system while naturally drawing the mind inward into a relaxed and meditative state.
Yin Yoga teacher Paul Grilley states that the teeth are an excellent example of when to utilize a yin approach to the body rather than an active yang. He points out that we would never advice realigning teeth by grabbing a hold of a tooth and wiggling it 3 repetitions of 10. Rather we use braces that put a moderate tension on the teeth over a long period of time until the bone and the surrounding gum connective tissues accommodate the desired adjustment and then "remembers" that position.
Yin Yoga is also characterized by the way it tends the most subtle energies of the body via connective tissues, meridian lines, and in-depth work in the psyche. Yin Yoga blends modern medical research of joint health with the ancient health teachings of Chinese Acupunture.Yin Yoga provides a means of self-acupressue to stimulate meridian pathways, rebalancing chaotic movement of energy and activating deficient energy that leads not only to a sense of physical ease, but also psycho-emotional re-training and well-being.
Yin Yoga's stillness lends well to storytelling around the archetypes of benevolent leaders, sages, and caretakers. Like alchemy that alters base metal into gold, Yin Yoga revolves around the process of transformation - reconstructing a physical or mental state, tending it at the most profound levels, and restoring it to wholeness with greater complexity and value. The themes of cultivating insight, nourishment, and wisdom are practiced in the physical and psychological depth of the Yin Yoga practice.
Unlike Vinyasa (and most muscular forms of movements including most sports) that dynamically moves energies through muscular rhythm and repetition, Yin Yoga addresses where energy and circulation gets stuck - in connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and joint disc spaces. Muscle responds best to brief but repetitive movement, while connective tissues like ligaments rehabilitate when they are provided a steady moderate stress over a period of several minutes. Yin Yoga is an excellent modality for long-term health and function of the joints. This approach simultaneously calms and recharges the nervous system while naturally drawing the mind inward into a relaxed and meditative state.
Yin Yoga teacher Paul Grilley states that the teeth are an excellent example of when to utilize a yin approach to the body rather than an active yang. He points out that we would never advice realigning teeth by grabbing a hold of a tooth and wiggling it 3 repetitions of 10. Rather we use braces that put a moderate tension on the teeth over a long period of time until the bone and the surrounding gum connective tissues accommodate the desired adjustment and then "remembers" that position.
Yin Yoga is also characterized by the way it tends the most subtle energies of the body via connective tissues, meridian lines, and in-depth work in the psyche. Yin Yoga blends modern medical research of joint health with the ancient health teachings of Chinese Acupunture.Yin Yoga provides a means of self-acupressue to stimulate meridian pathways, rebalancing chaotic movement of energy and activating deficient energy that leads not only to a sense of physical ease, but also psycho-emotional re-training and well-being.
Yin Yoga's stillness lends well to storytelling around the archetypes of benevolent leaders, sages, and caretakers. Like alchemy that alters base metal into gold, Yin Yoga revolves around the process of transformation - reconstructing a physical or mental state, tending it at the most profound levels, and restoring it to wholeness with greater complexity and value. The themes of cultivating insight, nourishment, and wisdom are practiced in the physical and psychological depth of the Yin Yoga practice.
