Five Element Archetypal Yoga
Five Element Archetypal Yoga synthesizes ancient Toaist meridian theory, modern science, depth psychology, and mythology through the art of movement. Machelle weaves poetry and 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 and grounded approach to self-development.
Vinyasa
"Vinyasa" is a combination of two Sanskrit words that translates as "to place in a special way." Vinyasa Yoga is an ever evolving form of Hatha yoga that synchronizes breath and movement into a dynamic flow of postures.
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 is an active or "yang" practice relying on muscularly 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 assuredness from the inside out.
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 is an active or "yang" practice relying on muscularly 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 assuredness from the inside out.
Yin Yoga
Yin Yoga is a contemplative practice that utilizes muscularly relaxed poses performed on the floor that are held for 3-5 minutes each. This approach stimulates ligament by modestly tractioning or compressing joint tissue. This is especially effective for heavily wrapped joints such as the hips, sacrum, low spine, and knees. The Yin repertoire of poses is based of ancient Yogic and Toaist practices intended to support the body tissues for health and meditation. Paul Grilley expanded and made more accessible the structural, chemical, and energetic qualities of these poses that have endured through the ages. He and long time friend Sarah Powers coined the term "Yin Yoga" to describe this practice that tends to the deep mysterious layers of the human body and psyche.
Unlike Vinyasa (and muscular forms of movements including most forms of yoga, exercise, and sports) that dynamically move energy through muscular rhythm and repetition, Yin Yoga addresses where energy and circulation gets stuck - in connective tissue such as ligaments and joint disc spaces. Muscle responds best to brief but repetitive movement, while connective tissue like ligaments rehabilitate when they are provided a steady, moderate stress over a period of time (like traction). Yin Yoga is an excellent modality for long-term health and mobility of joints. This approach simultaneously calms and recharges the nervous system while naturally drawing the mind inward into relaxed and meditative states.
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 Acupuncture. This approach 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 retraining 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 stimulates is a process of transformation - reconstructing a physical or mental state, tending it at the most profound levels, and restoring it with greater complexity and value. The themes of cultivating insight, nourishment, and wisdom are explored in the physical and psychological depth of the Yin Yoga practice.
Unlike Vinyasa (and muscular forms of movements including most forms of yoga, exercise, and sports) that dynamically move energy through muscular rhythm and repetition, Yin Yoga addresses where energy and circulation gets stuck - in connective tissue such as ligaments and joint disc spaces. Muscle responds best to brief but repetitive movement, while connective tissue like ligaments rehabilitate when they are provided a steady, moderate stress over a period of time (like traction). Yin Yoga is an excellent modality for long-term health and mobility of joints. This approach simultaneously calms and recharges the nervous system while naturally drawing the mind inward into relaxed and meditative states.
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 Acupuncture. This approach 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 retraining 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 stimulates is a process of transformation - reconstructing a physical or mental state, tending it at the most profound levels, and restoring it with greater complexity and value. The themes of cultivating insight, nourishment, and wisdom are explored in the physical and psychological depth of the Yin Yoga practice.
An extra note on Yin Yoga
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.
