Yoga whether practiced in a hot room, an air-conditioned room or outdoors has different proponents. Yoga in the water adds to the benefits of teaching breathing and allowing the mind to focus on breath with out the added burden of balance or pain for some who practice on land.
What does Water Offer to Yoga?
Water offers a buoyancy and support to tired or weak muscles or painful joints. The water medium adds a another dimension to the practice and allows some who may not be able to stand strongly on land (for example those with arthritic pain or fibromyalgia) to practice yoga as well as affording those who normally practice in a class room or home a way to literally and physically deepen their practice. Water offers resistance as well as support. The temperature of the water and the stillness of water are also important to the practice. Warmer water will allow faster adaptation of the body to movement and flexibility. A warm tranquil environment soothes physically the ever active mind.
What about Water Pilates?
Pilates focuses on core or abdominal work. A strong core will strengthen the back as well. Breathing in Pilates, albeit a different pattern and function than in yoga, plays a role in strengthening and rehabbing the body from injury. Pilates itself was created for rehabilitation and enabling the stiff or injured to relearn and improve movement. Adding Pilates to water seems almost redundant since the practice is based on rehabilitation with equipment on land. The buoyancy of the water plays a part in stabilizing core muscles according the unique principles of Pilates. The positions can be upright or lying down on the water.
Beginning Water Yoga
Typically water yoga can be found at YMCA’s, water spas, or wherever there is a pool. Yoga studios don’t offer the class unless affiliated with a pool but may have some information or willingness to start such a program. Otherwise, those who have practiced yoga can simply take their practice to the water.
- There are free online sites that give the rudiments of postures.
- Wear a comfortable suit to move in
- Bare feet are preferable but ocean practice may allow for swim shoes.
- Stand in waist or chest height water
- Props can be used to remain afloat in some of the poses
- Sun Salute can be effective in the water and is often the opening pose in yoga class.
- Lotus posture where the cross legged feet rest on the opposite thigh crease may be practiced in the water and held until muscles feel comfortable and feet flexible to translate this posture to land. This pose is illustrated in the video Bringing Yoga to Bangelureans.
Water yoga may also be called aqua yoga or yoga float. There is even a teacher certification for the program.
Sources
- Water Yoga by Yogini dharmananda accessed April 23 2011
- Gussi, Tomas-Carus, (2006), Exercise in waist-high warm water decreases pain and improves health, Arthritis Care & Research 55(1)p 66–73, 15
Amy Andersen - Amy Andersen, MSN, ARNP, family & pediatrics certified, practices yoga and explores the inter-relationships of mind body fitness and ...
