Dynamic Yoga is a soft, fluid and sensitive approach to yoga posture practice based on The Dynamic Yoga Training Method (1). The purpose of the Method is to prepare students for auto-praxis guided by the inherent intelligence of the body rather than any belief system.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE METHOD Dynamic Yoga is a training method developed by Godfrey Devereux and is loosely based on the system of ashtanga vinyasa yoga as taught by B.N.S Iyengar (2) of Mysore. Recognising the difficulty that contemporary students had with the traditional astanga vinyasa postures due to the sequencing and sedentary lifestyle, the Dyanmic Yoga Method is a modification of both the sequencing and the postures to make them safer and more accessible. Dynamic Yoga Method provides a complete muscular recalibration that allows students to approach yoga practice with integrity rather than struggle.
Dynamic Yoga Method contains seven principles of action and awareness that guide the practice and allow the body to access the intelligence of its inherent integrity. These seven principles are called The Dynamics of Integrity.
THE DYNAMICS OF INTEGRITY The dynamics of integrity can be simplified as seven principles. These principles are at the same time the principles of yoga posture practice and of the inherent integrity of the body. All of the seven functional principles are contained within the first. Each part of the body (and the body as a whole), always seeks the greatest stability and freedom of action and movement. This means that, given the limitations imposed by shape, action and movement, the joints always establish as much stable release as possible, the body parts always enter into the most effective relationship possible. These possibilities are undermined and limited by habituated misuse of the body. Misuse that arises partly through childhood imitation, but mostly through the insensitive pursuit of cultural aims. This obscures the natural functioning of the inherent integrity of the body. The fundamental and indispensable function of yoga posture practice is to re-establish the freedom of movement and action with integrity.
THE DYNAMIC YOGA TRAINING METHOD The application of these seven principles to yoga postures is through 'ullola', bringing about a total neuromuscular recalibration whilst simultaneously training the mind to access and respond to the inherent intelligence of the body. The dynamic nature of these breath-synchronised movements, of which there are over 100, allows the active muscles to be recalibrated without strain or struggle and become habituated to functional integrity. Essentially this is a somatic process although this depends on becoming deeply intimate with the nature of sensation, action and perception.
Once the body has been retrained to act with functional integrity it can be brought to structural and energetic integrity through a progression of 20 postural sequences that soften, open, strengthen, integrate and develop the whole body. This centres on on the conscious integration of each part of the body into its inherent unity, known as Sarvangabandha. This is brought about through five muscular integrations that are esoterically known as mulabandha, uddyanabandha, jalandharabandha, hastabandha and padabandha. Sarvangabandha generates the five realisations of relationship, within which perceptually separate actions and objects are experienced as intrinsic and inextricable elements and expressions of the indivisibility of wholeness = yoga.
THE IDEOLOGY OF THE METHOD Yoga is understood to be an implicit unity that embraces and unifies every element of life into an indivisible wholeness. Yoga practice is understood to be the process of unifying action on the basis of awareness so that the nature of action and awareness are clearly revealed and everything is found to be in in it rightful place, just as it is.
International recognition:
Bibliography: Godfrey Devereux (2005) Yoga Dinamico (London) ISBN Godfrey Devereux (2003) 15 minutos de yoga (London) ISBN Godfrey Devereux (2002) The Elements of Yoga (London) ISBN Godfrey Devereux (2001) Hatha Yoga Breath by Breath (London) ISBN Godfrey Devereux (2000) 15 Minute Yoga: Yoga for a busy world (London) ISBN Godfrey Devereux (1998) Dynamic Yoga (London) ISBN Godfrey Devereux (1997) The Elements of Yoga (London) ISBN Godfrey Devereux (1994) The Elements of Yoga (London) ISBN
Wikipedia References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashtanga_Vinyasa_Yoga
External Links: The official dynamic yoga training website: http://windfireyoga.com The official dynamic yoga home page http://www.dynamicyoga.com/ Yoga Sutras of Patanjali www.yogadarshana.com Blog covering yoga classes by Godfrey Devereux my-yoga-blog.blogspot.com/2006/05/godfrey-devereux.html Dynamic yoga retreats in Spain http://kaliyoga.com Review in Yoga Journal www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/385 Discussion about ashtanga v. iyengar yoga www.indiadivine.org/.../105994-godfrey-devereux-iyengar-ashtanga.html YouTube film about Dynamic Yoga http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EODMXK46bZU