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Skanda Yoga
Alignment-based Power Vinyasa
Skanda Yoga is an alignment-based power vinyasa system that utilizes breath, bandhas, and spanda (pulsation). Each class uses the Maya 13-moon calendar to set a daily intention and sequence flow, that overtime initiates harmony with nature’s cyclical patterns, and leads to the experience of more magic and synchronicity in life. The practice is strong, challenging, playful, and inspiring.
Skanda Yoga stands out among other yoga styles with its distinctiveness rooted in 20 unique sequences infused with spiritual themes drawn from the living wisdom of the Maya calendar system. Each sequence, structured across three levels, serves as a pathway for progression and allows practitioners to tailor the intensity of their practice according to their needs. Additionally, the system offers four beginner series, denoted as level 0, aligned with the four colors of the Maya calendar—Red, White, Blue, and Yellow.
On Red days, characterized by Initiatory energy, practitioners delve into poses emphasizing backbends to tap into the universal flow of energy. White days, marked by a focus on refinement, incorporate forward folds, twists, and hip-openers to cultivate a meditative state. Blue days, known for their transformative energy, prioritize arm balances and inversions to fortify the spirit. Meanwhile, Yellow days, dedicated to manifestation, feature slightly more vigorous practices aimed at igniting inner fire through a blend of arm balances, inversions, hip-opening, and backbends. The repetition of these color-coded days throughout the 20-day sequences ensures a dynamic and evolving practice, preventing monotony and encouraging growth.
All class sequences are accessible for practice and reference through the Skanda Yoga Practice mobile app and the "Classes of Enchantment" book. Additionally, the system offers five level 4 classes inspired by the five Castles of Enchantment seasons in the Maya Calendar. These advanced practices, lasting 2-3 hours each, are exclusively available in the "Classes of Enchantment" paperback book.
Skanda Yoga stands out for its utilization of two primary alignment approaches: standard and dynamic. This versatile framework allows practitioners to engage postures for strength and resilience-building or delve into exploration and expansion. Beyond these methods lie functional planes that offer flexibility and customization based on individual needs. Recognizing the diversity of bodies, Skanda Yoga emphasizes the futility of prescribing a one-size-fits-all approach to asana practice, advocating instead for a method that honors each practitioner's unique physique.
Furthermore, Skanda Yoga integrates modern scientific stretching techniques. Rather than advocating for passive stretching alone, it incorporates active dynamic stretching, which involves both contraction and resistance to cultivate strength before expanding for increased flexibility. This dynamic interplay creates a pulsating effect known as Spanda, countering the stretch reflex and reprogramming the nervous system to mitigate the risk of injury while deepening poses. Some postures involve prolonged resistance, akin to PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation), to optimize opening and release.
