Vinyasa yoga

noun

Vin·​ya·​sa yoga vin-ˈyä-sə- 

variants or vinyasa yoga

: an athletic system of yoga (see yoga sense 2) in which the practitioner transitions without pause through a series of asana postures

… one of New York's top studios, which specializes in its own mix of dynamic vinyasa yoga (in which one posture flows quickly into another) …

—Sally Singer

According to a … study in the Journal of Yoga & Physical Therapy, the fast-paced movements and physical challenge of Vinyasa yoga make it an ideal light-intensity cardiovascular workout.

—James Roland

Word History

Etymology

vinyasa short for Sanskrit aṣṭāṅgavinyāsaḥ "eightfold disposition," from aṣṭāṅga "eightfold" + vinyāsaḥ "placing down, arrangement, disposition (of limbs)," derivative of vinyasyati "(s/he) puts down, distributes, arranges," from vi- "apart, asunder" + ni- "downward" + asyati "(s/he) throws, hurls" — more at ashtanga yoga

First Known Use

1988, in the meaning defined above