Water yoga, at its essence, is doing the yoga you already know, in the water.
Diving deeper, you realize there’s more to it than that. You can’t sit or go upside down without getting wet. Your yoga mat and most of the other gear you’re used to using isn’t going to work. And maybe you don’t know how to swim, so you have concerns about being in the water. The book Water Yoga: A Teacher’s Guide breaks down these misconceptions and gets you practicing and teaching water yoga like a pro.
On land, a yoga practice consists of eight limbs. In the water, I call the limbs of yoga waves. The different aspects of yoga philosophy being waves, fits into the aquatic environment and reinforces the idea that you don’t have to do the parts of yoga in sequential order. Water yoga is very accessible for beginners, and emphasizing the aspects relevant for each person, instead of a rigid hierarchy, is student-friendly.
The first wave of water yoga, you already know as the Yamas. Ahimsa is the first Yama and being kind to yourself is even easier in the water because of the water’s buoyancy. Buoyancy offloads your weight and relieves sore joints making a water yoga practice easier for people.
The Niyamas are philosophical practices you want to do more of. For example, Tapas is about right-effort. In the water, if you want to work harder in a posture, you can use the water’s viscosity (water’s thicker than air and harder to move through) and make your movements big and fast.
The wave of water yoga that most people are used to splashing around with is the poses. One of the most common questions, is how do you do Downward Facing Dog pose without drowning people? Easy, you modify water yoga poses to make the best use of the aquatic environment. The focus is on the same physical and energetic properties as the poses on land, rather than making them have the same shape.
Breath practices are even more powerful in the water. Hydrostatic pressure is the increased density of the water applied to a submerged body. It also makes your inspiratory muscles work harder, increasing your breath capacity.
Hydrostatic pressure also contributes to a Pratyahara practice. The pressure calms your nervous system, similar to how a weighted blanket is used for neurodivergent kids. Pratyahara is withdrawing your senses to prepare you for meditation. When you say, ‘Ah’ and close your eyes because you’re feeling relaxed in the water, you’re practicing Pratyhara.
Concentrating on a single point, a Drishti, is a Dharana practice. With all the movement of the water’s surface and the noise at the pool, there’s a lot to distract you. Dharana is learning to sharpen your focus so all those distractions don’t throw you off balance.
Floating meditation is a Dhyana practice. The pool is a natural environment to relax and focus on what really matters.
Just like land yoga, Samadhi or bliss, is your intent with your practice. It integrates all eight waves of water yoga. However, you have no guarantee you’ll get there as an outcome. That’s why it’s more important to appreciate the process than worry about the results.
As a concept, you can’t beat water Yoga. Water Yoga: A Teacher’s Guide teaches you how to practice all waves of water yoga for yourself as a first step. It moves beyond that with tips to guide others. Once you know how to apply these concepts for yourself, the book helps you with communication strategies and teaching tips to help your students succeed.
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