WHAT DOES VINYASA MEAN?
Vinyasa has several meanings that I blend in my classes.

Vinyasa in Sanskrit means a gradual progression or a step-by-step approach that systematically and appropriately takes a student from one point and safely lands them at the next point. When you break down the word into its sankrit roots, "Vi" means "in a special way" and "Nyasa" means "to place". Literally, vinyasa is "to place in a special way." One posture follows another in a specific and orderly manner. This posture prepares for the next posture or counterbalances the previous posture. The postures build from one to the next revealing an internal logic of body, breath, mind and movement. The postures are well placed and lead to a balanced, complete feeling at the end of the practice.

Another slightly different interpretation of the word Vinyasa is "breathing movement system." The emphasis here is on the power of the breath. There is a rhythm and flow to the sequencing of postures that arises out of the free breathing action of the lungs. Breath and movement are seamlessly united in such a way that each action encourages the other. For each movement, there is one breath.
When you have your first deep experience of the breath moving the body, then you really begin to enjoy vinyasa practice. If you practice, you will develop amazing control over your breath.

"Take a Vinyasa" This cue tells the practitioner to walk or jump back to Chatturanga, Cobra/Updog, Down Dog. This has an remarkable salutary effect. By taking the body into a mini back bend and forward bend/mini inversion it erases the muscular and energetic impression of the spine leftover from the previous pose. It clears the muscular memory and the mind. in the same way one might erase a blackboard before writing something new on it. "Taking a Vinyasa" also keeps the tempo going and generates the internal heat that is so desirable to the practice. The heat keeps the muscles safe from injury and helps the detoxification effect.