Style Highlight: Mandala Vinyasa Yoga by Anna De Sousa & Dulce Mandala

From all the yoga styles you see in the timetable, Mandala is probably the newest. 

With the intention to honour creativity and integrate spiral patterns,  Dulce Mandala created this style in 2011.

A Mandala in Sanskrit means circle, symbolises the universe and is used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation.

What’s the story behind the creation of Mandala Vinyasa Yoga? 

Dulce Mandala has followed a path of yoga, self-inquiry and shamanic tradition for almost 20 years. Her path includes Shamanic Practices and influences from Rocket, Mandala, Tripsichore & Yin Yoga.

Dulce created the Mandala Vinyasa Method based on the 4 Elements. She integrates diverse Yoga forms & Shamanism with special attention to intention. By feeling the Element in the physical self, awareness in the emotional and psychological realms transpire.

When Dulce created Mandala Vinyasa, she wanted a practice that would lead practitioners into deeper introspection through movement. Mandala Vinyasa leads us into places that perhaps our awareness would not have access to by following a linear pattern in our mat.

There are many layers to a Mandala class, and today we’re unravelling them for you. 

What is a Mandala Class like? 

Mandala threads Elemental & Chakra Theory, Shamanism, Vinyasa & Yin. Some teachers might choose to include breathwork, meditation, mudras and chanting. 

Mandala classes start and end with Yin. Expect to start the Mandala Sequence with Yin Activation and finish with Yin Pacifiers. 

After an activating Yin sequence,  linked to the Element of the day, you will move through the Mandalas. 

A Mandala is a full circle around the mat. To give you a visual image, the Mandala sequence starts with the right leg taking you to the back of the mat. After that, from the back of the mat, you will start with the right leg again and return to the front of the mat. After that, you will repeat the sequence with the left leg. That’s a full Mandala. 

Depending on the class duration, you might do 2-3 of these full circles. This part of the class is for some a favourite. Here you might experience flow-state, a deeply introspective experience that takes you out of your mind and into a moving meditation. 

After the circular flow ends, you get into a standing sequence, a seated sequence and a closing Yin sequence. 

Even though the sequences are focused around one element, the class will take you through a journey ending on the opposite element. This will leave you feeling balanced and in harmony. 

As we mentioned above, classes are themed around four elements & four body areas or groups of muscles. Here’s a little sum-up of them: 

1. Earth/Hamstrings: The Earth element brings a harmonising flow to help us feel grounded. On Earth days, the class theme might also be the first chakra, Muladhara. The teacher might encourage you to connect to your strength, find steadiness & be present.

2. Fire/I.T. Bands/ Glutes/Side body: The fire element is linked to the third chakra, Manipura. This very energising element explores individuality, power, creation and intuition.

3. Water/Adductor/Abductor: The water element invites us to connect to our emotional body. The focus might be on the second chakra, Svadisthana. You’ll be encouraged to navigate your emotional response to life and be in the flow.

4. Air/Hip Flexors/ Quads: When working with the air element, you can expect to focus on heart openers & the fourth chakra, Anahata. The air element embodies lightness and open-heartedness and invites us to release fear and judgement.

 All in all, Mandala Vinyasa Yoga present a combination of different disciplines and philosophies that, threaded together with a studied and premeditated methodology, offers a balanced experience that has hooked thousands of practitioners across the world.