You’ve probably heard of the term “power yoga”, but probably not entirely sure what it means.
Power yoga actually became popular during the mid-1990s when two American yoga teachers used the information they learned from an Ashtanga guru to make this type of yoga more accessible to the Western world.
They also wanted to move away from the more rigid sequence of the Ashtanga yoga practice.
So what exactly is power yoga?
Well, to put it simply, it is a general term that is used to explain the vigorous approach to Vinyasa yoga. Lots of people assume power yoga to be a superficial “gym yoga” type of practice; however, it is much deeper than that.
Power yoga does, however, have lots of health benefits, including enhancing your posture, flexibility, stamina, and overall mental focus. It also helps relieve tension and releases toxins from the body.
That said, it is not without its challenges, and if you intend on learning power yoga, you should note that it is hard work, and ultimately, it’s not something for everyone.
So let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of power yoga and why you should be doing it.
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What exactly is power yoga?
Power yoga has been gaining in popularity and getting some buzz around the world.
However, lots of people are confused about what it entails. When performing or conducting power yoga, some rooms are sometimes heated while others keep it cool.
Some teachers choose to follow the same series of poses, while others prefer to mix things up.
So ultimately, everyone has their own take on what power yoga practice entails.
And the best way to get a feel for this practice is to talk to a teacher before starting your classes and learning what it’s all about.
However, all things considered, there is a standard across the board that determines whether you are practicing power yoga or not.
So here are four things about power yoga that will always be constant.
Power yoga is rooted in Ashtanga. Ultimately, this means that it takes its cues from the Ashtanga practice.
When doing power yoga, you are required to move. It’s definitely an intense workout, and it will make you sweat a lot.
While traditional Ashtanga encourages you to follow the same series of poses while holding each one for five minutes, power yoga classes are even faster, and some teachers choose to mix up the poses.
Power yoga is great when it comes to strength training.
While other forms of yoga are more ideal for enhancing flexibility and mental focus, power yoga works out your entire body.
So it’s definitely going to work out your entire body.
When doing power yoga, one thing you will definitely feel is energized.
So the best way to describe your feelings after a power yoga class is that you have a calm, almost serene feeling, but a little extra skip in your step as well.
Benefits of power yoga
People often wonder about the benefits of power yoga.
Does it have the same benefits as traditional yoga? And is it difficult to do?
Ultimately, power yoga can also be practiced at all levels of ability. All you need is just a few minutes a day to improve your flexibility and posture.
Well, the short answer is yes, power yoga is definitely good for you, and it is not for everyone.
Power yoga improves your skin, posture, and flexibility. While doing power yoga, you’re stretching your body muscles and toning them at the same time.
If you’re looking to have better fitness, then power yoga is for you. Doing a traditional workout at the gym is not the only way to get fit.
Power yoga is a safer, more holistic way of achieving your fitness goals.
If you have weight loss goals, then you probably want to consider power yoga.
You don’t necessarily have to practice hot yoga and sweat to lose weight. By doing power yoga on a daily basis, you’ll increase your metabolic rate and burn fat.
Power yoga boosts your immunity. This is because it stimulates the lymphatic system and ensures that all toxins are flushed out of your body.
Stress hormones are reduced, and you become more aware of what you’re eating.
If you suffer from insomnia, then power yoga is the answer.
It will improve your quality of sleep, and although it is more intense than it sounds when you have a full-body workout, it prepares your body for a good night’s rest.
Power yoga assists in hormone regulation. Your hormones are usually affected by the toxins and stress in your body.
Practicing power yoga gives your body the proper stimulation that it needs and helps your adrenal gland to function appropriately.
Some other organs that would improve in functioning are the thyroid and pituitary gland.
Ultimately improving the functioning of these glands will lead to better and more balanced hormones.
Improving lung capacity is another benefit of power yoga. When doing power yoga, ultimately, you’re doing exercise as well because of the fact that it is so fast-paced.
High blood pressure is also reduced during power yoga. It will teach you to breathe in and out effectively, and this will have a direct effect on your blood pressure.
If you suffer from IBS and indigestion, then power yoga is the ultimate remedy.
While doing this exercise, you’re causing your internal organs to be gently massaged and therefore function in a better way.
Power yoga improves mental focus. While doing power yoga, you are focused on your physical demeanor, but ultimately this will teach you to focus on achieving your goals as well.
Origins of power yoga
Power yoga was founded by Beryl Bender Birch during the mid-1990s.
It’s a fairly new form of yoga, and the practice began in 1979, taking inspiration from Ashtanga. This is ultimately where the roots of power yoga are connected.
Bender Birch had an idea of taking the dynamic yet traditional practice of Ashtanga yoga and making it more appealing to Western students.
The idea was to move away from the set of routine sequences and allow more freedom to do yoga classes.
Therefore this concept was named power yoga, and the name itself gives you an idea of exactly how fast and intense these classes are.
Rocket yoga is another style of power yoga that was established by Larry Schultz.
Baptiste Power Vinyasa is also another form of yoga founded by Baron Baptiste.
Power yoga vs other types of yoga
Ultimately, Power yoga is a form of yoga-like many others, such as Vinyasa, Bikram, and Sivananda yoga.
Power yoga gets your heart pumping and is more of a solid cardiovascular workout.
It will help to strengthen your core muscles and workout every part of your upper and lower body.
Ultimately, it’s also designed to quiet the psyche through the practice of breathing in and additional procedures that help to get your mind in focus.
However, Power yoga encourages you to hold poses no less than a few minutes, but it ultimately gives you more freedom to choose the poses that you are doing and the sequence that you are choosing.
Perhaps one of the most fundamental differences between power yoga and other types of yoga is that it’s faster-paced than normal yoga.
In other forms of yoga, most of the attention is focused on holding your poses; however, Power yoga focuses more on your development.
There is, however, no such thing as “consistent yoga,” and power yoga allows you to move immediately between poses and postures.
Ultimately, it is less about poses and postures and more about building muscle and strength.
Related Questions
Is power yoga vigorous?
Yes, it is the most energetic and fast-paced form of yoga ever to be practiced.
Is power yoga good for you?
Yes, it has a series of health benefits for the body and mind
Is power yoga a cardiovascular activity?
Yes, it is.
