Power Yoga is another version of Ashtanga Yoga that focuses on developing your physical flexibility and begins to nurture yourself discipline. Yoga teacher training concentrates on using this style of yoga for a full body workout.
The name itself should tell you what to expect: Power Yoga. This style of yoga teaching brings a rigorous full body workout and begins to promote a mental stability and strong concentration. Beginning this type of yoga can bring quite a physical strain at first.
The basic concept around Power Yoga was introduced to the West by followers of Sri K. Pattabhi Hois who was a Sanskrit scholar that influenced yogis with his style and philosophies. Power Yoga is considered to be the Western version of the Indian Ashtanga Yoga. Many with yoga certification can adapt to make power yoga a full workout.
Yoga teacher training teaches new instructors that Power Yoga is a modified and shortened version of Ashtanga Yoga and that it has some of the same aspects from other types of yoga practices like Bikram Yoga and Iyengar Yoga.
Some of the same ideas are:
- Power Yoga requires the basic Yoga poses like with Bikram Yoga which provide an energetic workout and provides the basic challenges that can be practiced even by the beginners in yoga.
- Power Yoga also puts emphasis on the proper form in practicing yoga poses as well as perfecting them by holding the poses longer, improving the endurance and flexibility of the yogi. This is an idea borrowed from the Iyengar Yoga.
Transitions
Remember though, that the transitions of yoga poses are practiced in a slower but steadier pace. Some of the poses are even held longer than the traditional five breaths. This puts the practice of Power Yoga which raises the physical endurance and your ability to focus on one task for a longer period of time without breaking your concentration. Yoga teachers will push you to the max with power yoga.
Poses
The poses that are part of Power Yoga are connected to the basic idea of Sun Salutation Pose. If you wish to practice Power Yoga poses you need to be aware of the basic poses.
Power Yoga is done by practicing a series of Yoga Poses while focusing on your breathing patterns to each movement which results in actions with perfect grace and unity. To someone that does not know yoga the movement may look like a soft free-flowing trance like dance. For someone that knows what Power Yoga is, the routine is a vigorous exercise which pushes and contorts every limb to its maximum while still keeping a strong sense of inner peace and concentration.
The transitions of each yoga pose are done in slow steady movements. Some poses may be held longer than others.
Where to begin
Warm-ups are normally done before you begin a session of Power Yoga so that you can stretch and relax the muscles of the body. Yoga teacher training explains that Power Yoga is usually practiced in a heated room for a yogi to be able to reach the most optimum muscle flexibility. This is because while practicing this style it can be painful to successfully practice Power Yoga. Always make sure that you condition your body to practice this style. This style of yoga is for those that are physically fit and not suffering from any chronic ailments.
Benefits
Yoga teacher training explains the demands of Power Yoga and the requirements for someone to fully enjoy the practice. More and more people familiar with yoga are beginning to look at this style for a more complete workout. Some of the benefits of practicing Power yoga are:
- It provides stamina, strength and flexibility
- Improves your ability to focus
- Great way to release anxiety and tension
- Helps to maintain correct posture
- Helps tone your body
- Helps to remove toxins through sweat
- Great type of training for athletes
- Helps improve performance in other sports
Most health clubs see the benefits and are now offering yoga teachers and sessions of power yoga. There is a good connection to moving from aerobic exercises into Power Yoga.
Yoga teacher training knows that Power Yoga still focuses on the basic idea of Classical Yoga which is meant to unite the mind, body and spirit at the deepest level.
