What is Power Yoga and what are the benefits of Power Yoga?

What is Power Yoga and what are the benefits of Power Yoga?

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What is Power Yoga and what are the benefits of Power Yoga?

what is power yoga?

Power Yoga, is intense and utilizes the entire body. To hold the series of poses in this type of Yoga session, the student has to use muscles in his arms, shoulders, back, legs, feet, and abdomen, which tone and strengthen these muscles. This workout also burns a lot of calories. So a student can benefit by losing excess weight, while at the same time, build lean muscle tissue.

An integral part of practicing Power Yoga is breathing and stretching, so the student increases overall flexibility. The joints, tendons, and muscles all become more flexible. This can be particularly beneficial to students, who suffer from arthritic conditions, since the increased flexibility helps to alleviate the pain and stiffness associated with these conditions.

What is Power Yoga?

benefits of power yoga

The term Power yoga is quite a  general term that is used to describe a vigorous, fitness-based approach to the Vinyasa style of yoga. Many yoga experts consider it to be “gym yoga,” in a style of practice closely modeled on the Ashtanga method. It’s a great way to combine the mental, spiritual and physical benefits of yoga with quite high intensity, calorie-burning exercise. See our post “Can Yoga Help In Weight Loss?

Power yoga gives the instructor the flexibility to teach any poses in whatever order they choose, and also takes the athleticism of Ashtanga, including lots of Vinyasas, making every class different.

What are the benefits of Power Yoga?

power yoga benefits

Power yoga has many benefits but is particularly known to significantly improve stamina. The power yoga poses coupled with breathing techniques taught, contribute to increased breathing efficiency and improving your body’s resistance  thus increasing endurance.

Power Yoga is well-known for its effects on a persons improvement in flexibility. Because of the stretching and varied poses involved people are far more flexible after they start practicing power yoga.

It is also much more intense, so power yoga helps your body burn more calories away. Thus making it easier for weight loss. Additionally, the workouts focus on power movements that strengthen your core muscle groups and lead to an increase in lean muscle mass.

Finally, a major physical benefit of Power Yoga is improved general health. Power yoga practitioners boost their immune systems and become more in tune with the body overall. Since the workout involves challenging moves, toxins are also eliminated from the body through sweat.

power yoga benefits

In general Power Yoga benefits are:

  • Strengthens the body
  • Increases flexibility
  • Promotes Stamina
  • Promotes weight loss
  • Improves posture and balance
  • Improves Immune system
  • Helps Lower cholesterol
  • Helps Lower Blood Pressure
  • Improves circulation

Who Invented Power Yoga?

who invented power yoga

Bryan Kest, from Los Angeles and Beryl Bender Birch, from New York, are most often credited with the invention of power yoga on opposite coast at approximately the same period in time, the 1990’s. The term power yoga became common during this period when these two American yoga teachers began to make what they had learned from  Ashtanga guru Sri K. Pattabhi Joismore and made it accessible to Western students. They also wanted to move away from the rigid Ashtanga sequence, which is a set series of poses that are always done in the same order.
Both Kest and Bender Birth used the term power yoga to differentiate the intense, flowing style of yoga they were teaching from the gentle stretching and meditation that many Americans associated with yoga. It was probably a “revolution” in Yoga practices. Bender Birch has said that while she started calling her classes power yoga, she still taught the Ashtanga sequence of poses.

What can i expect in a power yoga class?

what to expect in power yoga class

Power yoga classes vary widely from instructor to instructor, but you can expect to find some intense flowing yoga with a minimal amount of chanting and meditation. Gyms and health clubs, in particular, have taken up the term as a way to let their clientele know that this is exercise. Prepare to work hard and work up a sweat. Sometimes in a very hot and humid atmosphere (Hot Power Yoga)

Is Power Yoga more beneficial than traditional Yoga?

power yoga v traditional yoga

It’s hard to make real comparison between the two. Although the foundation of both is similar, people choose one over the other for completely different reasons. Traditional Yoga is for meditation and Power Yoga for physical purposes.

The common link between the two forms is still stress management and flexibility so you have those two in the bag. But experts agree that a more holistic approach is always more beneficial. Too much stress on physical exercise and you miss out on the mental and spiritual quotient of yoga.

The main objective of both, are, after all, to harmonize the mind, body and spirit. So if you are on the lookout for salvation, make sure you choose wisely. The power of yoga is immense, but it’s not concentrated only in power yoga. Try both and find your preference!

Is there any reason to avoid Power Yoga?

pregnant yoga

There are so many benefits in practicing Power Yoga that it’s easy to forget there are times when it’s probably not an appropriate form of exercise. This is because of its high intensity work out. Think lots of sweat and hard breathing and you’ll get the idea. I would suggest the following types of people should avoid power yoga-

  • If You are pregnant it may be best to avoid the high intensity, hot, sweaty gym sessions that Power Yoga can sometimes generate, especially as your term approaches.
  • When you are not moderately fit, it’s best to avoid the intense workout or avoid doing your health more harm than good.
  • If you’re looking for meditation, calmness and relaxation, you should avoid Power Yoga’s intense, more physical work outs
  • If you suffer from chronic physical ailments, again, you may do more harm than good, so please check with your Doctor or healthcare professional

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