The world of fitness centers and wellness has a new favorite : Power Yoga. The name yoga associates it right away to the eastern philosophy of spirituality, discipline and chanting which to other people indicates rigidity. However, power yoga hold so much more. This is quite different from the typical yoga many of us know. What is power yoga really and why is it becoming fast popular on fitness centers and gyms all over the globe?
To those who want to know what is power yoga all about, has to understand that it is truly derived from the traditional yoga. Delving deeper, the asanas or poses are based from the Ashtanga and Vinyasa styles of yoga. During the mid 1900, American yoga enthusiasts named Beryl Bender Birch and Bryan Kest, who both learned Ashtanga from master Sri K Patthabi Jois, introduced the modern version of yoga to America. It was a vigorous but flowing style which is in contrast to the gentle movements and meditation of the classical yoga. They coined the term power yoga to make it more fitness based. It was developed to promote its benefits to the west. These benefits include not just the improvement of the strength and flexibility but it also teaches meditation and spirituality without pressure.
What is power yoga also, how do the benefits happen? Different from Ashtanga that has a sequence of poses, it does not follow a specified sequence of poses. That is why is each power yoga class can be as unique as possible. The asanas may vary depending on different factors like the level of fitness of the students as well as the tempo of the power yoga music used. However, regardless of their class or fitness levels, all routines are graduated so that as one has to master one level then move to the next. This keeps challenging the students as they continue to strive for perfection. That is why diligence and dedication, the objectives of strength, flexibility and stamina are gained as well as balance, harmony, discipline and focus.
What is power yoga the both students and teachers all over the globe? Power yoga is basically about physical discipline, clearing the mind and living a well balanced life where there is balance and harmony.