Looking for a Yoga Weight Loss Workout? – Turn to Power Yoga

Power Yoga: The Physically Intensive and Exercise Driven Modern Yoga

If your looking at Yoga as a form of physical exercise and want minimal amount meditation and spiritual guidance, then Power Yoga is just the type of Yoga you’re looking for.

Started by two American Yoga teachers Beryl Bender Birch, based in New York, and Bryan Kest, based in Los Angeles, almost at the same time, Power Yoga was designed to suit the weight loss and physical work out needs of Americans. Adapted from Ashtanga Yoga, power yoga practices a fitness approach to yoga and is a sweat-producing, muscle-building series of yoga asanas (poses) that flow into each other without the usual pauses between the poses practiced in traditional yoga. The goal of power yoga is health and fitness rather than spiritual quest for enlightenment or a balance of body, mind and heart. At the same time power yoga leads to a calmer mental state by releasing tension, making you feel lighter and better balanced and a healthy body harbors a healthy mind. It’s this connectedness of the physical body influencing the mind, that Power yoga touches upon. It creates optimal physical health by enlivening and invigorating the whole body which is a direct manifestation of the mind, as the body heals, our mind naturally follows.

A Glimpse of What They Do at Power Yoga
While all Power yoga classes will differ from teacher to teacher the essence of the emphasis on strength and flexibility remains the same. There are no set series of poses, but it’s dynamic mix of stretches, nd poses all done while struggling to maintain balance and support your own body weight. This increases strength by natural moments, tones muscles, makes you more flexible and improves posture.

Classes often start with a series of stretching poses like the child’s pose or Cat – Cow Stretch as a warm up. This is followed by a five to six pose set, flowing from one to the next with no break. All poses are done twice on both your left and right sides. Another very important aspect of a power yoga routine is the breath flow. Each pose is synchronized with one’s breathing patterns and each movement is soft and free-flowing like a rhythmic dance. It’s important to first know the correct posture and alignment of each pose before going on the power yoga which needs to be uninterrupted to be effective. The transition from one pose to the next is not fast, but slow yet steady pace.

Some of the popular poses in Power yoga include the warrior poses, triangle poses, side angle pose, a variety of balance poses, forward folds with chest openers, seated folds, twists and balances. For the more advanced students poses like the side crane, tree pose into warrior 3, eagle pose, deep lunge with back bend and twist into pigeon are popular. A brief breathing exercise or meditation poses closes a session.

So what are you waiting for? If you want that intense physical workout with none of the spiritual jargon grab that yoga mat  & yoga apparel and join your nearest Power Yoga classes for a all round workout that works!

*Photo Credits: photos by myyogaonline, Kelly Loves Whales, BeckyKP on flickr.

Energize Your Body & Soul with these Different Types of Yoga

The term Yoga is commonly used to refer to the practice of physical postures or poses, which in reality is only a small part of the more complex ancient discipline that is – YOGA.

Yoga is a school of thought, originating from India  and includes physical, mental and spiritual practices to bring about a complete balance in a person for their well being. Over the years, a number of different types of yoga philosophies have developed, which  more stress on the physical, mental or spiritual aspects more than the others. Recently in the United States the most common style of Yoga adopted focuses purely on the physical benefits of yoga in the form of Power Yoga. Some people find that the physical practice of yoga becomes a gateway into a spiritual exploration, while others just enjoy a wonderful low-impact workout that makes them feel great. Whatever you are looking for, there is a Type of Yoga to suit your needs.

Here’s a look into the most popular types of Yoga-

Classic Yoga’s

Hatha Yoga
The most popular form of yoga in the western world. Hatha yoga is often practiced solely for its physical benefit. It uses asanas, which are the physical postures or poses of yoga. This 15th century form of yoga is believed to purify the physical body and bring strength in order to lead to the purification of the mind.

Along with Asanas (poses), Hatha yoga includes breathing exercises (Pranayams), meditation and purification procedures known as ‘Shatkriyas‘. Hatha yoga is not just about stretching as many people mistake it for, it develops both strength and flexibility and each pose has specific physical benefits. Hatha Yoga with its many modern variations is the style that many people associate with the word “Yoga” today.

Ashtanga Yoga
Also known as Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga or Raja Yoga, is one of the earliest types of yoga. Started around 5000 BC, Ashtanga yoga follows an eight fold path formulated by Patanjali also known as the eight limbs of yoga mainly- Yama (moral code towards others); Niyama (personal discipline);
Asana (ashtanga yoga postures); Pranayama (yoga breathing); Prayahara (withdrawal of senses); Dharana (concentration); Dhyan (meditation); Samadhi (salvation).

As you see out of the the 8 limbs, only one involves the physical performance of yoga postures. Each of the limbs builds off each other in order, with an aim of achieving a healthy and fulfilling life. The benefits of this yoga practice is more than just the physicality found in Hatha yoga, it applies to everyday aspects of life and is more of a complete way of living rather than a short practice.

Karma Yoga
Many people are familiar with the term Karma, but how many know that it’s a type of yoga. Karma or ‘discipline of action’ is the conscious practice of those actions that bring the most amounts of good and the least amount of evil as it is believed the result of that action will reciprocate yours. This discipline of yoga dates back to before 800 BC and is a spiritual path that dedicates actions to God.

Jnana Yoga
Jnana yoga is a type of yoga that focuses on knowledge. Jnana Yoga includes knowing oneself that leads to self-realization, control of the senses, developing an indifference or detachment from objects, concentration, attainment of tranquility and ultimately bliss.

Pranayama Yoga
The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Pranayama is ‘restraint (ayama) of breath (prana)’. It is the practice of breath control and breathing techniques. Since air is considered the breath of life or vital force responsible for life, it’s control into the various parts of the body especially the mind is said to help attain higher states of awareness. On a scientific level pranayama techniques are believed to be beneficial in treating a range of stress related disorders, asthma and oxidative stress.

Swara Yoga
Swara yoga focuses on controlling and manipulating the flow of breath in the nostrils. The word swara means “the sound of one’s own breath” and this form of yoga involves studying the nostril’s breath flow at all times of the day and seasons. It uses Pranayama or ‘breath control’ exercises as a part of a more precise and extensive focus on nose breathing.

Modern Yoga’s

Iyengar Yoga
Developed by the living yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar (now age 91), this modern adaptation of Patanjali’s Ashtanga yoga and Hatha yoga, uses props such as belts, cushions, blankets and blocks as aids in performing asanas (postures). This style of Yoga is said to promote strength, icrease flexibility, endurance, balance and stamina through coordinated breathing and poses that require precise body alignment. Iyengar Yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga taught today.The poses are performed at a slow pace and are generally held longer than in other styles of yoga making it especially good if you’re recovering from an injury.

Power Yoga
The American interpretation of ashtanga yoga aimed at a physical workout is what has come to be known as Power Yoga. This fitness approach to yoga is a sweat-producing, muscle-building series of yoga asanas (poses) that flow into each other without the usual pauses between the poses practiced in traditional yoga. Power yoga is also breath-synchronized and the fluent movements from one pose to another create an almost aerobic workout feel. Power yoga’s popularity as a way to workout has made is a common option in the gyms of America.

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* Photo Credits: photos by lululemon athletica, myyogaonline, milopeng, apolaine on flickr

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