With time, old ideas have to make way for the new idea, like in Cricket; test cricket paved the way for one day cricket which is currently surpassed by the brand new super fast version of the game in IPL. It is the same in fitness industry too, after the popularity of Aerobics and Yoga there is a new brand of Yoga that has taken everybody’s imagination, called as Power Yoga.
Power yoga is now an ‘in’ form of yoga that has become the most sought after form of yoga in the west popularized by Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow and now embraced newly by Indians especially after Kareena Kapoor’s ‘Size zero’ figure is credited due to it.
So what is Power Yoga?
Power Yoga is a powerful fitness based yoga modeled on the Vinyasa and Ashtanga style yoga. The invention of Power yoga is credited to Beryl Bender Birch in New York and Bryan Kest based in Los Angeles who were followers of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, an Ashtanga Yoga proponent. Power Yoga was invented to popularize yoga among in west, to change their ideas about yoga from being slow and meditative to fast and powerful. Power Yoga is a more rigorous form of exercise and unlike Ashtanga yoga where the asanas are performed in a fixed sequence, Power yoga is more flexible.
What is Power yoga like?
Old yoga in new style: Though it differs from yoga, Power yoga is based on few aspects of traditional styles of Iyengar and Bikram Yoga. It is challenging and energetic like Bikram yoga and difficult and trying like Iyengar yoga. Power yoga has borrowed from different streams of Yoga to form a dynamic combination that is interesting to the new age fitness lovers.
More athletic: Power Yoga is more powerful than usual and aimed to bring in strength and flexibility. It is a dynamic, challenging program that develops body strength and improves mind’s concentration.
Rhythmic movements: Power yoga is done synchronizing the breathing with different poses. Thus the movements have a unity and a grace. Though to a third person, the movements may look like very slow and dance like, the person who is doing it feels the strain on every muscle that is performing the pose and energy that is required to do it.
Hold on: Power Yoga is aimed to bring in strength hence the movements are held in one position for more than 5 breaths unlike in other yoga forms.
Heated environment: Power yoga is preferably done in a heated room because it is easier to move muscles in a heated environment. The movements in power yoga require optimum muscle flexibility and heated environment helps to loosen the muscles. Also through sweating the body removes the toxins in the body, thus cleansing itself.
Not for the beginners: Because it a rigorous form of exercise requiring certain amount of strength and flexibility, Power yoga needs a basic amount of fitness from those who are practicing. Until that level is reached, it will be very difficult to perform power yoga.
How is it different?
Power Yoga is different than other forms of yoga because it is based on core strength, balance and flow and solid practice. Since Power yoga focuses on the core muscles and on co- ordination of the breath, there is connectivity of body, mind and spirit.
Power yoga is often promoted in Sports clubs along as a transition from aerobics to yoga. Power Yoga due to its strength and flexibility benefits helps to improve the fitness and performance of those who are involved in cycling, football, swimming, skiing, surfing, running, martial arts etc.
How does it help?
-Power yoga build lean muscles which are known to burn calories, thus it helps to improve the basal metabolic rate that is the proportion of consumption to burning of calories.
-Power yoga strengthens the back and stomach muscles increasing the core strength.
-Power yoga relives chronic pain by increased flexibility and mobility.
-It increases muscle tone by strengthening the muscles.
-Because Power yoga focuses on one movement at a time, it improves concentration of the mind.
-Power yoga helps to reduce mental and physical stress and strain in the body.
-When clubbed with other activities, Power yoga helps the performance in other activities like swimming, surfing, golf etc.
Power yoga is a workout for those who want quick results, who are more interested in strength and believe in powerful exercise. Mickey Mehta, holistic health guru however believes that underneath the glamour attached to the word ‘Power yoga’, yoga remains the same, he says, “Yoga is inherently powerful, there is no need to term it as power yoga. The power of yoga is more felt than seen.” Be it in a traditional or the new form, yoga has many things to offer you so go ahead and embrace yoga!
