Power Yoga vs Yoga – How Do They Differ? Power Yoga is closely modeled after another style of yoga called Ashtanga. This style of yoga is a vigorous, fitness based style of yoga.
Are you looking for a workout that will help improve your flexibility, increase strength and decrease stress? Power yoga is the perfect option! With an emphasis on building power through inversions, arm balances and dynamic poses, this practice is great for those who want to challenge themselves.
Yoga can be a fantastic form of exercise as well but it also has its benefits. It’s often slower paced with some gentle stretching exercises mixed in. This can be helpful if you’re looking to reduce anxiety or have trouble sleeping at night because it helps calm the mind and body down.
What is Power Yoga?
Some people associate power yoga with “gym yoga.” Power yoga, though, doesn’t follow a set series of yoga poses so the classes offered can vary widely.
Since power yoga emphasizes strength and flexibility, it was introduced into the gyms of America as more and more people wanted yoga as a way to work out.
Power yoga is a more advanced form of yoga which helps to build muscles because it requires increased amounts of strength, focus and energy.
Even though it may appear to be evolved from the basic movements of yoga, it is definitely not a basic course.
Power yoga differs from regular yoga in that you are required to have a deeper, more focused participation. Whereas in yoga you hold 1-3 breaths, in power yoga you hold for five full breaths.
Your muscles are being challenged because your mind and body have to work together to continue a succession without giving up and continuing holding a position.
Benefits of Power Yoga
This type of yoga takes it to a whole new level because posing, moving, breathing and increasing flexibility are all happening together at the same time.
To make the core and back stronger, power yoga uses isometric exercises to build core strength. The word isometric originates from the words “same” and “length” which means holding one position without moving.
Training the core of your body allows for more flexibility and balance which can increase the strength and health of your entire body.
When you practice power yoga, you are in a room generally with a higher temperature in order to help keep the muscles warm and to release additional toxins from the body (via sweat).
Below are some of the benefits/effects of power yoga on your body:
- By using your own body weight for resistance your arm and shoulder strength are multiplied
- Your spine is being supported better than ever by your lats and other back muscles
- Hip flexors are stretched and rebuilt
- Holding postures for extended breaths increases mental endurance and physical stamina
- Strength, flexibility and endurance increases
- Refine and sharpen abdominals and obliques through building core muscles
- Power yoga tightens and lengthens (where needed) calves, hamstrings, quads and glutes
- Posture begins to correct itself over time
Power Yoga vs Yoga – How Do They Differ?
These are two entirely different types of yoga so there is no comparison.
Yoga and power yoga have similar foundations (stress management and flexibility) but people choose one over the other for obvious reasons: yoga is used to calm and meditate and power yoga is used for physical prowess.
What is the difference between power yoga and traditional yoga? Power Yoga, also known as Ashtanga vinyasa, is a rigorous form of yoga that utilizes physical postures and breathing exercises. This type of yoga requires intense concentration on the movements to complete each pose. The goal is to keep up with your breath while completing poses in rapid succession. Traditional Yoga focuses more on stretching and relaxing than it does on movement.
When practicing yoga, though, you don’t want too much stress placed on physical exercise or you will miss out on the mental and spiritual benefits of yoga.
No matter why you choose yoga, make sure it is for the right reasons: to harmonize the body, mind and spirit. Power yoga will allow you to take your fitness to a higher level, build muscle and has an undeniable effect on your total body.
