What is power yoga?

Most people are unaware of what is power yoga. Power yoga can be described as a vigorous style of Yoga that has become very popular in the Western world.


Power yoga poses closely resemble the poses which are a part of Ashtanga Yoga, but the main difference between the two disciplines is that power yoga workouts do not consist of a set sequence of poses or exercises. Power Yoga came into existence, when yoga gurus in the west wanted to introduce fast paced and vigorous exercise to the younger people. Hence, power yoga exercises and poses are not suitable for the elderly or for those people who may be suffering from any physical conditions.


This style of yoga has so many variations that it is unlikely for any two yoga classes to be the same.

Benefits of power yoga

There are several health benefits that people can enjoy, by practicing power yoga poses on a regular basis. Some of the most common benefits that are a part of power yoga include:

• An improvement in breathing patterns, which reduces the risks of respiratory problems.

• Strengthening the heart, since it helps increase the heart rate

• Development of muscle tone as well as the overall balance and flexibility

• Improving the overall circulation of blood and oxygen, to all the different parts of the body

• Relieving stress and thereby promoting better sleep

• Increasing the sense of overall wellbeing in a person

While there are several benefits that have been associated with this style of yoga, most people are interested in it, mainly because they believe that power yoga works wonders for weight loss.

Power yoga exercises for weight loss

There are some fitness experts who claim that Yoga is not as effective for weight loss, as compared to other cardio workout routines. However, this is not necessarily true for Power Yoga, which exercises 100% of the body, if practiced correctly. Studies indicate that the power yoga calories burned count touches around 360 calories in one hour. In addition to that, if Power Yoga is practiced on a regular basis, it can boost a person’s metabolism to a great extent. However, it is important to practice the correct power yoga moves, to make a workout routine more effective. Given below are a few tips on maximizing the effectiveness of power yoga workouts:

• Each session should last for at least 90 minutes. However, overdoing it, with sessions that are too long can also be harmful and therefore, it is important to time the sessions carefully. 

• The body should not be pushed to hard, at least in the beginning. It is best for people to start off with poses and exercises that are a part of power yoga for beginners. All the power yoga poses should only be performed under the supervision of a qualified teacher or guru, to reduce the risks of a physical injury.

• Focus on poses that address the key trouble areas, more than the others. For example, people who need to reduce fat around their thighs and hips should practice the Ardho Mukha Svasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose). Similarly, there are many power yoga moves which can help focus on different body parts.

• Most people get bored of practicing the same workout routine and they could face the same problem with power yoga workouts. Fortunately, there are several other power yoga exercises, poses and moves, which can be adopted, to form a more varied and interesting workout routine.

While there are several benefits of power yoga, including weight loss, it is important to undergo a physical exam and get an approval from a doctor, before trying this discipline. Besides this the presence of a good qualified yoga instructor is very necessary to avoid any mishaps from taking place.