Saswati Sarkar
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Written By: Saswati Sarkar | Updated : July 12, 2018 12:20 PM IST
Power yoga enhance your stamina, improve your flexibility and even enhance your ability to focus on tasks. © Shutterstock
A term coined in the 1990s, Power Yoga draws its inspiration from the classical Ashtanga school of practice. Also known as gym yoga, this form came into being to make yoga more accessible to students from the West. This newly-emerged style, that allows the trainers to change the sequence of poses, has gained significant popularity all across the world, owing to its dynamism and flexibility. US-based yoga teachers Bryan Kest and Beryl Bender Birch, are often credited with the conceptualisation of Power Yoga.
Power yoga VS. Traditional yoga
Traditional yoga relies on meditation and slow-paced moves while Power Yoga is a partially new trend where the poses are more intense and fast. The former focus on meditation, balance and stress-relief, and the later is modelled to help you lose weight, build muscle strength and gain flexibility.
How power yoga helps
There are multiple ways in which this form of yoga benefits you. Learn about all of them in great detail:
Weight loss
The cardio elements of Power Yoga help in calorie burn while the strength-building components help in creating lean muscle mass all these help you reach your weight-loss goals faster.
Stronger bones
Weight-training exercises give you this benefit and yes, Power Yoga too, but minus those heavy weights! This is because, here, you are lifting your own body weight to move from one asana to another.
Healthier heart
Through Power Yoga, you can lower your cholesterol levels. It also helps to de-clog blocked arteries. Studies claim that Power Yoga goes a long way in keeping your blood pressure under control, thanks to its cardio properties.
Improved posture
The various asanas of this form of yoga can be instrumental in correcting the structure of a deformed bone, thereby improving your posture. Your back pain issues can also recede if your posture is rectified.
Pain relief
Stretching and breathing exercises are an integral part of Power Yoga which makes your joints, tendons, and other muscles more flexible. Increased flexibility, in turn, alleviates pain, stiffness and other allied conditions.
Stress alleviation
Like its traditional counterpart, Power Yoga works wonders in bringing down your stress levels by revving up the quality of your sleep.
Smart tips
Image Source: Shutterstock
