Learning Yoga – Week 5
Hello! I wanted to switch things up this week and focus on power yoga instead of traditional yoga by finding a fun yoga class to follow online!
Alo Yoga has a great variety of yoga classes on YouTube to practice. I picked the 30-Minute Energizing Power Vinyasa Flow with Briohny Smyth. Here is the link:
What is power yoga?
Power yoga is a form of Vinyasa, but focuses on building strength and endurance. It is fast-paced and emphasizes the flow from one pose to the next, rather than practicing each pose separately.
What are the key differences between power yoga and other types of yoga?
- Speed
Unlike Hatha Yoga, the most common form of yoga practiced, power yoga moves at a much faster pace. Hatha Yoga provides a more restorative experience and does not deliver the same cardiovascular exercise benefits as power yoga.
- Sequence
Power yoga classes are to follow a sequence set by the instructor, or by the individual on their own.
- Flow
One of the main differences between Hatha and Vinyasa or power yoga is in the flow. Power yoga emphasizes the flow from one pose to the next, exhaling as you change positions. Traditional Hatha yoga focuses on achieving the right posture with each pose, and is less focused on the flow.
What are the benefits?
Power yoga workouts raise your heart rate and help circulate blood and oxygen to your muscles and organs. Cardiovascular exercises, such as power yoga, can benefit you by:
- Strengthening your heart and lungs
- Helping control high blood pressure
- Improving sleep
- Improving brain function
- Boosting energy levels
Power yoga is used to reduce stress and anxiety, and promote feelings of relaxation and calm. “Even though power yoga is less meditative and more fast-paced than some types of yoga, a 2017 study found that power yoga has the ability to decrease levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, in your body” (Roland. 2020).
Work Cited
Roland, J. (2020). How Does Power Yoga Differ from Traditional Yoga? Healthline.