4 Amazing Benefits of Power Yoga [With Beginner Routine]

Power yoga is a form of yoga that appeals to the youngsters. This vigorous routine will not only bring you physical benefits, but will also ensure a healthy mental and emotional state!

Does practicing yoga feel slow and repetitive? Maybe it’s time you try power yoga.

Power yoga benefits not only aid your physical state, but also your mental state. Moreover, it is still considered to be a part of yoga since it has been around for quite some time.

What is yoga?

Yoga is a culmination of physical, mental, and spiritual practices that originated in ancient India. It involves breathing exercises, postures or asanas, chants, and meditation. It is known to reduce stress, improve immunity, flexibility, and lung function.

Practicing yoga can keep you grounded and in touch with your inner conscience.

It brings a sense of peace and calm.

In this time and age, the art of yoga is practiced worldwide, and is not restricted to one form only.

Yoga is now practiced in many forms.

A few of forms that are practiced are

Power Yoga
Aerial Yoga
Bhakti Yoga

Kriya Yoga, etc.

However, the main take-away of yoga, regardless of its form, is to achieve mental balance.

Regular yoga practice helps you achieve mental balance. But, it takes time, patience and perseverance.

What is Power Yoga?

Power Yoga, also known as Vinyasa Yoga, is a form of yoga wherein the practitioner follows a vigorous routine. It is one of the few forms that is similar to Ashtanga Yoga.

It offers your body the freedom as per your desire. The main aim of practicing power yoga is to build endurance and strengthen your muscles, however. It also focuses on ensuring that the body and soul of an individual are well synchronized along with its different aspects.

People often set goals of losing weight in a short time, and the benefits of power yoga finds its significance here. It improves muscle strength and cardiovascular endurance.

It also provides a great physical workout. This yoga is all about performing different asanas without repetition.

It is a fast paced intense activity which sets it apart from the other forms.

However, your breathing is still an integral part since you are told to link your breathing to the different motions of your body.

Although it requires mindfulness, this form of yoga is more dynamic and less meditative.

How is it different from other forms of yoga?

There are three observable differences which differentiate power yoga from conventional yoga practices.

The following are the three differences,

1. Agility

It improves cardiovascular endurance. You should perform the exercises at a certain speed. But hatha yoga focuses more on sequential poses and breathing at a slower pace.

Hatha yoga is more of a healing experience. But it is not beneficial if your only goal is to improve cardiovascular endurance.

2. Sequence

Ashtanga yoga is more about the sequence. You should follow a structured order.

But, a power yoga practitioner has to decide the sequence of asanas based on their fitness goal. There are also many variations to the same asanas which are performed in Ashtanga yoga.

3. Flow

Flow is one of the critical components that differentiate power yoga from other forms.

In hatha yoga practice, you focus on posture accuracy and breath control. But with power yoga, your focus shifts to endurance rather than posture accuracy. It causes intense sweating while performing the Asanas.

Power yoga resembles aerobics, but ashtanga yoga is about the sequence. It is a dynamic experience because it focuses on concentration and breath control, but Ashtanga yoga is a meditative experience.

Power Yoga Benefits

Power Yoga has offered various health benefits that span from physical to mental, over the last few years. You should know about power yoga practice has many health benefits.

The four major health benefits of power yoga are,

1. Strength

Power yoga does not involve static body postures – This is one of the most common misconceptions.

Power yoga practitioners maintain their postures in a particular position (for a minute or two depending on their endurance levels).

The hold fires up the muscles and helps you build strength.

It is also said to improve motor control. People with Parkinson’s disease have shown significant improvement after practicing power Yoga. (1)

2. Weight Loss (2)

As Power Yoga is similar to cardio, celebrities prefer it as the gym substitute. It helps you burn calories, improve muscle strength and prevents muscle loss. These features make this yoga a popular weight-loss option.

The practice of yoga in general also helps you tune in to your body through which you will be able to recognise when you’re overeating, and when you’re undereating.

3. Stress Reduction (3)

Power Yoga may not be similar to Ashtanga Yoga as it focuses on spirituality. But when you ignore these differences, it reduces mental anxiety, stress and relaxes you. This is one of the most important benefits of power yoga, as high stress levels are linked to various diseases like hair fall, weight gain etc.

Breath control keeps the lungs in good shape. Various asanas take care of the digestive system.

Overall, it strengthens the mind and body and alleviates stress at pressure points such as back, knees, spine and lower abdomen.

Power yoga helps calm your mind, body, and soul.

4. Overall Health (4)

It induces sleep and cures anxiety. It also relieves the stress of insomnia patients(especially those who work in nerve-racking situations).

It acts as a total-package for overall health and wellness.

Power yoga for beginners routine

Simple 10 minute power yoga routine for beginners

Also Read: Top 5 Ashtanga Yoga Poses With Health Benefits

Is it beneficial for you?

If your goal is to improve strength, increase endurance or lose weight, power yoga is a great option.

However, it is necessary to maintain a certain level of fitness before getting into power yoga since certain postures and the speed at which they are practiced will require it.

Note – Avoid power yoga if you are pregnant or if you’re suffering from knee and joint pain.

It can cause more harm than good and can show adverse effects.

Also Read: Top 5 Ashtanga Yoga Poses With Health Benefits

Wrapping up

The benefits of power Yoga are mind-blowing and it is a great option to stay fit. If it works for you, go for it as it is one of the most convenient options for working out. Your body and mind are the only requirements to achieve the desired results you want.

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