The Power Yoga known as the yoga of power, is nothing more than a variety of yoga as such, which is characterized by understanding a practice of high impact at the level of strength in the physical aspect. It can be easily practiced by anyone; Although it is designed for people who live a fast, stressful and under pressure lifestyle, who want to improve their health and their quality of life.
The goal of power yoga is to transfigure the body and mind to achieve overall well-being. Which is based on performing a series of postures or positions called “asanas”, which help strengthen the body and discover the depth of souls. Through all its movements, you will be able to heal, detoxify and electrify your body and mind, to levels so deep that paradoxically they elevate you.
Origin of yoga
The ideal of yoga, results from the United States thanks to the contribution of different teachers. It comes from the famous Ashtanga Yoga, mixing theory and practice of many others, such as the well-known Vinyasa. Many practitioners consider it gym-type yoga because of the hard exercises that are performed.
The term power yoga was established when used in the mid-90s, when it was investigated that ashtanga yoga was more accessible to young Westerners than other types of exercise. Only with the difference that this type of exercise does not follow the series of pose postures together, so classes can vary quickly and considerably.
In this way, greater emphasis was given to the aspects of strength and flexibility. This type of yoga began to be instructed in different American gyms, acquiring a special benefit in the participants, because they saw it as a new way to exercise.
It is well known that there were only two teachers of American origin, the precursors of power yoga called Beryl ender and the renowned Kist Bryan. Both professionals studied Ashtanga with the help of Sri K, Pattabhi Jois.
Thus, with such background, they promoted power yoga focused on stretching, meditation and many other powerful exercises. Currently, according to studies conducted by the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), of the United States, about thirty million people practice yoga regularly.
Instructions
Power yoga sequence for beginners
- Generally, sequences are difficult in terms of strength; But at level they are not because the basics do not start with advanced positions. So, anyone will be able to practice it.
- First get into position four, upside down dog; Hook your fingers and from there you start to raise your hips and bring it up and back.
- Then you extend your back, you try to stretch your back. If you get uphill do not worry that with time and practice everything is achieved.
- Remember to move your shoulders away from your ears and breathe while pushing the floor with your hands and straightening your back.
- Now, shrink one leg to rest it; And then you stretch it again. So, exchanging, from left to right from left to right several times more frequently to warm up the body.
- Subsequently, inhaling you raise your right leg and exhale low. So, with the left leg exchanging the movement slowly, but increasing its frequency for a minute.
- Remember to keep your legs elevated for a few seconds to intensify the resistance.
- Finally, to finish relaxing your back you are bringing your hands to your feet on the floor. They relax your shoulders and neck to get as close as possible to your feet, trying to stick your chest to your knees.
- A minute later you lift your torso exhaling and raising your hands to the sky to recover energy.
- You take a breath again and bring your hands to your heart while lifting your right leg bent so that the knee coincides with your hip for a few minutes.
- Being in the previous position perform a twisting of abdominals stretching your arms one in front and one back as much as you can without losing balance by standing on one foot.
- For the more advanced, they can take their foot with their hand and lift to stretch the tendons. Something like the posture of a ballet dancer. But of course, that is for advanced who know how to maintain the balance well, because an initiate probably wobbles and falls, which we do not want to happen.
- Finally, return to your natural posture and take three deep breaths.
- Remember that this sequence must be repeated every day several times to acquire the appropriate resistance that will help you achieve strength.
What You Need
- Patience to perform the postures.
- Good nutrition.
- Good sleep routine.
- Relax your mind.
- Practice breathing methods.
- A relaxing place that is not too cold or too hot, should be a pleasant climate to the body.
- Comfortable and flexible clothing.
- Concentration.
- Perseverance.
- Relaxing music; preferably from nature sounds such as rain, waves or birds singing.
Councils
The supporters of yoga power certify that this is a transformative yoga and not theoretical. This means that when it is practiced, not only will the person receive information regarding how to perform each position or each of the breathing techniques, but he will also find many strategies to transfigure his life in all horizons.
And it is all technicality, because in the classes’ conversations are encouraged about psychological traits and paradigms about how power yoga can transform your daily life, both in the inner scope of the body and in your environment.
The positions are supported by sequences, which can be adapted to each participant without problems, so that little by little they become advanced. That is why in power yoga they can be performed from sitting or standing exercises, always making movements that relate the body directly to breathing and meditation practices.
Power yoga is a genre that seeks to deal much more with the physical. But, as the experts have explained, the effort must be the way to reach from the resistance the strength and the central energy; Well, like any yoga, it will always be linked to the mental part of the human being and the spiritual is basic meditation. Therefore, it is not just a continuum of exercises.
Power yoga makes your body exercise intensely to the extreme. Therefore, in each class you work in an easy way, linking stronger postures until you take your body to the limit. In this way, the tasks are conceived in the fundamental systems of the body such as breathing.
The most common positions are: face up, face down, standing, sitting, extensions, balance in arms and balance in feet; head and push-ups, and back. Usually, participants are people who need to have more speed, optimize their physical strength or achieve greater peace of mind. On some occasions, it can resemble fitness. You will immediately notice that by practicing power yoga you will have greater muscle strength and optimal mental endurance.