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What is power yoga?

As the name suggests, power yoga is focused on building strength and endurance. It is also an excellent form of yoga for burning calories.
Although power yoga isn’t an official type of yoga, the term is sometimes used interchangeably with Vinyasa yoga. It’s probably more accurate to say that power yoga is a form of Vinyasa, which has its roots in Ashtanga yoga, an established practice that began in the early 20th century.

With power yoga, the emphasis is on the flow from one pose to the next, rather than approaching each pose separately. The poses aren’t disconnected from each other, unlike some other forms of yoga.

No matter what you call it, power yoga is a fast-paced and intense activity. You move from one posture to another rapidly, linking your breathing to the different motions of your body.

A power yoga class may seem more like an aerobics class than a relaxed, mindful yoga experience. Though it requires mindfulness and focus on your breathing, power yoga is more dynamic than meditative.

What are the key differences between power yoga and other types of yoga?
Power yoga differs from other types of yoga in a few important ways. Let’s look at these differences more closely.

Speed:
Unlike Hatha yoga, the most common form of yoga practiced in the United States, power yoga moves at a much faster pace.
Hatha yoga focuses on poses and breathing at a slower, more deliberate pace than power yoga.
The slower speed of Hatha yoga, and other forms of yoga that provide a more restorative experience, don’t deliver the same cardiovascular exercise benefits as power yoga.

Sequence:
Power or Vinyasa yoga uses many of the same postures as Ashtanga yoga, but not always in the same order.
Ashtanga yoga is a very precise practice, and each pose is done in the same sequence, no matter who is leading the class.
Power yoga classes, on the other hand, follow a sequence set by the instructor, or by the individual if you’re on your own. There is more variability and less structure with power yoga.

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. Hatha yoga is less focused on the flow of poses and more focused on achieving the right posture with each pose.

What are the benefits?
According to scientific evidence, power yoga provides a wide range of both mental and physical benefits. Here’s a look at some of the key benefits of this fast-flowing yoga style.

Cardiovascular health
Because of the fast pace and resistance training involved, researchTrusted Source shows that power yoga workouts can raise and sustain your heart rate.
Getting your heart rate up during exercise helps your body circulate blood and oxygen to your muscles and organs more efficiently. This, in turn, can help improve your fitness, stamina, and overall health.
Additionally, regular cardiovascular exercise, like power yoga, can benefit you by:

strengthening your heart and lungs,
helping control high blood pressure,
improving cholesterol levels,
controlling blood sugar levels,
building stronger bones and muscles,
helping with weight loss,
improving sleep,
boosting energy levels,
improving brain function,
lowering your risk for chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes



Strength
Although a power yoga class is fast-paced, that doesn’t mean you won’t hold any poses for a length of time. You may hold some poses for a minute or longer.When you hold your body in a particular position for more than a few seconds, it fires up your muscles and makes them work hard to keep you in a pose. This can boost your muscle strength and endurance in many parts of your body.