3 Ways To Compare Power Yoga To Ashtanga Yoga
1. Ancient Beginnings
Yoga has been used for centuries to strengthen and stretch the body and awaken the spirit. This discipline is both a physical practice and a spiritual journey that utilizes meditation and centering to clear the mind of excess energy and negativity. Many varieties of yoga are practiced throughout the world. Ashtanga yoga means "eight limbs" in Sanskrit and was translated from an ancient script by Krishnamacharya and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. This form of yoga detoxifies the body and builds strength, flexibility and stamina. Ashtanga yoga is an extremely vigorous form of yoga practice that is performed more quickly than some older forms, and it utilizes difficult poses that become harder as the workout continues. You must follow a specific series of sun salutations, seated poses, twisting poses and headstands in a particular order. The practice is meant to develop discipline and vitality.
2. Power Up With Yoga
Power yoga is a relatively new form that was developed in the United States by Beryl Bender Birch and Bryan Kest. They wanted to make the vigorous athletic quality of Ashtanga yoga available to Westerners without the ascetic regimented structure of the Eastern Ashtanga practice. Power yoga classes are largely developed by the teacher and do not follow a specific sequence. Typically, power yoga is performed more rapidly than the Eastern forms, and you can easily switch from seated poses to sun salutations to headstands. The point of power yoga is to provide ample stretching and a powerful aerobic workout. Most classes range from 20 to 45 minutes, compared to some longer traditional Ashtanga routines which can last up to 90 minutes.
3. Pick a Form
Determining which form of yoga is best for you really comes down to personal preference. Ashtanga yoga utilizes the ancient disciplines of yoga and asks students to alter other aspects of lifestyle, such as their eating and sleeping habits, sexual practices, spiritual devotion and medical intervention strategies. In addition to being rigorous, Ashtanga is highly structured and taught by a traditionally trained guru. Power yoga is a better fit for students who want the physical benefits of yoga without the extra spiritual or meditative aspects of the discipline. While 5 to 10 minutes may be reserved for meditation in a typical power yoga class, the focus is on weight loss and strength conditioning.