Power Yoga is a great way to combine the mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of yoga with vigorous exercise. To get the full benefits of a power yoga practice, make sure you tailor your practice to your goals and don't sacrifice the importance of basic yoga principles in favor of a hard workout.
STEP 1
Choose the right time of day. You might want to do power yoga first thing in the morning, when an energetic routine is most likely to get you going for the rest of the day. Try pairing that practice with a very short, relaxing routine at night if you can. Even just a few poses may help you sleep and set the tone for the next morning.
STEP 2
Learn to breathe. Whatever your level, yoga
always starts with breath. Breathing properly will help you keep your rhythm throughout the class, know your limits, and maintain good habits. When your breathing
and your asanas (poses) are in perfect synch, you'll really feel the flow of power yoga.
STEP 3
Start easy, then work your way up. Many students who pick a power yoga class or home practice do so because they're hoping to achieve health benefits or want an aerobic workout. Power yoga offers these things, but it's important to remember that the benefits of yoga accrue slowly, over time. Don't get frustrated if you need to pause in a class and rest in child's pose, downward dog, or savasana
. The only important thing is to breathe. If you are breathing, you are practicing yoga.
STEP 4
Identify your goals and set a realistic timetable for them. Before you select a class, DVD, or audio home practice, figure out what you want to get out of power yoga. Are you looking for aerobic exercise? Strength training? Increased flexibility? Mental ease? Decide what you're looking for and set gradual, incremental goals. It may be helpful to start with a short class and easy poses, then work your way up, to avoid burnout
.
STEP 5
Choose a class or home practice based on your goals and your yoga style. Once you've identified your goals
, look for a class that meets those needs. Think about your personality as well when selecting how you're going to practice power yoga. If it's hard for you to make yourself practice, having a friend come over to do yoga together may make you honest, and less likely to skip than a group class. If you're worried about injury or don't know proper alignment yet, you'll probably want to practice with a teacher. If budget is a concern or you want to practice at home, there are many audio and DVD classes available.
STEP 6
If you picked power yoga because you lose patience easily, you might want to tend towards intermediate classes. Spend some time outside your practice learning the poses and proper alignment first, then head to an advanced beginner or intermediate class that gets into vinyasa (matching breath to movement) right away, rather than slowly explaining each pose at the start of the class.
STEP 7
Always take time in savasana. If you like to go, go, go, you may select power yoga because it feels less challenging than a slower, more meditative
class. However, after every great, challenging workout, don't forget to spend at least five minutes in savasana:
- Lie flat on your back, legs slightly apart, palms facing up at your sides.
- Let your feet fall open and your eyes close.
- Breathe deeply and concentrate on your breath. This asana is more beneficial than all the others combined, and is a great time to soak in the benefits of your challenging practice.
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