The Benefits of Power Yoga

Yoga is not just about working out a sweat. It is a change in one’s attitude towards a healthier lifestyle. The practise of yoga helps one to stay still and calm in a world that is chaotic and noisy. Yoga appeals to everyone because peace and tranquility is everyone’s fundamental right. Focused Yoga training helps you to achieve the same over a period of time. The deep breathing and meditation practises can help one foster a shit from the daily to-do lists and the needs of the family, financial concerns and relationship struggles to something which is a little bit wider and all encompassing in scope to the daily issues that one faces. Yoga helps to relieve stress and helps to unclutter one’s mind and helps you become more focussed.

The Many Faces of Yoga

One of the main benefits of yoga is that one can decide a yoga style that is tailored to one’s lifestyle such as hot yoga, power yoga, relaxation yoga and prenatal yoga. If you are just beginning on the journey of yoga, we can recommend Hatha Yoga which focusses on a basic postures at a comfortable pace and is easy for beginners. If increasing strength is your main concern, may we recommend Power Yoga.

The Benefits of Power Yoga

The focus of power yoga on strength training and flexibility is of great benefit to your body. The postures in Power Yoga are meant to strengthen your body from the inside-out so that the net effect is that you not only look good but feel great too. Each power yoga pose is built to reinforce the muscles around the spinal cord which is the very center of your body and which is the core from which everything else operates. When the core is fine, posture is vastly improved thus reducing or alleviating the chances of back pain, shoulder and neck pain. The digestive system gets back on track when one stretches and when you add a healthy, organic diet to go with it, one can lead a constipation-free life free of conditions like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux. Another major benefit of yoga is that stretching and sustaining postures can help the muscles to lengthen which helps impart a leaner and longer look to the body.

How Does Power Yoga Build Muscle

Power Yoga which is an advanced form of yoga can amplify the beneficial effects of yoga. Power Yoga is adapted from the basic Ashtanga Yoga and requires an increased amount of energy, focus and strength. A lot of people are under the impression that Power Yoga is a frivolous activity that is evolved from the basics. But nothing could be further than the truth. Power yoga may be have evolved from Basic Yoga but it is definitely not a basic Yoga course. In fact while doing Power Yoga, a deeper and more focused participation is required because most poses are held for a full 5 breaths vs. the usual one to three breaths. Multiple muscles are challenged as the mind and body have to work harmoniously in tandem in order to hold a position or continue a succession without giving up. The act of breathing, posing, moving and increasing flexibility which happens all at once creates a new level of discipline and fitness in your mind and body.

Power Yoga and the Core

It is a known fact that Isometric exercises are one of the smartest ways to build one’s core strength. Isometric is made up of two words that mean ‘same’ and ‘length’ and simply translates into holding one position without moving. Power Yoga uses isometric exercises along with other postures that help strengthen your core and your back. Flexibility and balance comes from the core which is why it is important to train this crucial area of the body. As the core strength increases, one can increase the strength and health of the entire body. Doing Power Yoga in warm surroundings is beneficial because the muscles remain warm and toxins are flushed out of the body.

Effect on the Total Body

Let us look at the most beneficial aspects of Power Yoga:

• Increases endurance, strength and flexibility.
• As one holds postures for extended breaths, mental endurance and physical stamina are stretched and tested.
• Arm and shoulder strength is multiplied as you use your own body weight for resistance.
• The Lats and the other back muscles start to support the spine better than ever before.
• The abdominal muscles are refined and chiselled through the building of the core muscles.
• Poor and average positions will begin to correct over a period of time.
• The hip flexor muscles are stretched and rebuilt.
• Glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves are tightened and lengthened and maintain their strength and position.

Conclusion

No matter what ails your body, Power Yoga is just the right exercise routine for you. Even if you are in perfect condition and just want to take your fitness to the next level, the ability of power yoga to build muscle will without doubt help you achieve a better body both externally and internally!

Author

Atin Dasgupta is the founder of Wellintra Fitness and is an artist-entrepreneur who makes music and builds businesses in his spare time!