What Is the Difference Between Yoga and Power Yoga?

What Is Power Yoga?

It all began somewhere in the mid-1990s when two Americans decided to learn a few Ashtangas from an Indian guru. While they sure would have been impressed (lest we wouldn’t have a yoga form like this), they were perhaps unhappy with the slow pace they had to undergo from their guru. Power yoga was born as a combination of the athletic skill required to perform the ashtangas and the benefits of the different vinyasas. Fitness-based yoga, gym yoga, vinyasa style yoga. These are some of the terms people often use when they refer to power yoga. But what exactly is power yoga?
 

Yoga, in general, is a form of exercise where you make use of both your mind and your body. It requires discipline, commitment, dedication, and, not to forget, lots of focus. Power yoga is going one step ahead. After all, the main purpose of this style of yoga is to improve one’s endurance and strength and burn many more calories.

How Is Power Yoga Different From Yoga?

Yoga is a kind of exercise that is slow, with breaks between poses. Power yoga, on the other hand, requires the person to switch from one pose to another quickly,

• Speed

  The main difference between yoga and power yoga is speed. In other words, power yoga is more fast-paced and intense, so be sure you will burn a lot more calories with this. With the combination of ashtanga and vinyasa, this kind of yoga mixes athleticism with the rhythmic breathing of the vinyasa yoga poses.
   

  So you’ll not be sitting there cross-legged, deep breathing on a mat all hour; you’ll still feel relaxed, but this time a lot more energised than you would in an hour of regular yoga.
  
  

• Sequence

  The right sequence is something that is often strictly followed under regular yoga. However, the instructor can modify this when you go for power yoga. This means you won’t always follow the same order but may have to get used to many variations in the order of poses. For this reason, some argue against power yoga being an official form of yoga. That’s where the whole power yoga vs yoga argument begins, but let’s not get into it.
  
  

• End Goal

  As we saw above, yoga mainly focuses on improving one’s physical and mental health. On the other hand, the main goal of power yoga is to build one’s endurance to work towards greater stamina and strength.  This is why most people find yoga easier and more fun than power yoga, which is the more challenging of the two.
  
  

• Guidance

  Often, one comes across books on how to do yoga poses on library racks and shelves. This is because yoga is a form of exercise that one can begin learning by himself, though, in the later stages, he will require some help. However, in the case of power yoga, it is not the same. You begin here if you sign up with a good mentor who is experienced enough to give you the right kind of guidance. Failure to do this could leave you with a couple of broken bones.

Is power yoga good for your body?

Yet, at the same time, know that it is a relaxed form of exercise that requires mindfulness. This means that an hour of workout each morning is enough to keep you focussing on your work well the entire day. However, it may not give you intense meditation, which is one of the many benefits of yoga. And that’s another conflict between power yoga vs regular yoga.
 

• Cardiovascular Health

  Here, you don’t get to make those slow and deep breaths you enjoy when performing regular yoga. Yet, know that you get to enjoy many cardiovascular benefits with an hour of intense yoga like this. This is one of the greatest benefits of power yoga. It is known to raise one’s heart rate and also improve the flow of oxygen to your muscles and the rest of the organs in your body. So, if you are the kind that lives in constant fear of your heart, all thanks to a history of heart disease in the family, why not try power yoga?  
   

• Motor Skills

  This is some good news for those in fear of Parkinson's disease. An hour of this workout a day keeps Parkinson's away, so long as you are consistent with it, thanks to the muscle strength and power that power yoga helps you build.
  
  

• Weight Loss

  Studies say that power yoga helps you burn almost twice the calories you would otherwise burn in a regular yoga session. To be precise, you burn about 250 calories with an hour of this kind of workout, which is great compared to the 150 calories you burn with an hour of regular yoga daily.
   

  Furthermore, studies suggest that the exercise form keeps your mind connected to your body so you know when to stop eating. So, if you are the kind that always goes for the fifth masala dosa you know your stomach doesn’t need, power yoga is what your body and mind need. This style of yoga feels more like aerobics and is a great option for those who want to get into that slim lehenga for a cousin’s wedding that’s coming up in weeks.
  
  

• Mental Health

  And with that, we come to everyone's favourite: mental health and stress. So, if you are the kind that often gets nightmares about your boss and his many emails, then what you need is mornings of power yoga each day.
   

  This exercise will help you overcome the unwanted things you have been stressing over and replace all that anxiety with a sense of calmness and peace. And in the end, this is what you need to sort out all those emails that come in heaps. Don’t forget that exercise helps you relax better, which means you also enjoy a good night's sleep at the end of the day.

Conclusion

While yoga focuses on mental well-being, power yoga prioritises speed. Both have advantages and disadvantages; therefore, you must choose whatever you are comfortable with. In the end, just remember that a power yoga session is fun where no two classes are the same. If you do not like monotony and are bored with the discipline of yoga, then you may be made for some power yoga.