A new form
of yoga that focuses on a more fitness-based approached has been developed. It
is called Power Yoga, a method closely modelled after the Ashtanga style of
practice. The term Power Yoga became widely used in the mid-'90s when many yoga
teachers tried new ways to make Ashtanga Yoga more accessible to the western audience.
Both Power and Ashtanga Yoga focuses on strength and flexibility. The only
difference between the traditional method and Power Yoga is that the latter
does not require the performance of a series of poses. It took the basics of
yoga and gave it a dose of aerobics to tone the muscles, sharpen focus, and
strengthen the heart.
Power Yoga
is a very accessible exercise. To practice this new yoga method, all that is
needed is a flat floor surface, a mat or towel, and enough overhead space to
extend the arms. It can be performed by individuals of different ages and level
of physical condition. However, not all poses should be attempted by everyone.
Proper posture and alignment should always be maintained during stretch or
posture to avoid injuries. These activities should be stopped when there is
fatigue, pain, or dizziness. In addition, the mental component of yoga is as
important as its physical activities. Concentration and meditation should not
be taken for granted. Yoga should be done with an open and gentle mind when one
performs yoga positions and posture. Impatience, self-criticism, and comparing
oneself with others may hamper the improvement of one's physical and mental
health.
Who Invented Power Yoga?
Two
American yoga teachers are most often credited with the near simultaneous
invention of power yoga: Beryl Bender Birch, based in New York, and Bryan Kest,
based in Los Angeles.
Not
coincidentally, both these teachers had studied with Ashtanga master Sri K.
Pattabhi Jois. Using the term power yoga differentiated the intense, flowing
style of yoga they were teaching from the gentle stretching and meditation that
many Americans associated with yoga. Another name often associated with power
yoga is Baron Baptiste. Baptiste has his own method, which is only taught by
teachers he certifies.
Power yoga involves bit of Surya Namaskar
Basically,
power yoga involves the moves of the traditional yogic Surya Namaskar (or Sun
salutation) mixed with flexibility training and strength training. The Surya
Namaskar consists of 12 exercises with specific breathing patterns done in a
continuous graceful sequence.
They
counteract the effects of the previous exercise. They also expand and contract
the muscles of the ribcage and waist. Practising the Surya Namaskar daily will
make the spine flexible and trim inches off the waist.
The advantages of power yoga
1. It increases lean muscle tissue, which
means improved calorie burning, reduction in your body's fat percentage and
increased BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate).
2. This makes for a stronger you, leaving you
with strength for your everyday life.
3. It works your stomach and back muscles
constantly, increasing your core strength.
4. This increases the heartbeat
harmoniously.
5. Power yoga, like the traditional yoga,
helps reduce stress and relax your body.
6. It also helps improve concentration,
which is particularly good for students.
Summary:
Traditional
Yoga combines meditation and deep-breathing along with stationary poses, but
Power Yoga is being promoted as aerobics with meditation – the new way to burn
up calories, mold your butt, sweat away the tires around your waist, and attain
spiritual enlightenment all at the same time! Power Yoga is a continuous series
of vigorous non-stop exercises, accompanied by deep-breathing. Most Power
Yoga’s are closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice but unlike
Ashtanga, Power Yoga does not follow a set series of poses. So Power Yoga
routines can vary from guru to guru. But they all emphasize strength and
flexibility.
A new form
of yoga that focuses on a more fitness-based approached has been developed. It
is called Power Yoga, a method closely modelled after the Ashtanga style of
practice. The term Power Yoga became widely used in the mid-'90s when many yoga
teachers tried new ways to make Ashtanga Yoga more accessible to the western audience.
Both Power and Ashtanga Yoga focuses on strength and flexibility. The only
difference between the traditional method and Power Yoga is that the latter
does not require the performance of a series of poses. It took the basics of
yoga and gave it a dose of aerobics to tone the muscles, sharpen focus, and
strengthen the heart.
Power Yoga
is a very accessible exercise. To practice this new yoga method, all that is
needed is a flat floor surface, a mat or towel, and enough overhead space to
extend the arms. It can be performed by individuals of different ages and level
of physical condition. However, not all poses should be attempted by everyone.
Proper posture and alignment should always be maintained during stretch or
posture to avoid injuries. These activities should be stopped when there is
fatigue, pain, or dizziness. In addition, the mental component of yoga is as
important as its physical activities. Concentration and meditation should not
be taken for granted. Yoga should be done with an open and gentle mind when one
performs yoga positions and posture. Impatience, self-criticism, and comparing
oneself with others may hamper the improvement of one's physical and mental
health.
Who Invented Power Yoga?
Two
American yoga teachers are most often credited with the near simultaneous
invention of power yoga: Beryl Bender Birch, based in New York, and Bryan Kest,
based in Los Angeles.
Not
coincidentally, both these teachers had studied with Ashtanga master Sri K.
Pattabhi Jois. Using the term power yoga differentiated the intense, flowing
style of yoga they were teaching from the gentle stretching and meditation that
many Americans associated with yoga. Another name often associated with power
yoga is Baron Baptiste. Baptiste has his own method, which is only taught by
teachers he certifies.
Power yoga involves bit of Surya Namaskar
Basically,
power yoga involves the moves of the traditional yogic Surya Namaskar (or Sun
salutation) mixed with flexibility training and strength training. The Surya
Namaskar consists of 12 exercises with specific breathing patterns done in a
continuous graceful sequence.
They
counteract the effects of the previous exercise. They also expand and contract
the muscles of the ribcage and waist. Practising the Surya Namaskar daily will
make the spine flexible and trim inches off the waist.
The advantages of power yoga
1. It increases lean muscle tissue, which
means improved calorie burning, reduction in your body's fat percentage and
increased BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate).
2. This makes for a stronger you, leaving you
with strength for your everyday life.
3. It works your stomach and back muscles
constantly, increasing your core strength.
4. This increases the heartbeat
harmoniously.
5. Power yoga, like the traditional yoga,
helps reduce stress and relax your body.
6. It also helps improve concentration,
which is particularly good for students.
Summary:
Traditional
Yoga combines meditation and deep-breathing along with stationary poses, but
Power Yoga is being promoted as aerobics with meditation – the new way to burn
up calories, mold your butt, sweat away the tires around your waist, and attain
spiritual enlightenment all at the same time! Power Yoga is a continuous series
of vigorous non-stop exercises, accompanied by deep-breathing. Most Power
Yoga’s are closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice but unlike
Ashtanga, Power Yoga does not follow a set series of poses. So Power Yoga
routines can vary from guru to guru. But they all emphasize strength and
flexibility.
Tantra
yoga is a holistic approach to the study of the universe from the point of view
of the individual and it is one of several different types of yoga. It is
designed to promote rapid growth towards enlightenment as a living system.
Tantra
literally means expansion and it is a form of yoga that concentrates on
expanding an individual’s level of consciousness in order to unveil and realize
the full supreme reality of their being. Tantra yoga is often considered a true
pathway in life and is not overly concerned with sexuality, but instead the
creative force and the transmuting of energy into higher channels Yoga for
Beginners.
Tantra
Yoga includes many sciences including astronomy, astrology, numerology,
physiognomy, physics, chemistry, alchemy, Ayurveda, psychology, mathematics,
geometry and more. Providing for a more practical means of realizing the
highest ideals of philosophy in your daily life is the primary purpose of
Tantra yoga.
Characteristics of Tantra Yoga
1. Tantra Yoga offers an alternative and
practical individual road to salvation, called a SADHANA, (Spiritual discipline
and practice). It is important to remark here that the true Tantric SADHANA is
accessible to people of any caste, social status, age, women as well as men,
householders as well as ascetics.
2. The TANTRA-s are presented as the most fit
form of teaching for the men of KALI YUGA, that is for the people of the
"dark age", in which we live today. Therefore, nowadays, when the
spirituality is declining while man is desperately trying to reintegrate himself
in a spiritual reality, it is stated that Tantra is the last and best way of
salvation.
3. Tantra Yoga has a rigorous metaphysical
basis, of a very non-dualist nature. However, according to its opinion an
intellectual knowledge is not enough, but there is need of direct, personal
experience, which becomes possible only through the agency of SHAKTI, the
power, the intense energy. The concept of SHAKTI, the feminine energy is the
specific color of the entire Tantric system.
4. Tantra Yoga aim is to transform the adept
in a kind of super-man, who not only has liberated himself of the Universe,
reaching Enlightment, but also - alike the Supreme Lord Himself - is able to
rule over it, and control its secret forces. This involves that Tantric methods
are applicable for various sorts of practical accomplishments, including
astrology, medicine, parapsychology, alchemy, and magic.
5. Tantra teaches the practice of a special
variety of YOGA, destined to transform the animal instincts and functions, by
creating an upward movement in the body, along the energy- channels, NADI-s,
and through the centre-s of force, CHAKRA-s. The process is most commonly
expressed as "raising the KUNDALINI".
Tantra Yoga Goals
The main
aim of Tantra yoga in general is to expand awareness in all states of
consciousness, whether it is waking, dreaming or sleeping. In order to
accomplish this, yogis are instructed in methods of reprogramming their minds
to a manner of life that is viewed as healthier. Tantra yoga teaches us to identify
factors that influence the way we think and feel so that we may change them as
necessary to transcend these obstacles that hinder us. By altering our habits
and thought processes we can then learn to foster feelings of peace,
contentment and order within ourselves instead of clinging to self-destructive
thoughts based on ignorance, intolerance and selfishness.
Tantra
yoga offers comprehensive tools to aide you in redirecting your thoughts towards
healthier processes by guiding one towards breathing exercises, physical and
spiritual cleansing of the self, visualization, and mantra repetitions (or
chanting). These practices and more can help unfold our divine nature, as
taught by gurus of this branch of yoga.
Summary:
You sit
calmly and purify your mind and heart of any wayward thoughts and feelings as
the basics of Tantra yoga and then slowly being to sense the life force that is
within your being. It is then that you should direct this love and all the
devotion you can towards your dynamic body of light which represents your soul.
You should feel an amazing renewal and acceleration of spiritual awakening
through the practice of this form of yoga.
Yoga
Equipment, Tools, and Props may not be required when practicing Yoga but they
have always been useful aids to practitioners. Take note that it is essential
to feel relaxed and comfortable when doing the poses. Basic yoga equipment
comprises of equipment like mats, blankets and eye bags. Then the second type
of yoga equipment that includes supportive tools like belts, blocks and
bolsters and even specialized tools that provide support for the designs they were
designed for.
Types of
Yoga equipments:
When you
start practicing yoga, you may be tempted to run out and spend hundreds of
dollars on all the "right" equipment. Pause a moment, and think about
what you really need for a meaningful practice.
1. Yoga
mat: Buy a good quality sticky mat. This will be the staple of your practice,
and you should ensure that the mat is nonslip, is sufficiently thick for your
personal comfort level, and is long enough for you to stretch out on without
too much head or foot overhang in corpse pose.
2. Bags:
You may also want to invest in a yoga bag. These are bags specifically designed
to accommodate a rolled-up sticky mat and other accoutrements to and from
class. Look for one that has a comfortable shoulder strap and extra room for
keys, wallet, towel, and water bottle.
3. Balls:
Yoga done using a stability ball helps you improve balance and flexibility. The
size of the ball is important. Choose the size you are comfortable with.
4.
Bolsters: If you find it difficult to reach the ground during some floor poses,
bolsters could be useful. They offer support to your back. Bolsters are helpful
additions to reclining and sitting poses. By alleviating the pressure on the
back, they help increase the practitioner's sense of relaxation and ease the
physical stress on the body. Bolsters should be tested for the appropriate
level of thickness and dimensions for your body type.
5. Blocks:
Blocks are solid foam or wood pieces that are helpful for beginners,
especially, to achieve standing asanas by helping relieve the pressure that
comes from placing the hand (or head) squarely on the floor. By raising that
surface a few inches, you can relieve the pressure on the working muscle group
and get more out of the pose. Look for solid construction in blocks, and make
sure their planes are straight and even, to prevent wobbles and subsequent
falls.
6. Straps:
Straps are typically one inch wide (some are slightly wider, others more
narrow) and several feet in length. They help with reclining and stretching
poses where the hands can't quite meet, or where the foot is just out of reach.
Using a strap can help you get the benefit of the pose without risking a strain
injury. Make sure your strap is long enough to be useful, and is one long
piece, rather than a stitched or linked-together piece that might rip after
repetitive use.
7.
Inversion slings: An inversion sling helps stretch the muscles of your lower
back and provides a pulling force that gradually stretches your spine. You may
also use it to stretch your muscles in the shoulder, chest and groin.
8. Yoga
ropes: If you are a serious yogi, you may want to invest in wall-mounted yoga
ropes. You can use them to strengthen yourself and be flexible. You can use it
to enhance traditional and modified yoga postures.
9. Yoga
blankets: can be used in a number of ways--as a wrap in meditation, as a
covering for warmth in corpse pose, as added stability for seated poses. Look
for a colorful blanket in a pattern or texture that's aesthetically pleasing to
you, and a material that isn't scratchy or uncomfortable. Also, make sure the
blanket you select is washable, especially if you'll be using it in group
classes.
10.
Meditation cushions: are helpful in achieving a comfortable seated posture for
minutes on end, which is necessary for a meaningful meditation practice. There
are many varieties and types. As with bolsters, make sure the cushion you
select fits your body type and is comfortable and well-made. Here, too, you may
want to inquire about a removable, washable cover for the cushion.
Summary:
When
deciding to purchase yoga equipment in an online store or shop it usually wise
to have a look at the gear they are selling and check price points. There are a
number of kits that you can buy for yoga. With yoga growing more popular the
amount of equipment that can be got is greatly increasing. Now that it is
recognized as a great way to improve health and fitness more people are willing
to part with their money to buy the right kit.
The use of
Yoga equipments also lessen out the stress and strain from doing your yoga
positions. There is a yoga accessory out there that will support your muscles
and refrain you from any muscle injury.
Not
coincidentally, both these teachers had studied with Ashtanga master Sri K.
Pattabhi Jois. Using the term power yoga differentiated the intense, flowing
style of yoga they were teaching from the gentle stretching and meditation that
many Americans associated with yoga. Another name often associated with power
yoga is Baron Baptiste. Baptiste has his own method, which is only taught by
teachers he certifies.
They
counteract the effects of the previous exercise. They also expand and contract
the muscles of the ribcage and waist. Practising the Surya Namaskar daily will
make the spine flexible and trim inches off the waist.
Traditional
Yoga combines meditation and deep-breathing along with stationary poses, but
Power Yoga is being promoted as aerobics with meditation – the new way to burn
up calories, mold your butt, sweat away the tires around your waist, and attain
spiritual enlightenment all at the same time! Power Yoga is a continuous series
of vigorous non-stop exercises, accompanied by deep-breathing. Most Power
Yoga’s are closely modeled on the Ashtanga style of practice but unlike
Ashtanga, Power Yoga does not follow a set series of poses. So Power Yoga
routines can vary from guru to guru. But they all emphasize strength and
flexibility.
Power Yoga
is a very accessible exercise. To practice this new yoga method, all that is
needed is a flat floor surface, a mat or towel, and enough overhead space to
extend the arms. It can be performed by individuals of different ages and level
of physical condition. However, not all poses should be attempted by everyone.
Proper posture and alignment should always be maintained during stretch or
posture to avoid injuries. These activities should be stopped when there is
fatigue, pain, or dizziness. In addition, the mental component of yoga is as
important as its physical activities. Concentration and meditation should not
be taken for granted. Yoga should be done with an open and gentle mind when one
performs yoga positions and posture. Impatience, self-criticism, and comparing
oneself with others may hamper the improvement of one's physical and mental
health.
