Yoga Misconceptions

I have to admit that before I took my firs Power Yoga class I thought it was too soft, boring, slow and meditative.  I was rehabbing a knee injury after having just run a marathon (so keep in mind I was in peak condition).  Someone suggested I take the Power Yoga class as a last resort.  I tried it because it was better than doing nothing at all but completely expected to be bored out of my mind!  I made it about half way through my first class before I started shaking and bailing out of poses!  I walked out of class without any knee pain at all and have been hooked on it ever since.  So I always laugh a little inside when people tell me they won't do yoga because it's too slow or because they're not flexible.  I think most people think of yoga as a mat-based relaxing, meditative activity.

Variety in Yoga Class

One of the things I love about Power Yoga is the flexibility (excuse the pun) of the class format.  In some practices the sequence is very strict which means the class is exactly the same every time.  I find this to be boring and less beneficial for the body.  When I am planning a class I try to make each one different.  There are ways to change the format of the class without altering the benefits.  For example, some classes are more cardio-based.  In this type of class I keep the postures basic but the flow constant, which means we are moving each time we in hale and each time we exhale.  The movements are also using the large muscle groups of the body which adds to the cardio effect. I add "floats" which are light, controlled hops or jumps to increase the heart rate and challenge large core muscles.  Another example of a different class format is to have a more "power" based class.  In this type of class I typically "warm-up" with about 20 minutes of vinyasa (flowing) movements and then phase into some really challenging strength moves.  I organize the class format into a leg series, core series and upper body series.  So we may do three or four challenging lower body postures followed by three or four core postures and ending with the same for the upper body.  This is the easiest class format to use and the most basic.  But there are several ways to intertwine the cardio with the strength and the different muscle group focus.

Adding Music to Yoga Class

I've taken yoga classes where there is no music.  In fact, most classes I've taken have been very quiet with just the instructor's voice to follow.  I can see the benefit to this, I guess.  The point is that nothing is distracting your thoughts, you're finding calmness in your breathing and concentrating only on how your body feels.  I play music when I teach, though.  I like this because it DOES distract you from some of the more uncomfortable postures when we're trying to hold them for a long time.  The music also adds a nice tempo to the workout when we're flowing from one position to the next.  It doesn't keep you from being "in tune" (excuse the pun) with your body, I think it just adds an element of fun to the class.

Take a Power Yoga Class!

If you're looking for a total body workout that will seriously challenge you...take a Power Yoga Class!  It's one of the most challenging things I've ever done yet I leave every class feeling energized and strong (not to mention sweaty).  If you're thinking, "yoga...how hard can it be?"  then you're stuck in the mindset that yoga is JUST stretching.  Some classes are...but Power Yoga is so much more!  It challenges strength, balance and flexibility all at the same time and can also be an excellent cardio workout, depending on how the class is structured.