What Is Power Yoga + Benefits and How to Get Started

{"slug":"what-is-power-yoga","recentPosts":[{"id":"cl8kb5f23jq1w0ciscs2h2bxw","slug":"benefits-of-yoga-for-pregnancy","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"What are the Benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy?","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Yoga for Pregnancy is excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor. Read more to understand the benefits of Yoga for Pregnancy","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:42:36.767798+00:00","coverUrl":"kvvlqndsbow5dsckhw7i.jpg","content":{"text":"When you get pregnant, people come out of the woodworks with advice, remedies and old wives tales. Everyone’s got an opinion on how you should spend your pregnancy. But the one thing we know for sure is, yoga is great for mom and baby alike. If you’re curious about prenatal yoga, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down why this type of yoga is excellent for moms (and babies).\\nWhat is prenatal yoga?\\nPrenatal yoga was designed for women who are expecting. Rather than taking a regular class and having to worry about modifications or safety, this class is specifically designed for pregnancy. The practice can help women with common pregnancy aches and pains, ease hormonal and emotional stress and help women’s bodies prepare for birth and their postpartum journey. A regular yoga practice when pregnant has tons of amazing benefits!\\nBenefits of Prenatal yoga: \\nWe asked women who’ve done prenatal yoga while pregnant for their reviews, one said “ It’s excellent for stress relief, pain relief, and preparation for labor.” And they all said they’d recommend it to friends! \\nSo let's break down the benefits: \\nRelaxation : \\nPregnancy can be very stressful! But yoga will help you to relax physically, mentally and emotionally and create a safe, relaxing environment for birth. Prenatal helps you with coping and breath techniques for all stages of your pregnancy.\n\\nPreparation for birth : \\nFor first time moms, and even sometimes vets, labor can be scary. This practice will help you to learn birth techniques so you’re relaxed and ready to go!\n⁠\\nYoga can Help with Labor : \\nIn a 2015 study\\n, It was found that a regular yoga practice in the last 10-12 weeks of pregnancy can improve the mother's comfort during labor and help facilitate the labor process. The “yoga group” in this study on average was in labor two hours less than those who didn’t practice. Past your due date? Prenatal Yoga is also known to help induce labor\n⁠\\nCommunity : \\nYoga classes have always been known to help us build community but during pregnancy, it's so important to have a group of women who understand what you’re going through. Taking part in a prenatal class puts you in a group of women who get it. You’ll have a built in support system and maybe even first friends for your baby!\\nFrequently Asked Questions about Prenatal Yoga:\\nIs Yoga for Pregnancy safe?\\nYes. Yoga is generally considered safe during pregnancy. However, you should always consult your doctor & make sure you’re practicing with a teacher who understands the prenatal experience and can keep you safe. Our teachers are experts in yoga and are ready to help you on your journey. If you’d like to check out our offerings, you can get started today with a two week free trial! \\nWhen during pregnancy can you practice yoga?\\nDuring your first trimester, you can stick to your regular practice with some modifications. \\nYour second trimester is a GREAT time to start prenatal yoga! At this point, you’ll be starting to officially come into your “pregnancy body” and you’ll need to be practicing poses more specific to prenatal. The second and third trimester are considered the “prep period” for your body to prepare for labor. So it's a great time to keep moving and stretching in your new skin as you make room for the baby to grow! \\nWhat yoga poses should you avoid doing? \\nFor the most part, yoga is considered safe during pregnancy. You really only need to focus on any poses that put pressure on your abdomen. You should avoid any and all twisting poses, backbends and inversions.. \\nYoga for Pregnancy Poses you can perform at Home :\\nIt’s important to stay active during your pregnancy for both mom and baby! You should try to get in some sort of movement daily for at least 30 minutes. You can stick to low impact workouts or walks but if you want to do some yoga at home, it’s a great way to end your day. Yoga while pregnant can help with pain, help you sleep better and fight tiredness and fatigue. \\nHere are some poses you can practice at home to keep you moving! And as a bonus, most of these poses will also help your body prepare for giving birth!\\n1. Bound angle pose (Baddha Konasana) :\\n\\nBaddha Konasana pose will help you open your hips, releasing any pain in your back. It can also help to reduce swelling\\nHow it helps with labor: Opening the hips will help you to stretch the muscles needed to open the birth canal.\\n2. Cat-cow pose (Marjaryasana Bitilasana) :\\n\\nMarjaryasana Bitilasana pose release back and shoulder pain and also reduce pressure from the belly\\nHow it helps with labor: Back pain is a common occurrence during the birth process. This pose will help to keep your muscles limber and help to avoid muscle spasms and pain in your back during labor. \\n3. Yogi squat (Malasana) :\\n\\nBeen sitting too long? This is a great hip opener and will also release lower back pain. \\nHow it helps with labor: This pose will widen the pelvic floor making the birth easier,which may help to reduce injury during birth.\\nRemember, if you’re practicing at home, it’s always best to consult your doctor and make sure yoga is safe for your pregnancy.\\n\\nOther ways to practice self-care during pregnancy\\nBeing a mom is the hardest job in the world. And there are no days off. Starting with pregnancy, we feel out of control of our body, its growth and the way we feel. Remember to take time during this beautiful process to practice self-care so you can be present, happy and relaxed. \\nBook a prenatal massage :\n\n⁠⁠A prenatal massage is GREAT for mom and baby. It can help reduce stress and swelling without meds, help you to sleep and get your body ready for labor and delivery.  \\nTake a bath :\n⁠\n⁠Taking a warm bath while pregnant can also help to reduce stress and lower your blood pressure. It’s a great way to relax and rest your growing body. If you’re feeling pain or swelling, it can be very beneficial to relax in a warm bath. \\n\\nAyurveda for Pregnancy :\\n\n⁠\n⁠This week, MyYogaTeacher has a special Ayurveda event running where you’ll learn how to align with your best self through nutrition and health changes. This specific class is designed to help you have your most healthy pregnancy with nutrition guidelines for a mom and foods to help with baby's development! \\n\nYou can also choose to work 1 on 1 with an instructor of your choice through your MyYogaTeacher membership! Let us help you have your healthiest pregnancy possible! \\n\\nGet started today!\\n"},"category":[]},{"id":"cl8ka13l4ionz0ck2fe0pme7l","slug":"chronic-neck-pain-relief-yoga-poses","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Are you suffering with Chronic Neck Pain? 10 yoga poses to find relief!","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-27T14:11:15.683866+00:00","coverUrl":"rbh6duxy7hy3y207sg1c.jpg","content":{"text":"Do you suffer from chronic neck pain? Nearly 30-50% of adults suffer from recurring neck pain. \\nNeck pain can be a common occurrence for people who:\\nhave long commutes or sit at a desk all day\\nwho have issues with posture \\nwho have chronic sleep issues\\nOur neck and shoulders can also be a place where we may carry tension or pain due to stress. In any case, the good news is yoga can help you to relieve your neck pain and move on symptom free! \\nDaily changes you can make to avoid neck pain\\nStay in alignment. Keep good posture and try not to carry heavy bags on one side of your body. Also, if you sit at a desk and work on a computer, move your monitor to eye-sight so you’re not looking up or down. Need help finding your center? \\nWe can help here at MyYogaTeacher! \\n\\nStay active! It’s important to stay mobilized.  If you sit all day, take breaks to move around and give your body a break from being stuck in one position. Can’t take breaks at work? Try to go for a walk on lunch or maybe before or after your workday. \\nCheck your sleep environment. Make sure your mattress and pillows are still in good shape. Look into the best pillows for your sleep type or body. Getting quality sleep will help you avoid tossing and turning and can be your remedy to wake pain free. \\nIf you’re feeling like you need to move, starting with any slower yoga practice will help! Yin, hatha and restorative classes will all leave your body feeling relaxed, renewed and free of pain. Want to flow on your own? Here are our top ten poses to try! \\n10 Yoga Poses to relieve Chronic Neck Pain :\\n1. Easy seat with ear to shoulder stretch\\nThis pose releases your neck and shoulders and helps relieve tension and stress.\\nStart by sitting with your legs crossed and a straight back. Shoulders down. Bring your ear down to your shoulder. To deepen the stretch, bring your opposite arm overhead. \\n\\n\\n\\n2. Child’s Pose\\nReleases tension in the upper body including the neck and chest.\\nBring your knees as wide as the mat and sit into your heels. You can bring your chest to the mat and extend your arms forward or come to rest on a pillow or bolster. Try to hold this pose for up to 5 breaths. \\n\\n\\n\\n3. Downward facing dog\\nHelps to relieve neck pain by strengthening the upper body and releasing the spine. \\nStart by coming onto all fours. Check your alignment- make sure your shoulders are over your wrist, and your hips over your knees. Without changing the position of your hands and feet, push up and back to bring your heels into the ground. Relax your head, neck and shoulders down. \\n\\n\\n\\n4. Bridge Pose\\nReleases chest, neck, spine and hips.\\nLay down on your mat, bring your feet as close to your glutes as possible. Bring your hands to the sides of your body palms down. Push into the feet and hands while you lift your core and back to the ceiling. Try to relax and breathe here. \\n\\n\\n\\n5. Wide Leg forward fold\\nReleases spine, neck and back. If you’re in pain perform this stretch slowly, and come up one vertebrae at a time. \\nBring your feet as wide as you can, feet facing forward. Hinge at the hips and slowly bend forward and down towards your feet. You can hang here or grab yogi toe lock around your big toe. \\n\\n\\n\\n6. Cow face pose\\nStrengthens core and spine.\\nSit up tall and stack your knees directly over one another. Reach one arm back around your waist and one arm over your shoulder with your palms reaching towards one another. If you can, clasp your hands. If not, rest them on your back, you will still benefit from the pose. \\n\\n\\n\\n7. Sphinx pose\\nThis pose will help to physically open up the shoulders and neck. Looking side to side slowly is a great addition to the pose. \\nLie on your stomach and bring your hands next to your chest facing down. On your inhale press into the ground and lift your upper body. \\n\\n\\n\\n8. Thread the Needle \\nIncreases mobility and releases tension in the upper body. \\nCome on to all fours. Check your alignment, make sure your hips are over your knees, shoulders over your wrist. Reach one arm out to the side and thread it through the opposite side under your ribs. You can stay here or open up the opposite side by reaching the hand to the back or straight up and over. Make sure to do both sides. \\n\\n\\n\\n9. Legs up the wall\\nReleases tension and stress from the upper body by reversing blood flow. \\nFind a wall near your practice space and sit next to the wall as close as possible. Lower your head, neck and shoulders onto your mat, then roll onto your back and stretch your legs up the wall. You can stay in this restorative pose for up to 10 minutes. \\n\\n\\n\\n10. Savasana\\nSavasana releases any stress, lowers heart rate and calms the body. \\nCome onto your back on your mat, and release your body down. This is known as corpse pose because it is a full and final rest at the end of our practice. Release and let go of any and all tension. \\n\\n\\n\\nClasses to help relieve neck pain \\n\\nYoga fusion for joints \\n- This class will help you roll out your joint pain and stretch your tight limbs and joints. \\n\\nYoga for Back Pain\\n - Sometimes, neck pain can be caused by tightness in the spine. Experts say yoga helps soothe muscle pains. Try this class to strengthen and lengthen your neck and back for pain relief! \\n\\nYoga for Neck and Shoulder Pain\\n - Do you sit all day at work? Struggle with your posture? This class will help relieve upper body tension. \\n\nSo if you’re ready to make your neck pain a thing of the past, join us today. Our trial includes two free weeks of group fitness classes, one on one classes and so much more! \\nGet started on your yoga journey now!\\n"},"category":["yoga_poses"]},{"id":"cl8cuq5nnh5860biyek2vhu2w","slug":"reproductive-rights-for-women-yoga-workshop","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop - Supporting Women Through Yoga","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":null,"readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-22T09:28:27.679552+00:00","coverUrl":"dkjwcigamkavxe0yziwq.jpg","content":{"text":"Announcing MyYogaTeacher’s first ever Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\nHere at MyYogaTeacher, we believe in the wisdom of women to make their own choices about their health. \\n\\nThat’s why we’re excited to offer the\\n Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop on October 2 from 9 AM - 11 AM PST (12 PM - 2 PM EST) for only $10!\\nIn the past, our community events have been free. So why are we charging a nominal fee for this one?\\nBecause ALL proceeds from the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop go to support the \\nCenter for Reproductive Rights\\n charity, a nonprofit organization, the \\nonly\\n global legal advocacy organization dedicated to advancing reproductive rights.\\nIn the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs Wade and on the day before the new term of the Supreme Court begins, we think this workshop is a perfect way to silently protest this new ruling through self-care and donations to an organization like the Center for Reproductive Rights.\\nThis will also be a time of healing and processing with a couple of awesome expert yoga instructors!\\nHow to join the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop\\nWhether you’re a member or not, \\nJust click this link and register \\nas you would any other group class! Simple as that.\\nIntroducing a very special guest yoga instructor coming just for this event!\n\\nMeet Harpinder Mann, RYT-500!\\n\\n\n\\nHarpinder is a yoga, meditation, mindfulness teacher, and decolonizing activist based in Los Angeles. She works with women of color who want to reclaim their power and intuition through the lens of a spiritual, joyful, and sustainable path. Her studies have spanned from reading the Japji Sahib since she was 3, to over 700 hours of yogic training within the traditions of Raja, Vinyasa, Kundalini, and Prenatal Yoga. \\nWe’re super excited to have her lead the beginning of the workshop. Afterwards, MyYogaTeacher yoga instructor, \\nTrupti Parikh\\n, will lead us in asanas, and a discussion session will follow.\\nAre you ready to experience a workshop where we solely focus on supporting and advocating for women’s health \\nwhile\\n improving our mental, emotional, and physical health?\\n\\nJoin us for the Reproductive Rights for Women Yoga Workshop!\\n\\nTogether, we make a difference."},"category":["workshops"]},{"id":"cl8a9804vy5de0biznpg4ai2t","slug":"yoga-benefits-for-runners","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga For Runners : Why Runners Should Incorporate Yoga Into Their Training?","subTitle":null,"seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Adopting an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Read now to learn more","readTime":null,"excerpt":null,"tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-20T13:50:56.406936+00:00","coverUrl":"tbdacuzob0fuqml8dyjd.jpg","content":{"text":"Training for a big race? Setting some goals you want to crush before the year ends? No matter what your reasons, yoga can be a great way to cross train for running from a 5k to a marathon! Running is great for your heart and body but can also be a huge strain on the muscles. Having an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Let’s dive into how yoga can help!\\n1. Breathing\\nProper breathing and breath stabilization are both incredibly important principles in Yoga and Running. If you can practice proper breathing while running, you can maintain speed longer because you will take long deeper breaths to match your long strides, instead of short breaths which cause instability and speed decline.\\nPracticing Pranayama for runners - \\nAdding a pranayama breath practice before a run can help you to maintain focus as well as speed. Even if running is a release for you, and feels relaxing, Using breathwork to relax and focus can help you clearly see the physical and mental road ahead. Pranayama can also help if things are going off course on your run. If you need to regain control, you can come back to your breath and refocus. With these practices together, your run really can be a religious experience, or a way to relieve stress! \\nTo start a pranayama practice, all you need to do is focus on controlling your inhale and exhale. Start by standing tall and relaxed, or sitting tall and calm if you prefer. Close your eyes and focus inward. Start by breathing in for two and out for two. As you continue to grow your practice, you can  build up to breathing in for six and out for six. You can even play with pausing for two to four breaths in between your inhale and exhale. When you finally build a practice you’re confident with, you can start to set intentions and visualize your success. With this practice, you’ll begin to see your running dreams come true!\\n\\n2. Flexibility/Strength\\nIt would be great if in life, we only ever needed to do one thing to get to our goals. But in reality,just like we can’t have cookies for every meal, cross training for runners is essential to maintaining a long term healthy routine. While you could easily just add weight training or stretching a la cart into your week, yoga gives you more by going deeper and getting into those smaller, harder to access ligaments and tendons you might otherwise miss with strength training . Adding yoga into your running routine can reduce the risk of injury and help to maintain your goals. The more flexible your muscles are, the less likely they are to tense up or be stressed during running so you can move with more confidence and ease. Not to mention, it’s always great to look forward to a nice long stretch after a run. \\n\n3. Conditioning \\nWe all know running is GREAT for your cardiovascular health, can add years on to your life and keep your heart pumping at its best! But it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a veteran, running can make your body sore. Yoga is great for conditioning those tired and fatigued muscles without having to “take a day off” to rest. In between your runs or on conditioning days, you can take a class focused on your back or knee health, or even a class to open tight hips after a long run. There’s nothing the magic of yoga can’t do! \\n\n4. Balance/Posture\\nEven though running is a “walk in the park” compared to ballet where balance is concerned, you still need to do your best to focus on alignment while you move.\\nYoga can improve your running form by elongating the limbs so you cover more ground in less time. You'll be PR’ing in no time! Proper alignment is also important when running because as you increase your speed, the level of impact (and injury) becomes greater. Maintaining your body's alignment during movement assures you arrive at the finish line aliment free! Love a tree pose? Want to learn to fly into a warrior? Lots of yoga poses force you to balance on one leg, which helps you to build a unilateral movement practice much like the ebbs and flows you take while running. \\n5. Stress and Mental Clarity\\nFeeling stressed before a big run? Worried about your PR? Yoga can help! Focus your breathing and set an intention. You’ve got this!\\nFocus and clarity are so important when running so you can know where you’re headed and stay on track. Add your yoga practice in before training or race days and you’ll feel your worries melt away. According to scientists at \\nHarvard,\\n adding just minutes of yoga to your week can improve your outlook, slow down the body and decrease stress. You’ll find your body will be more relaxed, focused and ready to run for those goals when you release your tension with yoga. \\nGetting started:\\nSo what do you need to get started? Simple! Yourself, a mat, some water and a quiet space are all you need! Are you ready to add yoga into your running routine? \\nGet started with a two week free trial of our classes and one on one sessions!\\n\\nLet’s figure out where your yoga practice would serve you best! \\nDoing yoga BEFORE your run will help you to warm up your muscles and ligaments. By fully warming up your body before you hit the pavement, you decrease the chances of injury, help with an easier recovery and can improve your PR as you continue to train! \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice before a run :\\nHigh Lunge - This pose stretches the legs from top of the thighs down to the ankle\\n\\nWarrior II - Helps with focus and stamina. Great before heading out!\\n\\nSide angle bend - This stretch helps to stretch the side body and release any tension in the shoulders and spine. \\n\\n⁠Prefer to do yoga after your run? That’s a great option too! Yoga is great for recovery after a run! Finishing your running routine with a yoga stretch helps you to rebalance. You can stretch muscles or limbs that became tight during your run and strengthen anything  that may have become fatigued. You can also refocus and deepen your breath to reset for the next part of your day. \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice after a run :\\nButterfly Pose - a basic hip opener to ease into your stretch\\n\\nHalf Pigeon - A great pose for multiple alignments! Working through the psoas and hip flexors. Make sure to practice on both sides.\\n\\nHappy Baby - This pose is great for finishing up your hip opener extension while giving a nice massage to the back and stretching the soles of the feet.\\n\\nWant to take a class? Try some of our favorite classes for runners!\\n\\nYoga for Strength and flexibility \\n\\n\\nYoga for Knee Pain\\n\\n\\nYoga for Back health\\n\\nReady to join us for class? \\nGet started with a free trial now! \\n\\nRemember, with a great training plan for your runs, and an ongoing yoga practice you’ll be ready to run to your greatest finish line feeling and looking your best! Just like peanut butter and jelly, yoga and running are great together!"},"category":["fitness","yoga"]},{"id":"cl81n0o6wh1g80ajz2gpco553","slug":"yoga-at-home","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"How to Start Doing Yoga at Home","subTitle":"Everything you need to know for an at-home yoga routine","seoTitle":null,"seoDescription":"Get a beginner’s guide to starting yoga at home with tips and suggestions for setting up your own practice, including online yoga classes and private lessons.","readTime":null,"excerpt":"Learn how to perform yoga at home with this quick and easy guide","tags":[],"createdAt":"2022-09-14T13:07:13.39269+00:00","coverUrl":"cqivxw3vkrcihpumlny7.jpg","content":{"text":"There are lots of reasons for doing yoga at home instead of a yoga studio, some of which include distance, busy schedules, kids, financial concerns, and health issues. The good news is you can set up your own yoga practice at home, and still get all the benefits of a regular yoga routine — without the studio. It can also be a great way to integrate yoga into your life on a regular basis, and it’s easy to do in your own home.\\nCan Anyone do Yoga at Home?\\nAnyone can perform yoga at home, and you don’t have to be an advanced yogi to try. Even beginners can practice yoga in a home environment, all you need is adequate floor space, a few (optional) pieces of equipment, and guidelines for practicing the primary yoga poses. \\nIf you’re a beginner, it’s recommended to first learn from a certified yoga instructor, so you can progress with the proper technique and alignment to avoid injury. Thanks to online learning platforms like\\n MyYogaTeacher\\n, you can still practice yoga at home with the help of a qualified teacher.\\n11 Tips on How to Perform Yoga At Home\\nThe idea of starting a yoga practice in your very own living room can seem daunting or intimidating at first, especially if you’re accustomed to attending classes in a yoga studio. But with a little bit of preparation and creativity, you can set up your own yoga space and develop a mindful yoga routine that can benefit your life.\\nHere are some suggestions to help get you started:\\n1. Make Space in Your Home for Yoga\\nIt’s easy (and fun) to make your own yoga space, and you can design it as a temporary space or a dedicated one, depending on your needs. All you need is enough floor space to move around and stretch out the full length of your body — a little more than the length and width of your yoga mat. This can be your living or bedroom floor, your kitchen, or your backyard. Just make sure there isn’t any furniture or objects lying around that could get in your way or cause injury.\\n2. Decorate With Calming Accessories\\nYou can also create a comfortable and inviting space for yoga by hanging calming or inspiring artwork on the wall, lighting a candle or incense, and keeping a few house plants nearby for a pleasing atmosphere. The more you can tailor and dedicate your space for yoga, the easier it will be to motivate yourself to keep up a steady routine. Hanging a mirror in front of your practice space is also helpful in maintaining the correct alignment while performing postures.\\n3. Be Prepared With the Right Equipment\\n\\nYou’ll want to invest in a yoga mat, and it’s wise to also keep modifying props on hand — like blocks, bolsters, blankets, and a strap. If you’re just starting out and you’d like to improvise for props, you can use pillows, blankets, and other items around the house to suit your needs. Just make sure your props are sturdy, supportive, and nearby for when you need them.\\n4. Practice Regularly\\nThe best part about practicing yoga at home is it can be done any time you want. The challenge lies in your dedication and commitment to the practice even when your couch appears more inviting.\\n \\nAccording to this study\\n, it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days to create a new habit. It’s important to be patient with yourself and identify guidelines for your practice that you can realistically follow through with. \\n5. Schedule Your Yoga Session\\nSet yourself up for success by committing to your yoga practice at a certain time of day, and for a specified number of days per week. It’s best to start out easy with goals that are achievable and progress as you gain momentum. For instance, if you’ve never been an early riser, don’t expect yourself to suddenly start practicing yoga at dawn. If that’s the case, try scheduling your yoga session for late morning, afternoon or evening, and keep your existing schedule in mind when planning a time that works for you.\\n6. Keep it Simple\\nRegardless of your experience or ability level, practicing yoga at home means watching out for your own safety. Make sure you have props handy for when you need them, and avoid overdoing it with strenuous poses. When it doubt, keep your routine simple. Even if you’re an advanced yogi, those basic, primary yoga poses are still an important part of a holistic yoga practice, and may be less likely to cause injury.\\n7. Listen to Your Body\\nThe best way to avoid getting hurt while practicing yoga at home is to listen to your body. If any posture causes you discomfort or pain, stop practicing it immediately — no matter how easy or difficult the pose. Don’t push yourself too hard, and remember to focus on your alignment. If you are unsure of how to execute a specific pose, try learning it from a certified instructor before performing it on your own at home.\\n8. Take an Online Yoga Class\\n\\nBy far the best way to practice yoga at home is with an online class. This way, you get all the benefits of doing yoga at home in your own time, with the added help of an instructor who can make sure you’re performing poses safely and effectively. You can find\\n \\nonline group classes\\n for every type of yoga at\\n \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n, with over 42 classes offered throughout the day. Private, 1-on-1 instructors are also available for at-home yoga, giving you plenty of options to get the right kind of training while still practicing in the comfort of your own home.\\n9. Squeeze in a Short Practice\\nThe beauty of an at-home yoga practice means you can squeeze in a quick session when you just have 20-30 minutes of time. Even short yoga routines are beneficial for your body and mind, and performing a few of the primary yoga poses on a daily basis will change your life for the better. Try incorporating the Sun Salutation flow series into your morning routine when you first get out of bed in the morning, or practicing some relaxing poses like Legs-Up-The-Wall or Savasana in the evening. \\n10. Switch it Up and Make it Fun\\nYoga doesn’t always have to be serious, and you can make your home yoga practice fun and spontaneous for you and your family. Practicing with your kids is a great way to help them learn mindfulness and self-awareness, while stretching and strengthening their growing bodies. You can also take your practice to the backyard to enjoy sunshine and good weather, or invite friends over to share in the experience. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!\\n11. End Every Practice With Savasana\\nWhen practicing yoga at home, it can be tempting to skip important parts of the journey due to time constraints, distractions, or disinterest. If there is one element of yoga you should never skip, it’s Savasana, or otherwise known as Corpse pose. Always end your practice with 5 minutes of relaxation to help your body integrate the routine. Keep a blanket nearby to warm your body after it has cooled down, and consider an eye pillow to help you relax. Your body and mind will thank you as you move on to the rest of your day, having given yourself the gift of healthy movement to better your life."},"category":["yoga","therapy"]}],"randomPosts":[{"id":"ckja5zc9k9e070d752vaz4zm3","slug":"things-i-wish-i-knew","author":{"name":"myYogaTeacher","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Things I Wish I Knew Before Beginning My Yoga Journey","createdAt":"2020-12-29T15:47:35.958926+00:00","coverUrl":"pexels-elly-fairytale-3823204.jpg","content":{"text":"Hindsight is always 20/20, right?\\n\\nWe think so too. But we would’ve really liked to learn a few things from others before making our own mistakes – or assumptions.\\n\\nThat’s one of the reasons we offer \\nyoga for beginners\\n and other classes that help beginners on their path to becoming better humans, not just better yogis. Still, though, there are just some things we wish we knew before diving into the world of yoga.\\n\\nFor instance, what types of mats are best? Does the mat even matter? How do classes with a private yoga teacher compare to those in groups? Is it really worth the extra cost?\\n\\nThere are lots of questions you don’t even know to ask if you’re a newbie. And just like with anything you try that’s new, in the end, you’re always left thinking, “I wish I knew that before I started.”\\n\\nWhich leads us here. Imparting our experience, wisdom, and continued learning to you!\\n\\nLet’s talk yoga mats\\nWhat makes a great yoga mat, anyway? Is it really that important?\\n\\nWell, yes. Actually, it is. If you haven’t already experienced the struggles with a yoga mat that doesn’t work well for you, you probably will at some point. \\n\\nBut we’re here to help you avoid as many yoga mat problems as possible. \\n\\nYoga mats for beginners\\n\\nA high quality yoga mat is probably the most important piece of the puzzle to keeping you safe, stable and grounded during your yoga practice.\\n\\nIf you’re a beginner yogi\\n, you’ll want a mat that is thicker until your joints get stronger and more used to the poses you’ll be performing. A thicker mat is also great for yogis that have knee, back, or shoulder issues.\\n\\nYou’ll also want one that provides good grip so you’re not slipping out of downward dog and nose diving to the floor. \\nFollow these general guidelines when choosing a mat:\\n\\nChoose a mat that is 3-5 mm thick.\\nJute, cork, and natural rubber mats provide a good amount of stickiness to reduce slipping.\\nA mat with a foam underside gives more padding and support (but be careful using them on carpet).\\nFind a mat that is resistant to moisture, antimicrobial, and/or easy to clean.\\n\\n\\nLiforme\\n is an excellent brand of yoga mats for beginners! All of their mats feature the AlignForMe system to guide yogis through their flow with ease. They also happen to be eco-friendly!\\n\\nPrivate yoga teacher vs. Group classes\\nHow do you take your yoga? With a side of privacy? Maybe you’d prefer to practice yoga out in nature. You could be the yogi that survives and thrives in a studio or group of other yogis in group yoga classes. Maybe you don’t even know which type of class is right for you.\\n\\nWhatever the case, a private yoga teacher – or at least a few private yoga sessions – helps you build a solid foundation for a strong yoga practice.\\n\\nIf you’re a beginner yogi, a private yoga teacher benefits you by:\\n\\nInstructing you on proper alignment for your body.\\nAddressing any current or former injuries that will affect your yoga practice.\\nTeaching you the true meaning of yoga so you can get the most out of your practice.\\nAssessing your breath and demonstrating how to sync your breath to your flow.\\nMaking you feel comfortable and safe talking about your anxieties, stress, or areas of your practice where you know you need improvement.\\nCreating a customized practice designed specifically for you and your needs.\\n\\nThese are all important aspects of yoga.\\n\\nMany novice yogis begin with private lessons so they feel more comfortable and confident moving into group yoga classes. \\n\\nPrivate yoga lessons are customized to you and your needs, help you develop self-awareness, and give you the tools you need to go out on your own! \\n\\nSo when it comes to comparing group classes to private lessons, it’s like comparing apples to oranges. They are both beneficial in different ways. Here at \\nmyYogaTeacher,\\n we offer both! \\n\\nMisconceptions about starting a yoga practice\\n\\nWe could go on and on about all the things we wish we knew before starting our yoga practice. Unfortunately, we hear a few really common misconceptions that we want to nip in the bud right now!\\n\\nYou have to be flexible to do yoga.\\n\\nThis is absolutely not true! \\n\\nFlexibility is often a side effect of yoga, which is really cool. It’s a great way to develop flexibility if you aren’t already flexible. But it’s not a good excuse to dismiss starting your yoga practice.\\n\\nTaking a “yoga for beginners” class or hiring a private yoga teacher is a perfect way to start your journey to newfound flexibility.\\n\\nYoga teachers know everything about yoga.\\n\\nIf this is a thought you have, it’s probably intimidating. \\n\\nYou are inundated with images of perfect yoga poses, and IG posts of online yoga teachers wearing expensive yoga gear flood your feed. Talk of spirituality, asanas, harmony, meditation, and breathwork might have you thinking yoga isn’t for you.\\n\\nNews flash. Even advanced yogis and yoga teachers don’t know everything. They also can’t do everything. Which is totally fine! Yoga is about constantly growing and evolving as a human and a yogi! And what you see on social media isn’t always the best representation of what yoga is really about.\\n\\nAlmost all online yoga classes are created equal so it doesn’t matter which one I choose.\\n\\nThis couldn’t be further from the truth. \\n\\nBefore you start your yoga journey, it’ll benefit you to do a bit of research or, at the very least, talk to someone with a fair amount of knowledge about yoga. \\n\\nFree online yoga is great. YouTube has tons of free yoga videos, and myYogaTeacher gives you a\\n free 2-week trial\\n! But finding the best yoga class and instructor for you will help you develop a practice that is safe, healthy, and optimized for your body, mind, and spirit.\\n\\nHere at myYogaTeacher, we feel that people learn yoga best when their class is LIVE. Our yogis get the added benefit of immediate feedback and personalized interaction with their yoga teachers. LIVE classes offer a more comprehensive yoga experience versus pre recorded online videos one might find elsewhere on the internet!\\n\\n\\n\\nSo let’s recap!\\n\\nYour mat choice is important. Private yoga teachers offer major benefits, particularly for newbie yogis. You don’t need to be flexible to begin doing yoga. And finding the right teacher and class for you is the best way for you to gain the most from a sustainable yoga practice! \\n\\nWhether hindsight is 20/20 or not, you don’t have to make the same mistakes other yogis have. Remember these tips when you’re ready to begin your yoga journey!\\n\\n\\n \\n"}},{"id":"ckfqz0ig001y80179mxwi01o9","slug":"5-easy-sleep-tips-for-bone-deep-sleep-tonight","author":{"name":"Amanda","teacherMytSlug":"amanda@myyogateacher.com-1","pictureUrl":"amanda-pro.jpg"},"title":"5 Easy Tips for Bone-Deep Sleep Tonight","createdAt":"2019-12-04T00:00:00+00:00","coverUrl":"5-easy-tips-4.jpg","content":{"text":"Does winter kick your butt? Shorter days hit us really hard - making us feel sleepy all the time. We can’t make the days longer, but here are some tips to get that bone-deep sleep and wake up refreshed. \\n\\nWe’ve crafted this mini-routine below to help you get started.\\n\\nHave a snack\\nKeep the snack small and not too sweet. Maybe a piece of toast or a handful of nuts. Being even a little hungry can keep you up. \\n\\nTry a mini yoga sequence before bed\\nIf you can’t schedule a night-time \\nyoga session \\nwith your teacher, this sequence will do in a pinch. \\n\\nForward Fold\\n\\n\\n\\nSide Bend\\n\\n\\n\\nSeated Twist\\n\\n\\nChild's Pose\\n\\n\\nLegs Up The Wall\\n\\n\\n\\nFind your breathFind a comfortable position in bed. Count your breaths: 1 for the inhale and 2 for the exhale. Do this for at least a minute or two, trying to keep your focus on the breath.  \\n\\n\\nYoga pose\\n in bedYou don’t need a mat for yoga! Try reclined butterfly with your hands on your belly or heart. Not into that pose? Ask your teacher for some personalized suggestions.\\n\\nBody scan \\nmeditation\\n begin at the top of your head, moving down to the toes. Name each part of your body, taking one breath. For example, you can start by thinking “Top of the head, back of the head, forehead, eyebrows, nose” and so on. \\n\\nGood luck and always feel free to drop us a line to let us know how it goes!\\n"}},{"id":"cl466phnqdobc0dk36tzezi2a","slug":"yoga-pic-contest-winners","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"Announcing…the Winners of the First Ever MyYogaTeacher Fun Yoga Pic Contest!","createdAt":"2022-06-08T22:50:39.382372+00:00","coverUrl":"jbtqkhu0fsgcwuojuruj.png","content":{"text":"First and foremost, all of us here at MyYogaTeacher want to thank each and every person that participated in this Fun Yoga Pic Contest! Without all of you and your support, we would not be the amazing community we are.\\nIt is without further ado that we announce the winners!\\n1st Prize goes to…\\n\\n                                                              \\nCongratulations! You are the winner of a free MyYogaTeacher Yoga Teacher Training Course!\\n\n\\nWe’d like to also recognize our top 6 Honorable Mention winners…\\n\\n* If you're wondering why there are only 6 honorable mentions, it's because we only got 7 student submissions. Next time we'll make sure to make the prizes more enticing for you and give you more time to submit the pics. Any recommendations on prizes are welcome! You can send your suggestions to will.a@myyogateacher.com\\nCongratulations! All of our Honorable Mention winners will receive a free MyYogaTeacher t-shirt!\\n\\nWe really enjoyed seeing all the amazing yoga images you tagged us in and are thrilled that you let us into your lives even in this small way! \\nIf you are not yet a part of a yoga community, we hope you’ll consider joining MyYogaTeacher! Whether you’re interested in teaching yoga, starting yoga, or growing in your yoga journey, MyYogaTeacher is a great place to do it!\\nWhen you sign up for a 1-on-1 membership with us you get:\\n102 expert\\n, highly qualified yoga instructors to choose from\\nThe ability to switch instructors\\n or take classes with only your faves\\nAccess to unlimited group classes\\n, taught \\nlive\\nPersonalized instruction\\n and work out, diet, and lifestyle plans\\nTo be a member of a HUGE community\\n of happy yogis from around the world\\nYoga teachers who become friends\\n, who truly care about you!\\nIf you haven’t checked us out already, \\ngrab two free 1:1 sessions with your 2-week free trial here\\n!"}}],"relatedPosts":[{"id":"cl8a9804vy5de0biznpg4ai2t","slug":"yoga-benefits-for-runners","author":{"name":"Will","teacherMytSlug":"will-1","pictureUrl":"will.jpeg"},"title":"Yoga For Runners : Why Runners Should Incorporate Yoga Into Their Training?","createdAt":"2022-09-20T13:50:56.406936+00:00","coverUrl":"tbdacuzob0fuqml8dyjd.jpg","content":{"text":"Training for a big race? Setting some goals you want to crush before the year ends? No matter what your reasons, yoga can be a great way to cross train for running from a 5k to a marathon! Running is great for your heart and body but can also be a huge strain on the muscles. Having an active yoga practice to complement your running routine can have tons of benefits! Let’s dive into how yoga can help!\\n1. Breathing\\nProper breathing and breath stabilization are both incredibly important principles in Yoga and Running. If you can practice proper breathing while running, you can maintain speed longer because you will take long deeper breaths to match your long strides, instead of short breaths which cause instability and speed decline.\\nPracticing Pranayama for runners - \\nAdding a pranayama breath practice before a run can help you to maintain focus as well as speed. Even if running is a release for you, and feels relaxing, Using breathwork to relax and focus can help you clearly see the physical and mental road ahead. Pranayama can also help if things are going off course on your run. If you need to regain control, you can come back to your breath and refocus. With these practices together, your run really can be a religious experience, or a way to relieve stress! \\nTo start a pranayama practice, all you need to do is focus on controlling your inhale and exhale. Start by standing tall and relaxed, or sitting tall and calm if you prefer. Close your eyes and focus inward. Start by breathing in for two and out for two. As you continue to grow your practice, you can  build up to breathing in for six and out for six. You can even play with pausing for two to four breaths in between your inhale and exhale. When you finally build a practice you’re confident with, you can start to set intentions and visualize your success. With this practice, you’ll begin to see your running dreams come true!\\n\\n2. Flexibility/Strength\\nIt would be great if in life, we only ever needed to do one thing to get to our goals. But in reality,just like we can’t have cookies for every meal, cross training for runners is essential to maintaining a long term healthy routine. While you could easily just add weight training or stretching a la cart into your week, yoga gives you more by going deeper and getting into those smaller, harder to access ligaments and tendons you might otherwise miss with strength training . Adding yoga into your running routine can reduce the risk of injury and help to maintain your goals. The more flexible your muscles are, the less likely they are to tense up or be stressed during running so you can move with more confidence and ease. Not to mention, it’s always great to look forward to a nice long stretch after a run. \\n\n3. Conditioning \\nWe all know running is GREAT for your cardiovascular health, can add years on to your life and keep your heart pumping at its best! But it doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a veteran, running can make your body sore. Yoga is great for conditioning those tired and fatigued muscles without having to “take a day off” to rest. In between your runs or on conditioning days, you can take a class focused on your back or knee health, or even a class to open tight hips after a long run. There’s nothing the magic of yoga can’t do! \\n\n4. Balance/Posture\\nEven though running is a “walk in the park” compared to ballet where balance is concerned, you still need to do your best to focus on alignment while you move.\\nYoga can improve your running form by elongating the limbs so you cover more ground in less time. You'll be PR’ing in no time! Proper alignment is also important when running because as you increase your speed, the level of impact (and injury) becomes greater. Maintaining your body's alignment during movement assures you arrive at the finish line aliment free! Love a tree pose? Want to learn to fly into a warrior? Lots of yoga poses force you to balance on one leg, which helps you to build a unilateral movement practice much like the ebbs and flows you take while running. \\n5. Stress and Mental Clarity\\nFeeling stressed before a big run? Worried about your PR? Yoga can help! Focus your breathing and set an intention. You’ve got this!\\nFocus and clarity are so important when running so you can know where you’re headed and stay on track. Add your yoga practice in before training or race days and you’ll feel your worries melt away. According to scientists at \\nHarvard,\\n adding just minutes of yoga to your week can improve your outlook, slow down the body and decrease stress. You’ll find your body will be more relaxed, focused and ready to run for those goals when you release your tension with yoga. \\nGetting started:\\nSo what do you need to get started? Simple! Yourself, a mat, some water and a quiet space are all you need! Are you ready to add yoga into your running routine? \\nGet started with a two week free trial of our classes and one on one sessions!\\n\\nLet’s figure out where your yoga practice would serve you best! \\nDoing yoga BEFORE your run will help you to warm up your muscles and ligaments. By fully warming up your body before you hit the pavement, you decrease the chances of injury, help with an easier recovery and can improve your PR as you continue to train! \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice before a run :\\nHigh Lunge - This pose stretches the legs from top of the thighs down to the ankle\\n\\nWarrior II - Helps with focus and stamina. Great before heading out!\\n\\nSide angle bend - This stretch helps to stretch the side body and release any tension in the shoulders and spine. \\n\\n⁠Prefer to do yoga after your run? That’s a great option too! Yoga is great for recovery after a run! Finishing your running routine with a yoga stretch helps you to rebalance. You can stretch muscles or limbs that became tight during your run and strengthen anything  that may have become fatigued. You can also refocus and deepen your breath to reset for the next part of your day. \\nBest Yoga Poses to practice after a run :\\nButterfly Pose - a basic hip opener to ease into your stretch\\n\\nHalf Pigeon - A great pose for multiple alignments! Working through the psoas and hip flexors. Make sure to practice on both sides.\\n\\nHappy Baby - This pose is great for finishing up your hip opener extension while giving a nice massage to the back and stretching the soles of the feet.\\n\\nWant to take a class? Try some of our favorite classes for runners!\\n\\nYoga for Strength and flexibility \\n\\n\\nYoga for Knee Pain\\n\\n\\nYoga for Back health\\n\\nReady to join us for class? \\nGet started with a free trial now! \\n\\nRemember, with a great training plan for your runs, and an ongoing yoga practice you’ll be ready to run to your greatest finish line feeling and looking your best! Just like peanut butter and jelly, yoga and running are great together!"}},{"id":"cl7zwz24chnlt0biyk8wtb0cj","slug":"start-hatha-yoga-practice","author":{"name":"Namrata Khandelwal","teacherMytSlug":"namrata-2","pictureUrl":"namrata-k-pro.jpg"},"title":"Interested in starting a Hatha yoga practice? 10 tips to get started!","createdAt":"2022-09-13T08:10:21.940734+00:00","coverUrl":"kwfhavtczeih1sjadbhk.jpg","content":{"text":"Are you new to yoga? Looking to develop a practice but don’t know what style or where to begin? Hatha yoga is a great choice for beginners looking to build a routine or veterans looking to deepen their practice of breathing and flexibility.\\nFirst things first, What is Hatha Yoga?\\nHatha yoga is a form of gentle yoga made up of poses and breath work and often starts or ends with a meditation. This type of practice can be challenging because in most traditional Hatha classes, poses are held for 30 seconds to a minute. \\nStyles of Hatha Yoga that we offer at \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n:\\nHatha Yoga - This practice focuses separately on each asana. Focusing on connecting each asana with the breath and deepening each pose. This practice allows for breaks between poses and is more gentle and slow paced. \\nHatha Vinyasa - Known as a flow class, adding in the vinyasa makes the practice a little more fast paced. The poses are more linked together and the movement is connected to your breath work. \\nWhat are the benefits of a Hatha Yoga Practice?\\nThere are many benefits to building a hatha yoga practice. On the surface, for your physical health, hatha can increase flexibility, strength and balance!  Hatha is proven to fight signs of aging and  help with joint or muscle pain and improve blood flow!\\nWhen you turn your practice inward, it can also deepen your sleep and with the addition of the breathwork, your practice can also help you cope with anxiety or depression symptoms. \\nHatha is a great place to start your yoga journey because you can take your time to get familiar with the poses and learn to connect them to your breath.  It’s good for the body and the mind!\\nHere are 10 tips to get you started with a Hatha Yoga Practice:\\nKnow your why - Before you start to build your practice, it’s important to establish why you’re coming to your mat. Is your reason for physical health, mental health or maybe just to press pause on your day and breathe? Each flow can be personalized for whatever brings you to your mat each day.\\nBe a student! - Take a class with us so you can learn how to flow on your own. Sometimes before you fly solo, you need a co-captain. And if you never decide to fly on your own, we're happy to have you here with us! Our teachers are the best and we think you'll love their classes!\n⁠\n⁠Check out these three Hatha classes we love!\n⁠\\nHatha for Beginners\\n\n⁠\\nHatha Yoga Intermediate\\n\n⁠\\nHatha Vinyasa\\n\\nLearn to breath - In this practice, you'll be holding in poses and breathing into the space you create. The traditional breath practice for a hatha yoga class is\\n Ujjayi breathing\\n otherwise known as victorious breath. This breathing practice is often used in yoga because it forces you to slow down and focus on your breathing and its connection to your movement. \\nChoose your asasas - While Hatha is usually a gentle practice, there is no right or wrong way to build your Hatha flow. The goal is just to focus and move your body! All you need is a minimum of three to five poses to get started! Start by reviewing the poses you know and then when you’re ready, add more as you grow.\\nPractice your pause - once you know what asanas you’d like to practice, grab a stopwatch! Work on holding each pose for 30 seconds, then 45 seconds, then a minute. Don’t forget to breathe into it. And if you can, try to find space and deepen into each pose as you practice more. \\nFind a way to beat the mental fatigue - Don’t give in to the voice in your head that says you can’t do this.  Holding the poses can be difficult at first. Have a little grace and try your best not to give up. Practice your mantras to keep you going. Our favorite? Your stronger than you think!\\nBuild a meditation practice - When building a meditation practice, it’s important to figure out what you need from it. Do you need mantras to help you keep going? Do you need to visual what's coming? Or do you need to focus inward on your breath and the current moment. Remember, there’s no wrong answer. Play with this practice. Add it to the beginning, then the end and see where it serves you. Can’t settle in for quiet reflection? Try journaling instead. \\nBe benevolent to yourself - In Hatha yoga, one of the most important practices is the principle of non-violence (ahimsa) this means do no harm to yourself or to others Try to go through your life being kind to yourself on and off your mat. For more on this practice, check out \\nthis article\\n by Yogauonline\\nRead the text- Like a lot of Yoga, hatha isn’t just based on a movement practice. In fact, there are two connected texts to teach you the foundations of this practice. \\nHatha Yoga Pradipika \\n- a 15th century Sanskrit manual on the practice and style. \\nSiva Samhita\\n - from the hindu perspective breaking “yoga” the practice, down into five parts.\\nTrack the progress of your practice - Once you’ve developed your practice, there is no ‘ end' in yoga, we can only keep coming back to deepen or extend our practice. That’s why it’s a “practice” because there is no perfect. You can always adjust. Some days you’ll need more, some days less. But all the days…you'll need yoga. \\nFive poses to get started with Hatha Yoga:\\n1. Childs Pose\\nFocus on your third eye here. Move your head from right to left to massage your forehead.\\n\\n\n2. Cat Pose\\nBreath into your spine as you arch your back away from the floor. Relax your neck.\\n\\n\\n3. Down Dog\\nFocus on lengthening your heels into the floor and pushing your hips towards the back of the room. \\n\\n\\n4. Forward Fold\\nSurrender into this pose. Reach your palms towards the floor and deepen your stretch with every exhale.\\n\\n\\n5. Savasana\\nRelax your entire body into the ground. Release all the tension and slow your breath. \\n\\n\nNow that you have the tools you need, you’re ready to go! Find where your practice fits best and get ready to feel relaxed and enlightened! If you’re doing hatha for physical health, try adding the practice in after another workout or at the end of your day. \\nLooking  to build a practice for relaxation or to wind down from your anxiety? Try starting your day with practice and a cup of green tea! \\nMyYogaTeacher\\n has tons of options available to you! See you on your mat! "}},{"id":"cl74jtlu93yyq0ak0ti37gc8g","slug":"yoga-practice-for-women","author":{"name":"Divya","teacherMytSlug":"divya-1","pictureUrl":"divya-1.jpg"},"title":"The Importance of a Yoga practice for Women.","createdAt":"2022-08-22T09:21:21.098639+00:00","coverUrl":"llizejqjzzeaxaxii2ey.jpg","content":{"text":"Why adding Yoga to your routine can make you feel like your most calm and confident self.\\nWe all know women have a lot on their plate. With all the things we have to get done in a day, it’s hard to remember to add taking care of ourselves to the list. We sometimes find time for a trip to the gym, a podcast episode or a quick walk between our to-do list, but the benefits of taking even 10 minutes to do yoga or a meditation can carry us through stressful days, help us sleep better or relieve pain and anxiety. Let’s break down why yoga is so important to the feminine being.\\nYoga is important for your mental health\\nA consistent yoga practice promotes relaxation, reduces anxiety and stress and can aid in mental clarity and a calm mind. Yoga is a great way to end your workday or transition from work back to your home life. If you have a high stress job, or you’re spending your day with kids, taking just five to ten minutes to breathe and stretch can put you in a clearer mindset to switch roles or tasks with ease. For example, Pranayama, the practice of focusing your breath takes only a few minutes and can help you adjust or focus your breathing, mind and heart. Pranayama is the yogic practice of focusing on breath. In Sanskrit, prana means \"vital life force\". In stressful situations, we can always come back to our breath. This is especially a great practice for women, as we tend to be a “lifesource” for our families.\\nLet’s find the right poses to ease your mind!\\nSuggested Poses for stress relief:\\nStanding Forward Fold :\\n\\nThis pose releases tension in the neck and back and is a physical and mental “letting go”\\nEasy Seat :\\n\\n Gentle hip opener, relieves physical and mental exhaustion.\\nChilds Pose : \\n\\nReleases the Nero and lymphatic systems.\\nSuggested Poses for anxiety relief:\\nHead to Knee forward bend :\\n\\nCalms the mind.\\nBridge pose : \\n\\nReduces anxiety and fatigue.\\nCamel Pose : \\n\\nBoost Energy.\\nSuggested Poses to calm the mind:\\nLegs up the wall : \\n\\nAllows your body complete relaxation.\\nCorpse Pose :\\n\\nQuiets your system and lowers your blood pressure\\nCat Pose :\\n\\nHelps to relieve stress and calm the mind.\\nYoga is important for your physical health\\nYou can find little ways to add yoga into your life every day to keep your body in tip top shape! You can add yoga to the end of your workout to lower your heart rate or choose it as a workout on “low impact” days. Believe it or not, yoga can actually take the place of strength training and cardio programs if you take the right classes! \\nMyYogaTeacher has so many options to support your active lifestyle! Yoga can improve flexibility, strength and even help with range of motion. So if you’ve got goals, we’ve got a class to fit them! \\n A normal yoga practice can keep your hormones in check and help with menopause and menstrual symptoms. Not feeling well? Tired? Yoga can also aid in normal digestion or help you maintain a healthy sleep cycle.\\nNow that you know yoga can help your physical body, let's find the right styles for you!\\nFor flexibility – If you’re trying to improve flexibility, you’re in luck! Most styles of yoga are GREAT for stretching and flexibility. If you’re looking to just stretch, we’d recommend a \\nrestorative \\nor \\nyin yoga class.\\n\\nFor Pain relief- If you’re in pain, try a focused Yin Yoga class for your injury or ailment. We have some great choices! Just use the search feature on our website! There are classes that are as specific as \\nyoga for knee pain \\nor yoga for digestion!\\nFor Strength – If you’re a warrior who loves to sweat, Vinyasa is your go to style. Try this low impact style that’s sure to raise your heart rate faster than any treadmill run. Are you a more advanced Yogi?\\n Try a Power Yoga\\n class!\\nYoga is important for your emotional wellbeing\\nMost yogis believe that yoga is a mind, body and soul practice meaning that it’s not just for fitness or for mental clarity, but it’s a life experience that can add joy and comfort to your everyday life. For most of us, the practice of yoga is what we take back to our lives long after we leave the mat.  \\nYoga can improve your energy-\\n A study done by Oxford\\n, found that a yoga practice and yoga breathing can restore your energy better than any other visualization or relaxation practice.\\nYoga helps connect the mind and body- While our mind and body are always physically connected, Yoga makes us stop, think and question that connection. It trains us to concentrate on our breath and connect our thoughts to one body part, or move at a time. Which helps us to increase focus.\\nAnd last, but certainly not least, yoga is great for socialization! Group fitness classes help us to make friends, or find friends who share our common interests or goals. Who doesn’t love taking a class with their friends? And with our site, you can take class together from the comfort of your own homes!\\nReady to fit yoga into your life? Let’s find a way to make it work for you!\\nWhen can you fit in yoga if you have a busy schedule? Unlike a traditional studio or gym, Our website makes it easy for you to fit yoga in when it works for you! Classes run live from 6am to 9pm. And you can take classes at home, on vacation or even at work on your lunch break. You can take your practice anywhere with our \\nvirtual options\\n. Don’t think you can commit to a live class? Watch your recordings later on your own time! \\nAre you a stay-at-home mom? Do you feel like you can’t get away for a workout? Do it with them! Make yoga time a part of your family’s routine to either start or end the day. We even have kid’s classes you can take together! \\nTry one today!\\n\\nNot a fan of group fitness? Maybe you prefer to workout alone or have specific goals you want to meet. Our\\n one on one option\\n is great for deepening your practice or working directly with an instructor to meet your goals on your timeline! \\nSo whichever reason speaks to you, even with all the things you have to do for your family or work, You can always make time for yoga and add more joy to your life with a yoga practice. Where there’s a will there’s a way. All you need for yoga is your body and a commitment to yourself! Make the time to start your practice today! Your body will thank you!\\n\\nReady to get started? Grab a free trial!\\n"}}],"blogContent":{"id":"ckp40gtow0ibe0b31k485uyti","slug":"what-is-power-yoga","author":{"name":"My Yoga Teacher","teacherMytSlug":null,"pictureUrl":null},"title":"What Is Power Yoga + Benefits and How to Get Started","createdAt":"2021-05-25T12:24:50.084958+00:00","updatedAt":"2022-05-17T11:43:28.103545+00:00","coverUrl":"kvxf0e3khadgwkvsnlip.png","seoDescription":"What is power yoga? This sweaty and challenging yoga style is popular throughout the US, and you can get your sweat on right from home with myYogaTeacher.","content":{"text":"What Is Power Yoga?\\nPower yoga is a fast-paced Vinyasa-style yoga that was modeled on Ashtanga and is heavy on cardio, is physically demanding, and emphasizes dynamic movement over meditative movement. Power yoga classes typically include fewer poses that are held for longer. As opposed to Vinyasa classes, which include more poses held for shorter periods.\\n\\nMillions of people around the world practice yoga for its physical, mental, and emotional benefits. In the West, power yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga. Power yoga is geared towards athletes and most classes follow a flow of fast-paced movements that are more physically demanding than other yoga styles.\\n\\nPower yoga might look different depending on where you practice, but there are a few key characteristics that most classes have in common:\\nPoses are held for a longer period of time (up to a minute) to help build strength\\nThe classes are built to increase heart rate\\nPoses include a blend of Vinyasa and Ashtanga\\nOrigins of Power Yoga\\nPower yoga is an offshoot of Ashtanga yoga and doesn't stick to a set sequence of asanas as \\nAshtanga\\n does. It came to popularity in the United States in the mid-1990s when Bryan Kest and Beryl Bender Birch separately took the Ashtanga yoga method and transformed it into a less rigid style of yoga. Yoga Journal credits Birch with creating \"the original power yoga\" in 1995, though Bryan Kest seems to be the one who actually coined the phrase.\\n\\nKest says that the original name was \"empower yoga,\" but that he shortened it to \"power yoga\" because it was just easier to say. He jokes that he even considered changing the name to \"grandma yoga\" because he believed that anyone could do it.\\n\\nWhen you consider that power yoga has oft been viewed as the realm of athletes or other already physically fit people, that might come as a surprise. However, Kest's \"empower yoga\" was intended to encourage practitioners to honor the needs of their own bodies during power yoga classes. This might mean you challenge yourself to do something you didn't think possible and it could also mean that you skip poses that just aren't possible for you.\\n\\nWhat to Expect From a Power Yoga Class\\n\\nIf you've never experienced a power yoga class, you're in for a treat. As we mentioned earlier, power yoga is a blend of Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga. These classes offer immediate benefits and help you live a healthier, happier life. Here's what to expect from the typical power yoga class.\\n\\nYou Will Sweat\\nHydrate before, during, and after your power yoga class. Also, you'll want to have a towel handy to keep things dry and safe.\\n\\nYou Will Be Challenged Physically\\n\\nPower yoga\\n is hard. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Holding poses for a minute or more is challenging on your body and the fast pace of these classes can make it more difficult to keep up. That doesn't mean that beginners can't participate in and get a lot out of power yoga classes. Just do what you can, push your comfort zone a bit, and have fun.\\n\\nYou Will Be Challenged Mentally\\nIn addition to the physical challenges of power yoga, there are mental challenges to such an intense practice, too. Even if you're already familiar with yoga, be prepared for how power yoga comes together to create a unique challenge.\\n\\nBenefits of Power Yoga\\n\\nLike all types of yoga, power yoga has its fair share of both physical and mental benefits. It's associated with improved posture and balance, better sleep, and a stronger immune system, for starters. Here are a few other benefits of power yoga to keep in mind.\\n\\nImproved Cardiovascular Fitness\\nPower yoga is fast-paced and endurance-based. This makes it a great option for improving cardiovascular health. Performing a cardio-heavy practice like power yoga regularly can help you strengthen your heart and lungs, improve cholesterol levels, control blood sugar and blood pressure, improve sleep, boost energy, and a whole lot more.\\n\\nIncreased Strength\\nSince power yoga includes long holds of certain poses, you'll find increased strength a benefit of the practice. As you hold a static pose for a period of time, your body will engage the muscles needed to keep you stable in the pose, increasing strength and endurance.\\n\\nImproved Circulation\\nPower yoga is going to get your heart rate pumping. In addition to the cardiovascular benefits, the increased heart rate also leads to better circulation. This means nutrients and oxygen will flow throughout your body better.\\n\\nBetter Stamina\\nPower yoga is a full-body strength and cardiovascular workout that will help improve your stamina (the ability of your body to sustain prolonged physical and mental effort).\\n\\nImproved Motor Function\\nA \\n2016 study\\n found that people with Parkinson's disease who practiced power yoga two times a week had significant improvements in tremors and muscle rigidity. Further, power yoga increased muscle strength and power in study participants.\\n\\nReduced Stress\\nDespite the fact that power yoga is less meditative than other types of yoga, it still contributes to overall reductions in stress and anxiety and promotes feelings of calm and relaxation. A \\n2017 study\\n found that power yoga decreases the body's cortisol levels and suggests that just a single power yoga session might prompt a noticeable reduction in stress.\\n\\nJoin myYogaTeacher for a Safe and Effective Power Yoga Experience\\nPower yoga is a fast-paced yoga style that will help you build strength and endurance. While it does require you to \\nbe mindful of your breathing\\n, it's not a meditative class. Instead, power yoga emphasizes dynamic, powerful movements and long holds of poses to get the most physical benefit.\\n\\nWhile power yoga can be practiced safely by just about anyone, the practice isn't suitable for everyone. Pregnant people are cautioned against power yoga as certain poses can cause complications during pregnancy. If you're pregnant, check out one of our prenatal yoga classes and save the power yoga for postpartum!\\n\\nIn addition to pregnancy, there are a few other reasons you might want to avoid power yoga:\\nDiabetes\\nHeart problems\\nCarpal tunnel\\nRecent surgery\\nRecent physical injuries\\nIf any of the above apply to you, that doesn't mean you absolutely can't practice power yoga. However, you should definitely seek out the advice of your doctor for approval.\\n\\nIf you like to sweat, power yoga is probably a good fit for you. If you have some experience with yoga and a decent level of fitness, why not give it a shot? Join a power yoga class with myYogaTeacher! \\nSign up for a free two-week trial\\n and get access to 35+ live online classes every day.","html":"<h2>What Is Power Yoga?</h2><p>Power yoga is a fast-paced Vinyasa-style yoga that was modeled on Ashtanga and is heavy on cardio, is physically demanding, and emphasizes dynamic movement over meditative movement. Power yoga classes typically include fewer poses that are held for longer. As opposed to Vinyasa classes, which include more poses held for shorter periods.</p><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/9bqbXmd2QmivmtlSyS4h\" alt=\"Bow Pose\" title=\"bow pose with laptop.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>Millions of people around the world practice yoga for its physical, mental, and emotional benefits. In the West, power yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga. Power yoga is geared towards athletes and most classes follow a flow of fast-paced movements that are more physically demanding than other yoga styles.</p><p></p><p>Power yoga might look different depending on where you practice, but there are a few key characteristics that most classes have in common:</p><ul><li><div>Poses are held for a longer period of time (up to a minute) to help build strength</div></li><li><div>The classes are built to increase heart rate</div></li><li><div>Poses include a blend of Vinyasa and Ashtanga</div></li></ul><h2>Origins of Power Yoga</h2><p>Power yoga is an offshoot of Ashtanga yoga and doesn&#39;t stick to a set sequence of asanas as <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/ashtanga-yoga-eight-limbs\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/ashtanga-yoga-eight-limbs\">Ashtanga</a> does. It came to popularity in the United States in the mid-1990s when Bryan Kest and Beryl Bender Birch separately took the Ashtanga yoga method and transformed it into a less rigid style of yoga. Yoga Journal credits Birch with creating &quot;the original power yoga&quot; in 1995, though Bryan Kest seems to be the one who actually coined the phrase.</p><p></p><p>Kest says that the original name was &quot;empower yoga,&quot; but that he shortened it to &quot;power yoga&quot; because it was just easier to say. He jokes that he even considered changing the name to &quot;grandma yoga&quot; because he believed that anyone could do it.</p><p></p><p>When you consider that power yoga has oft been viewed as the realm of athletes or other already physically fit people, that might come as a surprise. However, Kest&#39;s &quot;empower yoga&quot; was intended to encourage practitioners to honor the needs of their own bodies during power yoga classes. This might mean you challenge yourself to do something you didn&#39;t think possible and it could also mean that you skip poses that just aren&#39;t possible for you.</p><p></p><h2>What to Expect From a Power Yoga Class</h2><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/fM0kghXlQwuS8IKZZyXg\" alt=\"Supported Triangle Pose\" title=\"triangle pose.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>If you&#39;ve never experienced a power yoga class, you&#39;re in for a treat. As we mentioned earlier, power yoga is a blend of Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga. These classes offer immediate benefits and help you live a healthier, happier life. Here&#39;s what to expect from the typical power yoga class.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Sweat</h3><p>Hydrate before, during, and after your power yoga class. Also, you&#39;ll want to have a towel handy to keep things dry and safe.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Be Challenged Physically</h3><p><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/power-yoga-session\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/power-yoga-session\">Power yoga</a> is hard. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Holding poses for a minute or more is challenging on your body and the fast pace of these classes can make it more difficult to keep up. That doesn&#39;t mean that beginners can&#39;t participate in and get a lot out of power yoga classes. Just do what you can, push your comfort zone a bit, and have fun.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Be Challenged Mentally</h3><p>In addition to the physical challenges of power yoga, there are mental challenges to such an intense practice, too. Even if you&#39;re already familiar with yoga, be prepared for how power yoga comes together to create a unique challenge.</p><p></p><h2>Benefits of Power Yoga</h2><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/output=format:png/resize=,width:600,height:400/sZdxwJtXTaMq8w7oBXT2\" alt=\"upward facing dog.png\" title=\"upward facing dog.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>Like all types of yoga, power yoga has its fair share of both physical and mental benefits. It&#39;s associated with improved posture and balance, better sleep, and a stronger immune system, for starters. Here are a few other benefits of power yoga to keep in mind.</p><p></p><h3>Improved Cardiovascular Fitness</h3><p>Power yoga is fast-paced and endurance-based. This makes it a great option for improving cardiovascular health. Performing a cardio-heavy practice like power yoga regularly can help you strengthen your heart and lungs, improve cholesterol levels, control blood sugar and blood pressure, improve sleep, boost energy, and a whole lot more.</p><p></p><h3>Increased Strength</h3><p>Since power yoga includes long holds of certain poses, you&#39;ll find increased strength a benefit of the practice. As you hold a static pose for a period of time, your body will engage the muscles needed to keep you stable in the pose, increasing strength and endurance.</p><p></p><h3>Improved Circulation</h3><p>Power yoga is going to get your heart rate pumping. In addition to the cardiovascular benefits, the increased heart rate also leads to better circulation. This means nutrients and oxygen will flow throughout your body better.</p><p></p><h3>Better Stamina</h3><p>Power yoga is a full-body strength and cardiovascular workout that will help improve your stamina (the ability of your body to sustain prolonged physical and mental effort).</p><p></p><h3>Improved Motor Function</h3><p>A <a rel=\"noreferrer nofollow\" target='_blank' title=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27062960/\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27062960/\">2016 study</a> found that people with Parkinson&#39;s disease who practiced power yoga two times a week had significant improvements in tremors and muscle rigidity. Further, power yoga increased muscle strength and power in study participants.</p><p></p><h3>Reduced Stress</h3><p>Despite the fact that power yoga is less meditative than other types of yoga, it still contributes to overall reductions in stress and anxiety and promotes feelings of calm and relaxation. A <a rel=\"noreferrer nofollow\" target='_blank' title=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105317694487\" href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105317694487\">2017 study</a> found that power yoga decreases the body&#39;s cortisol levels and suggests that just a single power yoga session might prompt a noticeable reduction in stress.</p><p></p><h2>Join myYogaTeacher for a Safe and Effective Power Yoga Experience</h2><p>Power yoga is a fast-paced yoga style that will help you build strength and endurance. While it does require you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/breathwork-and-yoga\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/breathwork-and-yoga\">be mindful of your breathing</a>, it&#39;s not a meditative class. Instead, power yoga emphasizes dynamic, powerful movements and long holds of poses to get the most physical benefit.</p><p></p><p>While power yoga can be practiced safely by just about anyone, the practice isn&#39;t suitable for everyone. Pregnant people are cautioned against power yoga as certain poses can cause complications during pregnancy. If you&#39;re pregnant, check out one of our prenatal yoga classes and save the power yoga for postpartum!</p><p></p><p>In addition to pregnancy, there are a few other reasons you might want to avoid power yoga:</p><ul><li><div>Diabetes</div></li><li><div>Heart problems</div></li><li><div>Carpal tunnel</div></li><li><div>Recent surgery</div></li><li><div>Recent physical injuries</div></li></ul><p>If any of the above apply to you, that doesn&#39;t mean you absolutely can&#39;t practice power yoga. However, you should definitely seek out the advice of your doctor for approval.</p><p></p><p>If you like to sweat, power yoga is probably a good fit for you. If you have some experience with yoga and a decent level of fitness, why not give it a shot? Join a power yoga class with myYogaTeacher! <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">Sign up for a free two-week trial</a> and get access to 35+ live online classes every day.</p>"},"category":["fitness"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"loading":false,"blog_content":[{"type":"HTML","value":"<h2>What Is Power Yoga?</h2><p>Power yoga is a fast-paced Vinyasa-style yoga that was modeled on Ashtanga and is heavy on cardio, is physically demanding, and emphasizes dynamic movement over meditative movement. Power yoga classes typically include fewer poses that are held for longer. As opposed to Vinyasa classes, which include more poses held for shorter periods.</p>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/9bqbXmd2QmivmtlSyS4h\" \n                alt=\"Bow Pose\"\n                title=\"Bow Pose\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/9bqbXmd2QmivmtlSyS4h\"\n                alt=\"Bow Pose\"\n                title=\"Bow Pose\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/9bqbXmd2QmivmtlSyS4h\"\n                alt=\"Bow Pose\"\n                title=\"Bow Pose\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>Millions of people around the world practice yoga for its physical, mental, and emotional benefits. In the West, power yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga. Power yoga is geared towards athletes and most classes follow a flow of fast-paced movements that are more physically demanding than other yoga styles.</p><p></p><p>Power yoga might look different depending on where you practice, but there are a few key characteristics that most classes have in common:</p><ul><li><div>Poses are held for a longer period of time (up to a minute) to help build strength</div></li><li><div>The classes are built to increase heart rate</div></li><li><div>Poses include a blend of Vinyasa and Ashtanga</div></li></ul><h2>Origins of Power Yoga</h2><p>Power yoga is an offshoot of Ashtanga yoga and doesn&#39;t stick to a set sequence of asanas as <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/ashtanga-yoga-eight-limbs\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/ashtanga-yoga-eight-limbs\">Ashtanga</a> does. It came to popularity in the United States in the mid-1990s when Bryan Kest and Beryl Bender Birch separately took the Ashtanga yoga method and transformed it into a less rigid style of yoga. Yoga Journal credits Birch with creating &quot;the original power yoga&quot; in 1995, though Bryan Kest seems to be the one who actually coined the phrase.</p><p></p><p>Kest says that the original name was &quot;empower yoga,&quot; but that he shortened it to &quot;power yoga&quot; because it was just easier to say. He jokes that he even considered changing the name to &quot;grandma yoga&quot; because he believed that anyone could do it.</p><p></p><p>When you consider that power yoga has oft been viewed as the realm of athletes or other already physically fit people, that might come as a surprise. However, Kest&#39;s &quot;empower yoga&quot; was intended to encourage practitioners to honor the needs of their own bodies during power yoga classes. This might mean you challenge yourself to do something you didn&#39;t think possible and it could also mean that you skip poses that just aren&#39;t possible for you.</p><p></p><h2>What to Expect From a Power Yoga Class</h2>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/fM0kghXlQwuS8IKZZyXg\" \n                alt=\"Supported Triangle Pose\"\n                title=\"Supported Triangle Pose\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/fM0kghXlQwuS8IKZZyXg\"\n                alt=\"Supported Triangle Pose\"\n                title=\"Supported Triangle Pose\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/fM0kghXlQwuS8IKZZyXg\"\n                alt=\"Supported Triangle Pose\"\n                title=\"Supported Triangle Pose\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>If you&#39;ve never experienced a power yoga class, you&#39;re in for a treat. As we mentioned earlier, power yoga is a blend of Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga. These classes offer immediate benefits and help you live a healthier, happier life. Here&#39;s what to expect from the typical power yoga class.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Sweat</h3><p>Hydrate before, during, and after your power yoga class. Also, you&#39;ll want to have a towel handy to keep things dry and safe.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Be Challenged Physically</h3><p><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/power-yoga-session\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/power-yoga-session\">Power yoga</a> is hard. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Holding poses for a minute or more is challenging on your body and the fast pace of these classes can make it more difficult to keep up. That doesn&#39;t mean that beginners can&#39;t participate in and get a lot out of power yoga classes. Just do what you can, push your comfort zone a bit, and have fun.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Be Challenged Mentally</h3><p>In addition to the physical challenges of power yoga, there are mental challenges to such an intense practice, too. Even if you&#39;re already familiar with yoga, be prepared for how power yoga comes together to create a unique challenge.</p><p></p><h2>Benefits of Power Yoga</h2>\n            <picture>\n              <source \n                type=\"image/webp\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:webp/compress/output=format:png/resize=,width:600,height:400/sZdxwJtXTaMq8w7oBXT2\" \n                alt=\"upward facing dog.png\"\n                title=\"upward facing dog.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <source \n                type=\"image/jpg\"\n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/output=format:png/resize=,width:600,height:400/sZdxwJtXTaMq8w7oBXT2\"\n                alt=\"upward facing dog.png\"\n                title=\"upward facing dog.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n              <img \n                data-srcset=\"https://media.graphcms.com/resize=w:930,fit:crop/quality=value:75/output=format:jpg/output=format:png/resize=,width:600,height:400/sZdxwJtXTaMq8w7oBXT2\"\n                alt=\"upward facing dog.png\"\n                title=\"upward facing dog.png\"\n                \n                \n                class=\"lazyLoadingImg\"\n              />\n          </picture>\n        <p>Like all types of yoga, power yoga has its fair share of both physical and mental benefits. It&#39;s associated with improved posture and balance, better sleep, and a stronger immune system, for starters. Here are a few other benefits of power yoga to keep in mind.</p><p></p><h3>Improved Cardiovascular Fitness</h3><p>Power yoga is fast-paced and endurance-based. This makes it a great option for improving cardiovascular health. Performing a cardio-heavy practice like power yoga regularly can help you strengthen your heart and lungs, improve cholesterol levels, control blood sugar and blood pressure, improve sleep, boost energy, and a whole lot more.</p><p></p><h3>Increased Strength</h3><p>Since power yoga includes long holds of certain poses, you&#39;ll find increased strength a benefit of the practice. As you hold a static pose for a period of time, your body will engage the muscles needed to keep you stable in the pose, increasing strength and endurance.</p><p></p><h3>Improved Circulation</h3><p>Power yoga is going to get your heart rate pumping. In addition to the cardiovascular benefits, the increased heart rate also leads to better circulation. This means nutrients and oxygen will flow throughout your body better.</p><p></p><h3>Better Stamina</h3><p>Power yoga is a full-body strength and cardiovascular workout that will help improve your stamina (the ability of your body to sustain prolonged physical and mental effort).</p><p></p><h3>Improved Motor Function</h3><p>A <a rel=\"noreferrer nofollow\" target='_blank' title=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27062960/\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27062960/\">2016 study</a> found that people with Parkinson&#39;s disease who practiced power yoga two times a week had significant improvements in tremors and muscle rigidity. Further, power yoga increased muscle strength and power in study participants.</p><p></p><h3>Reduced Stress</h3><p>Despite the fact that power yoga is less meditative than other types of yoga, it still contributes to overall reductions in stress and anxiety and promotes feelings of calm and relaxation. A <a rel=\"noreferrer nofollow\" target='_blank' title=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105317694487\" href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105317694487\">2017 study</a> found that power yoga decreases the body&#39;s cortisol levels and suggests that just a single power yoga session might prompt a noticeable reduction in stress.</p><p></p><h2>Join myYogaTeacher for a Safe and Effective Power Yoga Experience</h2><p>Power yoga is a fast-paced yoga style that will help you build strength and endurance. While it does require you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/breathwork-and-yoga\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/breathwork-and-yoga\">be mindful of your breathing</a>, it&#39;s not a meditative class. Instead, power yoga emphasizes dynamic, powerful movements and long holds of poses to get the most physical benefit.</p><p></p><p>While power yoga can be practiced safely by just about anyone, the practice isn&#39;t suitable for everyone. Pregnant people are cautioned against power yoga as certain poses can cause complications during pregnancy. If you&#39;re pregnant, check out one of our prenatal yoga classes and save the power yoga for postpartum!</p><p></p><p>In addition to pregnancy, there are a few other reasons you might want to avoid power yoga:</p><ul><li><div>Diabetes</div></li><li><div>Heart problems</div></li><li><div>Carpal tunnel</div></li><li><div>Recent surgery</div></li><li><div>Recent physical injuries</div></li></ul><p>If any of the above apply to you, that doesn&#39;t mean you absolutely can&#39;t practice power yoga. However, you should definitely seek out the advice of your doctor for approval.</p><p></p><p>If you like to sweat, power yoga is probably a good fit for you. If you have some experience with yoga and a decent level of fitness, why not give it a shot? Join a power yoga class with myYogaTeacher! <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">Sign up for a free two-week trial</a> and get access to 35+ live online classes every day.</p>"},{"type":"CTA","value":"[CTA-DEFAULT]"}],"isSlugACategory":false,"searchCategory":"what-is-power-yoga","showPopUp":false,"popUpType":null,"showedPopup":false,"windowWidth":null,"ctaPath":"free-trial-o","redirectURL":"#","ctaContent":[{"id":"ckxrz2i14tov40c25g1dpicsg","name":"[CTA-DEFAULT]","description":{"html":"<p><strong>Get 2 free private yoga sessions and 2 weeks of unlimited group classes</strong> with authentic yoga teachers. 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This sweaty and challenging yoga style is popular throughout the US, and you can get your sweat on right from home with myYogaTeacher.","content":{"text":"What Is Power Yoga?\\nPower yoga is a fast-paced Vinyasa-style yoga that was modeled on Ashtanga and is heavy on cardio, is physically demanding, and emphasizes dynamic movement over meditative movement. Power yoga classes typically include fewer poses that are held for longer. As opposed to Vinyasa classes, which include more poses held for shorter periods.\\n\\nMillions of people around the world practice yoga for its physical, mental, and emotional benefits. In the West, power yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga. Power yoga is geared towards athletes and most classes follow a flow of fast-paced movements that are more physically demanding than other yoga styles.\\n\\nPower yoga might look different depending on where you practice, but there are a few key characteristics that most classes have in common:\\nPoses are held for a longer period of time (up to a minute) to help build strength\\nThe classes are built to increase heart rate\\nPoses include a blend of Vinyasa and Ashtanga\\nOrigins of Power Yoga\\nPower yoga is an offshoot of Ashtanga yoga and doesn't stick to a set sequence of asanas as \\nAshtanga\\n does. It came to popularity in the United States in the mid-1990s when Bryan Kest and Beryl Bender Birch separately took the Ashtanga yoga method and transformed it into a less rigid style of yoga. Yoga Journal credits Birch with creating \"the original power yoga\" in 1995, though Bryan Kest seems to be the one who actually coined the phrase.\\n\\nKest says that the original name was \"empower yoga,\" but that he shortened it to \"power yoga\" because it was just easier to say. He jokes that he even considered changing the name to \"grandma yoga\" because he believed that anyone could do it.\\n\\nWhen you consider that power yoga has oft been viewed as the realm of athletes or other already physically fit people, that might come as a surprise. However, Kest's \"empower yoga\" was intended to encourage practitioners to honor the needs of their own bodies during power yoga classes. This might mean you challenge yourself to do something you didn't think possible and it could also mean that you skip poses that just aren't possible for you.\\n\\nWhat to Expect From a Power Yoga Class\\n\\nIf you've never experienced a power yoga class, you're in for a treat. As we mentioned earlier, power yoga is a blend of Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga. These classes offer immediate benefits and help you live a healthier, happier life. Here's what to expect from the typical power yoga class.\\n\\nYou Will Sweat\\nHydrate before, during, and after your power yoga class. Also, you'll want to have a towel handy to keep things dry and safe.\\n\\nYou Will Be Challenged Physically\\n\\nPower yoga\\n is hard. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Holding poses for a minute or more is challenging on your body and the fast pace of these classes can make it more difficult to keep up. That doesn't mean that beginners can't participate in and get a lot out of power yoga classes. Just do what you can, push your comfort zone a bit, and have fun.\\n\\nYou Will Be Challenged Mentally\\nIn addition to the physical challenges of power yoga, there are mental challenges to such an intense practice, too. Even if you're already familiar with yoga, be prepared for how power yoga comes together to create a unique challenge.\\n\\nBenefits of Power Yoga\\n\\nLike all types of yoga, power yoga has its fair share of both physical and mental benefits. It's associated with improved posture and balance, better sleep, and a stronger immune system, for starters. Here are a few other benefits of power yoga to keep in mind.\\n\\nImproved Cardiovascular Fitness\\nPower yoga is fast-paced and endurance-based. This makes it a great option for improving cardiovascular health. Performing a cardio-heavy practice like power yoga regularly can help you strengthen your heart and lungs, improve cholesterol levels, control blood sugar and blood pressure, improve sleep, boost energy, and a whole lot more.\\n\\nIncreased Strength\\nSince power yoga includes long holds of certain poses, you'll find increased strength a benefit of the practice. As you hold a static pose for a period of time, your body will engage the muscles needed to keep you stable in the pose, increasing strength and endurance.\\n\\nImproved Circulation\\nPower yoga is going to get your heart rate pumping. In addition to the cardiovascular benefits, the increased heart rate also leads to better circulation. This means nutrients and oxygen will flow throughout your body better.\\n\\nBetter Stamina\\nPower yoga is a full-body strength and cardiovascular workout that will help improve your stamina (the ability of your body to sustain prolonged physical and mental effort).\\n\\nImproved Motor Function\\nA \\n2016 study\\n found that people with Parkinson's disease who practiced power yoga two times a week had significant improvements in tremors and muscle rigidity. Further, power yoga increased muscle strength and power in study participants.\\n\\nReduced Stress\\nDespite the fact that power yoga is less meditative than other types of yoga, it still contributes to overall reductions in stress and anxiety and promotes feelings of calm and relaxation. A \\n2017 study\\n found that power yoga decreases the body's cortisol levels and suggests that just a single power yoga session might prompt a noticeable reduction in stress.\\n\\nJoin myYogaTeacher for a Safe and Effective Power Yoga Experience\\nPower yoga is a fast-paced yoga style that will help you build strength and endurance. While it does require you to \\nbe mindful of your breathing\\n, it's not a meditative class. Instead, power yoga emphasizes dynamic, powerful movements and long holds of poses to get the most physical benefit.\\n\\nWhile power yoga can be practiced safely by just about anyone, the practice isn't suitable for everyone. Pregnant people are cautioned against power yoga as certain poses can cause complications during pregnancy. If you're pregnant, check out one of our prenatal yoga classes and save the power yoga for postpartum!\\n\\nIn addition to pregnancy, there are a few other reasons you might want to avoid power yoga:\\nDiabetes\\nHeart problems\\nCarpal tunnel\\nRecent surgery\\nRecent physical injuries\\nIf any of the above apply to you, that doesn't mean you absolutely can't practice power yoga. However, you should definitely seek out the advice of your doctor for approval.\\n\\nIf you like to sweat, power yoga is probably a good fit for you. If you have some experience with yoga and a decent level of fitness, why not give it a shot? Join a power yoga class with myYogaTeacher! \\nSign up for a free two-week trial\\n and get access to 35+ live online classes every day.","html":"<h2>What Is Power Yoga?</h2><p>Power yoga is a fast-paced Vinyasa-style yoga that was modeled on Ashtanga and is heavy on cardio, is physically demanding, and emphasizes dynamic movement over meditative movement. Power yoga classes typically include fewer poses that are held for longer. As opposed to Vinyasa classes, which include more poses held for shorter periods.</p><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/9bqbXmd2QmivmtlSyS4h\" alt=\"Bow Pose\" title=\"bow pose with laptop.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>Millions of people around the world practice yoga for its physical, mental, and emotional benefits. In the West, power yoga is one of the most popular types of yoga. Power yoga is geared towards athletes and most classes follow a flow of fast-paced movements that are more physically demanding than other yoga styles.</p><p></p><p>Power yoga might look different depending on where you practice, but there are a few key characteristics that most classes have in common:</p><ul><li><div>Poses are held for a longer period of time (up to a minute) to help build strength</div></li><li><div>The classes are built to increase heart rate</div></li><li><div>Poses include a blend of Vinyasa and Ashtanga</div></li></ul><h2>Origins of Power Yoga</h2><p>Power yoga is an offshoot of Ashtanga yoga and doesn&#39;t stick to a set sequence of asanas as <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/ashtanga-yoga-eight-limbs\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/ashtanga-yoga-eight-limbs\">Ashtanga</a> does. It came to popularity in the United States in the mid-1990s when Bryan Kest and Beryl Bender Birch separately took the Ashtanga yoga method and transformed it into a less rigid style of yoga. Yoga Journal credits Birch with creating &quot;the original power yoga&quot; in 1995, though Bryan Kest seems to be the one who actually coined the phrase.</p><p></p><p>Kest says that the original name was &quot;empower yoga,&quot; but that he shortened it to &quot;power yoga&quot; because it was just easier to say. He jokes that he even considered changing the name to &quot;grandma yoga&quot; because he believed that anyone could do it.</p><p></p><p>When you consider that power yoga has oft been viewed as the realm of athletes or other already physically fit people, that might come as a surprise. However, Kest&#39;s &quot;empower yoga&quot; was intended to encourage practitioners to honor the needs of their own bodies during power yoga classes. This might mean you challenge yourself to do something you didn&#39;t think possible and it could also mean that you skip poses that just aren&#39;t possible for you.</p><p></p><h2>What to Expect From a Power Yoga Class</h2><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/output=format:png/resize=width:600,height:400/fM0kghXlQwuS8IKZZyXg\" alt=\"Supported Triangle Pose\" title=\"triangle pose.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>If you&#39;ve never experienced a power yoga class, you&#39;re in for a treat. As we mentioned earlier, power yoga is a blend of Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga. These classes offer immediate benefits and help you live a healthier, happier life. Here&#39;s what to expect from the typical power yoga class.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Sweat</h3><p>Hydrate before, during, and after your power yoga class. Also, you&#39;ll want to have a towel handy to keep things dry and safe.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Be Challenged Physically</h3><p><a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/power-yoga-session\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/power-yoga-session\">Power yoga</a> is hard. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Holding poses for a minute or more is challenging on your body and the fast pace of these classes can make it more difficult to keep up. That doesn&#39;t mean that beginners can&#39;t participate in and get a lot out of power yoga classes. Just do what you can, push your comfort zone a bit, and have fun.</p><p></p><h3>You Will Be Challenged Mentally</h3><p>In addition to the physical challenges of power yoga, there are mental challenges to such an intense practice, too. Even if you&#39;re already familiar with yoga, be prepared for how power yoga comes together to create a unique challenge.</p><p></p><h2>Benefits of Power Yoga</h2><img src=\"https://media.graphcms.com/output=format:png/resize=,width:600,height:400/sZdxwJtXTaMq8w7oBXT2\" alt=\"upward facing dog.png\" title=\"upward facing dog.png\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" /><p>Like all types of yoga, power yoga has its fair share of both physical and mental benefits. It&#39;s associated with improved posture and balance, better sleep, and a stronger immune system, for starters. Here are a few other benefits of power yoga to keep in mind.</p><p></p><h3>Improved Cardiovascular Fitness</h3><p>Power yoga is fast-paced and endurance-based. This makes it a great option for improving cardiovascular health. Performing a cardio-heavy practice like power yoga regularly can help you strengthen your heart and lungs, improve cholesterol levels, control blood sugar and blood pressure, improve sleep, boost energy, and a whole lot more.</p><p></p><h3>Increased Strength</h3><p>Since power yoga includes long holds of certain poses, you&#39;ll find increased strength a benefit of the practice. As you hold a static pose for a period of time, your body will engage the muscles needed to keep you stable in the pose, increasing strength and endurance.</p><p></p><h3>Improved Circulation</h3><p>Power yoga is going to get your heart rate pumping. In addition to the cardiovascular benefits, the increased heart rate also leads to better circulation. This means nutrients and oxygen will flow throughout your body better.</p><p></p><h3>Better Stamina</h3><p>Power yoga is a full-body strength and cardiovascular workout that will help improve your stamina (the ability of your body to sustain prolonged physical and mental effort).</p><p></p><h3>Improved Motor Function</h3><p>A <a rel=\"noreferrer nofollow\" target='_blank' title=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27062960/\" href=\"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27062960/\">2016 study</a> found that people with Parkinson&#39;s disease who practiced power yoga two times a week had significant improvements in tremors and muscle rigidity. Further, power yoga increased muscle strength and power in study participants.</p><p></p><h3>Reduced Stress</h3><p>Despite the fact that power yoga is less meditative than other types of yoga, it still contributes to overall reductions in stress and anxiety and promotes feelings of calm and relaxation. A <a rel=\"noreferrer nofollow\" target='_blank' title=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105317694487\" href=\"https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105317694487\">2017 study</a> found that power yoga decreases the body&#39;s cortisol levels and suggests that just a single power yoga session might prompt a noticeable reduction in stress.</p><p></p><h2>Join myYogaTeacher for a Safe and Effective Power Yoga Experience</h2><p>Power yoga is a fast-paced yoga style that will help you build strength and endurance. While it does require you to <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/breathwork-and-yoga\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/articles/breathwork-and-yoga\">be mindful of your breathing</a>, it&#39;s not a meditative class. Instead, power yoga emphasizes dynamic, powerful movements and long holds of poses to get the most physical benefit.</p><p></p><p>While power yoga can be practiced safely by just about anyone, the practice isn&#39;t suitable for everyone. Pregnant people are cautioned against power yoga as certain poses can cause complications during pregnancy. If you&#39;re pregnant, check out one of our prenatal yoga classes and save the power yoga for postpartum!</p><p></p><p>In addition to pregnancy, there are a few other reasons you might want to avoid power yoga:</p><ul><li><div>Diabetes</div></li><li><div>Heart problems</div></li><li><div>Carpal tunnel</div></li><li><div>Recent surgery</div></li><li><div>Recent physical injuries</div></li></ul><p>If any of the above apply to you, that doesn&#39;t mean you absolutely can&#39;t practice power yoga. However, you should definitely seek out the advice of your doctor for approval.</p><p></p><p>If you like to sweat, power yoga is probably a good fit for you. If you have some experience with yoga and a decent level of fitness, why not give it a shot? Join a power yoga class with myYogaTeacher! <a title=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\" href=\"https://www.myyogateacher.com/free-yoga-classes.html\">Sign up for a free two-week trial</a> and get access to 35+ live online classes every day.</p>"},"category":["fitness"],"utmCampaign":null,"utmMedium":null,"utmContent":null,"utmSource":null,"utmTerm":null,"utmSearchString":null,"imageHyperlink":[]},"recommendations_group_class":[{"session_uuid":"52dca59c-772d-45b9-b019-2754716b89d3","student_uuid":"e327c088-feba-44f5-97f0-1a7db39ebc4f","teacher_uuid":"e8eaa258-05ca-4844-b6f0-f9b4df1d0077","teacher_name":"Preeti Goswami","teacher_first_name":"Preeti","teacher_slug":"preeti-2","teacher_photo":"https://res.cloudinary.com/dgerdfai4/image/upload/v1661260461/teacher/photos/s0yvuaiip5y2vuvk5tsc.jpg","group_session_name":"Power Yoga","group_session_description":"Power yoga increases physical fitness and stamina with a fast-paced class designed to get your heart rate up and sweat. 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