Core Power Yoga: What It's All About
Core power yoga sounds about as intense as it actually is. It obviously focuses on working your core, as well as taking a lot of strength or "power" to complete the poses and exercises.Core power yoga is said to physically and mentally challenge you, while connecting with what yoga teachers might call your "inner power." Supposedly, core power yoga actually helps to detoxify the body while creating overall balance. Balance is one of the central themes of any yoga exercise, and it would be hard not to use the word "balance" at least once in a yoga article.
Core power yoga was invented in the west, so it is called a "western style" of yoga. The name was created by an Ashtanga Yoga instructor by the name of Beryl Bender. There are actually different parts to the power yoga program.
The Three Parts of Core Power Yoga:
- Core Power: Focuses on abdominals and back muscles and uses what is called "muscle-toning" moves.
- Athletic Power: This develops strength with an emphasis on back muscles, abdominal muscles and the pelvis and hips.
- Soul of Strength: This is a faster moving yoga program with a mind-body dimension and includes the "balance" aspect of yoga mentioned earlier. These are said to be some of the more challenging moves associated with core power yoga (like it doesn't sound challenging enough already).
Core Power Yoga: A Laundry List of Benefits:
- Develop strength
- Increase endurance
- Improve concentration
- Stress and tension release
- Detoxify the body
What Does Core Power Yoga Do That Other Yoga Doesn't?
Core Power Yoga is a Vinyasa type of yoga, and is said to be "one of a kind." This is because it focuses on core, balance and flow. It could be argued that other types of yoga, in fact all yoga, will focus on the core, however, with the speed and rapidity of core power yoga, it should basically be seen as yoga on steroids. In other words, get ready to sweat a whole lot.
Like other forms of yoga, core power yoga also helps lengthen the body and stretch the muscles while building endurance and lean muscle tissue. Another claim is that the heated rooms where core power yoga is practiced will also help to get rid of certain bacteria. Remember that core power yoga is going to connect you to the "mind, body, spirit" thing that all yoga will focus on, but on a more intense level.
Who Should Practice Core Power Yoga?
This type of yoga is best suited for people who want a great cardio workout while practicing yoga poses. Also, for those who like intense workouts, and probably most importantly, for those that are familiar with other types of yoga. In other words, this is probably not the best place to start if you are new to yoga. However, if your goal is to get a great cardio workout while focusing on your core, then core power yoga may be the right type of yoga for you. Just make sure you are in pretty good shape before you delve into this type of yoga. It is not for the faint of heart.
