What is the Difference Between American Power Yoga and Regular Yoga Classes?
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American Power Yoga is a special brand of "yoga-esque" exercise that was developed by Kurt Johnsen in Dallas, TX. In his 3 studios, you can attend classes that will get you sweating! The classes are open to a wide variety of people and experience levels. No need to be intimidated - just come to an Open class or Beginner's class and you'll be welcomed with open arms.
Rather than being a traditional, historically accurate yoga practice, American Power Yoga is more of a gym class designed to get you fit, and challenge you, using principles from yoga, kung fu, and other sources. It is not a fighting activity, but elements of training to improve breath, strength, flexibility and mental focus are incorporated.
The Benefits of American Power Yoga
American Power Yoga (APY) has become popular in this country as students have seen the benefits of the all around workout that this style of yoga can give. Power yoga works the core muscles as well as practically every muscle in the body. Power yoga is practiced by almost every age of person and almost every physical ability. It helps to strengthen not only the person's body, but also his mind and overall well-being. Power yoga is taught in a variety of different yoga studios in Texas.
Health Advantage Of Power Yoga
Kurt Johnsen's American Power yoga consists of a series of poses that individuals perform in a very controlled manner, smoothly flowing from one to another. Although the workout often appears to be easy since it is so smooth and flowing, looks are deceiving since the poses all require that the individual hold his own body weight throughout the series of five or more deep breaths that he needs to take before the pose is over. This requires a high level of concentration and body control that has to be mastered and gives the students a great workout as well.
There are many different health benefits to practicing power yoga on a regular basis. The first is obvious from the previous paragraph – strength. In addition to strength, however, there are other health benefits for not just the body but the mind as well. The body becomes more flexible when practicing power yoga since the poses require many different stretches and contortions when holding them. This enables the body to gain strength and flexibility at the same time, opening passageways that may have been bound up for years, constricting blood flow and holding in toxins. Increased blood flow is an additional benefit to practicing this type of yoga, as well as balance and coordination, since these are also needed to perform the poses correctly and to hold them.
Mental health is bolstered through the breathing techniques that are used in the poses of power yoga. The breathing is maintained at a constant level throughout the power yoga class, even when it gets difficult. The breathing is always deep and slow, being pulled in and out through the nose, rather than through the mouth. It is always pulled through the diaphragm so that it is deep and provides the necessary oxygen to the body. This provides a high level of concentration and relaxation to the person participating in the yoga class which he can carry over into his work life.
At the end of the day, American Power Yoga is another great yoga-based workout that has been Americanized by a dynamic fitness guru to make it fun and exciting to an American audience. There's nothing wrong with that unless your main draw to a yogic practice is the historical and ancient tradition of "real" yoga. If you're just looking for a fun and challenging workout, and you happen to live nearby to an American Power Yoga studio, then you may be in luck! Give it a try for free with free yoga in the park, or try out a class for five dollars and see how it goes for you.
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