Power Yoga is a vigorous, fitness-based approach to yoga. It is characterized by practicing a series of non-stop yoga poses with vinyasa, the turning of static yoga poses into dynamic flow. Most of power yoga is based on the Ashtanga style.
When several yoga instructors wanted to make Westerners interested in yoga in the 1990s, the term Power Yoga was coined. Unlike Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga doesn’t follow a set series of poses, so classes can vary.
The thing all Power Yoga classes still have in common is the emphasis on strength and flexibility. Yoga’s popularity skyrocketed with advent of Power Yoga as people began seeing yoga as a great way to work out and to feel good, both physically and mentally.
Power Yoga classes can vary widely from teacher to teacher. Power Yoga will most likely appeal to people who are already quite fit, enjoy exercising, and want a minimal amount of chanting and meditation with their yoga.