Power Yoga Classes
Watch free power yoga classes online at Yogi Panda. Whether you are new to power yoga or a Vinyasa pro, I have a class you are going to love. Power yoga is popular because it is tough, yet relaxing. It will challenge you, make you sweat, and wring the stress from your body. Part calisthenics, part meditation, and part sweaty flow state, power yoga is a well-rounded practice for building strength, mobility, and coordination. And it’s a hell of a sweaty calorie burn, too.
Power yoga classes:
- Build strength
- Tone muscles
- Improve mobility
- Increase coordination
Power yoga class intensities:
- Moderate to Difficult
Stream Free Power Yoga Classes
This collection of power yoga classes includes sequences that range from moderate to difficult. Browse featured classes below or visit my Free Yoga Class Library to browse all classes by style, intensity, and more.
Coming soon!
What makes power yoga unique?
Breathe, move, and flex it out. Power yoga uses breathing techniques and postures to draw blood into your muscles so they can be lengthened and strengthened. This is very different from other styles, like Yin Yoga, that focus on releasing the body for a deeper and more contemplative stretch.
Three things you might find unique to power yoga are pace, breath, and heat.
Power Yoga Pace
The pace of power yoga is quick, but smooth. An initial round of postures might be held for just 5 rounds of breath. After that, the postures are usually linked together by just 1 breath each. Practitioners inhale while entering one pose, exhale while transitioning to the next, and so on. This creates the “flow” that power yoga is known for.
Power Yoga Breath
Breath is also used as a guide. It focuses the mind by giving you a home to return to. When your mind wanders, just return to your breath. When you feel fatigue, return to your breath. In this way, breath is also a gauge for exertion. When it’s easy to breathe, you know you can push a little deeper into your postures. And when it’s difficult to breathe, you know it’s time to back off.
Power Yoga and Heat
Heat is usually a third characteristic of power yoga. Practically, heat increases circulation, loosens muscles, and aids in mobility. You don’t need a heated studio to reap the benefits, however. The fundamental pairing of breath and posture is often enough to do the trick.
Skeptical? Try holding a Plank Pose for 20 deep breaths.
At home, you can up your power yoga game by wearing extra sweats or thermal compression gear. Space heaters can also be used to quickly increase room temperature while you practice.
What are the benefits of power yoga?
The benefits of power yoga are often over-stated by people who are either opportunistic or otherwise ignorant of the studies (and flawed studies) that have been done. And that’s unfortunate, because there are significant, legitimate, and proven benefits to developing a power yoga practice. For a no-nonsense overview, I highly recommend The Science of Yoga by William J. Broad.
Here are a few of the best benefits of having your own power yoga practice:
- In a study of male college athletes, “significant gains” in balance and flexibility were observed in those who practiced yoga.
- In another study, female Ashtanga practitioners had more leg strength compared to women who did not practice yoga.
- In a study of men ages 20 to 58, yoga practitioners significantly improved core strength over a 12-week period of yoga practice.
Power Yoga Class Postures
Power yoga postures come in all shapes and intensities. As mentioned, one of the goals of a power yoga flow is to draw blood into your muscles so they can be worked safely. Postures also help to lubricate your joints, especially when sequenced in a certain order (more on that below).
In addition to preparing and challenging your body physically, power yoga postures are meant to be mentally difficult. To many yogis, practicing power yoga is mostly about overcoming their mind’s desire to quit. Each posture is an opportunity to confront themselves as their bodies are soaked, shaking, and vulnerable.
By enduring class just one posture at a time, you experience firsthand the vast gap between perceived ability and your potential. Put more simply: Postures teach that you have much more to give, and it feels pretty f*ing great to surprise yourself. And the more you experience that lesson on your mat, the more it shows up at work, in your relationships, and in your creative endeavors.
Power yoga postures vary according to the intention of the class. I sequence most of my classes by the grace of my teachers, leaning on the following fundamental power yoga postures:
- Warrior series
- Triangle pose
- Crow pose
- Crescent lunge
- Revolved crescent lunge
- Bow pose
- Cobra pose
Keys to ‘Power Up’ Your Yoga Class
I’ve been practicing power yoga, teaching, and gathering student feedback for almost two decades. I’m often asked for tips to make it easier to show up, do the work, and keep coming back. Below are my most frequent responses. Some are universal and mandatory (like #1), while others are subjective and totally optional. My favorite thing about the art of yoga is seeing how different people express it, so take these ideas and make them your own.
- Consult a physician.
- Eat something light 30 minutes before class. Fresh, watery fruit and nuts are my favorites.
- Hydrate throughout the day and take water to class.
- Use your breath to understand your effort.
- Use the 1 Posture Rule when you aren’t feeling motivated.
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