Power Yoga

Power Yoga emerged in the 1990s as an Americanized adaptation of Ashtanga Yoga, stripping away the spiritual elements and fixed sequences to create a physically challenging workout format accessible to fitness-oriented Westerners.

Origins

Power Yoga was independently pioneered by two American yoga teachers who studied with Pattabhi Jois: Bryan Kest in Los Angeles and Beryl Bender Birch in New York. Both introduced a free-form, intensity-focused version of Ashtanga that prioritized fitness results over spiritual tradition.

Baron Baptiste further popularized a heated version called Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga, which became one of the most widely taught styles in American yoga studios.

Characteristics

Power Yoga classes are:

• Physically demanding: High-intensity sequences that build strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance
• Non-fixed: Unlike Ashtanga, poses can be assembled in any order
• Fitness-oriented: Often framed more as a workout than a spiritual practice
• Sweaty: The vigorous pace generates significant heat and perspiration

Mat Requirements

Power yoga's intensity places premium demands on mat performance:

• Grip under extreme sweat: Sessions can be extremely sweaty; rubber or faux-suede mats outperform PVC
• Durability: Daily practice wears through lower-quality mats quickly
• Cushioning balance: Enough padding for hard floor transitions, but not so thick as to create instability in balance poses
• Size: Full standard size (68-72 inches) needed for the wide-ranging pose sequences