Power Yoga equips you to deal with everyday stress

The term Power Yoga or Artistic Yoga means the performance of stimulating Yoga exercises. These exercises, popularly known as 'asanas', fine-tune your physical and mental capabilities, and make you fitter and stronger.

The exercises are not easy to do. Initially, you may find it difficult to maintain your balance, focus and concentration. But gradually, you will start mastering the different 'asanas' - and this is when you will start enjoying the benefits of Power Yoga.

There are three levels in Power Yoga. First, you have to bring your physical being to an advanced level of fitness and balance. This is achieved by putting the body through a series of cardio-vascular exercise regimes combined with yogic postures and 'asanas'.

The second is to perform the 'asanas' for extended periods of time. The third is to levitate yourself from the physical to the spiritual level. This is the most difficult, and needs the highest amount of concentration and practice.

The most important 'asana' in Power Yoga is 'Suryasana' (the Sun Pose). This involves a series of nine steps (postures), which work on every part of your body. Each step has to be synchronized with a breathing exercise, and should flow seamlessly from one posture to the next. Suryasana, which is best practiced at dawn as a tribute to the rising sun, develops strength and flexibility, increases stamina, improves the ability to focus, releases tensions and removes toxins from the body (through sweating).

Most of the Power Yoga exercises are aimed to develop the abdominals and the back. A flexible back and strong abdominal muscles (and in turn the hip and pelvic bone) are considered the key to physical fitness because most yogic postures demand that these two body parts should be maintained in perfect shape. The hands and legs also grow stronger with practice.

The demanding routine of Power Yoga can help you gain the desired fitness for most sports such as swimming, football, cycling, running or martial arts. It can also bring peace of mind, and make you feel fitter to deal with everyday stress.

Most important, it causes no side effects. It can be done even when you are not suffering from any ailment. The purpose of Power Yoga is to make your body fit, flexible and ailment-free. It can be started at any age, and if done sincerely will yield positive results.