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The shape of power yoga is very flexible

by Wendy Smith

My first experience with yoga was 25-plus years ago. I was a wee lass of 12 faithfully watching Yoga with Lila on PBS. I was probably more enthralled with the fact that she had long black hair that hung to her waist than anything else, and I daresay that any young woman who had been forced to wear a pixie haircut until age 13 would have been just as captivated.

Anyhow, fast forward to 2004 where I’m feeling a bit shabby and wanting to do something other than the elliptical trainer. A friend recommended that I try Beginning Power Yoga. Power? Yoga? Riiight. My idea of yoga had something to do with sitting cross-legged on the floor with my eyes closed, humming “ooommm.” OK, so maybe I’ve got some crossover going with yoga and meditation but, either way, the word “power” didn’t, in my mind, go with the word “yoga” at all. And beginning power yoga? Well, it sounded like a cakewalk. How wrong I was.

Power yoga is a form of Vinyasa (flow)-style yoga. Vinyasa means “breathing system” and links breathing and movement to increase the flow of energy through the body. The name “power yoga” was coined to interest Westerners. Its therapeutic purpose is to connect breath with motion while building cardiovascular strength and flexibility. Its spiritual purpose is to promote clear, focused thinking and cultivate an internal place for spirituality to flourish. Vinyasa or power yoga involves holding positions for about five breaths and then moving through to the next position. It practices more motion and moves faster then the other two branches, Hatha or Kundilini. I’m not sure which branch Lila taught but I’m fairly certain it was not Vinyasa. Ooommm.

The first class I attended was taught by Jennifer Coffin. Jennifer is small woman with well-defined muscles, all the result of Vinyasa-style yoga. The classes are held in a warm room, about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, to encourage muscle stretching. Jennifer began the class by asking us to make a statement of intent, which I thought started the class with a nice touch. I’m chagrined to admit that my intent was not world peace and more or less involved me wishing I wouldn’t get a cramp in my toes. (My disclaimer is that being so new to it, I had no idea how purposed yoga could be.) Jennifer then began to lead us through the first positions. She is a very encouraging teacher and spent a good deal of time pushing, pulling and stretching students into the correct postures.

I’m in fairly decent shape, yet I found myself unable to achieve many of the postures or hold them for the time required. Jennifer, on the other hand, is amazing. She’s very bendy and can put her body into shapes that could have been created in Photoshop. She’s also amazingly strong. At one point, she sat cross-legged on the floor and raised her entire body, legs still crossed, off the floor with her hands and arms. And she made it look absolutely effortless.

I was skeptical about the claim of cardiovascular benefit, but when the class ended I was a believer. I had gotten a good workout. The pace of power yoga takes the heart rate up and down and repeats this throughout the class without making you feel like you just ran a marathon. By the end of class, I was quite sweaty and tired. On the other hand, I was also exhilarated and felt like I was three inches taller. I got a fabulous workout and felt more focused than I had in several days.

I understood why Jennifer started the class with a statement of intent. Yoga is a spiritual discipline, although not a religion. It’s spiritual in that the combination of breathing and movement allows the mind to clear and open; it’s good for the spirit and the energy of the body.

It is said that students of Vinyasa Yoga feel the effects of practice quicker then other forms, because the stretching, motion and breathing contribute quickly to muscle tone, strength, spiritual focus and relaxation. Although I can only speak of my experience, I felt taller, thinner and stronger for a whole week after just one class. Let me also say that I know I would never have made it through the advanced power yoga class. I will never again think that “power” and “yoga” don’t belong next to each other.

Jennifer Coffin teaches Beginning Power Yoga at Well By Nature on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Call 865-584-3864 or go to www.sidecrowyoga.com

April 15, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 16 © 2004 Metro Pulse