Power Yoga for Moms by Kristin Wells

As everyone knows, motherhood is a full-time job. Moms describe it as the most wonderful job in the world. But it leaves very little time to exercise, de-stress, and rid all the tension that normally builds during the day. 

Some women address this need with an early-morning run, a weekend gym class, or a basement treadmill. But motivation is often lacking during the wee hours of the morning, and weekend classes are usually drenched in mommy guilt. Treadmills are, as they say, so yesterday.

Many women today are turning to a new workout phenomenon known as power yoga. But it is not really new. Power yoga is a generic term for a type of classical Indian yoga called ashtanga yoga. Popular in the United States and other Western regions of the world, power yoga models its fitness-based approach on the ashtanga practice.

It was introduced to the Western world in the mid-1960s. The term “power yoga” was coined later. It describes the American version of the Ashtanga practice. “Power yoga” became a common term in the 1990s, and is enjoying resurgence in popularity today. Beryl Bender Birch and Bryan Kest are the American teachers credited with power yoga.

Power yoga involves a specific series of movements that combine three distinct yoga concepts: Vinyasa, Tristhana, and internal purification. Vinyasa refers to the breathing, movement, and energy flow. Vinyasa turns static hold yoga postures into dynamic flow. Often times, for me, it’s the initial way I start to relieve anxiety. Tristhana refers to attention points or focal points, which is essentially the place you look while you do the poses.  Internal purification implies a burning away of emotions and focusing on you.

While many women attend power yoga classes, the practice lends itself very well to living room workouts once you learn the basics. Thus, it is an excellent solution for busy moms who want to work out from home. Modern women can find streaming online yoga classes that guide them step-by-step from their laptop computers. Power yoga is an appealing option for women, including working moms and busy stay-at-home moms. The fitness-based programs are ideal for fit and healthy women who enjoy exercising and prefer minimal amounts of meditation and chanting. I started to notice differences in how I felt fairly quickly. I had more energy throughout the day and generally felt better. It helped on my Saturday morning walks because I wasn’t getting fatigued as quickly.

Led by master yoga teachers, power yoga classes are perfect for women who believe in a natural, holistic approach to health and fitness. It can also assist with patients diagnosed with terminal diseases and types of mesothelioma. Many online and video classes combine nature appreciation and nutrition awareness with ashtanga yoga practices. Modern moms are busy women who usually manage to juggle it all -- except for the all-important “me time” that lets them exercise, de-stress, and take care of themselves. Power yoga is an effective solution to their dilemma, and they should definitely give it a try.

Kristin Wells is a recent college graduate from The University of Georgia and an aspiring writer. She wants to make a difference in people's lives through her writing. Kristin also likes competitive cycling, running, and traveling as much as possible.