When folks hear the term "power yoga" they are often mystified. Many consider it as so different from normal or traditional styles that it should not even have the term yoga in its name. Whereas others see it as a freash new approach to an old and dated idea whos time has come for a change. But all admit that this new movements is a popular and new execise form. But is power yoga right for you, and are you up to its challenges. This ia a fast, powerful and acrobatic form of exercise, not slow-paced posturing, breathing exercises and chanting. But it most surely is a good form of exercise if you are only looking for a workout for your body and not worried about chanting and relaxation techniques.

Power yoga was developed in the 90's to make a style of yoga that was more in tune with western sensibilty. Many people just want to increase muscle-tone and increase flexibility. They do not care about meditation and and mind developement, they just want a good work-out. Thus this new form appeals to this crowd.

Traditional practitioners say that as power yoga does not follow the methods and tenets of yoga it should not really be called yoga. Of course proponents of power yoga state that it is just a neccesary evolution of an old art to make it more relevant for modern times. But no matter what their views it has certainly gained in popularity and is used in many places all over.

A lot of its popularity stems from our societies need for speed in everything. And since power yoga dispenses with the meditation and breathing execises of the traditional forms a full work-out for the body can be accomplished in less time. But know this, you need to be in fairly good shape with decent flexibility if you want to start in power yoga. If you are not you should start out with traditional yoga mixed with some resistance and aerobic training first. Once you have gotten into pretty good shape, you can switch to power yoga if you so wish.