Power Yoga

Power yoga is a fitness-oriented offshoot of vinyasa, developed in the late 1980s by teachers who wanted the athleticism of Ashtanga without its fixed sequence. It keeps the flowing, breath-linked format but turns up the intensity: more chaturangas, longer holds in strong standing poses, and dedicated core work woven through the class.

Expect a workout. Classes move briskly, repeat strength-building poses like plank and chair, and often hold poses to the point of shaking. Many studios heat the room somewhere between warm and hot, though plenty of power classes run at normal temperature. There is generally less pose-by-pose instruction than in Hatha — teachers assume you know the basics and cue quickly.

It suits people who come to yoga primarily for strength and conditioning. That is a legitimate reason to practice, and power yoga delivers it honestly: sweat, effort, and a thorough savasana at the end. If you are brand new to yoga, a few slower classes first will make the pace much more manageable.