Does the scent of incense make you tremble? Do you reach for your pill box when you hear new age music? Does sitting cross legged and chanting induce your flight or fight response rather than relaxation? You’re not alone. There are plenty of others who want the kind of lifted, toned backside that yoga practice brings but without the transcendental warm and fuzzies. Power yoga is your answer. This intense practice gives definite results but doesn’t include spirituality or philosophy. Think of it as the twenty minute work out of the yoga world.

Power yoga can be blamed for the sudden popularity of yoga in the last few years. When various celebrities started claiming that it had created their thin, ropy limbs and fabulous behinds, classes in power yoga started appearing in gyms everywhere. These were an appealing option to those who were intimidated by the heavy weight machines or complex cardio equipment. Eventually it became so popular that it was even incorporated into the NFL’s training program. Based on Ashtanga principles, it uses an intense sequence of poses done quickly and without breaks in between to raise the heart rate while increasing strength and flexibility. Previously, this would have meant a half an hour on a treadmill, forty minutes on the weight machines and then fifteen for stretching. Perhaps the key to its popularity is that power yoga combines all three in an hour long class, making it all the more appealing for our time starved, results orientated western culture. Just like with Bikram yoga, you'll work up a sweat in no time. Because it doesn’t follow a classically designed set of poses, power yoga classes vary from teacher to teacher. You may find that one day the class focuses on lower body strength and flexibility and upper body the next. This may be disturbing for some purists who embrace Yoga as a kind of religion rather than a form of exercise. The styles of yoga more suited to these yogis such as hatha or kundalini are very strict in terms of sequence of poses, clarity of thought and even purity of lifestyle. However, power yoga is more ‘user friendly’ in that it is not necessarily a life altering pursuit. The classes are devoid of long meditation sessions or reminders to be mindful of your ‘inner voices’. You simply don’t have time. From the beginning of the class to the end, you are in constant motion, performing a different asana with each breath. This is perfect if you are not looking to gain any new spiritual awareness from your time in the gym. Of course, any kind of physical exertion is relaxing and you may find you feel incredible after a class, but unlike traditional forms of yoga, relaxation or inner balance is not the goal. The goal is to sweat. Find power yoga poses and workout information at ABC of Yoga. Yoga teaches people to be considerate of themselves. If respecting yourself means avoiding new age philosophy then so be it. This being said, you may also be surprised and find that as your comfort with yoga increases, so does your curiosity. After discovering the massive physical benefits of yoga, you may find yourself investigating the emotional or spiritual side. Hatha classes and the slow, introspective movements might suddenly seem like an excellent enhancement to your power yoga routine. You could find yourself hungering to chant or discover your chakras through guided meditation. Or you may simply want to enjoy your sleek Power Yoga biceps and fabulous butt as you find relaxation at the bottom of a martini glass.