When the harmony in our body becomes unbalanced, our own systems such as muscular, vascular, digestive and nervous systems, slow down or “slump” resulting in muscle tightness. These tense muscles press down into the bone preventing proper lubrication to the joints as oxygen and nutrients are blocked from feeding muscular tissue.

Yoga techniques help lower stress levels physically through stretching and postures, but also mentally by calming the mind and reducing stress responses of the sympathetic nervous system.

When it comes to sport, Yoga can be seen as the “secret weapon” by giving you that edge over the competition. You are able to focus on the core physical strengths your body requires to endure the physical impacts during athletic exercise.

Most athletes also understand the benefits of stretching, for example stretching hamstrings before a run or any activity involving intense use of your legs. Stretching is integral in Yoga mixed with breathing techniques to help you focus on improving your body’s overall performance. Yoga can help muscles becomes stronger and more flexible while at the same time prevent injury.

Typical injuries associated with sport involve the feet, ankle and knees. Yoga techniques focus not only on muscular health but joints and tendons as well through the various postures, also known as asanas. Keeping your muscles and joints flexible yet strong is one of the many positive side effects of proper Yoga training.

Through proper breathing exercises the athlete is able to oxygenate blood and tissues more efficiently as she inhales, while releasing toxic gases upon exhaling. Overall stamina is improved helping to avoid early fatigue during intense activity. Yoga helps the process of getting energy to flow through the body more efficiently.

Breathing techniques also reduce stress levels by calming the mind and increasing brain alertness. You are required to focus on your breathing and movement of the diaphragm which is very meditative.

Yoga also helps with both balance and muscle response. Many postures require you to find balance to execute the pose, which in turn strengthens muscles and tendons. The more Yoga you practice the more you stimulate nerve impulses to muscle tissue and improve hand and foot to eye coordination.

Power Yoga is a fast paced, aerobic form of exercise incorporating the Ashtanga Yoga discipline. Many people compare the intense workout to a form of Yoga “bootcamp” which is unlike most peoples’ perception of Yoga being a calming, meditative exercise, which of course it is that as well.

Ashtanga Yoga is often referred to the Eight Limb system credited to the sage Patanjali. However, the high energy, “sweaty” version of Ashtanga Yoga, which uses an intense approach to asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing exercises), is attributed to K. Pattabhi Jois.

The main practice of Ashtanga involves six increasingly challenging and difficult postures linked to the next involving between 90 minutes and 3 hours to complete. According to practitioners, if you can survive Power Yoga it can change your life.

Ashtanga Yoga requires each participant to perform a spectrum of postures including difficult and unpleasant ones, in a quest to unlock certain aspects of the mind and body.

The goal is to complete each of four series. The first, or primary series known as Yoga Chikitsa, is designed to realign the spine, cleanse the physical body, and build strength and endurance.

The intermediate, or second series, is called Nadi Shadona, which means to purify the nervous system. Its purpose is to cleanse and strengthen the nervous system and energy channels throughout the body. Power Yoga disciples are only invited to this second series after building a strong primary series.

Overall there are four series which are called Sthira Bhaga, or divine stability. The original structure of Ashtanga Yoga by Jois only had two series but he decided to split them into four series so less experienced Yoga practitioners could participate.

A word of caution, this intense program is only for the most advanced of Yoga students. There is a real danger that students may attempt poses or techniques that are too advanced and end up injuring themselves. These exercises are very demanding and must be performed in a series flowing from one into the other.

It is less about the physical challenge than the ability to master the mind. You must accomplish each series with a focused mind and a heart full of joy, even if the pose you are in is incredibly difficult and discomforting.

However, if you are able to rise to the challenge and complete each series properly, it is said to be a blissful experience.