In defense of power yoga

I've always love the gritty kind of physical challenges. You know those ones where you just have to put your head down and do the work. My weightlifting partner has called me sick on several occasions for my love of grueling workouts.

It would likely come as no surprise then that I love a good hot or power yoga class.

Sweating, feeling my muscles working and the struggle lead

me to the most blissful final savasana. The peace I feel is complete.

Like a child or puppy, getting the energy out means that I can focus and be present so much better after the physical challenge of a power yoga class.

Who says slowing down needs to be physical stillness. It's about connecting the breath and the body. It's moving with intention and purpose. It's holding that utkatasana for a few extra breaths of shaking legs. The physical strain, helps me to hone my attention and keeps me fully in the present moment.

Don't get me wrong, I love a good chill practice at times. But somewhere along the way, some yoga instructors labelled power or hot flow classes as somehow less spiritual. The effort of the physical work somehow making the practices not as worthy as sitting and meditating.

To me, as a yoga teacher, it doesn't matter what brought a student to their mat. Whether the want to get a good workout, reduce stress or anything else. What matters is that they made it through the door to the studio.

Anyone who's done yoga for a while knows that you get so much more from a yoga practice than what brought you to it in the first place.

Can we just celebrate all yoga as a good thing? Can we acknowledge that there is benefit in all types of practice, even if it's not what works for us?