Power

What it is

   An active and athletic style of yoga adapted from the traditional ashtanga system in the late '80s to appeal to aerobic-crazed Westerners. After having studied with Pattabhi Jois, Beryl Bender Birch and Bryan Kest simultaneously pioneered this westernized ashtanga on the East and West coasts, respectively. Power yoga doesn't stick to the same sequence of poses each time like ashtanga does, so the style varies depending on the teacher. Classes called "vinyasa" or "flow" in your gym or studio can be vastly different but, in general, stem from this movement and from ashtanga as well. 

 

Best For   Burn, baby, burn. Isometric movements recruit every muscle in the body, which sparks metabolism and results in more calories burned.

Who's gotta have it    Athletic types love its sweaty side but find that after a while the mental benefits start catching up with their flexibility and strength. Like ashtangis, the power yoga crowd isn't afraid of a challenge.

Need to know    You may be an athlete but that doesn't mean power yoga will be easy. Don't forget that child's pose is your friend. "Athletes particularly need to start very slowly and carefully because their competitive nature will make them push and strain their bodies," Birch says. Also, call ahead and ask whether the classroom will be hot (as in Bikram) or not; it seems "power" translates as "hot" at some studios. And you should be armed with scant clothing and oodles of water if that's the case.

Trends and trivia    Baron Baptiste also teaches a system of power yoga and his Personal Revolution Bootcamps are packed with athletic types looking for a serious mind/body workout.