Yoga vs Power Yoga
Yoga and Power Yoga are to be understood with different meanings and concepts. Yoga is based on the Ashtanga Yoga taught by sage Patanjali, the author of the Yoga Aphorisms. Ashtanga Yoga includes the eight limbs of Yoga, namely, yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and Samadhi.
On the other hand, power yoga is the word used to indicate the Yoga system prevalent in the western countries as a form of ‘keep fit’ program. This is the main difference between the two words.
Another interesting difference between the two words is that, while yoga aims at the highest target of the attainment of spiritual absorption, power yoga does not aim at the target of spiritual absorption for that matter. In fact, it can be said that power yoga does not have inclination towards spirituality.
On the other hand, traditional yoga has inclination towards spirituality. The fact that power yoga is not inclined towards spiritual attainment is known through the various programs promoted by the different Yoga centers in the West. It is important to know that these programs concentrate mainly on how to keep fit in both, mind and the control of body weight.
In other words, power yoga is more of the reduction of body weight. It aims at the control of cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels in the body. Meditation techniques followed in Power Yoga aim at making the mind calm and quiet. That is why power yoga camps are conducted atop hills and other resorts. They call it yoga resorts.
On the other hand, meditation is followed in the traditional system of yoga with an aim to attain perfection in the art of mind control and self realization. These are primarily the differences between the two words, namely, yoga and power yoga.