Power Yoga for Fighting Cancer

Numerous studies from leadingyb medical research labs and hospitals all around the world are seeing first hand how yoga is successfully helping the fight against many different forms of Cancer, from Prostate to Breast Cancer, as well as how yoga helps current cancer patients and cancer survivor improve their quality of life.

Research is noting that yoga, especially the more active styles such as Power Yoga, help fight cancer in many ways, because not only do you get the benefits of stress relief, flexibility and improved blood flow, but you are also adding benefits of physical and mental strengthening from within a controlled rhythmic breathing process.

Research shows that this rhythmic breathing process aids in the production of natural killer cells, and these cells are critical in helping to fight cancer.

For breast cancer survivors, yoga promotes psychological well-being as well as strengthening their immune system, a recent study suggests.

Practicing yoga is also believed to be beneficial for individuals suffering from a broad variety of health problems such as back pain, chronic headaches, sleeplessness, obesity, neck aches, upset stomach, anxiety, depression and high blood pressure, said Sat Bir Singh Khalsa, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

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Power Yoga vs Pilates

I have enjoyed many exercise programs through the years, including Pilates, but it's Power Yoga's positive impact on your overall health, lifestyle and happiness that lead me to my Power Yoga Certification and desire to teach it to others in my own Studio. I hope the below information helps you better understand the core difference between Power Yoga and Pilates.

Origins
Yoga is a 5,000 year old philosophy that originated from India. More than a form of exercise, it encompasses an entire lifestyle and aims to unite body, mind, and soul. Because Power Yoga incorporates mind and spirit as well as an intense rhythmic workout, it is a therapeutic practice that help practitioners to become more aware of his or her postures, alignment, patterns of movement, and balance (in both mind and body). 

Pilates, a much more modern practice was invented in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates as a practice to help World War I soldiers recover from their injuries. Unlike Power Yoga, which is strictly performed on floor mats, pilates incorporates the use of machines designed to strengthen the abdomen and stabilize the spine, making it ideal for rehabilitation of injuries. Not as ancient in its origin, pilates first gained popularity in the 1990s among the dance world. 

Mental Differences
Yoga in general has a more holistic approach, which emphasizes balance in all areas - it equally supports and strengthens all muscle groups while it creates mental clarity and physical balance. Pilates focuses on building core muscles, and although it also stimulates mental balance, the principals behind Power Yoga involves uniting body and mind. 

Physical Differences
The physical differences between the two are vast. Power Yoga is an intense, upbeat, high-energy practice where poses flow smoothly into one another, targeting the entire body from head to toe. Its benefits are endless - lengthens and leans out muscles, increases metabolism, decreases stress, and enhances mental clarity and focus. The practice of pilates on the other hand (whether machine or mat based), is significantly lower in impact and concentrates more on non-repeated movement patterns and stretches. 

Breathing
Both Power Yoga and Pilates place a strong emphasis on coordinated breathing; however, with different approaches. Pilates incorporates a basic style of breathing with the purpose to stabilize and protect the spine. Coordinated breathing is integral to the Power Yoga practice. It incorporates "ujjayi breathing" meaning "victoriously uprising" which refers to the upward expansion of the energy of the breath. Ujjayi breathing is an intense, smooth, even, and controlled breathing technique that helps to calm and relax the mind. The deeper "ujjayi" nose breathing practiced during Power Yoga classes also increase power and breath strength throughout the heart and lungs. It is this combination of breath and movement in Power Yoga that connects mind with  body, and creates balance and stability. 

Summary
Power Yoga and Pilates certainly share their similarities and are both very popular, but the key differences rest within their core objectives. Power Yoga is a complete balance and holistic exercise that increases flexibility and strengthens both muscle power and mental stability, where pilates simply focuses on the body's core strengths.

Power Yoga to the beat the competition

Today’s top athletes have a unique ability to consistently perform at their highest potential in comparison to their competition.

For high school, college and professional sports, most athletes are very similar in physical abilities, so how are some athletes able to consistently dominate their competition?

Here are four key areas required to achieve athletic dominance:

• Strong Mental Focus - A dominate athlete is able to maintain a higher level of mental focus, awareness and concentration over his competition, some term this as performing “In the Zone”.
  
• Prolonged Peak Physical Performance - A dominate athlete will perform at their highest physical ability, pushing their body to its limit, until the very end of their performance, and will do this consistently over each and every performance.
  
• Ability to Prevent Serious Injury - A dominate athlete is able to avoid serious injury during each and every performance.
  
• Quick Recovery Time - A dominate athlete is able to more quickly recover, both mentally and physically, over their competition. They are able to continually compete again, and even at higher mental and physical level than previously, as their competition get tougher and they move towards championship play.

There are many factors that contribute to a dominate athletes ability to maintain mental focus and consistently perform at their best over long periods of time, while avoiding injury. Genetics, training, nutrition, determination, luck and many other factors come into play here, but now enter Power Yoga.

Power Yoga can improve your genetics, increase your training or physical limits, improve your focus and thus your determination, and remove much of the need for luck by providing you with greater mental and physical potential, as well as increasing both your athletic recovery time and ability to prevent injuries.

Power Yoga is no longer a secret with today’s top athletes. More and more professional athletes and sports teams are taking Power Yoga, to gain a competitive edge over their competition. They understand the key areas of becoming a dominate athlete in today’s world, and Power Yoga is able to improve them in all key areas.

No matter what sport you compete in: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Tennis, Running, Cycling....Power Yoga will make a difference in your performance...and your athletic career.

Power yoga is a form of yoga that is based on a choreographed sequence of poses known as asana, and during the process, the joints in the body unwind, muscles get relaxed and the energy gets moved. When an athlete performs power yoga, they build strength and flexibility and are able to focus better as tension in the mind and body is released.

Power yoga follows a particular sequence of poses, like sun salutation, warrior pose, balancing pose and then the triangle pose. Next are the floor practices and the seated postures, and finally the savasana or meditation, which is the most important part of power yoga practice. This enables you to incorporate all the subtle changes made during the practice.

Physical Benefits of Power Yoga:
• Improved Breathing
• Increased Range of Motion
• Strengthen Tendons & Ligaments
• Strengthen Ankles & Knees
• Improved Balance
• Decrease Injuries
• Improve Recovery Time
• Increase Body Awareness

Mental Benefits of Power Yoga:
• Mind / Body Awareness
• Controlled Breathing & Heart Rate
• Presence
• Control & Release of Stress & Anxiety
• Pre-Game Clarity & Focus
• Training Discipline & Concentration
• Relaxation for Healing & Recovery

A few pro athletes who practice yoga:
• Many of our Pittsburgh Steelers and numerous other NFL players.
• Joel Zumaya – Detroit Tigers
• Barry Zito – San Francisco Giants
• Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics
• Tom Brady – New England Patriots

“Obviously playing professional sports is all about focus and yoga's all about holding a pose and maintaining your focus on that, trying to get deeper and relaxing yourself at the same time. You do that for an hour-and-a-half session, three or four sessions a week, and you become better at keeping your mind on one thing and not letting your mind drift.”
--- Kerry Kittles, LA Clippers 2004-05

“Power Yoga is great for flexibility; it's therapeutic, and great for your attitude. And it gets you some silence during your day.”
--- Tom Brady, New England Patriots

Learn more about the benefits of Power Power @ www.zimyoga.com