This page gives a detailed description of Dylan Robertson’s Slow Power Yoga classes.

What is “Power Yoga”?

To understand Power Yoga, it is helpful to know a little about it’s origins.

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a traditional Indian system of yoga which originated in the Indian city of Mysore and was founded by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. This system follows a set series of poses each time and students practice by themselves at their own pace under the supervision of a teacher. Vinyasa refers to the coordination of breath and movement. Each class begins and ends with chanting in Sanskrit and most poses are referred to by their Sanskrit name.

A number of American yoga teachers went to Mysore to learn Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Upon returning to the US, they found the system was too complex, foreign and strict for most people. In their efforts to make this style of yoga more accessible, “Power Yoga” was born. Based on Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga’s fundamental poses, Power Yoga is taught in a standard class format with a variable sequence. True to America’s “melting pot” culture, Power Yoga also mixes influences from other styles of yoga. Power Yoga’s popularity is due to its simplicity, adaptability and greater variety.

“Slow Power Yoga”? Why slow? I want a workout!

Don’t be misled by the names: this advanced and powerful yoga program yields results more quickly than other methods. Slowing down gives everybody a chance to work, refine their technique and develop greater bodily awareness.

Designed to deepen your practice, the continuous yoga flow in Dylan’s classes emphasizes transitioning slowly in and out of the essential poses to sculpt a lean, defined and strong body. By slowing down and persevering, you will learn to balance effort, awareness and breath. Holding poses longer helps oxygenate the blood and aids in flushing out toxins. The slower you move, the more it challenges your muscles to work harder and build strength.

The Benefits of Slow Power Yoga

Slow Power Yoga will help you to:

• Burn more fat than with other yoga programs and have a toned body
• Work your muscles with slow, continuous movement
• Reshape your abs, upper and lower body with targeted, muscle-isolating moves
• Increase muscle and bone density
• Be more alert and equip you for a more mentally demanding yoga practice

By practicing Dylan’s special sequence of poses, you will build the lean strength, stamina and flexibility required to ignite your metabolism. At the same time, the deliberate focus on the yoga poses demands the mind’s attention and develops its powers of concentration. It becomes a form of meditation, making your practice deep and very rewarding. Dylan’s Slow Power Yoga classes help you build the highest levels of vitality and make you feel free and relaxed.

CLASS OUTLINE

Each class lasts for about 75 minutes, and contains the following sections:

1. Mini Pose Workshop (5 min.)

Before each class, Dylan explains the details of one pose for about 10 minutes. He encourages students to ask questions. We cycle through the following series, covering a different one each week:

• Easy seated poses for meditation
• Pose for relaxation and recovery
• Basic Even Standing
• Gentle standing, back bend, and forward bend
• Plank / Yoga Pushup
• Cobra / Upward Facing Dog
• Downward Facing Dog
• Crescent Lunge
• Powerful Pose / Chair Pose
• Warrior II
• Triangle
• Wide Angle Forward Bend
• Intense Side Stretch
• Locust
• Happy Baby
• Reclining Twist
• Relaxation Pose

Students should try to remember and practice what they have learned during the class. Often, principles that come up in one pose apply to other poses as well.

2. Breathing Exercises (5 min.)

To prepare your mind and body for the yoga class.

3. Yoga Class (60 min.)

Each class follows a, more or less, set pattern. This helps you become familiar with the process and eventually focus on your technique rather than on guessing what’s coming up next.

Dylan’s classes are designed for beginners with limited flexibility and strength. The poses are basic ones found in most yoga classes, but, as you’ll find out, require great focus to perform correctly.

Students are encouraged to take it easy and can stop to rest at any time. Progress is made through gentle persistence over the long term rather than any singular heroic effort.

Practice does not make perfect – practice makes permanent. Therefore, Dylan focuses on teaching students good habits that will serve them well in any style of yoga class they may choose to take. The emphasis is on challenging oneself safely and enjoyably.

4. Meditation (5 min.)

We perform a simple seated meditation focusing on the breath. This simple and profound method is scientifically proven to have numerous health benefits, if practiced daily over the long term.

Not only do we need an understanding of our body but we also need to connect with the essence of our true self, which is an identity beyond everyday change, gender, hormone fluctuations, family expectations, and other superimposed personality patterns. The place for this self-discovery is the ever-present silence within us. Meditation helps us to reach this place deep inside.

CLASS SCHEDULE

Check out Dylan’s Yoga Class Schedule for details on upcoming classes.