The primary text of the science of classical yoga was written down in history sometime between 200 and 400 B.C. Both ancient scholars and modern proponents argue over the identity of the true and original authors but everyone basically agrees that they were finally collated into a cohesive book format by a Sanskrit philosopher and spiritual scholar named Patanjali. (Sanskrit is the precursor language to Greek and Latin.) Called "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali," this initial, ancient written text explores and explains astanga (or ashtanga) yoga, what we modern-day devotees call "Power Yoga."

In the last 50 years, another renowned Sanskrit scholar named Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (pah-TAH-bi-joyce) has inspired dozens of Western yogis with his particular ashtanga yoga style and philosophies. Today, Jois's many followers have brought Power Yoga--as we know it--to the Western World. Mark Blanchard is one of these yogis.

ASHTANGA
Practiced for over 5,000 years in India, ashtanga is based on the most physical format of yoga, which includes linking athletic asanas (postures) that are physical, fiery and powerful. (There are many different kinds of yoga; one version called raja is purely related to meditation, another called karma is based on performing charitable acts and paths of service, etc.)

HATHA
So, when someone says they practice "Hatha," they basically mean any physical-kind of yoga in which you move your body through space. (Hatha translates to mean "force" or "forceful" and serves as an umbrella term for all forms of physical yoga.) However, when participants say they're practicing "Power Yoga", they likely do mean ashtanga yoga, based on more powerful breathing techniques and building substantial internal heat through vinyasa, or moving fluidly from one posture to another.

MORE POWERFUL, CONFIDENT AND BALANCED
Whatever modern-day, Western term is used for the description of yoga is far less important than the purpose of yoga, which is to practice the balance of body, mind and spirit. A solid power yoga program should help you feel more powerful, confident and balanced yet also simultaneously feel compassionate, fluid, gentle and kind. Basically, the term 'Power Yoga' was developed to help people understand that this style of Hatha (the physical kind) is a challenging practice with athletic movements that help you energetically flow from one pose to the next. But there's so much more to it than that!

PURE YOGA - AND NOTHING ELSE.
Some of the most unique and identifying characteristics of Mark Blanchard's purist and progressive "Power Yoga" class is that he never categorizes sessions by potentially threatening "levels" (i.e.: level one, two or three) and he does not recommend using class props like blocks or straps. "Regardless of how trendy these accoutrements have become, there were no stereos or straps when yoga was created over 5,000 years ago," says Blanchard. "Simply work at your own level, do the best you can personally do, and welcome the joy from within."