Power Living Studio

Ask Power Living - FAQs

If you’re new to yoga or even just new to Power Living, you might have heaps of questions about the practice, the studio and what it’s all about. We aim to create an open, friendly and supportive community at our studios. So, have a read up on the commonly asked questions and on what to expect on your first visit. Please feel free to give us a buzz with any other questions you might have, we’re always happy to have a chat!

Collapse all | Expand all

Good things to know: (click each one to expand)

Why it’s hot?
We heat our rooms to 30 Degrees to help connective tissue within the body glide over them easily. At times you will notice that we turn the heat off in the room when the summer conditions don’t require us to artificially warm the room. Our aim is to keep the room at a temperature that promotes sweating as a great way of detoxing through the skin, which is the biggest organ of our body and to warm the body to keep the body supple, increasing joint mobility and flexibility. We also enjoy the great challenge the heat provides and just sweating that much and letting-go feels great. At the end of a warm yoga practice you feel mentally, spiritually and emotionally cleansed - a great way to balance a busy lifestyle. Don’t worry -it's not too hot, we keep it at a temperature that makes it feel like you are practicing on a tropical island not an oven!
How often to practice?
Once a day or as often as you like, but remember to listen to your body. It is not unusual for committed students to practice 5-6 times a week but the intensity of their practice would vary to suit the energetic needs of the body each day. Slowing down and listening to your body’s intuition to guide you is part of the journey in Yoga. If you’re cross training with other sports then practicing 2-3 times a week would offer great benefit.
How to find your “Ujjayi” breath?
Ujjayi breath is a controlled, rhythmic & thoracic breath that requires you to gently tighten the glottis muscle of the throat. You will feel a whispering sound or slight vibration in the back of the throat when you are breathing correctly. This sound is a great way to stay connected to your breath, offering an anchor to the present moment. When performing Ujjayi breath you inhale and exhale through the nostrils (keeping your mouth closed), only it should not sound nasally but rather like a wave washing across the shore. Allow your chest to expand and deflate under a slow intake and release of the breath. In the Power Living Yoga practice we encourage students to breathe this way through the whole class. This is quite challenging and may take some time to master but it is a process of focusing your awareness back on your breath whenever it drifts away. The breath is also a great barometer of the right intensity for us to practice at. If you are unable to remain aware of your Ujjayi breath or unable to perform Ujjayi breath because you are pushing yourself, then this would be a good indicator to lower the intensity of your practice until you feel that rhythmic flow again. This style of breathing is also a great way of building the vital energy in the body.
How to locate “uddiyana bandha”?
You might have heard your teacher say, “lift the pit of your belly towards your spine”. This is initially how we teach students to engage the core of their body for improved back support and to bring strength from our foundation into each posture. Bandhas are energetic locks in the body. There are many of them but we give importance to three along the central axis of the body, the root lock (mula bandha), the abdomen lock (uddiyana bandha) and the throat lock. (jalandhara bandha). Energetically, working with your bandhas engaged is a great way to improve thoracic breathing and build vital energy within the body.
Why we include philosophy in our teaching?
We believe this is the heart of Yoga. Most of us don’t come to Yoga to learn something new but rather to unlearn all the conditioning that has brought us to this place in our life. Yoga is far more than physical; the dialogue in the classroom is spoken from the teacher’s experience of how Yoga has evolved them. Quite simply, the philosophy is offered as a doorway to the hearts of the students. A powerful philosophy full of wisdom in a class is a great way of encouraging students to take a journey out of the busyness of their minds and deep into the depth of one’s soul within the body. If some of the philosophy in the classroom doesn’t resonate with you, then you can just let it go and still enjoy the other benefits of the practice.
What about injuries?
Although Yoga is generally considered a fairly safe form of exercise, injuries can occur when students try to force their bodies into postures they are not ready for or don’t take appropriate modifications. Injuries can also occur when you are not present and not listening to the messages you’re receiving from your body. However, injuries can be one of our best teachers on our yoga journey as they force us to slow down, modify and listen to our bodies.
What are some tips to prevent injury?
  • If you have pre-existing conditions, please talk to your doctor/ physiotherapist before starting Power Yoga.
  • Focus on maintaining a smooth, steady ujjayi breath throughout the practice even if that means taking a less intense variation of a posture.
  • Listen to your body. If you are experiencing pain or exhaustion during class, stop and rest.
  • Warm-up thoroughly. Cold muscles, tendons and ligaments are prone to injury. A good warm-up (e.g. Sun Salutations), increases circulation to muscles, lubricates joints, and prepares the body to move into deeper postures.
  • Correct alignment allows muscles to strength equally on both sides of an active joint. It also reduces tension in specific muscles.
  • Be mindful. Listen to the subtle cues your body gives you about how deeply, strongly or how long you should be in a posture. This will also help to direct your awareness inward.
  • Modify poses to suit your individual needs and embrace the non-competitive and self-accepting atmosphere of the yoga class.
  • Use props, such as blocks and straps to help maintain safe alignment, facilitate appropriate stretching and take undue stress off joints and tight muscles.
  • Avoid movement beyond appropriate ROM, eg. unsupported hyperflexion, hyperextension and twisting.
What are some common Yoga injuries?

  • Muscle Strains: A strain occurs when muscle tissue tears. If a muscle is powerfully contracted or stretched too far, an acute strain occurs. Chronic strains result from excess use over a period of time (with inadequate recovery). Hamstring strains are a common muscle strain seen in Yoga. This often occurs at the point where the hamstrings attach to the sitting bones, and occurs as a result of overstretching in forward bending postures. Other common muscle strains involve hip flexors (caused by deep lunges), neck muscles (from unsupported shoulder stand, plough, deaf man’s pose), and lower back muscles (from hyperflexion in standing or seated forward bends).

  • Tendonitis and Bursitis: These are overuse injuries. Tendonitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon, and bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. Bursa are situated between moving structures such as bones, muscles, skin and tendons. They allow for smooth gliding between these structures. Performing long holds in postures such as Downward Facing Dog, Chaturanga, and Side Plank without adequate strength, or appropriate modifications can place stress on bursa and tendons in the shoulders, elbows and wrists, and can exacerbate carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis or tendonitis in these joints.

  • Ligaments and Cartilage: Students who are hypermobile, or hyperextend or flex their joints without adequate strength place additional stress on stabilizing ligaments and tendons, potentially causing inflammation of joint structures or joint injury. Common sites are knees, elbows and the spine. Hyperextension of the knee is a common mistake seen in straight leg poses such as balancing postures, Triangle pose, standing and seated forward bends. Elbow hyperextension is often seen in Downward and Upward Facing Dog, and Side plank. Shoulder Stand, Plough, and forward bends place compression forces on the spine. Spinal discs can be damaged if an inappropriate level of spinal joint flexion or forced flexion occurs. Degenerative disease, pinched nerves, or fractures can occur when the spine is hyperextended.