Power Yoga Master Class – Shefa Yoga (Venice, CA)

The Power Yoga Master Class at Shefa Yoga in Venice, California is a yoga workshop led by Bryan Kest, the creator of Power Yoga. It suits students who want to practice with the teacher who shaped the method, and who are interested in a practice that holds both strength and gentleness rather than only a vigorous workout.

What to Expect

Bryan Kest teaches a version of Power Yoga that is broader than the generic term "power yoga" has come to mean. In his approach, power lies in strength (yang) and also in gentleness (yin), and real health comes from a proper balance between the two. That balance is personal, and each student has to find it individually.

The class reflects that thinking. Students are asked to breathe deeply through the nose, honor their limits, and back off when sensation turns to strain. Comparing yourself to others has no place in the room. Meditation and gratitude run through the practice, in keeping with Kest's stated aim of "a system of exercise that fully integrates the body, mind, and spirit."

About Bryan Kest

Bryan Kest is a yoga teacher and the creator of Power Yoga. Born in 1964, he began practicing yoga in 1979, at 14. He was one of the first Westerners to learn Ashtanga, studying in Hawaii with David Williams and in India with Pattabhi Jois. He has taught since 1985.

Kest points out that "power yoga" has become a generic term for a vigorous class, and his own teaching is meant to be wider than that. He holds that the right balance between effort and ease cannot be handed to a student. It is something each person works out in their own body and breath.

The Setting

The class takes place at Shefa Yoga in Venice, California, on the west side of Los Angeles. Kest returns to this studio for a series of master classes, so the Venice community has a recurring chance to practice with him in person.

Before You Go

This is a master class, a chance to study directly with the originator of the method. The emphasis on honoring your limits and not comparing yourself with others means the practice is shaped around the individual in the room. Come prepared to breathe steadily, listen to your body, and find your own balance between strength and softness.