I want to start practicing at Portland Power Yoga and I am a raw beginner. Where should I begin?
How much does it cost?
What are your policies?
When are the classes?
Do you offer private sessions?
Why is it so hot?
I have never done yoga before in my life. Can I start doing this type of yoga?
What makes Power Vinyasa Yoga different from other types of yoga?
My gym has yoga classes. Why don't I take those?
What if I'm a) too fat b) too tall c) not flexible enough d) too old to do Power Vinyasa Yoga?
I'm pregnant and I want to try practicing at Portland Power Yoga. Is it safe for pregnant women?
What should I wear?
How often should I practice?
Where can I park?
How do I get there?
I want to start practicing at Portland Power Yoga and I am a raw beginner. Where should I begin?
We love beginners! So begin by congratulating yourself on this momentous step. This journey will fulfill you, challenge you, and inspire you - as well as others. Open up to your practice and you will not be disappointed!
As a beginner, we encourage you to pace yourself. You have your whole life to develop this practice: there is no hurry! This is a challenging and rewarding practice that is quite unlike anything else you've ever done. As a beginner, be sure to show yourself the compassion and kindness you would a child learning something new. With time and patience, you will build strength and flexibility. For the best and most visible results, we recommend beginners complete 10 classes in three weeks. By the 10th class you will see and feel the results of your practice.
Our Basics class is the best place to start if you are a raw beginner. The Basics class is challenging for experienced students yet focuses more on the fundamental aspects of the flow and breaks the sequences down to their basic elements. After 10 Basics classes - or sooner if you are feeling adventurous - you can try our All Levels class which is a bit faster paced with an emphasis on flow.
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How much does it cost?
$14 per class. $12 if you are a student, firefighter, police officer, EMT or military personnel. We also offer this discount to employees of Maine Medical Center and Mercy Hospital. Please show a valid I.D. for this discount.
We also offer class packages. Please note that all class packages have an expiration date:
- Newcomer's Package: $80 for Unlimited Yoga- 45 days.
- Come as often as you want for 45 days to experience the full power of Vinyasa Yoga!
- 10 class card at $120 ($12/class) - 45 days.
- Minimum of 2 visits per week
- 20 class card at $220 ($11/class) - 60 days.
- Minimum of 2 to 3 visits per week
- Monthly Unlimited at $160 (13 classes a month at $12/class or15 classes per month at $11/class) - One month from date of purchase.
- 6 Month Unlimited - $800 ($133 per month) - Six months from date of purchase.
- Yearly Pass - $1400 ($117/month) - one year from date of purchase.
Our policies are as follows:
We believe in rules, but not rigidity, at Portland Power Yoga. We believe that as successful business owners we have a responsibility for meaningful contribution to our community. This is possible because we are committed to growing a financially sound company.
It is with this intention that we have set forth the following company policies. We thank you in advance for supporting them.
Package Expiration Dates
Newcomer's Package - 45 days from date of purchase.
Ten Class Package - 45 days from date of purchase.
Twenty Class Package - 60 days from date of purchase
Monthly Unlimited Package - 30 days from date of purchase
Six Month Package - Six months from date of purchase
Annual Package - One year from date of purchase
Freezing or Holding packages or Monthly Unlimited Passes
Expiration dates may only be put on hold due to sickness or if injury prevents you from coming to class. It is the student's responsibility to notify us at the time of illness or injury. A note from a doctor will be required.
We are sorry but class packages may not be extended to accommodate business travel or vacation dates. Please plan your purchase of class cards accordingly.
Cancellation Policy:
Portland Power Yoga does not issue refunds for workshop cancellations. We will issue a Portland Power Yoga account credit only if we are notified of the cancellation before the workshop takes place. Please call the studio in advance, if you need to cancel your spot for credit.
We do not issue refunds or account credits for workshops conducted by Master Teachers visiting Portland Power Yoga, or for any off-site workshops sponsored by Portland Power Yoga.
Portland Power Yoga reserves the right to cancel or change the date of a class or workshop. We always do our best to notify participants in a timely manner if this occurs. Only on very rare occasions would we close the studio due to inclement weather. We do our best to keep our doors open 364 days per year; we do close on Christmas Day so that all of our staff may be with family.
Credit Cards: We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover.
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When are the classes?
We have classes every day. We have Basics Classes 4 times a week. For a full schedule of classes, please check out our schedule online!
We also have private session available. The prices are $65 for an hour long session and $120 for an hour and a half. Email info@portlandpoweryoga.com for more infrotmation or to schedule a private session.
Please note: we do not offer childcare.
Do you offer private sessions?
Yes! We also have private session available. The prices are $65 for an hour long session and $120 for an hour and a half. Email info@portlandpoweryoga.com for more infrotmation or to schedule a private session.
Why is it so hot?
The heat is good for many reasons. We need to sweat and detoxify our bodies, eliminating through our pores and through breathing.
The vigorous, flowing style of Power Vinyasa Yoga requires using heat. Heat contributes to a greater degree of flexibility in movement. Think of muscles as steel: when steel is cold, even if it's thin (like stainless steel silverware) it does not bend freely and can harmed under incorrect stress. However, the proper temperature can allow steel to be formed into a new shape and hold that shape. Tempered glass is another good metaphor for describing weak or fragile bodies. Regular glass is quite fragile and can break quite easily. With the use of heat, glass can be made four or five times as strong as regular glass. Not unbreakable, but stronger than its initial state. Consequently, practicing this style of yoga in heat will make stiff muscles supple and flexible. Weaker muscles will become stronger.
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I have never done yoga before in my life. Can I start doing this type of yoga?
Absolutely. As with any exercise regimen, it is recommended to check with your physician. Another important aspect of this practice is learning to listen to what's right for your body. Your body will tell you clearly if you are overworking yourself, coming close to injury, or going past your edge. Modifications are an integral part of any yoga practice and are also part of what we teach at Portland Power Yoga. Be aware that in your first few classes, you may feel dizzy or nauseous. These symptoms are temporary and will pass as you begin to transform and develop through regular practice.
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What makes Power Vinyasa Yoga different from other types of yoga?
Power Vinyasa Yoga is a different kind of yoga practice. It is an American form of yoga. This style of yoga breaks through the traditional model of yoga, allowing for your yoga practice to be a vehicle for personal transformation. Your body may not look like Bikram's, Iyengar's, Patricia Walden's or even Baron Baptiste's. It's your body and it will do what it is designed to do. Comparing yourself to others, which everybody does, is useless.
So just as you don't need to go to the gym to be healthy, fit and beautiful, you do not need to go to some remote place to find enlightenment. Someone once asked Gandhi why he wasn't off in the mountains seeking enlightenment and he answered, "If I thought it was up there I would." We can find enlightenment on a two by six yoga mat in Portland, too.
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My gym has yoga classes. Why don't I take those?
It is wonderful that people are getting exposed to yoga in places like gyms or health clubs. And while there are benefits to taking yoga classes anywhere, there is nothing like taking it in a studio dedicated to yoga, especially one specific style. A good analogy might be that while your grocery store may sell sushi, it is not going to be nearly as good as that which you get in a sushi restaurant made by trained sushi chefs.
So it's great that your gym has yoga classes, and keep in mind they are most likely taught in a multi-use room used for spinning, aerobics, pilates and other classes. Thus it is not outfitted specifically for yoga. Also in many cases the practice room is not properly separated from the rest of the gym, and noise from the radio or televisions can leak in. This is hardly an environment where you can come into your body, out of your head and relax! This makes for a rather diluted and somewhat frustrating experience. Practicing yoga in a room like this is about as restful as practicing in the checkout line at your local grocery store or in the middle of the highway.
Also, while many yoga teachers have gotten their start teaching at gyms (Alice and Charles did!), bear in mind they may not be as fully trained as those in a yoga studio. With the growing popularity of yoga there are more and more teachers and alot of these may not have had very extensive training. It is important to find out how well trained your teacher is, their certification and whether they are insured or not. Ask questions of your teachers!
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What if I'm a) too fat b) too tall c) not flexible enough d) too old to do Power Vinyasa Yoga?
You don't need to be anything other than alive and alert to do yoga. If you can let go for a little while, sweat, breathe, move to your degree and respect your body's limits then you can do yoga. The poses will tell your body where you can and can't go. Eventually, your mind will learn to listen to your body and not the other way around. The more you practice, the more tension will be released and your range of motion will increase. As you become stronger and freer, your body will begin to return to a healthier natural state. No matter whether you can or can't do a headstand, Power Vinyasa Yoga will enhance your physical and spiritual well-being.
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I'm pregnant and I want to try practicing at Portland Power Yoga. Is it safe for pregnant women?
As written above, check with your physician before beginning a yoga practice while pregnant. The heat in the room can be challenging for anyone, let alone expectant mothers. We recommend not starting a practice as a raw beginner if you are pregnant. If you had a strong practice before you became pregnant, it will help. It is important to know that certain poses are contraindicated for pregnancy and must not be done while pregnant. Inversions, twists and lying on the belly must not be done while you are pregnant.
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What should I wear?
Loose fitting, non-revealing clothes, like you would wear to the gym on a warm day. Dress for sweating! We do have showers so you can freshen up after class.
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How often should I practice?
Practicing yoga is like brushing your teeth or taking a shower. The more often you do it, the better you feel and the cleaner you are. Take a yoga class once a week, and you are cleaned out for one day but then build up 6 days worth of toxins until the next class.
Thus, we recommend:
2-3 times a week to will transform your body and spirit over a longer period of time.
4-6 times a week to change your life.
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Where can I park?
There is a free parking directly outside the studio! We have other businesses on either side of us, so please be mindful of them. While we share parking with Pierre's School of Cosmetology, Sunny Breeze Snowboarding has their own parking spaces. Please park to the left of the tree you see in our parking lot between portland Power Yoga and Sunny Breeze Snowboards. Please do not park in front of Sunny Breeze Snowboards.
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How do I get there?
Check out the contact page, where we have detailed directions!
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If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Namaste!
