


The Absurdity of Walking
Walking as an exercise? What’s that about? Many studies say walking is the absolute healthiest exercise. But walking is completely egotistically non-appeasing. You might be wondering, what are the benefits of walking? In my culture health is constantly associated with an aesthetically pleasing body. For women, this means a… Read More

Healthy Mind, Healthy Body
Simply put yoga is about health and wellness. Gratitude is a benevolent, healthy mind state. Benevolent mind states are the root of health and wellness, not only within the body but throughout the world. It’s impossible to have gratitude more than you may already have it if you’re… Read More

Power Yoga Weight Loss & Wellness Program Background
I have wanted to delve into this branch of wellness for a long time. I’ve always felt that yoga, its philosophy and practice has so much to offer this cultural obsession, mega-industry and health aid called weight loss. Addressing weight loss from a yoga perspective or through a yoga practice… Read More

How to Integrate Yoga and Meditation into a Single Practice
I’m not sure how one could think that a yoga practice and a meditation practice are separate. Maybe It is because people were trying to speak specifically to the physical exercise aspect of yoga. Yet, without the meditation component incorporated into the asana (physical yoga), the asana is… Read More

The Absurdity of Food & The Journey of Reducing My Food Intake
Throughout the entire history of humanity, who would have thought the abundance of food could and would wreak so much havoc, be the cause of so much disease and create so many problems. On top of all the health and emotional problems that overeating creates, the largest co-morbidity… Read More

A Real Health Manifesto
Developing the Backdrop of Our Life Health “Vitality”. Vitality represents strength, vibrancy, alertness, and energy. Vitality means “Life force”! Vitality doesn’t look a certain way as one would not expect a vital 25-year-old to look or be like a vital 85-year-old. In other words, Vitality doesn’t mean you stay young… Read More

Manopause: Coping with Low Testosterone
Strangely I had never heard of the term “manopause” until recently. Menopause is a very well-known stage of a woman’s life that has been widely documented, addressed, and discussed. Most of us probably know or have known, at least one lady (probably many more) who has voiced their… Read More

Exercises for Mindfulness
Mindfulness really means “being mindful”. What are we supposed to be mindful of? The answer to the question is kind of tricky. You should be mindful of anything you want. So, what I’m saying is there isn’t anything you need to be mindful of other than the thing you want to be mindful of. Is this making sense? Read More

Integrating Meditation Into Daily Life
Life is busy! Although technology has made some tasks easier it has allowed us to take on more! Our attention is being pulled in multiple directions, simultaneously creating much more stress than any other time in recorded history. Never before has meditation been so important to our health. Read More

Yoga and Aging Gracefully
Is yoga a good workout to tone your body? Well, we’ve got two reasons as to why there isn’t any other fitness regimen more ubiquitous than yoga. 1) it may be the most rational fitness regime in existence. There is no other exercise that combines strength, flexibility, stamina, balance, and cardio all while enhancing every range of motion and exposing and caring for every nook and cranny. 2) The way it leaves you feeling. Pretty much like a lover, not a fighter. In other words, you are chill, all is good, whatever happened ain’t as bad. It's a great feeling! Read More

How to Add Online Yoga to Your Daily Routine in 2021
Is yoga a good workout to tone your body? Well, we’ve got two reasons as to why there isn’t any other fitness regimen more ubiquitous than yoga. 1) it may be the most rational fitness regime in existence. There is no other exercise that combines strength, flexibility, stamina, balance, and cardio all while enhancing every range of motion and exposing and caring for every nook and cranny. 2) The way it leaves you feeling. Pretty much like a lover, not a fighter. In other words, you are chill, all is good, whatever happened ain’t as bad. It's a great feeling! Read More

Finding Sanity Through Yoga and Meditation in 2021
I have been leading challenges for so many years now that they have become a bi-annual ritual, expected of us by our members, fans and followers. Our yearly “Holiday Sanity Challenge” is my biggest event of the year with thousands of participants. A home yoga practice is so easy and… Read More

Let’s Kick It up a Notch: Why Power Yoga’s Teacher Training May Be Right for You
Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga Teacher Training is bonafide and one of a kind! All yoga teacher training varies slightly (although less and less with Yoga Alliance setting standards), but our training is another type of beast. If any of you have experienced a Bryan Kest Power Yoga class, you know… Read More

The Absurdity of Not Letting Go
There are many universal laws yet underlining all of them is the law of “change.” You cannot imagine anything that you will not have to say goodbye to because everything will change. The philosophy of yoga is rooted in the statement that all human suffering comes from one place and that place is called “attachment.” Read More

The Essence of a Yoga Pose
All movements can be healing. Then again, all movements can be harmful. What makes the same yoga pose healing or harmful? When I first considered this question, what popped into my head was “one’s intention within the movement.” In other words, do you want the movement to be healing or is there another purpose? Read More

The Absurdity of Western Medicine
The title of this article may seem absurd to some, especially if you’re an M.D., D.O., Physician’s Assistant, nurse or simply have benefitted from allopathy. Believe it or not, this piece will not be a condemnation of allopathy (allopathy has way too much good) yet it will illustrate in the writer’s view at least its absurdity. Read More

What is Yoga Nidra?
The translation here is “Yoga Sleep”. There is no doubt that this is not only a relaxation technique, but I would also say this is the premiere relaxation technique. Personally, I have been practicing yoga for 40 years and I have never seen a type of yoga practice or any practice and/or endeavor that offers the relaxation benefits that this does. Read More

The Absurdity of Western Fitness
Psychological fact (I’ve been told): "The more you see something, the more you believe it." What if all I’ve seen is wrong? Western-based health and wellness practices (exercises) are misguided and completely inappropriate for health and wellness. It’s like a story I’ve been told so much, I believe it. Read More

Beginner’s Guide to Yoga
A beginner’s guide to yoga could include many different topics. Honestly, it could be a book and there are probably many books on this topic. Just describing the different styles of yoga could be a book, let alone the topics that could be created in introducing yoga. When I first… Read More

Psoas Yoga, Shall We?
I learned the importance of this muscle in my effort to heal my back injury. As I was visiting orthopedics, chiropractors, massage therapists, and many other allopathic and holistic practitioners, I started hearing about this muscle and its connection literally to the lower back area of our body. This is when I first started looking for yoga poses for the psoas. My search intensified as one practitioner told me he believed a lot of lower back issues begin with atrophy in this muscle. Read More

Freedom Yoga
The title of this blog is so apropos towards the multi-faceted benefits of yoga. I will not speak about what I have read pertaining to this subject, I will only speak about my experience. So, when reading this you will know how a yoga practice has affected someone and, therefore, there’s a good chance you will get a similar effect. Read More

Free Online Yoga Classes
Free online content is as old as the internet and free yoga online is no different. This is one of the perks of the internet. YouTube is virtually all free. Most times, more so than not, we do pay for free content if that makes sense. Let me explain: You may not pay money for content but you may have to put up with ads, pop-up windows, or the likes. Same as if you want to watch the Super Bowl in real time, you have to deal with the commercials. Internet ads and pop-ups are virtually internet commercials. Same as the ads in a newspaper or magazine. Read More

To Be Or Not To Be A Yoga Teacher
Do you want to share your yoga practice and the myriad of benefits with others? If so, then you would want the best yoga teacher training right? Now, “the best” may mean different things to different people so let’s clarify. First, what type of yoga are you interested in sharing? Read More

Some Amazing Reasons to Do Yoga
This phrase “Do yoga with me” has never been more practical or even possible. The very young might not know too much differently than the internet and all that it entails, but everyone older than say, about 40 years old, knows it wasn’t long ago that to participate in a yoga class you had to show up in person. Read More

The Absurdity of Tradition
There are many great traditionalists, but the greatest of the great were non-traditionalists. They were non-conformist and they were non-dogmatic! Jesus was a non-conformist. So was Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King Jr. Mahatma Gandhi and the greatest yogi, Gautama the Buddha all had new ideas and another way. Read More

Is Pure Yoga Really Pure?
“Pure Yoga” can mean many things to many people. Like many studio names, class names, and style names, so many people are looking to differentiate themselves and their classes, styles and studios with cool, interesting names that attract people and work well in branding. For example, “Pure Hot Yoga” sounds pretty catchy. Read More

Best Yoga Videos – Do They Really Exist?
Honestly, objectively speaking, there is no “Best yoga video” because yoga is so very personal. Your appreciation of a yoga class whether it’s online or on video or in person is dependent on so many variables. For instance: your constitution, age, personality, energy level, injuries, and experience. And there are actually so many more variables. Read More

The General Benefits of Yoga
We are living in unprecedented times, both domestically and globally. With uncertainty stemming from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) swirling around us on a daily basis, now, more than ever, is a potentially transformational opportunity for us to implement our “spiritual skills” that we work so diligently to nurture and strengthen. Regardless… Read More

How to Teach Yoga?
I like to describe teaching yoga like this: Let’s say your grandma has a great recipe for chicken soup. You love this chicken soup, it’s amazing!!! Your grandma gave you her recipe, and now you cook chicken soup all the time. One day your friend comes to your house to visit.They… Read More

Benefits of Online Yoga Classes
When COVID-19 first started, our options for exercise classes become limited. However, this shift also made many of us realize that online fitness poses a number of positives. The list of benefits of online yoga classes could go on and on. What I have been surprised to discover is that… Read More

Bryan Kest’s Power Yoga LIVE Streaming Updates
I sincerely hope you have been able to appreciate this rare type of quietness and downtime. Those of you who have not found any peace during these challenging times please check out my FREE Meditation for Anxiety.1) We have added a 4:00-5:00pm PST live streaming class Monday-Friday and Sunday, and have brought… Read More

Yoga – Coronavirus – Life – Health – Wealth. Part 2.
California is on lockdown and I’m sure the rest of the country will follow. I hope all of you are breathing through this completely unprecedented time. Yoga practice for us yoga practitioners is always important as it seems to have a unique ability to balance one’s body and mind, completely… Read More

The Absurdity of Sleep
Does yoga help me sleep better? Does meditation help me sleep better?If you could break wellness into parts like you cut a pie into pieces, one substantial piece would be sleep. The other parts of the pie include diet, exercise, and mental/emotional contentment! Understanding yoga’s history and origin,… Read More

Is Power Yoga Good for Beginners?
Power Yoga is well-suited for a diverse range of people and certainly, beginners are within that range. Personally, I feel that power yoga is the best place for beginners to start their yoga journey. Yet, I am biased toward the type of Power Yoga I share. Unlike many other types… Read More

Ashtanga Yoga: History, Info and Practice
Ashtanga yoga postures and Ashtanga yoga sequences. If you are looking for a place to go to practice Ashtanga yoga, and its lesser known pranayama (breathing technique) sequence and a few even lesser known practices like neti (cleansing of nasal passage using a waxed string), you may have to travel… Read More

The Literal Meaning of Yoga
Yoga Means “To Yoke” What is yoga? What is the meaning of yoga? All styles, systems, and practices of yoga have the same objective: union, enlightenment, or “to yoke”. The differences would be in the methodology in attaining yoga’s goal. So, to define yoga we have to be clear whether… Read More

Gratitude Yoga
How does yoga help you express your gratitude? Why do we practice yoga? The common answer is health and/or wellness. What detracts from wellness more than stress? What is more opposite of stress than gratitude? How do we incorporate a gratitude yoga practice? Yoga and gratitude are like parent and… Read More

NOURISHING THE HEART SPACE: Mental Health Benefits of Yoga
I recently had an experience in which I was confronted with toxic and negative communication that was directed towards me and my family. Being a human being, my initial reaction was to “fight back” and to partake in similar, unhealthy communication. Thankfully, though, my yoga and meditation practice (as well… Read More

Is Yoga Good For Weight Loss
Important Questions about Yoga, Weight Loss, and Wellness Let’s address these and many other questions pertaining to yoga and weight loss. Is yoga good for weight loss? Can you lose weight with yoga? What types of yoga are good for weight loss? Is Power Yoga good for weight loss? How… Read More

The Absurdity of Yoga Without Meditation
Having almost 40 years of yoga practice under my belt, combined with living in India for a good 1-year stint, I can say with certainty that yoga is a meditation practice. Yet so many people ask, “Can you practice yoga without meditation?” “What is the difference between yoga and meditation?”… Read More

The Absurdity of This Theory
If it is true that the oldest, living, animals breathe the slowest, shouldn’t we look at breath rate when considering longevity? Since there is a direct connection between health and longevity, we would want to look into breath rate and its connection to health. Longevity and breath rate go hand… Read More

High Quality Online Yoga Classes
The future is here and online yoga seems to be the best alternative for many people. Of course, high-quality yoga classes are the most desirable so let’s look at this “high quality” thing. High-quality yoga classes might be different than a high-quality website. Obviously, both would be preferred. I have… Read More

The Brilliant Absurdity of Yoga Asana
What is yoga asana? The simplicity and practicality of yoga asana are mind-bending. We have made exercise and fitness so complicated with the multitude, or mountain, of ideas and philosophies. I like that old saying, “Keep it simple, stupid.” That’s what yoga does! Everybody knows you cannot take care of… Read More

Cultural Absurdity
How Yoga Can Improve Culture We certainly are not an advanced culture, and any thought that we are will only hinder us from ever achieving it. Truth is, I’m not sure there is one. Most cultures are still dealing with Stone Age problems like hunger, racism, crime, disease, poverty, and… Read More

The Absurdity of Aging (Part 2)
Finding the Beauty of Aging This is a reflection on the powerful process of letting go, and the peace and wisdom that ensues. This reflection is a counterbalance to our culture’s negative mentality towards aging. Attention all baby boomers: the end is coming. Are you prepared? 🙂 Those in your… Read More

The Absurdity of the Six Pack
How body types look different and how exercise affects different bodies differently I have a six-pack – you just can’t see it. Some people naturally, without any exercise or special diet, have a very lean and cut body. It’s not common, but it exists. Some people have very fleshy bodies,… Read More

Yoga for Emotional Eating
When I was in graduate school writing my dissertation, I would sit at my computer for long periods of time in the “writing zone.” During this time, I often had within arm’s reach a six-pack container of gluten-free peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. I would inhale these cookies within an… Read More

The Absurdity of Fear
Overcoming Fear with Mindfulness Fear can be rational and is, at times, necessary and important. And yet, it can be totally and completely irrational. These days, a lot of the time it is unnecessary and harmful. Differentiating between the two is about as helpful and important to our health and… Read More

The Absurdity of Machismo
Addressing Toxic Masculinity The term toxic masculinity really sums up the “macho” attitude and mentality. We live in a culture that emphasizes and admires the tough, rugged, aggressive man. Our culture is certainly not alone in this mentality, actually, it is a very rare culture that doesn’t embrace machismo. You… Read More

Best Online Yoga
Why is poweryoga.com the best online yoga? Well, actually we might not be! Even though many might feel we are. We do offer a high-quality experience, which means the techies who built poweryoga.com knew what they were doing; with its symmetry and ease of use, it’s a comfortable place to… Read More

The Absurdity of Proper Diet
The global wellness economy is 4.2 trillion dollars, more than half of the 7.3 trillion global health expenditures. My guess is that diet is a big factor in wellness spending. With so much money at stake, you will find many people and companies touting the next great thing: from vegan… Read More

The Absurdity of Relationships
Healthy relationships start with the relationship we have with ourselves! All relationships are enhanced and thrive under the same conditions, just as all relationships are hindered under the same conditions. This includes the relationship we have with ourselves. Developing the qualities that heal and enhance the relationship you have with… Read More

Free Yoga Videos
You could say the best yoga videos are free yoga videos. I wouldn’t say that, though. Free is nice, no doubt, but what is nicer is quality. So let’s start again, the best yoga videos are high-quality free yoga videos! High-quality is not a reference to the photography, although high… Read More

Meditation and Yoga – Are They the Same?
Yoga vs. Meditation is a ridiculous concept, as they are one and the same. They are inseparable and necessary to complete each other. So yes, yoga does include meditation; actually, yoga is meditation with an option to add poses. I’ve heard the question, what poses are yoga meditation… Read More

Online Yoga Classes
I would venture to say the best yoga classes are online yoga classes! Now certainly that’s not a rule, and there are other factors such as cost. The cost of online classes is much more affordable, which helps many to access yoga content. How about free online yoga classes? There… Read More

The Absurdity of Success
When I spoke to my 16-year-old nephew about success, I was reminded of the fact that society’s opinions and beliefs about success impact even our own children. These opinions and beliefs are what we all are seeing, and therefore believing. Our topic was, “What is a successful business person?” My… Read More

The Absurdity of Aging
What’s absurd about aging? The absurdity is our culture’s attitudes towards aging. Aging is Beautiful I am 53 and, let me tell you, things have changed. In a certain sense, I’m falling apart. My hair is grey and my face wrinkled. My strength, stamina, flexibility, balance, and cardio have all… Read More

Who Put the Flow in Yoga? What Is Vinyasa Yoga & Why It Was Created
Hey, those of you new to yoga, or anybody looking for a little clarity pertaining to yoga terminology, let’s start with one of the most common Sanskrit (which is one of yoga’s original languages) terms, as most terms are in this language. Please be aware that Sanskrit was India’s original… Read More

Yoga for Pregnancy
As a clinical psychologist with an interest women’s health, I am a big advocate for integrative approaches to support emotional and physical well-being in pregnant and postpartum women. Pregnancy is life-altering for women, both psychologically and physically. As we are unique individuals, pregnancy can manifest itself in a variety of… Read More

The Absurdity of Humanity
Transformative Power of Meditation “All knowledge comes from experience; everything else is just information.” (Albert Einstein) Our teacher is the experiences we have in our life. We cannot hear our teacher if we are not paying attention. Our brains cannot think about one thing and pay attention to something else. Read More

Hatha Yoga
What is Hatha yoga? If you google “hatha yoga definition“, you will get a wealth of info with lots of ancient texts, Sanskrit words, saints and sages and mythology. The Hatha yoga description can be complicated, contradictory and super interesting if you are into that type of stuff. How… Read More

Yoga for Beginners
Yoga classes for beginners, whether in a studio or via beginning yoga video or even a yoga book for beginners, can vary. So please know it’s possible to dislike one class immensely while really appreciating another class. How to start doing yoga or practicing yoga? Well, as mentioned above, there… Read More

The Beauty of Yoga Online
Bryan Explains Why Online Yoga Videos Can Better Support Your Yoga Practice. The Internet and social media can be a big contributor to stress, as anything used in an unbalanced way can be harmful. The correlation between social media and depression is now apparent. So personally, when it comes to… Read More

The Absurdity of Advanced Yoga Poses
Why Advanced Yoga Doesn’t Make Sense Doing a quick Google search of “advanced yoga poses,” it seems the going definition is contorted-like positions or very hard yoga poses. To me, this is absurd for two reasons. Now, this simply may be semantics, but considering the personal nature of yoga, labeling… Read More

The Absurdity of Yoga
To the Western mind, yoga is absurd. Growing up in a Christian society, we are born sinners and we need to repent. We are constantly being told in various ways, we are not good enough. Whether we are having images of “success and beauty” imprinted onto our minds (psychological fact:… Read More

Neanderthals We Are!
Back in the Neanderthals period, we never had enough. We did not have enough food, shelter, warmth, safety, or clothing. Tribalism and fear were necessary for survival. Today most of us have enough of all these things, so why are fear and tribalism still our most dominant qualities like Neanderthals?… Read More

Yoga for High Blood Pressure | 5-Pose Routine
Yoga is highly beneficial for any stress-related issues. Yoga for high blood pressure and yoga for hypertension are powerful tools in healing these conditions, especially with no ill byproducts, only beneficial byproducts. Stress is the largest contributor to hypertension. Yoga’s most famous attribute is… Read More

What Yoga Poses to Avoid When Pregnant?
Disclaimer: As always, consult with your healthcare provider before engaging in any type of exercise program during pregnancy. Pregnancy is a special time in a woman’s life that is ripe for nurturing, slowing down, and reflecting. Practicing yoga during pregnancy can prepare a woman’s… Read More

What Are The Benefits of Yoga & Meditation?
Should I begin a yoga and meditation practice? Will I experience true benefits? The quick answer is yes. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and chronic stress are prevalent in the United States, and are considered serious health conditions alongside heart disease, cancer and… Read More

Yoga for Stress Relief, Anxiety, and Depression
The confluence of Western psychology with Eastern mind-body practices such as yoga and meditation creates a ripe environment for working with emotional and psychological issues. As a result, the mental health field has witnessed an upsurge in these mind-body healing modalities to address issues ranging from mood and anxiety disorders… Read More

The Absurdity of Competition
Why You Should Never Compare Yourself to Others (Especially in Your Yoga Practice) Could you imagine how radiation for a cancerous tumor might affect your energy levels? What about dealing with the very recent death of a loved one? Could you imagine the limitations or discomfort of being constipated or… Read More

Yoga For Anxiety, Depression, and Trauma
If you practice yoga, then you most likely have experienced the “high” that yoga offers—that feeling like you are grounded in your body, calm, connected, clear, and centered. In this space, it might feel like a dark cloud that was following you around prior to class has suddenly… Read More

The Absurdity of Proper Alignment
It seems to me that I might as well be talking about religion. Different people, different schools, different systems, all have strong opinions on this subject and how it pertains to each pose. Even to the degree where people are drawn like an addict out of sobriety into judgment and… Read More

What Is Power Yoga?
Power Yoga is an empowering yoga practice. All yoga should have the same objective, which is, essentially, “wellness”. Wellness can be expressed in many ways using many terms. The word yoga literally translated into English means “yoke“ or “to yoke”. You can translate yoke into join, union, harmonize, or… Read More

Advanced Yoga Poses
This is a subject that is certainly begging for clarification. As one gets more experienced in anything, one develops more insight and understanding pertaining to the endeavor or subject one is partaking in. Yet understanding more does not necessarily mean doing more and could very well mean doing… Read More

What Are the Benefits of Power Yoga?
Let’s start by defining Power Yoga: Since I coined the term (but never trademarked it), I’m a good source for its definition. Well, since it’s not trademarked (even though Beryl Bender Birch tried, but since my use and others’ use was first, she couldn’t or wouldn’t), Power Yoga is just… Read More

Yoga Positions for Beginners
Mastering yoga positions for beginners can be helpful for the asana practitioner just starting out and the seasoned practitioner alike. Basic yoga poses create a solid foundation for you to build upon in your practice. They are simple and easy to integrate with a well-established practice. Anecdotal and scientific information… Read More

Steps for Starting a Yoga Practice At Home
The growing demands on our lives in conjunction with technology’s ability to make us accessible 24/7 can leave us feeling overwhelmed and chronically stressed. This is one of the many reasons starting a yoga practice at home is important and worth implementing into your life. Yoga is a mind-body practice… Read More

Prenatal Yoga Benefits for Beginners and Pregnant Yoginis
Pregnancy is a significant transition for women on many different levels. It is a time of major hormonal fluctuation that can be associated with shifts in mood, appetite, and sleep just to name a few. In addition, expectant mamas can experience uncertainty towards pregnancy and what life will look like… Read More

Benefits of Hot Yoga
Yoga is the integration of mindful breathing with movement that cultivates strength, flexibility, stamina, balance and nurtures not only our physical but also psychological well-being. There are many different styles of yoga practiced in the West. One of these styles, “hot yoga”, is strongly influenced by a philosophy that suggests… Read More

How to Hold to Your New Year’s Resolution of Staying in Shape
Ok, this question could only exist being informed by people’s inability to hold on to their resolutions. Three ideas come to mind for me when posed with the above question: 1) Find the tools and resources to help break old habits and instill new ones Make sure you have everything… Read More

What are the Benefits of Yoga for Women?
Over the past few decades, we have witnessed a confluence of Western medicine and psychological theories with ancient Eastern practices such as yoga and mindfulness meditation for addressing women’s health issues. This marriage of ideas is reflected in and supported by the many benefits of yoga for women including… Read More

How To Become A Yoga Teacher?
How To Share Yoga (Excerpts from Bryan Kest’s Yoga Teacher Training) What mostly separates a physical yoga practice from all other exercises is not the movements, it is the awareness. So as students and as instructors this has to be the primary agenda. To know how to become a yoga… Read More