The Five Pillars Of Embodied Power Yoga

Embodied Power Yoga is more than movement. It is a practice of presence, inner strength, and nervous system intelligence. While it is inspired by the Baptiste lineage, the way I teach and live this practice has been shaped by lived experience — through healing, through listening to the body, and through years of returning to what feels true.

At the heart of this practice are five pillars. When they are all present, yoga becomes transformative rather than performative. Strength is felt from the inside. The mind steadies. Energy begins to move freely.

These pillars are not separate techniques — they work together, continuously informing one another.

1. Ujjayi Breath

The breath is the anchor.

Ujjayi is a steady, audible breath that creates rhythm and continuity throughout the practice. It gives the mind something to rest on and the body a signal of safety and support. Rather than breathing only into a pose, the breath carries you through the entire practice.

Ujjayi breath helps regulate the nervous system, builds focus, and allows effort to be met with steadiness. When the breath remains smooth, even strong poses can feel spacious. When the breath becomes strained, it is information — an invitation to adjust, soften effort, or return to presence.

The breath leads. The body follows.

2. Drishti (Gaze)

Drishti is where attention gathers.

The gaze is not random — it is intentional. By choosing where the eyes rest, the mind naturally steadies. Distraction fades. Awareness turns inward while the body remains active and engaged.

Drishti teaches us how to stay with sensation rather than scatter when things become challenging. Whether the gaze is soft or focused, internal or external, it supports balance, clarity, and mental resilience.

On the mat, drishti supports physical stability. Beyond the mat, it reflects how we meet life — with focus, presence, and choice.

3. Bandhas (Muscle Engagement & Core Support)

Bandhas are subtle but powerful internal engagements that create integrity and lightness in the body.

There are three primary bandhas:

• Mula Bandha — engagement at the pelvic floor, supporting grounding and stability

• Uddiyana Bandha — gentle drawing in of the lower belly, supporting lift and core strength

• Jalandhara Bandha — subtle engagement through the throat and neck, supporting alignment and energetic flow

Together, the bandhas create a sense of containment and support from the inside. They protect the joints, stabilize the spine, and allow energy to move upward and outward without collapse.

Rather than gripping, bandhas offer intelligent support — strength with awareness.

4. Tapas (Inner Heat)

Tapas is the healing heat generated from within.

While the room may be warm, the true heat of this practice comes from movement, breath, and sustained presence. This internal heat supports circulation, softens stored tension, and allows pain — physical or emotional — to dissipate.

As heat builds, layers that no longer serve begin to release. Energy starts to move. What does not belong in the body is encouraged to leave — through breath, through sweat, through awareness.

Tapas is not about pushing harder. It is about staying present long enough for transformation to occur.

5. Vinyasa (Flow)

Vinyasa is the continuous thread that weaves the practice together.

In Embodied Power Yoga, the poses between poses matter just as much as the shapes themselves. Movement is linked to breath, and the flow remains unbroken. There is an intentional continuity — no rushing, no checking out, no unnecessary interruptions.

Even transitions are places of awareness. Even stillness carries breath.

This teaches us how to remain present while moving through change — on the mat and in life. Flow becomes a state of mind, not just a sequence.

The Practice as a Whole

When these five pillars are present — breath, gaze, engagement, heat, and flow — the practice becomes embodied. Strength is steady. Awareness is grounded. The nervous system learns trust.

This is yoga that builds resilience, clarity, and inner power — from the inside out.

Are you ready to start your yoga journey? Join us.