Building strength doesn’t mean abandoning yoga for the gym—it means understanding how strength fits within an intelligent asana practice. In this conversation, I sit down with Hatha Vinyasa teacher and functional strength coach Chhavi Sahal to explore why so many yoga practitioners become more flexible while still struggling with instability, recurring aches, and weak load-bearing capacity. Together, we unpack what it really means to be strong in yoga and how teachers can better identify and address strength gaps in their students.
Chhavi shares practical insights on trunk stability, core engagement, posterior chain strength, and why yoga alone may not provide every type of strength our bodies need. We also discuss the relationship between flexibility and strength, common misconceptions around core training, the role of pulling movements, and how developing strength can lead to greater resilience, confidence, and longevity—both on and off the mat.
Whether you’re a yoga teacher looking to refine your cueing or a practitioner wanting a more sustainable practice, this conversation offers practical ways to build strength without losing the essence of yoga.
Chhavi Sahal is a certified yoga teacher, strength coach and sleep consultant with 8 years of cumulative experience helping women 40+ navigate midlife changes.
She combines science-backed strength training with yoga and recovery techniques to create practical, safe, and empowering programs.