Hatha Yoga
The word hatha is made up of two words, ha and tha. The word ‘ha’ means Sun and ‘tha’ means Moon. Together, the word means to create a balance between the sun and the moon energies present in an individual. The aim of this Yoga style is creating a harmony between the solar (Pingala) and lunar (Ida) energies within us so as to help us to achieve a higher consciousness in life. It is the science of initializing the central Nadi, Sushumna which leads to the path of enlightenment.
Practice
The practice of hatha yoga comprises of elements related to both behavior and practice. As per the hatha yoga texts, a yogi has to possess certain characteristics in order to become successful. Those characteristics involve enthusiasm (utsaha), courage (sahasa), patience (dhairya), essence of knowledge (jnana tattva), resolve (nishcaya) and soºlitude (tyaga).
When talking about the western culture, hatha yoga is mainly about the asanas. But in India, it goes beyond being just an exercise system and integrates other aspects such as diet, cleansing, ethics, meditation, pranayama, etc. a part of it.
Origins
Though the exact dates of its origin are unknown, Hatha yoga has changed a lot since its conception. When it was created, it was a total life philosophy that incorporated how we relate to our world, to ourselves and how we can attain inner peace. Most agree that the original writings were Patanjali Maharishi’s yoga sutras, 196 sutras (aphorisms) written in Sanskrit in around 400 AD. In his work, Patanjali describes hatha yoga as consisting of eight limbs, or disciplines, and referred to it as the eightfold path. Other texts over the years have referred to hatha yoga, but Patanjali’s sutras are the most recognized. Contrary to the popular belief that hatha yoga emphasizes mainly on physical postures, it was found that it stresses more on the importance of samadhi or meditation. It is meditation which is combined with postures, breathing techniques and energy locks.
What is a Hatha Yoga class like?
Hatha and Hatha Yoga are used in modern times as a broad and generic term for yoga which does not have a specific style attached to it. A typical class will be relatively gentle, slow and good for beginners, but it is difficult to know what a specific class will be like before attending. This practice typically starts with some gentle warm-ups, continues to a sequence of poses, and end with 5-10 minutes of relaxation in corpse pose. A class will often begin and end with a short seated meditation. The class often concludes with students bringing their hands together in prayer position while bowing and saying Namaste. Hatha classes are usually 60 to 90 minutes long and may also include pranayama breathing exercises as a separate practice or integrated with the yoga postures.
What is a Hatha Yoga class like?
Hatha and Hatha Yoga are used in modern times as a broad and generic term for yoga which does not have a specific style attached to it. A typical class will be relatively gentle, slow and good for beginners, but it is difficult to know what a specific class will be like before attending. This practice typically starts with some gentle warm-ups, continues to a sequence of poses, and end with 5-10 minutes of relaxation in corpse pose. A class will often begin and end with a short seated meditation. The class often concludes with students bringing their hands together in prayer position while bowing and saying Namaste. Hatha classes are usually 60 to 90 minutes long and may also include pranayama breathing exercises as a separate practice or integrated with the yoga postures.
What is Hatha Yoga good for?
Hatha Yoga is usually taught as a householder path with a focus on the physical attainment of the poses. Hatha practices are designed to align, cleanse and calm your body, mind, and spirit in order to achieve deeper states of meditation and spiritual realization. A regular practice can improve strength, stamina, flexibility, range of motion, and balance; reduce stress; promote mental calm; and provide many other therapeutic benefits as well. The many different styles or schools of Hatha Yoga have more specific benefits.
Newsletter
Stay in the loop with the latest yoga tips, exclusive offers, and community events by subscribing to our newsletter today!
Follow Us
Lanzarote – Islas Canarias – info@lostinyogaflow.com – +34 647 73 72 60
Copyright © 2016 Lost in Yoga Flow | Políticas de Privacidad | Política de Cookies | Términos y condiciones | Aviso Legal