The Yoga of Vitality

The word ‘Hatha’ is a compound of the words Ha and Tha, meaning sun and moon. It has also been translated to mean ‘forceful’. The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from a Sanskrit word which means “union”. In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism the word yoga means “spiritual discipline”.

Hatha Yoga is a system that was introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a sage in the 15th century residing in India, He introduced Hatha Yoga as a preparatory stage, purifying the physical body for higher mediation.

Benefits

Hatha yoga can help to calm the mind and to strengthen and relax the body. The breathing and meditative techniques help to improve mental clarity, while the poses can aid in strengthening and toning the body. The many health benefits of yoga, both the physical and psychological are numerous, it is said to be a complete medical science and an enlightening spiritual art. People of all ages are discovering the mind and body benefits of the ancient art of yoga.

Practicing Hatha Yoga has been confirmed by modern science to be beneficial to those of all ages, if done correctly. It can help the young to develop concentration and to maintain flexibility, it can help those of us who are not so young to improve our flexibility and it has the added benefit of releasing endorphins into our systems with a low impact routine! Even pregnant mothers can find it to be helpful, of course those who are pregnant should consult with their Doctors before beginning any yoga routine.

Hatha Yoga consists of:

• Physical Poses
• Mediation
• Breathing

Physical Poses

Hatha yoga incorporates low impact physical poses (Asanas) which consist of three basic movements; backward bends, forward bends, and twisting movements. The stretches should be done only as far as is comfortable and should not cause any pain. They should be slow and of course worked up to progressively.In the ‘Yoga Sutra’ Patanjali suggests that the only requirement for practicing asanas is that they are “steady and comfortable”. The body is held poised and relaxed, with the practitioner experiencing no discomfort.

Mediation

Hatha Yoga utilizes dyana or meditation, allowing for a moment of reflection and contemplation of our inner selves. Hatha Yoga focuses more on the breathing techniques and physical poses than on meditation it does incorporate an element of self reflection that many practitioners find to be just as important to overall health and well being.

Breathing

Hatha Yoga, like many other forms of yoga, incorporates breathing techniques known as pranayama, these are done through the nose and involve the use of the diaphragm, drawing the breath from the bottom of the lungs. This also increases the capacity of our lungs, bringing more oxygen to the cells in our bodies. Teaching us the right way to breathe, slowly and deeply. It is believed that the secret to controlling one’s mind can be unlocked by controlling one’s breath. Many yoga teachers recommend that pranayama exercises be done with care, and that advanced pranayama exercises are under the supervision of a teacher. These cautions are also made in traditional Hindu literature.

Instruction and Components

Most Hatha Yoga instructors begin the classes with the breathing exercises, the class is then led through a series of physical exercises or poses and is ended with three to five minutes of meditation. The setting is calm, relaxed and peaceful. You are free to go at your own pace and discover those postures that are comfortable for you to do. A Hatha Yoga routine can last for 20 minutes or even up to 2 hours and is, if possible practiced at the same time every day, to cultivate the teaching of the discipline.

Mats, props, and loose comfortable clothing are essential when practicing Hatha Yoga.

*We offer many different varieties of mats and yoga gear to help you get started or to continue in your practice. Our mats are available in different lengths, thickness and styles… To explore our offerings click here!

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