Classical yoga has developed over time to include many different styles for a range of situations, needs and preferences.  However, the majority of Yoga styles still fall neatly into either the therapeutic or the meditative category.  Both categories have many hundreds of different Asanas, (poses or positions) and all of these are designed to benefit both the body and the mind.

5 Prayer Position:

Yoga takes the five ‘prayer’ positions and uses a corresponding yoga position to activate the seven chakras in the body.  A Chakra is a type of energy field or is sometimes thought as a key position in the flow of energy throughout our body.  Each different type of Yoga and each different Yoga position will have a different chakra as its core emphasis.  All of these positions, which we tend to think of nowadays in Western Yoga as exercises, were in fact originally the preparation for the Yogi to enter a state of meditation.

Asanas:

The actual positions or poses of Yoga are known as Asanas and they may seem complicated or difficult to a new Yoga student.  It’s important not to forget that all of the basic positions of Yoga are designed to improve the bodies strength and flexibility, and as these characteristics are improved it also makes the positions more comfortable and easier to settle into.  The deep stretching that is the basis of most Yoga positions is beneficial for trauma disorders, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow amongst others.

Before you begin you may find it beneficial to attain a basic knowledge of the philosophy and theory behind Yoga, however this is not a requirement or essential to your success.  It does assist with being comfortable settling into and performing the poses associated with Yoga, and it should be remembered that if you cannot do this then you will probably not benefit from Yoga.

Common misconception about Yoga:

There is a common misconception about Yoga that it is only for the tremendously flexible who can contort themselves into weird and wonderful positions.  Chanting is often also associated with a Yoga class in people’s preconceptions.  Neither of these ideas is true.

The Yoga positions are generally quite easy to get into but they do have several different depths in many cases.  This means that a completely beginner can move into a position and still benefit from it at a great level after many years of Yoga.

There are some advanced positions that a beginner should probably not bother themselves with.  Just as you are not going to compete with top marathon runners on your first day jogging, but can still get benefits, you are also not going to be able to ease into some of the positions that an instructor is capable of.  Likewise, if you are pregnant or perhaps have an injury such as a bad back you should inform your Yoga instructor before you begin.  There are some positions that can actually be detrimental to certain conditions.  Twist exercises with a recurring back injury is one of these.

Yoga is something that is most beneficial in a comfortable environment, as the muscles will stretch better when they are still warm.  It’s important to learn the discipline to enter and leave each new pose or position slowly.  Not only does this help avoiding injury but also the movement from one pose to another is often part of the program.  Don’t hold the poses and positions longer than is natural for you either.  As you become more used to practicing the Yoga positions each day the benefits will allow you to hold a position with more ease for longer periods of time.

When practiced correctly the benefits of Yoga are many.  Lubrication of the joints, ligaments and the tendons will result directly from performing the exercises best suited to you.  Posture will increase dramatically and you will also experience a sense of well-being.  There is also a deeper spiritual level to Yoga (it actually has its own philosophy and code of ethics) that you will move closer towards and enhance each time you stretch and go through the breathing exercises.

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There are a number of different kinds of yoga – some ancient, and some modern inventions which emphasize different aspect of yoga.

What Is Hatha Yoga?

Yoga means union; the union of mind, body and spirit. Hatha is the most traditional of the yogas and has been practiced for thousands of years in India and the Far East.

The name Hatha means willful or forceful. The word is also a combination of hat (sun) and ha (moon). It works with the energy centers of the body, flesh and bone. The main focus is on surrendering to and perfecting the many poses, and using yoga for health, healing and personal transformation.

Hatha yoga is part of traditional Ayurvedic, that is, Indian medicine. In traditional Eastern forms of medicine, doctors treat not just the physical body but the energy body, also called the subtle body. It is thought to be comprised of channels, loops, meridians and chakras – that is, energy centers in the body.

If a surgeon cut you open, they wouldn’t see the chakras, but Hatha posits that they are there and balance the energy for healing purposes and overall wellbeing. Chinese acupuncture and acupressure, Reiki, Shiatsu and other healing modalities also work on the theory of balance and stimulating the energy in the body.

Hatha Poses

Many modern types of yoga focus mainly on the poses, or asanas, the physical side of yoga. Hatha yoga aspires to create balance in all things. There are different levels of poses, and therefore different classes and DVDs you can try.

Improved Concentration

Hatha improves mental concentration through meditation, chanting mantras like OM, and to some extent, breath work. With breath work, you learn how to breathe in different patterns with different purposes, such as a cooling breath or a heating breath that increases energy.

At One with the Breath

The Sanskrit word for breath work is pranayama. Prana means life-force, ayama to regulate or lengthen. In other words, practicing pranayama can improve one’s health and vitality through the breath. The breath work is very useful for eliminating toxins from the body and improving the immune system.

A Union of Body, Mind and Spirit

Yoga is not just about the body beautiful. It is considered to be a way of connecting with our inner selves so we can open up to connecting with others. This can be achieved through meditation. Meditation can also include breath work and chanting.

The Benefits of Hatha

Hatha has been shown to offer increased energy, less stress, better moods and sleep, and decreased anxiety. It lowers blood pressure and can help you lose weight more easily by boosting your metabolism.

Who Can Practice It?

Hatha is ideal for people of all ages because it is low impact and you can work at a safe and sensible pace. Even those with health issues can benefit from Hatha yoga. When done carefully with the help of expert guidance, Hatha can help relieve back, joint and muscle pain. The pranayama can help with allergies, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, or COPD.

Meditation helps improve focus, concentration and memory, all ideal for seniors who want to maintain a busy, active lifestyle no matter what their age.

With all of these benefits, now might be the best time to check out your local yoga studios to see which of them offer Hatha. Try an introductory class and see what a difference Hatha yoga can make to your health.