Styles Of Yoga - Part 1 Hatha Yoga

What Is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha Yoga is an ancient style of yoga that consists of many varying postures also known as Asanas. Classes are performed in both in door and out door locations and typically vary in use of Asnas based off of skill level; styles of classes also vary depending on the instructor. There are many free videos on youtube that you can watch to get a visual idea about Hatha Yoga, as well as many instructional Dvds that can be purchased so that you may practice at home.

Who is Hatha Yoga for?

Everyone! From aspiring yogis through the intermediate and advanced yogis, they all enjoy the benefits of Hatha Yoga!… so go and experience a Hatha Yoga class for yourself!!! (um...wait don’t leave, read the rest of this blog first…. AND THEN GO!!)

Goals And Benefits Of Hatha Yoga

As a student of Hatha Yoga you will work to achieve flexibility, strength and balance within the body and mind. Through Asanas (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing techniques), and Dhyana (meditation), you will free the more subtle spiritual elements of your physical-self, while the continued practice will put your mental-self into a relaxed, concentrated, and focused state, revealing your hidden physical and mental potentials.

The History Of Hatha Yoga

The word "Hatha" comes from the Sanskrit terms "ha" meaning "sun" and "tha" meaning "moon". Thus, Hatha Yoga is known as the Yoga that unites pairs of opposites, referring to the positive (sun) and negative (moon) currents. This style concentrates on the third (Asana) and fourth (Pranayama) steps in the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Hatha Yoga was introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (a classic Sanskrit manual). In these writings, Swatmarama introduces Hatha Yoga as 'a stairway to the heights of Raja Yoga’ ("royal yoga” or "royal union"), Raja yoga is concerned principally with the cultivation of the mind using meditation (dhyana) to further one's acquaintance with reality and finally achieve liberation. Hence, Hatha yoga is a preparatory stage of physical purification which renders the body fit for the practice of higher meditation which is the focus in Raja yoga.

Hatha Yoga Today

Today, Hatha Yoga is what most people in the West associate with the word "Yoga". Hatha yoga is also said to be the most popular form of yoga and it is from this very form that several other styles of Yoga originated from, including Ashtanga Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Power Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga.

Thank you for reading!

Namasté