Hatha yoga is a journey of discovering your body and yourself that will help you find your fullest potential physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Whether you do Hatha yoga poses to increase your strength, flexibility, physical healing or deeper understanding of life, this yoga path has something for every body. Your own yoga journey will be as individual as you, but you will never travel alone. You will become part of a larger family who seek to enrich their lives and make the world a better place.

Anyone can obtain yoga health benefits from the practice. People of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and religions come to yoga. Some are in great health, others come with injuries or physical limitations. Some travel for a brief distance, others embrace the journey as a lifelong pursuit. The yoga practice is big enough for everyone with the desire to improve their health and learn to live life from a place of joy.

What is Hatha Yoga

When people think of yoga, they immediately think about the most popular form of yoga known as Hatha yoga. There are many reasons why this form of yoga is so popular. It has benefits from the first practice and it will become endless as you begin practicing on a daily basis. There is no end to the potential of learning, which is why it has been called a fountain of perpetual wisdom. You will certainly have difficulties and pains, but there is much enjoyment and benefit to the Hatha practice that it carries us throughout life.

While Hatha yoga refers to physical yoga and it is certainly the branch with the most physical techniques and practices, it is not just an exercise system. The word Hatha means forceful, intense and vigorous and it is considered both an art and science. It is a science because of its highly refined practices and techniques and an art because the every changing nature of life is not limited to a defined system. Hatha yoga involves the physical practices of asana (yoga postures) pranayama breathing (control of breath and energy) bandhas (muscular locks and contractions), mudras (seals and gestures) and meditations.

Why Hatha Yoga

The various postures of Hatha yoga will stretch, strengthen, and tone every muscle in your body. Some postures will work on a particular organ, while others will help regulate the endocrine system. The twisting, bending and stretch movements increase flexibility of the muscles and joints, as well as, massaging the internal organs and glands.

Hatha yoga practice constantly aims to restore and maintain symmetry and alignment. The practice is designed to work both sides of the body equally, with many postures involving oppositional dynamics. There is always a pose and counter pose in any good sequencing of yoga asanas. Backbends are balanced by forward bends and stimulating poses are balanced by serenity poses. By practicing well sequenced poses, you will become aware of areas that are misaligned, stiff or weak. It is important to become aware of these imbalances and make an effort to align your body during your practice. Use the yoga asanas as tools to restore alignment and start becoming more aware of using your body as a device to restore balance. Symmetry of the body is one of the important signs of good health. Hatha yoga reminds us to look at both sides of everything.