| Hatha Yoga was developed by Yoga Swatmarama in | | | | translates to life force energy, particularly in the breath |
| 15th century India. When most people think of yoga, it's | | | | and "ayama" which means restraint or control. |
| Hatha Yoga that they're thinking of. It forms the basis | | | | Pranayama can be practiced on its own or in |
| for several other types of yoga including Bikram Yoga, | | | | combination with asana. Ancient yogis believed that |
| Iyengar Yoga, Ashthanga Yoga and its Westernized | | | | learning to master the breath helped one to master or |
| cousin Power Yoga. | | | | quiet the mind, and increase the flow of life force |
| The word Hatha is derived from the two Sanskirt | | | | energy throughout the body. |
| words "ha", which means sun, and "tha", which means | | | | But there's a physical benefit as well: when you control |
| moon. Hatha Yoga then, it known as the yoga practice | | | | the breath consciously, you breathe more deeply and |
| that unites these two opposite energies within you | | | | fill and empty your lungs completely. More oxygen |
| where ha represents the active masculine energy and | | | | naturally enters the bloodstream and, as a result, your |
| tha, the passive feminine energy. The intention of | | | | nervous system calms down and you may feel less |
| Hatha Yoga is to enhance your physical and emotional | | | | stressed as well as more energized. Pranayama also |
| well being through the practice of the physical postures | | | | makes it easier to hold challenging postures. |
| (asanas), controlled breathing (pranayama) and | | | | Meditation |
| meditation. | | | | Although the ancient yogis used meditation as a |
| Hatha Yoga is a gentle form of yoga, which makes it | | | | means to commune with the Divine, it may also be |
| accessible to novice and advanced students of all | | | | thought of as the practice of quieting the mind. |
| ages, as well as people who are out of shape and | | | | Combining asana with pranayama can be a meditation |
| looking to get fit. But don't mistake gentle for easy: | | | | in and of itself: it's almost impossible to think about |
| Hatha Yoga will challenge your body and your will. | | | | what you need at the grocery store when you're |
| Asana | | | | holding a challenging pose without letting your breath |
| Yoga is best known in the West for its physical | | | | get away from. |
| benefits: the series of nearly 200 postures, asanas | | | | It's not uncommon for Hatha Yoga classes to begin or |
| stretch and strengthen muscles and bones through a | | | | end with a short period of meditation. In these |
| series of purposeful, weight-bearing movements that | | | | moments of silence you may be directed to focus on |
| support improved function of the circulatory, digestive, | | | | your breath, quiet your mind and set your intention for |
| nervous and endocrine systems. In truth, the practice | | | | the class you're about take or to simply observe any |
| of yoga was designed to prepare the body for sitting | | | | changes you feel in your body after practicing. |
| in meditation for long periods of time, the idea being | | | | Hatha Yoga Classes |
| that more asanas one can hold comfortably for | | | | When you take a Hatha Yoga class, take care to |
| extended periods, the stronger one's foundation for | | | | dress in clothing that allows you to move freely. Try |
| meditation becomes. | | | | not to eat a large meal for two to three hours before |
| The asanas themselves are many and varied but all | | | | class and limit snacks to within an hour before class. |
| serve to restore proper alignment to the | | | | Some yoga instructors may choose to play calming or |
| musculoskeletal system. In Hatha Yoga, the postures | | | | soothing music in the background while they students |
| draw heavily on forward bends, backward bends and | | | | through the class and most classes begin with simple |
| twisting motions to create length along the spine, bring | | | | exercises to calm and quiet the mind, so you can let |
| a fresh supply of oxygenated blood to the nervous | | | | go of your day and honor the time you're taking to |
| system and release toxins in the body through sweat | | | | practice. |
| and elimination to purify the body. In the yogic tradition, | | | | You'll find the tone of Hatha Yoga to be gentle, |
| the process of detoxification or purification is believed | | | | peaceful and fluid; each movement is made |
| to increase the flow of life force energy (prana), result | | | | deliberately with emphasis on finding your individual |
| in deeper states of peace and higher state of | | | | edge and challenging yourself without pushing so far |
| consciousness. | | | | that you overstretch. Competition is discouraged, |
| Pranayama | | | | whether it's with other students or yourself ("But last |
| The word pranayama breaks down into "prana", which | | | | week, I did that pose better!"). |