| "body"> | | | | "sun," and "tha" which means moon. The word "yoga," |
| When you hear the word, "yoga," you might imagine a | | | | meaning to yoke, control or unite, indicates the |
| scene of a yoga practitioner in an odd, contorted | | | | integration and purification of the solar and lunar |
| posture. But body contortions are a far cry from what | | | | energies of the yoga practitioner. Placed together as |
| Hatha Yoga really offers. Indeed, postures, or "asanas" | | | | "hatha," the two roots imply "forcefulness," referring to |
| are the mainstay of Hatha yoga, the most well known | | | | the efforts and effects achieved through Hatha Yoga. |
| yoga system in America today. But the postures, | | | | Paradoxically, the effort required in Hatha Yoga is |
| especially for the beginner are generally simple. And | | | | more akin to relaxation than to work. One thing you |
| this highly invigorating and healthful yoga system | | | | often hear during yoga class is, "Do what you can. |
| deserves high ranks for its power to counter the | | | | Relax and enjoy your yoga session." |
| stress and sedentary habits of today's culture. | | | | Learning to breath deeply and correctly is a prime |
| Stretching a bit to reach the basic yoga postures is so | | | | benefit of Hatha Yoga. The dying person exits life with |
| good for us! Yoga postures are reputed to alleviate or | | | | very shallow breathing so it makes sense that yoga |
| prevent health challenges from constipation to cancer. | | | | would incorporate an art of breathing. The Sanskrit, |
| In addition to postures, Hatha Yoga incorporates moral | | | | "Pranayama," is used in yoga circles to speak of |
| tenants, breath control practices and meditation, all | | | | breathing. "Prana" means "life-force" and "ayama" |
| toward attaining the yoga ideal of union and flow with | | | | means to "lengthen or regulate." Curiously, the Latin |
| the energetic harmonics of the universe. The | | | | word root for "animate," to give life, comes from a root |
| unblocking and balancing of subtle body energies in | | | | that also means "breath." Yoga sages and other |
| yoga is a primary goal. Hence the yoga term "hatha" | | | | ancient teachers have always held keys to healthy |
| comes from the two Sanskrit roots, "ha" which means | | | | living. One of these keys is Hatha Yoga. |