Introducing Hatha Yoga - What You Need to Know

Yoga is an age old practice that concentrates on ato wake up refreshed, rejuvenated, alert, and focused.
person's mental, physical, and spiritual health. TheThere are approximately two hundred Hatha postures
wonderful feature about yoga is that the practice iswith hundreds of variations. Each yoga pose is
always changing and evolving so the routine neverdesigned to improve strength, balance, flexibility, spinal
becomes mundane and monotonous. Within thehealth, and circulation of the internal organs and tissues.
practice of yoga, there are a number of differentHatha style can also help one relieve tension, anxiety,
styles. One such style is Hatha Yoga.and manage depression. As well, this style of yoga
Introduced by a 15th century yogic sage from India byconsists of a number of moral teachings that includes
the name of Yogi Swatmarama, Hatha Yoga is aprinciples of honesty and nonviolence.
style of yoga that emphasizes the health of the bodyThe two key features of Hatha Yoga are the
through postures and breathing practices. This type ofpostures (asanas) and breathing (pranayama). The
yoga concentrates on cleansing of the body whichasanas are applied to tone, stretch, and strengthen the
results in a purification of the mind. Hatha style worksbody. One will hold a number of different poses for a
to bring balance between body and mind. Thespecific period of time. Pranayama, or breathwork,
objective of this yoga style is to prepare the body forconcentrates on breath control and promotes an
meditation or relaxation.inward focus to improve one's spirituality. Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga has many benefits that include: promotingpostures include: Back Bending Poses, Advanced
a healthy body and mind, allowing one to channelPoses, Yoga for Abdominals, Supine Poses, Gentle
energy positively, and relieving stress. It can bePoses, Twisting Yoga, Yoga for Back, Restorative
modified to meet a particular person's needs, lowPoses, Forward Bending Poses, Standing Poses, Yoga
impact so it will not negatively stress the muscles andfor Legs and Glutes, Balance Poses, and Sitting Poses.
heart, and improves one's sleep patterns allowing them