| Ancient Hindu yogis used asanas (postures) and | | | | markedly noticed almost immediately. Suddenly you |
| pranayama (breathing) to prepare themselves for long | | | | can stretch a bit further and touch those toes. You're |
| periods of meditation. In the West, these same | | | | not huffing and puffing carrying laundry up to the top |
| practices are used for relaxation and body sculpting, | | | | floor of the house anymore. |
| although true Hatha yoga involves an entire holistic | | | | Your bowel movements are even more regular than |
| path with meditation and study as well. | | | | usual and you find that stomach aches and head |
| Traditionally, Hatha yoga (pronounced "ha-tuh") | | | | aches rarely occur these days. Your abdomen, legs |
| translates to "sun-moon." It is believed that each | | | | and gluteus are looking more defined too. |
| person harbors a "sun" energy channel and a "moon" | | | | When you're at work and start to feel stressed, you |
| energy channel. The sun channel is said to govern our | | | | take a deep breath and reconnect with the relaxation |
| thought processes, while the moon channel governs | | | | techniques you learned in class, although the anxiety |
| our emotions. | | | | rarely reaches you on a physical level anymore. Your |
| The millions of chakras (literally translated from | | | | energy levels are revitalized, your hormones are |
| Sanskrit to mean "wheels" or energy centers) swirling | | | | balanced and a calm sense of euphoria and |
| around us keep the sun-moon channels in motion. On a | | | | appreciation for each day takes root in your soul. Life |
| deeper level, practitioners believe in a moral code | | | | is good, thanks to Hatha yoga, a practice that goes |
| based upon self-restraint, quietude, concentration, | | | | back thousands of years to some infinite source of |
| regulation of breathing, uniting body and mind through | | | | knowledge the West generally seemed to have |
| action, withdrawing from the senses and studying | | | | overlooked. |
| religious texts. | | | | There is certainly something to be learned from |
| The first step is the practicing of the different asanas | | | | ancient Indian religions and yogi sages. The practicality |
| (poises) to help the mind and body align with one | | | | of Hatha yoga appeals to many Westerners who |
| another and open the inner channels of communication. | | | | aren't entirely sure how to go about physically and |
| By finding the right posture, one can remain | | | | mentally reaching spirituality and a true understanding |
| comfortable for long periods of time while meditating. | | | | of oneself. |
| Secondly, proper breathing techniques (sometimes | | | | While magazines like Vogue may have us believing |
| referred to as "pranayama") are taught. Next, some | | | | yoga is for celebrities and athletes, the essential nature |
| students may choose to delve more deeply into the | | | | of Hatha yoga encompasses a philosophical level too. |
| philosophical roots. Yoga instructor David Williams | | | | "The beauty is that people often come here for the |
| (from Hawaii) once noted, "Before you've practiced, | | | | stretch, and leave with a lot more," says Liza Ciano, |
| the theory is useless. After you've practiced, the | | | | co-owner & co-director of Yoga Vermont. Check |
| theory is obvious." | | | | YogaFinder to find your class today. |
| The end result of practicing this style of yoga is | | | | |