What is Hatha Yoga: learn more about this practice |

You want to know what it is Hatha Yoga? The meaning of Hatha Yoga is the search for balance between the solar and lunar forces, respectively of male and female energies – which has nothing to do with sexual identification. This is achieved by uniting the mind with the soul. The word Hatha is divided into:

There is means Sun and is represented by the sun of your body, your soul.Tha it means moon, which represents your consciousness, your mind.

One of the hallmarks of Hatha Yoga is mindfulness in action. That is, if you are doing an asana (physical posture) you must be fully present in all phases, which are: entrance, stay and exit.

If you are practicing a pranayama (breathing exercise), in Hatha Yoga one must pay full attention to the breath.

Alignment is important in Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is very focused on body work. Much attention is paid to correct body alignment during asana.

With alignment, body patterns are broken, which break emotional patterns, which break behavioral patterns.

All these pattern breaks are because if the physical body is precisely aligned, our breathing is precisely aligned. Then the mind, emotions and senses come into balance.

As the Hatha Yoga practitioner progresses, he becomes aware of how the senses, mind and breath must be used to align the body.

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Intelligence and Love to understand what Hatha Yoga is

Want to understand better? It’s quite simple, the goal is to do the asana with maximum intelligence and love. Bring the intelligence of your mind to the energy of your heart and let the union of the two guide you.

There is no right age to start, children can and should practice (there are instructors specialized in teaching children). Anyone can do Hatha Yoga, regardless of age or gender.

Anyone can do Hatha Yoga, regardless of age or gender.

There is no better or worse line, there is the line in which you feel good practicing – so this is the one you should choose.

But it is good to emphasize that Hatha Yoga is a physical activity, so consult your trusted doctor and ask for a check-up before starting. Remember: whatever you are feeling should be communicated to your instructor so that he can adapt the asanas.

Hatha Yoga postures and meditation

Since you are interested in the subject, it is worth knowing more about Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who, according to some scholars, influenced or perhaps even invented the yoga we practice. and in giving therapeutic value to specific asanas.

By combining pranayama and asana, he made the postures an integral part of the meditation process, rather than simply a step towards it. His influence is seen most clearly in the emphasis given to the practice of asanas – which today is the hallmark of yoga practice.

It was Krishnamacharya who transformed Hatha Yoga, which was previously an obscure and stagnant trend in yoga, into its mainstream. His four most famous disciples are: Jois, Iyengar, Indra Devi and his son TKV Desikachar, who played a big role in popularizing yoga in the west.

Now, understand better about the most popular Hatha Yoga schools in the West. Try the lines and practice the one you like best:

anusura yoga

It means flowing with grace or following your heart. It was created in 1997 by the American John Friend.

It unites the tantric philosophy, anchored in valuing the good, with principles of postural alignment and meditations. Anusara preaches the search for harmony and joy, integrated into the flow of life.

Asthanga Vinyasa Yoga

Eight-limbed yoga refers to the eight-step path traced by the sage Patanjali. It is an ancient and traditional form of yoga, believed to have its origins in the ancient Yoga Korunta texts of Vamana Rishi.

It differs from other techniques because it has a fixed sequence of movements that must be performed in a very dynamic way.

In this practice, postures are performed in synchrony with strong breathing. It was developed by Sri Krishnamacharya and disseminated by Sri K. Patabhi Jois at the beginning of the last century.

bikram yoga

It is a series of 26 asanas (body postures) and two breathing exercises done for 90 minutes in a room heated to 40ºC.

It was created in 1946 by Bikram Choudhury. The goal is to warm up the muscles quickly and promote detoxification via sweat.

Integral Yoga

Created by the master Sri Aurobindo in 1914. It aims at the self-improvement of the being in all dimensions: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Seeks to develop the latent potential of each one.

It is a gentle practice that integrates Hatha Yoga with other branches such as Karma Yoga (practice of community action) and Bhakit Yoga (devotion), in addition to emphasizing union with God.

Iyengar Yoga

It was established in 1938 by BKS Iyengar. It focuses particularly on the following aspects: correct asana alignment, concentration on inner actions and permanence.

The body becomes harmonious according to the perfect anatomy.

It instructs and precisely corrects each posture, with the aim of developing awareness of the different parts of the body and improving the flow of energy through alignment.

Resources such as belts, blocks, chairs and pillows are used during practice, which help the student to clarify the processes of movements.

power yoga

Based on the styles of Iyengar and Patabhi Jois —Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga—emphasizes asanas that require strength and endurance.

Its creation is attributed to Beryl Bender Birc, who adapted the aforementioned styles into a vigorous practice, linked by dynamic flows synchronized with the breath.

Viniyoga

It was created by TKV Desikachar, born in 1938, disciple and son of Krishnamacharya.

This method emphasizes the student’s individual needs.

The practice gives the practitioner the tools to actualize the process of self-discovery and transformation.

vinyasa yoga

Derived from Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. It has great emphasis on synchronizing the movement with the breath.

In this practice, the asana sequences are fluid and coordinated with the breath.

Vinyasa Yoga practices can be vigorous or meditative.

sivananda yoga

Created by swami Vishnudevananda, disciple of Swami Sivananda – Devananda. The Sivananda training system is aimed at maintaining the body’s vitality, slowing down the process of deterioration and decreasing the chances of illness, by simply and naturally cultivating the body.

The system’s philosophies are summarized in five principles: Proper breathing (pranayama), asanas (exercises), savasana (relaxation), vegetarian diet, positive thinking and meditation (vedanta and dhyana).

The practice aims at spirituality and emphasizes the philosophy of vedanta. In addition to reciting mantras, it incorporates techniques from all the paths of yoga: karma, bakhit, raja and janana yoga. It focuses on 12 basic poses and includes intense pranayama.