Hatha yoga is a very well-known and old tradition of Indian yoga, including all its varieties aimed at physical and breathing exercises. The hallmark of hatha yoga are its three most important elements - asana, kriya and pranayama. See if hatha yoga is all about and why you should practice it. Learn the rules and styles of hatha yoga.

Hatha yogais considered to be the oldest form of psychophysical exercise. Among all types of yoga,hatha yogaemphasizes the emphasis on combining esoteric practice with physical exercises that require strength. The very word "hatha" means "strength" and thus requires strict discipline from its students.

Contents:

  1. Hatha yoga - what is it?
  2. Hatha yoga - advantages
  3. Hatha yoga - how to practice
  4. Hatha yoga - practice methods

Hatha yoga - what is it?

The basis for hatha yoga are three elements:

  • body positions (asana),
  • six cleansing processes (kriya),
  • breath control (pranayama).

In this type of yoga, unlike classical yoga, metaphysics is less important and physical strength becomes more important. What connects hatha yoga with classical yoga is, among others, obeying moral dictates and prohibitions and achieving the state of deep meditation.

Sometimes Hatha Yoga is likened to Raja Yoga. However, they are not identical to each other. Raja yoga has eight steps, and hatha yoga has only two (pranayama and asana). The idea behind hatha yoga is that by working hard with your body, you can work on yourself, and the exercises are supposed to bring harmony.

This is why asanas are practiced in this yoga, i.e. special yogic positions that strengthen the body, make it more flexible, cleanse it, release accumulated energy and additionally facilitate controlling the mind.

Asana . This element of yoga is about performing certain yoga poses, that is, special exercises. Their task is to strengthen individual parts of the body and at the same time make the exerciser achieve internal harmony. According to yogis, asanas have healing powers and are able to stabilize all processes in the body.

Pranayama . These are breathing techniques. Breathing is the basis and starting point for all exercises in yoga. Mastering the right onethe way of breathing takes a long time for some people. The task of breathing is to cleanse the body and the nervous system. Thanks to proper breathing, the exerciser is able to take control of his emotions, he knows how to calm down and listen to the inner voice.

Hatha yoga - advantages

Hatha yoga has a beneficial effect on the entire body. It improves not only physical but also mental well-being. There is a reason why people talk about its incredible healing power.

What are the benefits of practicing hatha yoga?

  • elimination of body asymmetry (fight against muscular and postural imbalance),
  • restoring proper muscle tone,
  • increase the range of body motion,
  • prevention of arthrosis,
  • prevention of osteoporosis,
  • heart rate regulation,
  • blood pressure regulation,
  • supplement to sports training,
  • increase inspiratory capacity,
  • reducing the stress level,
  • better motor coordination,
  • relaxation,
  • intensification of the production of the happiness hormone,
  • regulating disorders of the menstrual cycle,
  • combating headache and joint pain,
  • treatment of depression,
  • help with weight loss,
  • acceleration of metabolism.

These are just some of the advantages of hatha yoga, but it is difficult to list all of them, since this type of yoga effectively heals many diseases and ailments. It can be cultivated by almost everyone, because at the beginning it does not require a good condition and form, or skills.

Hatha yoga - how to practice?

If you want to practice hatha yoga properly, it is best to enroll in a yoga school or hire a personal trainer. It is not recommended to practice yoga on the basis of materials from books or the Internet, because without knowing the rules, simply mapping asanas will not be effective. All it takes is a wrong body angle or the wrong tension of individual muscles to make the exercises ineffective and dangerous.

It is also very important to practice according to the correction of your posture (if we have one, of course). The teacher, informed about the defect, is able to adjust the type of exercises to the possibilities and recommendations of the orthopedist.

Breathing is very important in practicing yoga. You should not hold your breath (which sometimes happens at first when you are fully focused on doing the new asana correctly) to keep your working muscles receiving oxygen all the time. Breathe in and out with your nose.

The essence of exercises is to achieve a balance between the body and the mind, so they must be equally involved in training. Practice with emptyupset stomach or a few hours after a meal. After exercising, you should lie down and relax under the cover for about ten minutes.

This strength and flexibility are impressive! See an amazing practice of traditional hatha yoga from India.

Hatha yoga - practice methods

Over the years, hatha yoga has been modified by various teachers, and with time it has become more and more institutionalized. So it was natural to develop separate styles of this yoga.

Today it stands out, among others the following methods of hatha yoga practice:

Iyengar yoga- the most famous form of hatha yoga in the world. The most important thing is to perform the asanas precisely and accurately, only after you have mastered them, you learn how to breathe. This type of hatha yoga also emphasizes healing. It helps to fight many ailments.

Ashtanga yoga- is based on six asana sequences - from the easiest to the most difficult. Mastering one allows you to move to a higher level. Endurance becomes essential in the exercises, and the practice itself is very dynamic.

Sivanda Yoga- this method consists of five principles: asana, pranayama, relaxation, diet, meditation.

Satayananda Yoga- this method consists of three principles: asanas, pranayama, meditation.

Yoga in Everyday Life- the name may sound strange, but the method is very serious. The most important thing is to coordinate the movement with the breathing, focus on the body and stay in the asana for a longer time.

Bikram yoga- it is practiced at high temperature (38 degrees Celsius). Exercise causes intense sweating.

Viniyoga- the most important thing is to adapt the exercise technique to your abilities. Practice strengthens individual skills.

Kripalu Yoga- the most important thing is to coordinate breathing with movement. Students practice body awareness. They then focus only on meditation.

Integral Yoga- is a combination of asana practice, breathing, meditation and deep relaxation.

Ananda Yoga- is to take control of various energies in the body to balance the body and mind, and finally achieve a high level of consciousness. He focuses mainly on meditation.

Category:

Yoga