Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is a form of yoga that offers harmony in the grand skill set of yoga. Hatha is more than just a singular method of yoga and has influence on the overall mindset of yoga in general. That being said, if you are looking to engage more closely with the hatha mindset you can commit to one of our Hatha Yoga specific courses.

What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha is Sanskrit for “Force” and relates to the balance of the physical and mental body. Hatha Yoga works towards balancing these two elements in your own personal practice. By finding a consistency between the two you are achieving harmony of mind and body.

In the traditional sense, Hatha is broken down into the “Ha” and the “Tha”; the “Ha” being sun and the “Tha” being moon. This refers to the duality of solar and lunar energy and how many things in our lives are bilateral, with each half being just as important as the other. 

Hatha Yoga encompasses traditional forms of yoga such as Vinyasa and Ashtanga. If you are looking for a form of yoga that gets down to the roots of what yoga has to offer, Hatha Yoga might be the class for you. 

What is a Hatha Yoga Class Like?

When it comes to practicing Hatha Yoga, a class focuses on achieving each pose. These classes are often slower paced than other yoga classes; as time is spent working towards reaching poses, holding them for longer periods of time. This is opposed to other forms of yoga where you might spend less time on each individual pose and focus on the flow of moving from one posture to the next. 

In Hatha Yoga the emphasis of reaching each pose allows the participant to see the power behind each of their actions. Experiencing what it feels like at each step allows the participant to understand the mental and physical place their body is at when it is challenged. This allows them to get comfortable with that strain and build a resistance towards it.

A Yoga Now Hatha Yoga course offers options for beginners and seasoned practitioners. Through repeating each of the poses you will be able to work your way up to learning and practicing more complex poses. Several options are presented to attendees allowing them to challenge themselves as they see fit. This way the class can move as one while facilitating a wide range of experienced practitioners. The instructor will lead the class through each set of postures incorporating the yin and yang of Hatha Yoga’s duality through a blend of asana styles.

When it comes to the breathing that is incorporated into a Hatha Yoga exercise, it is important to maintain a clear support system just like you would in any other form of yoga. The main difference found in a Hatha Yoga class is that its movements are more static than other classes, such as Ashtanga. While this means that breathing might not incorporate as fluidly into the flow of the class, it still holds an important place in the exercise. Hatha Yoga focuses on stilling the mind through meditation. While your body is working through each posture, your mind will be concentrating on the present, holding each pose and maintaining a consistent breathing pattern.

Benefits of Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga offers many different benefits that play into the overall health and well being of a practitioner. Whether these benefits come directly from the in class exercises or the mindset in which you become accustomed to after incorporating Hatha Yoga into your life, you are sure to notice some positive changes. Some of the main benefits that people notice from practicing Hatha Yoga are as follows:

• Core Strength

• Better Balance

• Stress Decrease

• Strengthened Immune System

When it comes to benefits from Hatha Yoga, one of the first you might notice is core strength. Many of the postures utilized in Hatha Yoga are centered on the abdomen, leading to increased core strength. While other areas of the body are utilized, core muscles are mainly put to the test.

It should be obvious but one of the benefits of any form of yoga is better balance. Hatha Yoga especially offers training in bettering your balance. By moving through each pose at a slower pace and holding them for a longer period of time you are giving more focus and attention to the task at hand; moving with direct precision. 

Having better balance is a skill that is rewarding in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom. Better balance is something that we can all benefit from, especially as we grow older. A study by Harvard Health Publishing found that yoga offers better balance and coordination in your everyday life. This is something that helps prevent falling which can cause serious injuries such as osteoporotic fractures. 

Stress decrease is another added benefit of yoga. With such a great focus on breathing and meditation, forms of yoga such as Hatha Yoga can decrease stress. Decreasing stress is a great benefit on its own but it is often overlooked how many auxiliary health factors are tied to stress. 

While stress decrease might be the main benefit you take away from yoga, but you might also find improvements in other areas such as digestive health and healthier skin. Stress often overworks the body, forcing it to not properly regulate itself. Leading to more serious issues.

A strengthened immune system is related to the decrease in stress. Your immune system is often lowered in times of stress, making your body vulnerable to infections. Even if you are not an immunocompromised individual you can still benefit from a strengthened immune system. Everyone gets sick at some point and that point can be minimized even more with a body trained to stay strong in times of need. 

Hatha Yoga can offer all of these health benefits as well as a great place to involve yourself in yoga. Whether you are just starting out or already experienced you can come to a class and find others like you.

If you are interested in a Yoga Now class in Hatha Yoga we’d love to have you join us. For further details and inquiries, please contact us.