HATHA YOGA - facts and my perspective

I teach Hatha yoga and along the way I am learning something new every day! I learn from my students and, naturally, from my mentors; by reading tons of literature and watching You Tube; I observe my Hatha movements and I learn from each.
Hatha is just so pure and so beautiful. And …although most people would say that Hatha yoga is for beginners I would in general question any division in Yoga- such as- being beginner or advanced. Yoga is not competitive sport. In Yoga we move, we accept, we meditate and we give.

However, if you Google words “Hatha Yoga” you will find these descriptions/ definitions:
-  Hatha yoga is a generic term that refers to any type of yoga that teaches physical postures.
-  Hatha yoga is good for beginners, who are new to yoga and are learning yoga postures. Since the pace of            hatha yoga is gentle and slow, it is easier for beginners to learn the postures, the breathing techniques and the    principles of yoga
-  Hatha yoga is too slow and meditative for some people
-  The word hatha means willful or forceful. 
-  It is often a gentle yoga class.
-  Hatha is also translated as ha meaning “sun” and tha meaning “moon.” This refers to the balance of masculine    aspects—active, hot, sun—and feminine aspects—receptive, cool, moon—within all of us
   include basic postures focusing on proper alignment, breathing techniques and meditation
​

Tree pose

Hatha Yoga is all that and – more.

First, I am not going to add another Hatha definition. During my Teacher Training my Hatha mentors never made an attempt to define Hatha Yoga. We were thought to be present, how to use our breath and how to respect our body while we enter asanas. We had spent hours talking about our bones, ligaments and muscles – and what they do and what is the best approach to do poses.
​
I am aware that Hatha term refers to any type of yoga that teaches physical postures. It is important that we do asanas in a correct way. Also – we have to accept our own body limitations and fact that we cannot do some postures in the perfect way – but we can – try! And every try counts… and every try brings us to the new level of experience. Slowly, no matter what type of the body we live in – we will learn to open it and experience our most perfect asana.
Hatha IS a set of asanas designed to align our bones, muscles, to open many channels of the body (spine in particular) so that energy can flow freely.
Every Hatha class will include basic standing and seated postures, as well as restorative postures focusing on proper alignment, breathing techniques and meditation to bring a sense of strength, balance and wellbeing to the practitioner. Props are widely used to help us to support postures with an emphasis on stretching.

---

Salute SUN Studio - my own studio props

​Many people try a hatha class and love the relaxed feeling however - Hatha yoga is a powerful tool for self-transformation. It asks us to bring our attention to our breath, our moves, alignments, which helps us to still the fluctuations of the mind and be more present in the unfolding of each moment. Therefore Hatha Yoga is for – everyone.
​




'In this fast-paced, constantly moving world, practicing yoga allows me time to stop and just be aware of where I am and how I feel. It is a time to be one with my body, and let go of all the distractions and worries of the outside world. Holding an asana like Warrior One, with my legs stretched in a lunge and my arms reaching up, I feel grounded and free at the same time. I can sense my body acting as a conduit between the earth and the sky, and feel my breath flowing with this sacred energy.'
 
 ~Jonathan Urla, Yogilates: Integrating Yoga and Pilates for Complete
Fitness, Strength, and Flexibility, “Introduction,” 2002

---