What is Hatha Yoga?
Hatha yoga is a combination of “HA” which means “sun” and “THA” which means “moon”. This refers to the balance of the active, hot, sun and the tranquil, cool, moon within all of us. Hatha yoga is a way of creating balance in our body, mind and soul which helps us attain inner peace and happiness. In our bodies we develop a balance of strength, stamina and flexibility whereas in our mind we develop a balance of focus and concentration. Through this union, we connect our physical movement with the fluctuations of the mind to the rhythm of our breath. During Hatha yoga we practice more slowly with more static postures that make us become more aware of our experiences from moment to moment. The awareness that we cultivate is what makes Hatha yoga a practice that results in a more flexible body and mind. Hatha classes are a good place to work on our alignment, learn relaxation techniques, and become comfortable with doing yoga while building strength and flexibility.
The components of Hatha yoga are:
Asana: yoga postures (practiced in any style of yoga)
Pranayama: breathing techniques
Mantra: chanting or reciting
Mudra: hand gestures
Shatkriyas and shatkarmas: cleansing techniques
Kalpanaa: visualization
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