Posts Tagged ‘Breathing Control’

Gain flexibility and strength with Hatha Yoga

What almost everybody think is “regular” yoga is Hatha yoga. Hatha Yoga is a sort of yoga made by Swatmarama, a yoga guru and teacher from India which lived in 15th century. This particular system of yoga is the most popular one, and it is from which several other Styles of Yoga originated including Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga. The word “hatha” comes from the Sanskrit terms “ha” meaning “sun” and “tha” meaning “moon”. Hatha Yoga is wellknown for the style of yoga that combine pairs of opposites, refering to the sun (positive) and the moon (negative). It has it’s main aim on the third limb (Asana) and the fourth limb (Pranayama) in the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

Hatha Yoga is practicing the balance between your body and mind, it also help to free the unidentifiable spiritual parts of our mind through physical postures or Asanas, Pranayama which is the important breathing techniques, and Meditation.

Asanas are various body positions designed to improve health and remove diseases in the physical, causal, and subtle bodies. “Asana”, which is a Sanskrit word, have the meaning of “seat”, which refers not only to the physical position of the body but also to the position of the body in relation to divinity. They were originally meant for Meditation, as the postures can make you feel relaxed for a long period of time. The regular practice of Asanas will grant the practitioner muscle flexibility and bone strength, as well as non-physical rewards such as the development of will power, concentration, and self-withdrawal.

If we look at Pranayama, the word is made up of “prana” (life-force or energy source) and “ayama” (to control). Pranayama main focus is on breathing control. This is an important part of Hatha Yoga because yogis from India have always believed that by controlling the breathing you are able to control the mind as well. The practice of Pranayama can also help unleash the dormant energies inside our body.
By exercising Hatha yoga you can discover your physical and mental potentials. Through continued performance of Asanas and Pranayama, you will achieve flexibility and strength, and become more relaxed in even the most stressful situations. Hatha Yoga’s relaxation exercises will open the energy channels, which in turn allows spiritual energy to flow freely. A few Hatha yoga poses help your internal organs as well, preventing various diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension. Another positive effect is that it balance the internal and glandular functions of the body. Pranayama, on the other hand, can help manage asthma and bronchitis.

Hatha Yoga will help you through a stressful day, it relieve built up tension, and deal with anxiety and depression. The most important part is that it help you to keep your mind focused and prepared for meditation and, hopefully help you in the search for enlightenment.