What is Hatha Yoga?
Hatha Yoga is the most common and practiced yoga style in the West. The practice is soft and usually slow-paced with the focus on asanas (yoga poses), breathing, relaxation and meditation.
Hatha Yoga has an immediate effect on the mind-body by purifying it and giving it harmony and balance, both necessary to live more conscious, stable and relaxed. With the practice of Hatha Yoga you will feel more connected to yourself and other people around you. Physically and mentally you will grow stronger.
It is the perfect style of yoga to start with if you have not practiced before and if you want to adapt to a happier and healthier way of living.
The 5 principals of Hatha Yoga
Proper Exercise
Asanas is the Sanskrit name for yoga poses. Practicing asanas goes further than physical exercise alone. By learning how to focus, move and breathe in a proper way you bring yourself balance. Yoga works on a physical, energetic and spiritual level.
Proper Breathing
Proper breathing is necessary to live a healthy and happy life. Sometimes we forget to pay attention to our breathing (because of stressful situations) and we feel tired, unable to concentrate or experience headaches. When we re-learn how to breathe correctly we bring calm to ourselves. By controlling the breath we are able to control the mind.
Proper Relaxation
The body needs to heal and regain energy. In yoga class we use Shavasana in between the postures and at the end of the class for deep relaxation. This method uses autosuggestion techniques to relax the physical, astral and spiritual body completely.
Proper Diet
The body uses everything you eat and drink to renew its cells. Therefor a healthy diet is necessary in maintaining physical and mental fitness. According to the Yoga philosophy it is important to choose with care what we put into our bodies in order to stay physically and emotionally healthy.
Peace of Mind & Meditation
Thinking has direct impact on the energy and condition of the body. A negative thought instantly lowers the energy in the body and a positive thought instantly raises the energy. Positive thinking and meditation is food for the mind. Meditation helps to reduce stress and brings clarity and awareness.