Hatha Yoga is a type of yoga originating in India, which reached the West in the 20th century and is today the most practiced form of yoga there .
Its name from Sanskrit means ” yoga of effort ” or tenacity. He is equally interested in spiritual awakening through postures, as well as the discipline of breathing and meditation.
Symbolically, Hatha Yoga would be the union of the sun (ha) and the moon (tha) , that is to say of all the dualities, the inspired breath and the expired breath, the masculine and the feminine, etc…
This type of yoga, through the precise and rhythmic practice of the postures it suggests, allows the practitioner full control of his body and his senses .
Origins of Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga finds its origin in ancient texts, and in particular in the sutras of Patanjali. It became popular in the West where it freed itself from its original purpose of spiritual liberation to become a practice of purely physical exercises .
Principles and postures of Hatha Yoga
If Patanjali’s yoga sūtras are broken down into eight “degrees”, the referent text of haṭha yoga is of a practical nature and favors postures (asana) and breath control (pranayama ), which aspects correspond to the third and fourth degrees of Pantanjali yoga.
This simplification partly explains its success in the West where the majority of yoga sessions revolve around a certain number of more or less complicated postures, organized according to the levels of the participants and the objective of the session.
Unlike a gymnastics sequence, the postures must be maintained long enough (about 3 minutes per posture).
It is associated with breath control and concentration. Breathing can be rhythmic within the postures or concentrated during a privileged time. It depends on the schools, the time of day, the age and the expectations of the participants.
A Hatha Yoga session generally ends with a moment of relaxation.
Through the Western practice of haṭha yoga , it is the unity of all the physical and psychic modalities composing the human being that is sought as well as the experimentation of complementary opposites (feminine/masculine; movement/immobility; inspiration/ expiration, etc.).
Posture, breathing, meditation , can thus be combined in turn in practice, for example: postures/breathing, postures/meditation, or even postures/breathing/meditation.
Dynamic or static , the postures are linked without violence or competition, in all humility, essentially aiming to improve:
- flexibility and joint mobilization,
- poise and balance,
- respiratory development,
- general and cerebral circulation,
- general bodybuilding (of the spine in particular),
- fluidity of energy as a whole
- ability to relax.
The basic practice of Hatha Yoga summons the four phases of the breath
- inspiration,
- retention full lungs,
- expiration
- retention empty lungs.
The relaxation phase which generally concludes the session is accomplished in a seated or lying position and is accompanied by slow and deep breathing, suggestions, or very soft sounds.
It provides a feeling of peace and prepares for meditation.
How to practice Hatha Yoga?
It is advisable to start this type of yoga in a group or to take a teacher at home so that you can then perform the postures alone once mastered.
The group sessions are organized according to the level of each participant and pay particular attention to the correct realization of the postures.
It is particularly important to take care of the position of the back and the limbs in order to avoid possible imbalances, but also of the accompaniment of the posture by the breath, the learning of concentration and meditation, and finally to relaxation.
The benefits of Hatha Yoga
Like all other forms of yoga, Hatha Yoga, practiced on a regular basis, improves the overall fitness and well-being of the practitioner .
Hatha Yoga is particularly beneficial:
- in terms of stretching and muscle strengthening , promoting relaxation , relieving joint pain , while ensuring good support for the skeleton, in particular a solid spine
- in terms of relaxation , acting like a massage of the internal organs by successive compression and decompression effects, but also in terms of concentration and memorization , the attention paid to breathing limiting the risks of dispersion of thought and developing the ability from practice to relaxation.
On the emotional level , the awareness of its irregular rhythm associated with postural stability would even promote the ability to withstand stress and, in the long run, a certain psychological stability , even a better quality of sleep .
Acting on the physical and emotional levels, Hatha Yoga is therefore likely to bring balance to your daily life and lead you to better manage your emotions and possible pain thanks to a better knowledge of your body.
The benefits are noticeable after a month of practice , resulting in renewed vitality, enthusiasm and good humor!
Who can practice Hatha Yoga?
There is no age or contraindications to the practice of Hatha Yoga. Indeed, it is a complete discipline, accessible to all , which does not require any particular physical condition and can be practiced regardless of one’s initial physical abilities, without risk of injury or fatigue .
There are different levels depending on whether you are a beginner or more experienced in the discipline. It is up to everyone to adapt the frequency and level of the sessions according to their availability, form and age.
Hatha Yoga is beneficial for both students and active or retired people.
