What
is Yoga? What
is Hatha Yoga? Is
Yoga a Religion? What is yoga? Often associated with
Hinduism, yoga actually is older. It is the oldest physical discipline
in existence. The exact origins of yoga are unknown, but it is thought
to be at least five thousand years old. The earliest evidence of yoga
practice can be traced back to about 3000 B.C. The original purpose of
the postures and breathing exercises was to bring stability and
relaxation so practitioners could prepare for the rigors of meditation,
sitting still and alert for long periods of time.
The word yoga has its roots in
the Sanskrit language and means to merge, join or unite. Yoga is a form
of exercise based on the belief that the body and breath are intimately
connected with the mind. By controlling the breath and holding the body
in steady poses, or asanas, yoga creates harmony. Yoga is a means
of balancing and harmonizing the body, mind and emotions and is a tool
that allows us to withdraw from the chaos of the world and find a quiet
space within. To achieve this, yoga uses movement, breath, posture,
relaxation and meditation in order to establish a healthy, vibrant and
balanced approach to living.
Modern scholars have defined
yoga as the classical Indian science that concerns itself with the
search for the soul and the union between the individual, whose
existence is finite, and the Divine, which is infinite.
Yoga is one of the original
concepts which today would be labeled as holistic. That means that the
body is related to the breath; both are related to the brain; in turn
this links with the mind, which is a part of consciousness.
The essence of yoga is to be in
the driver's seat of life. Control is a key aspect of yoga: control of
the body, breath and mind.
The secret of yoga practice
lies in a simple but important word: balance. In every area of our life,
yoga represents balanced moderation.
There
are actually lots of different types of yoga; it is not strictly
a term for the stretchy exercise. Just FYI,
the term "yoga" can refer to any of these things:
karma
yoga -- focuses on giving of oneself without expecting any
reward (yawn)
jnana
yoga -- a philosophical approach to unveiling the illusions
of the world
bhakti
yoga -- channeling emotional energy into one's spiritual
practice
rhaja
yoga -- focuses on concentration and mind control
It
is within rhaja yoga that we find Hatha yoga, the physical practice,
which is what you will read about here.
Learn
about the different styles of yoga
As
there are many styles of dance, so are there many forms of Hatha
yoga. In fact, a new one might be developing right now, as a teacher
puts his/her own stamp on a specific technique. Current popular
styles include (but are not limited to):
Gentle
yoga, which is sometimes also called by the generic name
"hatha yoga" --this usage of "hatha" is
debatable; some folks believe the term should only be used to
refer to the general idea for all physical yogas, while others
use it colloquially to refer to the gentler style. In Gentle
yoga, the focus is on long stretches and flexibility, with slow,
deep breathing (yogic breathing is known as "Pranayama").
This can be very soothing for the mind -- it is the kind of
mellow style most people picture when they think of yoga.
Kundalini
yoga, which works on the premise that the body has eight
"chakras," and through use of "breath of fire"
(rapid breathing), one can heat up the body from the bottom
up, eventually "raising kundalini" to achieve a feeling
of high enlightenment.
Power
yoga, which is also known by the Sanskrit term Vinyasa
yoga (a "vinyasa" is a series of rapid movements
which warm up the body all over). This is a very active form
of yoga, in which a person is moves quickly through the poses
(called "Asanas"), not holding them as long as in
other styles. It is virtually guaranteed that you will sweat
a lot in this; it is not for the faint of heart and gives a
real challenge to the muscles.
What is Hatha
Yoga? The system of yoga used
most often in the West is called Hatha yoga. The word Hatha
is a composite of Ha, which means sun and Tha which means
moon. Yoga is the union between them, suggesting that the healthy
joining of opposites - in this case, the mind and body - leads to
strength, vitality and peace of mind.
Hatha yoga is the physical
aspect of the practice of yoga. Hatha yoga emphasizes asanas
(practice of postures), pranayama (breathing techniques) and dhyana
(meditation). It aims to balance different energy flows within the human
body. As a form of exercise, hatha yoga consists of asanas or postures
that embody controlled movement, concentration, flexibility, and
conscious breathing. About half of the nearly 200 asanas are practiced
widely in the West. The postures range from the basic to the complex,
from the easily accomplished to the very challenging. While the
movements tend to be slow and controlled, they provide an invigorating
workout for the mind and body, including the internal organs.
Yoga exercises are designed to
ease tense muscles, to tone up the internal organs, and to improve the
flexibility of the body's joints and ligaments. The aim of proper yoga
exercise is to improve suppleness and strength. Each posture is
performed slowly in fluid movements. Violent movements are avoided; they
produce a buildup of lactic acid, causing fatigue.
Hatha yoga is a complete
fitness program and will release endorphins in the brain as well as any
regular exercise program. Yoga postures stretch, extend, and flex the
spine, while exercising muscles and joints, keeping the body strong and
supple. When done in conjunction with breathing techniques, hatha yoga
postures stimulate circulation, digestion and the nervous and endocrine
systems. As a workout, yoga can be intense, easy, or somewhere in
between.
It can be practiced by anyone,
regardless of age, to achieve a more limber body, increased physical
coordination, better posture, and improved flexibility without incurring
the potentially negative effects associated with high-impact forms of
exercise. Hatha yoga remains different from newer or more modern types
of exercise. It does not aim to raise the heart rate (although
variations such as Ashtanga, Power Yoga, or the flow series taught by
Bikram Choudhury may) or work on specific muscle groups.
Overall, the postures release
stiffness and tension, help to reestablish the inner balance of the
spine, renew energy and restore health. Some postures provide the added
benefit of being weight-bearing which helps sustain bone mass (very
important for women). Relaxation and breathing exercises produce
stability and reduce stress and put you in touch with your inner
strength. In addition, regular practice of hatha yoga can promote
graceful aging.
Whether you are learning yoga
singly or in a group, it is a good idea to be supervised by a qualified
teacher. A teacher will demonstrate how to ease your body gently into
and out of the yoga postures. He or she will ensure that you do not
strain your limbs and will help you align your body in the asanas.
According to a recent Roper
poll, six million Americans now practice hatha yoga. Furthermore, yoga's
visibility and viability as an effective exercise program has been
increased by the endorsements of celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Demi
Moore, Woody Harrelson, Sting, Madonna, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael
Keaton, Kareem Abdul Jabar and Evander Holyfield.
Yoga also is increasingly
embraced by the medical community. Popular health practitioners who
possess mainstream medical credentials and are open to alternative
practices include Andrew Weil, M.D., Dean Ornish, M.D., Joan Borysenko,
M.D., and Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. Such practitioners have long encouraged
patients and clients to take up yoga. Yoga is also an integral part of
many stress management programs endorsed and paid for by HMOs and
insurance companies. In fact, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's Preventive
and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center includes gentle yoga postures and
breathing techniques to aid the recovery of patients with heart disease.
Yoga asanas can be practiced by
young and old alike. While there is no one who should be excluded, you
should check with your doctor before you begin a course if you suffer
from a medical condition or have any doubts. If you have any concerns
about your health or fitness, consult your physician, qualified health
practitioner or yoga teacher before undertaking a yoga practice,
especially with these specific health problems: high blood pressure,
heart disease, arthritis, back or neck injury or recent surgery.
Is Yoga a
Religion? Yoga does not meet the
traditional definitions of a religion. Rather than broadcasting a
philosophy or doctrine of its own, hatha yoga is a physical and
psychological discipline that combines the learning and practice of
asanas, pramayama, and meditation.
Because of its roots in Eastern
religion and mythology, hatha yoga has often been associated with the
Hindu religion. While both Hinduism and yoga have their roots in India,
yoga is an independent tradition. Its separate physical and
psychological processes have no connection with religious beliefs.
Additionally, dedicated hatha yoga practice has been found to enhance
the religious practice or beliefs of practitioners, whatever their
current beliefs.
While yoga is not a religion,
there are, however, a set of ethics associated with it which complements
the practice of hatha yoga. This set of yoga ethic principles include
five yamas which are: non-violence; truthfulness; non-stealing;
chastity; and non-greed. Also there are five niyamas which are:
purity; contentment; self-discipline; self-study; and centering on the
Divine.
A-Z Healing