Hatha Yoga is one of the most basic forms of yoga. And, it has been around for many centuries. Most people till date, equate yoga with physical poses. But the truth is very different. Hatha Yoga is one of the basic forms of yoga, with the help of which, you can ground the body. Moreover, you will learn about the asanas, breathing, and meditation, as a part of this yoga system. The yoga school in India teaches this form, with a lot of conviction.
Additionally, it is also important for you to know that, Hatha Yoga includes and covers other yoga forms. Yes, you heard that right. All the yoga forms like Ashtanga-Vinyasa, Kundalini yoga, and Yin yoga are under Hatha Yoga. So, it is just apt, that you learn it first. If you are a beginner, you should master this form, and then move on to learn other forms. So, let us delve into the details now.
Hatha Yoga Decoded
When you head to the yoga school in India, the first thing that you will encounter is Hatha Yoga. It is the foundation of your yoga education. It is basically a combination of yoga asanas and breathing techniques. You have to hold such poses for a longer time, as compared to other flow yoga poses like Ashtanga and Vinyasa. The main focus of this practice, is the pose and the breath. If you can get your Hatha yoga pose alignments correct, you can do any form of yoga.
You will be following the yogic text, called Hatha Yoga Pradipika, in the yoga class. It is the main text that Hatha yogis rely on. You will get all the guiding principles in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Strengthen your foundation with this practice, and then you can aim for mental and spiritual stimulation.
What Are The Elements?
For the unversed, or those of you who have just started practicing, Hatha Yoga is one of the paths of Raja Yoga. There are 4 different yoga paths, and Raja Yoga is one of them. It is considered as the physical path. You can also call it Classical Yoga. The three main elements of Hatha yoga are the asanas, Pranayama, and meditation.
There are at least 84 asanas in Hatha yoga. You can keep on practicing these poses, till you get them perfect. And why not? They will form the basis of your yogic life. Keep on practicing and repeating, till you get them correct.
Now, you may be questioning, ‘what happens in a Hatha yoga class at the yoga school in India?’ Well! You will know that now. The Hatha Yoga classes can range between 45 minutes to 90 minutes duration. It starts with some warmup, to be exact. Most schools in India, start with the Surya Namaskar, which combines 12 yoga poses. The Surya Namaskar, is in itself, a workout. You will feel energetic after you have done this practice for some time. There is no flow, in between the poses.
You have to break in and out of poses or asanas. The best teachers at Vinyasa Yoga Academy, will guide you on this. This is an opportunity in itself, to release tension and unwind a bit. You must master Hatha Yoga, before you move ahead in your yogic journey.
In the Hatha Yoga course, you will study a variety of Pranayama, like Ujjayi pranayama, Bhastrika pranayama and Bhramari pranayama. If you master these, you can get your breath patterns right. This also allows a steady influx of Prana into the channels of the body. They are called as ‘nadis’. There are at least 72,000 nadis in the human body, which you cannot see in any book. They are a part of the astral body.
Meditation is also one of the guiding forces in your Hatha Yoga practice. You will be guided by the teacher through it. Mantras are also an accompaniment in Hatha yoga kriyas. Moreover, you will be engaging in many of them in this course. So, these are a few reasons, why you should enrol for Hatha Yoga.
Benefits Of Learning Hatha Yoga In A Yoga School In India
Now, it is also important for you to find the benefits that you may derive from Hatha Yoga practices. Firstly, you need to understand that all forms of yoga relieves stress and tension. Hatha Yoga is no different.
- If you practice Hatha Yoga regularly, you will surely be more relaxed and calmer. You will likely be able to avoid depression and such mental illnesses.
- It can be a huge tool for self-transformation.
- The poses are held for a longer time, as compared to other yoga forms. So, you will be building stability. Balance also improves manifold.
- If you are a senior, and looking for a better range of motion, then you can do this yoga practice.
- Your physical health and mental stamina is bound to improve, with regular practice.
There is no age, background and gender criteria to practice Hatha Yoga. Anyone, who is looking at building a career in yoga can engage in this type of yoga. However, you should never underestimate this yoga form. It has far more unique and beneficial outcomes than you could ever imagine.
In future, you can also go for other yoga forms that are based on Hatha Yoga. You can also teach Hatha Yoga to others. After you complete your yoga TTC from a renowned school like Vinyasa Yoga Academy, lots of options open up in front of you. You can get a RYT 200 certification and can go abroad to teach Hatha yoga as well. This will pave the way for more aspiring avenues in the new future.
You get the best opportunity to enrol in yoga in the tranquil mountains of Rishikesh. Moreover, Rishikesh in India, is the hub of yoga, so you will be able to engage in yoga practice in its traditional form. The best yoga school will guide you on your path of self-discovery. So, take it up now, with open arms.
