The History of Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is a general term that describes the physical exercise and breathing techniques used to achieve mindfulness . This concept, originating in India, dates back to the 11th century AD; however, posture-based forms of yoga did not develop until the early 20th century. Today's hatha yoga is based on the practices described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

Hatha yoga began to develop in India during the 1920s and 1930s, with the opening of the first official school in Mysore in 1924. During this time, Indian hatha yoga traditions merged with the physical culture of Western society. . As physical culture grew in popularity in the 20th century, hatha yoga teachings became popular in the West.

Hatha Yoga

The Sanskrit word Hatha literally translates as strength. Hatha classes will teach you to apply prana, or vital energy, to the different yoga postures. Hindu texts describe prana as the physical, mental and spiritual energy of Hinduism. Classes typically last between 45 and 90 minutes, and can be expected to end with some pranayama yoga or meditation .

Today's hatha yoga classes are slow and gentle, making them great for beginners. Many yogis recommend starting with Hatha yoga before trying other forms of physical practice. Hatha was once considered the mother of all yoga styles, since all other styles practiced in Western societies derive from this style of yoga. However, she now looks more like a sister.

Hatha Yoga PRADIPIKA (HYP)

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (HYP) is an ancient text written by the Indian yogi Nath Yogi Swatmarama in the 15th century AD. Swatmarama is based on his experience and previous yoga works that have been lost to time. HYP is the best known book of this style, known as one of the most important classical texts in yoga philosophy.

According to Swatmarama, hatha yoga is "yoga achieved through forceful means with difficult physical kriyas and cleansing and purification actions as the initial practice." In the modern age, students continue to rely on the same instruction given by Swatmarama as contained in his guidebook.

8 Yoga Limbs

The origin of hatha yoga continues to embody the eight limbs. The eight members form a sequence from the outside to the inside. They create a guide for your life to make sense through moral and ethical lessons about being. The Eight Limbs consist of the following eight steps: read here.

Benefits of Hatha Yoga

The practice of hatha yoga has many health benefits for the mind, body, and soul. Here are some of the benefits you can get with regular practice:

• Improves sleep quality : According to John Hopkins University, the meditative qualities and breathing exercises practiced in hatha yoga make it effective for improving sleep. Specific poses that promote a healthy sleep pattern include Corpse Pose, Lying Butterfly Pose, and Legs on the Wall.

• Increases Flexibility and Strength – Hatha yoga gradually increases flexibility and strength through physically demanding poses and sequences. This will help you achieve your dream yoga body and further tone your muscles.

• Reduces stress, anxiety, and depression : A study conducted with 52 women suffering from anxiety , depression, and stress found that after 12 hatha yoga sessions, their mental health improved significantly. The yoga classes reduced her anxiety, depression, and stress and improved her mindfulness.

• Treats chronic pain : Numerous studies suggest that hatha yoga is an effective treatment for chronic pain, including low back pain, endometriosis, and knee pain. This demonstrates how yoga can be used as a complementary medicine.

Other benefits are, among others, the following

• Helps maintain joint health

• Stimulates the immune system

• May reduce inflammation and inflammatory diseases

• Helps develop discipline and self-control

• Develops balance and proprioception