Yoga--Hatha or not Hatha?

[Guest guest]

Hi Katherine,

 

All the yoga you get in US studios is hatha--people may call it yin,

vinyasa, Iyengar, ashtanga, bikram, etc., but it's all hatha yoga.

Hatha is the physical limb of yoga, and its purpose is to prepare the

nervous system for the deeper experience of meditation. While yoga per

se is probably at least 5,000 years old, the hatha styles we are

currently familiar with all emerged during the twentieth century; many

of them are a result of big-swami politics and catchy marketing

schemes. This is not to say that they are not helpful for us K

people--of course they are! The key is to find the style that is right

for you, and complement it with your own breathwork (pranayama) and

meditation practice. Pace Mr. Iyengar, hatha yoga by itself won't

catapult you into enlightenment.

 

If you are new to yoga, keep in mind that the " flowing " hatha styles

may carry more risk of injury (especially bikram and ashtanga, but

vinyasa may have its pitfalls, too). Ideally, there should be pause

between poses, and asanas should be repeated a few times in a row for

a deeper understanding and experience. With its emphasis on correct

alignment and postural details, Iyengar is probably the safest style

especially for a beginner. However, a yoga instructor who is honest

enough as to classify her or his style simply as hatha certainly

deserves some credit...

 

Cheers,

 

Sel