Hatha Yoga is a gentler form of yoga that mainly focuses on holding the pose for longer duration and is great for beginners to start their practice. A typical Hatha yoga class can last from 45 minutes to around 90 minutes. Starting with warm-up exercises advancing towards physical postures and pranayama and ending with short time meditation. Though gentle in form still it can be physically and mentally challenging.
The most basic training you get in the class is to always focus on your breath while practicing hatha yoga sequences and pranayama. Poses help you to improve balance, strength, and flexibility. If you find any pose difficult or find it challenging to hold for a long time, your yoga instructor can suggest a modified version depending on your inabilities. Most classes end with the resting meditative poses or with Savasana to reconnect your wandering thoughts with your mind.
Here we are sharing the insights on what to expect from your hath yoga classes, poses, asanas, and sequences involved in hatha yoga, and its various benefits. Click here if you want to join Hatha Yoga Classes in Thane West.
What is Hatha yoga and why is it so popular?
Hatha yoga is typically a branch of yoga primarily concerned with mastery of the body. The term derives from the Sanskrit word ha, denoting “sun,” and tha, denoting “moon,” indicating that the hatha practices are interpreted to unite the balance between these two energies. It creates a balance between the two contrasting energies for example strength and flexibility.
Hath yoga refers to a form of physical exercise involving poses, asanas, and sequences that are specially formulated to align your skin, muscles, and bones. These postures are designed to open various channels of your body, especially the spine, resulting in the free flow of energy.
As yoga has recently gained much popularity in mainstream fitness and wellness regime, there has emerged many different variations and styles of yoga. Hatha yoga is the most prominent involving almost every style of yoga. With so many options of hatha yoga classes available, it always becomes difficult to choose the best among them. Most of the yoga classes in the west are hath yoga classes.
Health benefits of Hatha yoga –
Regular practice of Hatha yoga ensures strength, increases flexibility, and enhances balance. Along with this it also offers moderate aerobic exercise to the whole body. Apart from these it additionally benefits due to its incorporation of breathing techniques like pranayama and meditation during the practice. The various benefits of hatha yoga involve:
- It beats anxiety and depression
- Benefits in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Improves balance
- Relieves back pain
- Boosts emotional health
- Enhances mood and reduces fatigue
- Greater mindfulness and alertness
- Cures insomnia and nervous ailments
Common Hatha yoga Poses practiced at yoga classes –
Tadasana
Tadasana is a preparatory pose for many asanas, thus regarded as the foundation pose for the follow-up asanas. It helps to correct the posture and improve the balance. Increases the flexibility of ankles and joints. It tones the hips and abdomen, helps you gain control over your muscle movements.
Garudasana
It is a balancing asana. Try to hold the pose for 15 to 20 seconds. With practice, you can go up to 1 minute with each leg. It is one of the few yoga poses popular since the medieval hatha yoga till modern-day hatha yoga. It tones the legs and feet, opens the hips, groin, and chest. It is known to fortify the Muladhara chakra.
Vrikshasana
It is known to improve the sense of balance. It improves the concentration and releases upper back tension. It stretches hips, thighs, shoulders, and spine. It loosens the tendons and joint muscles.
Bhujangasana
This posture is profoundly remedial for the nervous system and is awesome for combatting stress and depression. It is a simple posture to go into, you will love this one for the days that you feel to be emotionally overpowering. The stretch additionally emphasizes the lower abdomen and reduces stomach pain.
Dhanurasana
Dhanurasana is an incredible back bowing yoga pose for expanding and increasing spinal strength and adaptability. It stimulates the internal organs. This posture stretches the chest and strengthens the lungs, making it a very beneficial posture for those with asthma and respiratory issues.
Kurmasana
Kurmasana or tortoise pose resembles the tortoise that withdraws in its shell when threatened or endangered. This asana enables you to withdraw the curtails pertaining due to the outside world and reconnect yourself to the inner you. It gives the euphoric feeling of establishing a connection with your inner world. It relaxes your head neck and shoulders. It is a great stress buster relaxing your mind and treating insomnia.
Ardhya Matsyendrasana
Ardha Mastyendrasana energizes the spine, twisting and wrangling out all the stiffness from your back. It relives the upper and middle back pain, stretching the shoulders, hips, and the neck. It also removes the pain due to sciatica.