How Hatha Yoga Differs from Other Types

Lately, yoga techniques are often used as fitness classes. The true understanding of this practice is deeper. The main actions are aimed not only at performing a group of physical exercises, but to a greater extent at the spiritual growth of a person, the knowledge of their own body and its capabilities. Hatha yoga belongs to the ancient system of teachings and is today one of the most common types of yoga . Acquaintance with the yogic system often begins with this practice. Classes provide the body not only with the necessary physical activity, but also refresh the energy centers, improving the functioning of internal organs, joints and muscles.

History

The technique has gathered around itself a large number of legends, the main of which is the story that the teaching came to people from Shiva. It is Shiva who is most often mentioned in classical works as the guru who conveyed the meaning of spiritual practices.

Gorakshanath grouped and balanced the already existing necessary techniques of contact of consciousness with the body through loads and types of breathing complexes. Tantra became an addition to the new type. The authorship of many texts of the Hatha method is attributed to Gorakshanath, among them Yoga-martanda, Goraksha-stak, Goraksha-paddhati, Jnana-amrita, Amanskaya yoga and others. A new wave of teachings appeared in the 15-16 centuries, when the yogic sage and follower of the Natha school - Swami Swatmaram published the teaching “Hatha-yoga-pradipika”. The content is considered a classic text of the type, which systematized other techniques of the original method.

Differences

The main difference of Hatha yoga is that the actions of the method are based on the complex implementation of four components:

• the ability to deeply relax muscle tissue;
• the ability to breathe correctly;
• the ability to consciously concentrate attention when performing specific exercises and volitional actions;
• performing and holding dynamic and static poses.
  Classes in practice should be constant. It is recommended to work with Hatha yoga asanas daily, allocating 15-30 minutes to it. This will allow you to work out and strengthen all types of muscle tissues of the body, spine, joints and internal organs evenly and comprehensively, without overloading the body.

Features

The main features of Hatha yoga for beginners are.

1. Philosophical meaning, embedded in the name. In translation, “Ha” means “sun” (masculine principle), and “Tha” translates as “moon” (feminine principle). Translated from Sanskrit, yoga is understood as “unity”. The meaning of the technique is to harmonize the opposite principles that exist in human nature and influence one’s own essence with their help through energy centers.
2. Combination of physical exertion on muscles with breathing exercises. Preliminary deep, even breathing eliminates excessive stress on the heart muscle, and also allows massaging and training all internal organs, gradually strengthening the human life support system, concentrating attention.
3. Much attention is paid to the presence of many static poses and their holding.
4. Power physical actions are performed without additional simulators, equipment and devices. This aspect gives a complete understanding of the body’s capabilities to provide the necessary physical activity regardless of external conditions.

Benefits

Contraindications

Practice

The method is a system that prepares a person for other types of activities. The Hatha yoga complex consists of:

• yama – universal moral commandments, among which is the principle of non-violence (ahimsa), chastity before marriage (brahmacharya), truthfulness (satya), non-attachment (aparigraha) and the impossibility of appropriating something else’s (asteya);
• niyama – the second part of the methodology, reflects in itself spiritual components: purity (shaucha), modesty (santosha), purposefulness (tapas), creating a culture of thought (svadhyaya) and the perception of God, as perfection (ishvara-pranidhana);
• asanas – static yoga poses , the holding of which helps to achieve lofty goals, learn to concentrate attention;
• pranayama – breathing technique that provides control and movement of energy to the necessary parts of the body.
  The ability to practice exercises that strengthen the power of thought and spirit, restoring energy, is not possible without purification. It takes place in several stages of practice. The preparatory process consists in performing shatkarmas, including six actions that balance the respiratory and gastrointestinal organs. This stage must be passed before starting breathing exercises (pranayama).

Basic Asanas

• Paschimottanasana – relieves fat deposits on the thighs and abdomen, stooped posture and curvature of the spine, develops flexibility of the body.
• Forward bend from standing position using shoulder joints. The pose works well on the muscles of the entire body, stretching them, and also strengthens the joints of the pelvis. Improves the work of internal organs, including the liver and kidneys, stimulates the mobility of the joints of the shoulder girdle and arms.
• Ardha Baddha Padma Paschimottanasana – comprehensively works with ankle joints, chest and spine, and also acts as a massage for the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, pelvis and respiratory system.
• Sarpasana – makes it possible to stretch the spine and strengthens the muscle tissues of the body.
• Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana – the position works out the lumbosacral spine, the muscles of the back of the neck, stretches the body.
• Utkatsana – the pose comprehensively strengthens the muscles of the body, thighs and shoulder girdle, develops energy for endurance, allows you to feel the uniform work of the entire life support system.
• Ardha Chandrasana – helps to correct posture and side lines of the body, works out the muscles of the legs and body.
• Urdhva Uttanasana – works with the lower legs and ankles, opens the chest, reduces back pain.
• Sarvangasana – comprehensively helps to restore the normal functioning of the circulatory system, corrects the body’s susceptibility to acute respiratory infections, helps normalize digestion, and strengthens the heart system.
  The most important thing in mastering the Hatha method is not only a conscious striving for the goals set, but also an understanding of the physical capabilities of the body at each stage. Performing different types of static poses should not be accompanied by pain and tremors in the tissues. Only that load is allowed that cannot harm, focusing on your own feelings and actions. Only after adaptation should the load be increased.

The multifaceted nature of the practice allows everyone to choose physical actions and develop the necessary state of acceptable comfort for spiritual growth and inner harmony.