Hatha Yoga
- Nov 23, 2020
- 3 min read
Posted by: Autumn Yang
Are you absolutely drowning in school work? Or just work in general? Are people driving you crazy? The pandemic keeping you at home, with nothing to do? Well then here's a great way to not only stay at home and be safe, but also lower your stress levels and keep your mind from going insane!
Yoga
Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are. - Rolf Gates
Background
The word 'yoga' means "union" when translated from ancient Sanskrit. Which makes sense because the point of yoga is to bring together the body, mind, and soul and create balance and harmony. Yoga has been around for thousands of years, dating back to over 5,000 years! It all originated in ancient India as a form of spiritual discipline, for those who practiced it. Although not much is known about the actual origin story of yoga, we can understand that it is an ancient practice that has been cultivated and grown into what it is today. The yoga that we are familiar with today, is very different from what it was like centuries ago. There weren't many poses and postures that were being practiced, as much as there were about mental and spiritual discipline. What started off as just spiritual practice, has grown to become an established method in reducing stress, physical strengthening, and promoting mental well-being.
Health Benefits of Yoga
Physical:
Improves muscle relaxation
Decrease chronic pain
Increase flexibility
Improve muscle strength and tone
Improve athleticism and prevent injury
Reduce inflammation
Promote better heart health
Mental:
Lowers cortisol levels to decrease stress and anxiety
Improves sleep quality
Produce more endorphins to decrease depression
Hatha Yoga
Hatha yoga is a relaxation technique, used by millions of people all around the world. Since there are multiple forms of yoga, this post will focus on one of the more popular and widely recognized practices called: Hatha Yoga.
Hatha yoga is a branch of yoga that focuses more on physical postures and poses (asanas), accompanied by breathing control (pranayama). Hatha yoga is a great starting point for beginner yogi's that are looking to dip their feet into the world of yoga! It is slow paced, as to allow the body to deepen in stretching, gentle so that your body relaxes with each pose, and promotes finding unity between your mind and body.
Proper Use of Hatha Yoga
Since Hatha yoga is a general umbrella that includes many yoga styles, one session of Hatha yoga can vary slightly from a different session. However, they will all boil down to the same principles of focusing on physical posture and poses, as well as, exercising your breathing to help release tense muscles and clear the mind. The best way to practice Hatha yoga is to start off with some basic poses. My personal favorites are:
Downward Dog
Typically a position that follows a "tabletop" position or neutral position.
The gaze falls down towards your toes to lengthen the spine.
Belly button should be pulling in towards the spine, to secure the sacrum.
Hands should be planted on either sides of her to allow energy to flow down her arms.
Warrior II
Whichever side you choose to do this pose, your back toes should be turned that they are parallel to the end of the mat.
Turn your front toes towards the way you are facing, planting your foundation firmly on the ground with your front leg bent.
Lift your arms so that they are parallel to the ground and your legs.
Head should be facing where your front knee is pointing.
For a more in-depth tutorial and tips on how to properly practice Hatha yoga, check out the link below!
References
Basavaraddi, I. (2015, April 23). Yoga: Its Origin, History, and Development. Ministry of External Affairs: Government of India. https://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?25096/Yoga+Its+Origin+History+and+Development
McGee, K., Allen, S., & Kapanen, K. (n.d.). 10-Minute Hatha Yoga Sequence for Beginners. DOYOU.COM. Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://www.doyou.com/10-minute-hatha-yoga-sequence-for-beginners-32834/
Seaward, B. L. (2018). Managing stress: Principles and strategies for health and welt-being. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. pp. 394-395
Comments