What makes Hatha Yoga different?

In today’s society, we see a lot of people taking up the art of yoga solely for the fact that it has become the “trendy” thing to do. Celebrities from the world over have advocated the practice and in an effort to emulate their idols, fans fun out to the local store, buy a mat and give it a try. To them, yoga is a hobby, but for those of us in the know, we understand its greater influence – especially when it comes to the art of Classical Hatha Yoga.

As defined by hatha-yoga.org, this particular practice is “an ancient Indian system for keeping the body in an optimal physical condition. Originally developed to liberate mind from the burden of the body in order to pursue spiritual ends, Hatha Yoga is especially well suited for people doing intellectual work.”

So while you may look at yoga as just another way to stay fit and active, you’ll notice that it differs in a couple of ways from your typical workout regimen:

1. Goals – Why do you spend time at the gym lifting weights and sprinting full force on the treadmill? It’s because our culture tells us that we need to develop strength and endurance; perfect our body’s shape so that we can increase our sexual attractiveness. With Hatha Yoga, you’re encouraged to do the opposite and completely liberate your mind from body consciousness.
2. Methods – In most other physically exerting activities, you’re participating in intense cardio – constantly moving. With yoga however, you’re performing asanas, static postures in an effort to develop overall flexibility, health of the joints and strength of the spine. The positions you find yourself in during a Hatha Yoga session may not be comfortable, but you work through the negative reactions you are feeling, in order to show yourself that you can get past it on a mental level.

 
Your physical body is simply a shell for the soul on its journey to perfection, and while yoga may help to make you stronger and more physically attractive, it is certainly not its purpose. Each of our yoga classes takes complete advantage of the Classic Hatha style. Join us for one of our classes and feel the difference for yourself