There are many forms of yoga, but hatha yoga is the one most commonly practised in the West. Hatha Yoga concentrates on the physical body as the way towards self-realisation. It teaches us that gaining control over the body is the key to controlling the mind.
Yoga is a magical fitness programme that helps balance emotions, sharpens the intellect and bring peace of mind. The attention to the physical body with the emphasis on the postures is what makes this particular form of yoga so popular in our culture. You do not have to be spiritual to practise yoga. Start with the physical exercises – the postures – and see where they lead you. If you make the choice to practise regularly, not only will your body become more flexible, so will your mind. As we open our minds to the philosophy of yoga, we become open to life’s possibilities. We learn to let go of the past and leave the baggage behind. Resistance will then break down so that new energy can flow into the empty spaces. Ultimately, with a little patience, discipline and practice, you will find yourself changing.
Practising the physical poses of yoga helps you to open up your body. Slowly, your mind will become more flexible and open too.
Ha (Sun) Tha (Moon)
Hatha Yoga emphasises balancing the opposing forces in the body, such as masculine energy (the sun) and feminine energy (the moon), left and right, inhalation and exhalation, joy and sadness, and so on, thereby restoring the body to its natural equilibrium.
Forward bends are followed by backward bends, standing postures by the inversions, contractions by expansions, and movements to the left by movements to the right.
The Five Principles of Yoga
- Relaxation – Rests your entire system and releases tension in the muscles. Exercises followed by relaxation dislodges blockages in the system and restores the body’s normal energy flow. It helps to calm the mind.
- Exercises – The Asanas – The Yoga postures (known as asanas) help to stretch and tone all the muscles and strengthen the bones and ligaments. Asanas improve circulation and keep the spine, muscles and joints more flexible. They also help to relieve depression by increasing “feel-good” endorphins in the body.
- Breath Control – Pranayama – Breathing techniques, or pranayama, increase the capacity of the lungs, enabling you to breath more fully. They help to strengthen the internal organs, improve mental control and deepen your ability to relax.
- A nourishing Diet – A well-balanced, nourishing diet will boost the immune system, ensure better health and help to calm the mind. As a result, your body will become more resistant to illness and disease and you will feel a greater sense of general well-being and health.
- Positive thinking and meditation – Yoga promotes positive thinking as one of its most important principles. It will train your mind to purify your thoughts so that a more confident you emerges. Meditation will ultimately lead to self-realisation – the real purpose of yoga.