Hatha Yoga goes by several names. Some claim that it brings about fusion between pairs of opposites, as evident from breaking its name into "Ha" meaning "the sun" and "tha" meaning "the moon." In view of the intense physical effort required for this type of yoga, some people also translate it to mean the "forceful yoga." Hatha yoga is definitely the best known of yoga forms in the western hemisphere.
Yogic saint Swatmarama, introduced Hatha yoga to 15th century India, and over the centuries, this became the most popular among the types of yoga. Other styles of yoga including Ashtanga Yoga, Power Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Bikram Yoga, originated from Hatha Yoga. When one refers to yoga, he normally means Hatha. Among the eight limbs of yoga, Hatha yoga focuses on Asana (third) and Pranayama (fourth).
With the subtle use of physical postures, breathing techniques, meditation, Hatha yoga attempts to strike a balance between the mind and body, to release the spiritual rudiments that reside in your mind.
In the process of practice of yoga, body postures are Asanas or special positions that are instrumental in the removal of diseases from our bodies in their physical, subtle and casual forms. In Sanskrit "Asana" means seat and avers to explain the body's relative position to that of divinity. Asanas, originally designed for meditation, offer relaxation for extended periods, and improve your bone strength, muscle flexibility, will power, self-withdrawal, memory and concentration.
On the other hand, the words "Prana" (energy source) and "ayama" (to control) join to form the word Pranayama, which is the important science of breath control. The yogis of yore firmly believed that breath control unlocked the secrets to mind control, which then became a significant part of yoga. The yogis also believed that one could set free the latent forces within us by the sound practice of Hatha yoga.
Yoga provides many potential benefits including recognition of your dormant and psychological strengths and potentials. The continued practice of yoga will make your body strong, relaxed, flexible, and your spiritual energy will flow freely from the relaxation exercises in the practice of yoga. Yoga Asanas (postures) are instrumental in preventing you from contracting diseases like hypertension, arthritis and diabetes, not to speak of its useful massaging and toning up effect on some of your internal organs and balancing out the glandular and internal functions.
Several other benefits credited to Hatha yoga include relief from tension, stress, depression and anxiety and the eventual preparation of your mind for meditation leading to enlightenment or Nirvana.
Yoga is the right form of exercise for both your body and mind. Click here to know more about fitness centers in Raleigh NC.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sooraj_Surendran
No comments:
Post a Comment