Hello...
I am a British Wheel of Yoga certified student teacher running Hatha Yoga classes in Wiltshire (at Holt Village Hall).
Hatha Yoga is the physical yoga practice that uses body postures to open the body and heart. However, Yoga is much more than a physical practice. It is a philosophy of life. Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning 'union of mind and body'. It is a science that allows us to live a harmonious life through the control of the mind and body.
Hatha yoga, is also known as hatha vidya or the "science of hatha" yoga. The word Hatha comes from combining the two Sanskrit terms "Ha" meaning sun and "Tha" meaning moon. "Ha" is the masculine sun energy, and "Tha" is the feminine moon energy. When the two components of the word are placed together, "Hatha" means "forceful", implying that powerful work must be done to purify the body. Yoga means to yoke, or to join two things together, hence hatha yoga is meant to join together sun (masculine, active) energy with the moon (feminine, receptive) energy, thus producing balance and greater power in an individual.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is good for your posture and structural balance (leading to mental balance), it promotes flexibility and suppleness, strength and stamina, tones the internal organs, improves concentration, teaches you how to breathe more effectively, facilitates deep relaxation and calms the mind.
When you breathe slowly and deeply, more oxygen circulates through the blood. During exercise the cells of the body receive a fresh supply of nutrients and oxygen, so increasing energy, vitality and the flexibility of youth.
Yoga can help a whole range of ailments including asthma, high blood pressure, lower back pain, arthritis, ME, menopausal changes, menstrual problems, stress, anxiety and depression. Yoga movements stretch all the major muscle groups and release built up tension. Through posture work, as the body's circulation increases and bones are properly aligned, age related rheumatism and arthritis can be alleviated.
My favorite quotes about yoga:
"Why practice yoga? Rather then just master advanced or impressive positions, I would love to grow old with a straighter spine and the flexibility and comfort in my body that we all enjoy as children" from See How Yoga Feels by Su Sareen.
"I do yoga so that I can stay flexible enough to kick my own arse if necessary." by Betsy Canas Garmon
