If you’ve looked into yoga classes at a yoga studio near you, you might have heard of hatha yoga. This type of yoga has come a long way since it was first done in ancient India. It is now one of the most popular types of yoga.
What does hatha yoga mean?
Hatha yoga is an umbrella term for the many types of yoga that focus on coordinating physical positions (called “asanas”) with specific breathing exercises (“pranayama”). Hatha yoga includes a wide range of practices, such as ashtanga, restorative, vinyasa, Iyengar, etc., that are well-known in the United States.
What sets vinyasa yoga apart from hatha yoga? Vinyasa sessions usually move quickly from one pose to the next. On the other hand, Hatha classes tend to move at a slower pace and give students more guidance on how to do each pose correctly.
Why exactly is it good for your health?
Some studies have looked at the benefits of hatha yoga. Still, they usually used a broad definition of the term (i.e., yoga that includes poses and breathing techniques) instead of a narrower one (i.e., yoga that emphasizes slow movement and correct posture). However, keeping this in mind, the studies do suggest that hatha yoga as a whole may have several benefits, such as:
A lot less worry
A 2016 meta-analysis of 17 studies shows that hatha might be a good way to treat anxiety.
More peace of mind
In 2014, a small study of 34 men who did hatha yoga for five months found that their ability to control their posture got better. Based on these results, the authors say that practicing hatha yoga can make the body more balanced.
Physical Health Gets Better
A study from 2015 showed that Chinese adults who did hatha yoga for 12 weeks improved their cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and endurance, and flexibility.
In addition to these studies, a lot is written about the benefits of yoga in general. For example, there is evidence that yoga can help relieve pain, lower body mass index and blood pressure, ease menopause symptoms, help manage chronic diseases, improve mental health, and help in many other ways.
How does one find a course in hatha yoga?
Some “centering exercises” may be done at the beginning of a hatha yoga class, but the exact order of activities can change from teacher to teacher and from session to session. This can be done sitting up straight or lying on your back, and it can be anything from a short-guided meditation to a breathing exercise to just being quiet.
A big part of Hatha is breathing work that is timed with movement. Sessions may also include meditation and chanting.
Hatha is good for newcomers to yoga and people who have been doing it for a long time.
For people who have never done yoga before, hatha is a great place to start because it is a gentler style that focuses on teaching specific poses.
Conclusion
Hatha yoga is one of the most common types of yoga done today, so you’ll hear a lot about it. Hatha yoga is a large group of yoga practices that focus on how asana (physical position) and pranayama (breathing) work together (breathing technique). You can take online yoga classes from Alwaysliveyoga.com for more improvement.