One must go to India to understand the history of hatha yoga: this discipline would have been presented for the first time in a written treatise in the fifteenth century.
But its origins are anterior and integral to Indian civilization. The term hatha yoga comes from Sanskrit and means "yoga of tenacity".
As for the word "yoga", it expresses a union between the body, the heart and the spirit. In the Western world, yoga is very often equated with hatha yoga.
In France, the first school of hatha yoga opened its doors in 1945: nowadays, it is a popular discipline and largely plebiscite. Known to be accessible to all, it does not necessarily need to be very flexible to learn Hatha yoga. It is quite possible to adapt the postures to his level and to progress quickly.
Physical, mental and emotional benefits
Hatha yoga is a source of many physical, mental and emotional benefits. Known as particularly gentle, this discipline helps to improve flexibility and reduce back pain. As a bonus, it refines smoothly as and when sessions.
Side benefits on the mind, hatha Yoga helps to work on its concentration as well as to better manage its stress . This form of ancient Yoga plunges into a state of intense relaxation and good meditation for mental health. A good way to better manage your emotions .
How is a hata yoga session held?
If hatha yoga offers many benefits, its practice should be supervised by professionals when you start.
A session lasts about an hour: at the beginning, a time is devoted to relaxation as well as to breathing exercises (pranayama). A heating of the muscles is then necessary.
Then there are more or less complex yoga postures (asanas): Virasana, Ardhavamadevasana, shalabhasana, karnapidasana ...
By performing these postures, we work all parts of the body. A very precise order is respected by the yoga teacher who is there to guide us.
The class always ends with a moment of total relaxation for a few minutes: lying down, motionless, eyes closed and wrapped in a plaid or sweater to keep the heat. A true cocoon that allows little by little to reconnect with the world around us.
Namaste.
