Hatha is the most widely recognized form of yoga today though it has only been around for a few centuries, making it a relatively new lineage in yoga practice. Hatha is known as the 'forceful yoga' and comes from the Sanskrit words 'ha' (sun) and 'tha' moon - creating union among the energies within the body/mind/spirit; Hatha also means determined or 'forceful' effort. Hatha Yoga focuses on the Third and Fourth limbs of Patanjali's eight limbs (asana & pranayama) as tools toward the Seventh limb (dhyana - meditation).
The founding Hatha yogis believed that cleansing and maintaining the physical body coupled with mastering the breath served to create the body as a vehicle for meditation practice moving toward self-realization. Based on this belief, the yogis developed the more physically oriented practice of Hatha Yoga.
In relation to Ayurveda, all yoga is a highly recommended method to ensure proper flow of prana through the Nadis, to bring the body/mind into balanced health and to awaken the subtle spiritual energies to further you on your journey toward self-realization, wellness and peace.
Browse through our expanding library of hatha yoga practices, we are sure you will find the yoga flow to suit your needs.
Namaste.
