Geeta Yoga - Illuminating Lives

Hatha Yoga

• Hatha Yoga is the most popular health promoting discipline all over the world. It is a scientific path that enhances the hidden positive energies by purifying the mind and body.  Its origin is traced before the 15th century with the writings of Swami Swatmarama -  the first book on Hatha Yoga called   ‘The Hatha Yoga Pradipika’  meaning  ‘ The Light on Hatha Yoga. ‘   
• The word Hatha means willful or forceful. It means, willfully applying  effort to unite the two sides of the human body and create balance. The word ‘Ha’ means ‘sun’ and ‘Tha’ means ‘moon.’  ‘Ha’ represents the mind or the mental energy and ‘tha’  represents the prana or the pranic energy. By uniting ‘prana’ (the upward flow of air)  and ‘apana’ (the downward flow of air) there is inner harmony.  Hatha Yoga brings the true integration of the mind-body-prana-soul  and develops higher energy levels in the practitioner.
• Hatha Yoga educates on self-understanding, self-control and self-transformation for  keeping mind and body healthy. It is a science of good health; everyone can practice irrespective of age, sex and ability.  Asanas and Pranayama are the powerful tools of Hatha Yoga that cleanse and purify the systems. These tools are the gateway for self awareness, self discovery and self transformation.

Asanas

• Asanas are range of bodily postures designed to suit the anatomy of human body. They are gentle stretching, bending and twisting the body in a specific manner. They connect the body, mind and breath, improve flexibility, strength and endurance, remove tensions and pain. They make all systems function well and cure many physical and mental problems without medication.  A regular practitioner experiences lightness, ease and harmony.
• There are many types of asanas and they are named after sages who created them,  named after animals, birds, insects, trees as they outwardly resemble them. Every asana is unique and has multiple benefits.
• ‘Sage Patanjali,’ the father of yoga has defined asana as ‘Sthira, Sukham, Asanam.’ ‘Sthira’ means stability, steadiness, firmness. ‘Sukham’ means ease, relaxed, comfortable. ‘Asanam’ means postures. By staying steady and comfortable in an asana, for a period of time, the practitioner experiences  mental and physical ease.
• It is not easy to accomplish ‘Sthira’ and ‘Sukham’ condition in an asana.  One requires several years of dedicated practice to achieve ‘Sthira’ and ‘Sukham.’
• Asanas are not performed mechanically like other exercises. They are practiced with the inward focus of the mind and with co-ordination of the breath. The practitioner explores the body inside out,  removes tensions and heaviness, aligns the body correctly creating sufficient space for the oxygenated blood and vital energy to flow freely.

Pranayama

• Pranayama is an ancient science of breathing and is the heart of Hatha yoga. Prana or the life force, is very essential for every cell to function. The ancient yogis noted that one can live without food or water but cannot live for even few minutes without prana. They also noted that the body, mind and breath are very closely linked and are inseparable.  Any change in one will affect the other two also.  An agitated mind leads to agitated breathing and agitations in the body.  A calm mind, develops rhythmic, uninterrupted breathing and a healthy body.
• Pranayama is much more than normal breathing. Normal breathing is shallow breathing where hardly 30% of the lung capacity is used.  In such a breathing there is insufficient oxygen and less toxins removed in the systems.  As a result there is sluggishness, fatigue, sickness, depression and disease. Pranayama enhances oxygen and the functioning of the systems, removes toxins, clears the mind of disturbing thoughts, prevents and cures many diseases.  The ancient yogis have developed many types of Pranayama.  Each of them contribute substantially to the physical, mental and emotional health of the practitioner.
• Pranayama can be practiced anytime, while driving, cooking, travelling, waiting in the traffic signal or standing in a line. The important prerequisite is to keep the stomach empty.  However, the best time to practice is during “Brahmamuhurt” -  the early hours of morning between 4am and 6 am.