The list of health benefits that Yoga imparts is quite extensive. The list includes lowering of blood pressure, improving overall strength and reducing anxiety. This should be good reason for anyone to take up Yoga wholeheartedly. However this is generally not the case and people tend to hesitate with pre-conceived stereotypes related to Yoga. Yoga is very boring or is practiced in closed stuffy incense filled rooms.  And the biggest misconception – Yoga is only for the flexible.

The truth is that there are various styles of Yoga, all to suit your body type and state of mind. Apart from gaining strength and balance, Yoga has the ability to develop flexibility as well. Developing flexibility is a result of practicing Yoga, and is not a prerequisite. If you’re looking to perform advanced Yoga poses on your first Yoga class, then you’re squarely misguided. Nevertheless, regardless of the type of Yoga you perform, one of the fundamental principle concept of Yoga is to give you a feeling of ease and relaxation. But if you’re looking to get the most out of your sessions, then it is imperative that you find the style and teacher that suits you. Hatha Yoga is one style of Yoga, usually the most gentle and “calm” style that is said to be the most traditional and the mother of all styles we practice today.

What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha Yoga as we practice nowadays refers to a set of practices that mainly uses the manipulation of breath and body aka physical postures are known as asanas. These asanas are practiced in  sequences designed with different purposes that in short align muscles and bones while removing tensions and giving a feeling of lightness. They help to open the many channels of the body, especially the one considered in Yoga as the main channel, which is located in the spine and helps with the energy flowing freely.

Three basic Hatha Poses practiced nowadays

Easy Pose

As the name suggests the easy pose is one that can be mastered easily. Sit on a yoga mat and cross your legs so that your feet is below the opposite knee. Relax your feet and keep your pelvis in a neutral position. Position your hands either in your lap with your palms up or on your knees,palms down. Focus on lengthening your tailbone toward the floor and taking deep breaths. When you practice this pose, alternate the crossing of your legs each time you do it.

Mountain Pose

The Mountain pose helps you develop a better posture. Stand with your feet together and your shoulders relaxed, and let your arms hang at your sides. Inhale deeply and raise your hands over your head with your palms facing each other. Reach toward the sky and hold the pose from 30 seconds to one minute while breathing normally. Exhale as you lower your arms. Mountain pose is typically the starting position for other standing poses.

Tree Pose

For the Tree pose, stand with your feet together and your arms at your sides. Shift your weight onto your left leg, bend your right knee and place the sole of your right foot on the inside of your left thigh. Keep your hips facing forward; when you’ve found your balance, move your hands to the prayer position in front of your chest with your palms together. While inhaling, bring your arms up over your head with your palms facing each other, but separate. Hold for 30 seconds, release and exhale as you lower your arms. Repeat on the opposite side.

Benefits of Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga has numerous health benefits and as stated before, Hatha Yoga helps in developing flexibility, bone density and improved strength.  Apart from these benefits Hatha Yoga also helps in treating a host of other conditions like numerous cardiac disorders, breathing disorders and decreases cholesterol and high blood pressure.  It improves your immune system and boosts your body’s response to the external environment, refreshes the body by relieving muscle strain helping to sharpen attention.

Apart from physical benefits and mind focus, this practice especially helps with numerous mental health issues through the relief from stress, and overexertion while helping our nervous system patterns to change into a more balanced way of experiencing our routines.The result: being more patient and more peaceful.
No matter what age you may be, Hatha Yoga is a near-perfect routine, which helps you to get into shape and then stay that way. Done well Hatha Yoga can be deeply rewarding experience, refreshing the body, while bringing health, relaxation, and happiness to your soul.