What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha
Ha=Sun(masculine)
Tha=Moon(feminine)

Yoga
"To Yoke or join together"

YOGA is a process, a lifestyle.

Hatha Yoga is one of the paths of Yoga.
The ancient teachers of India observed the animals stretching and posturing
and adapted these "poses", which we call "asanas", into the system of hatha yoga.
Through practicing these "asanas" it is possible to remain as flexible
and strong as our animal friends. This is a very simplistic explanation
of how hatha yoga came to be, but I like simplicity!

In Hatha Yoga you are using your own weight to create resistance,
therefore you gain strength as well as flexibility.Through practicing hatha
it is possible to fine tune our ograns, release stress an toxins,
regain our natural strength and create a sense of harmony and balance. How did I discover this Hatha "Yogurt", as my daughter used to call it!? I was injured in 1992 (ruptured lower lumbar disc with pressure on the sciatic nerve, torn colateral
medial knee ligament). I remained in chronic pain for over a year and half. I was unable to return
to my normal life and gained a great deal of weight because I did not encourage myself to MOVE as
it was so painful. I lost my flexibility, my love of life and became much of a recluse
for a period of time. I had been working for a yoga center, but could not go into
work. My boss, teacher, guru, allowed me to use my computer at home to transcribe audio tapes of
lectures on many fascinating topics and to put them onto computer discs. I could not remain
in one position for more than five minutes because of the pain, but the work was so enjoyable that
I persisted. Two years after after my injury occured, I entered into a 13 month Hatha Yoga Teachers Training Course
at the Temple of Kriya Yoga in Chicago. I did not really think I would be able to teach but I
had noticed that all the exercises in the rehab places were mostly yoga postures, but there was no personal instruction, and usually stick figure drawings to follow! I thought learning from those who had studied these postures would be more helpful and it would be excellent therapy.

I had no flexibility whatsoever at that time. Through the gentle postures ( a three part proceedure flow....going into a posture, holding ((the magic is in the HOLD!))and flowing out of a posture)d the wonderful instruction I regained joy of life. I lost most of the weight, I was able to walk, life was NEW again and my enthusiasm returned with a greater appreciation of existence! The ruptured disc did not "go away", I still must function with the caution and common sense! The possibility remains that I will have discomfort at times as a ruptured disc can flare up with no warning at all, but I have reduced the probability of this happening through my continuing useage of hatha. We have a saying in Yoga, you are only as young as your spine, indicating that our ideas and our outlooks on life have a direct link to our rigidness of our body.

Hatha Yoga is excellent for everyone. People who have had no exercise for long periods of time, those who sit at a computer immobile all day or night, physical laborers, seniors, athletes (the bulls had their own personal hatha yoga instructor). Each posture contains a physical, physiological and psychological benefits. If you wish to restore your health, remain youthful, learn to be less stressful, create a greater sense of well being, gain more skills in navigating through your life ......this is a great place to begin!!