Hatha Yoga Classes

Hatha yoga is thought to date back to roughly the 11th century!  The Sanskrit word “ha” means sun and “tha” means moon. "Yoga" means union.  Hatha yoga is therefore about bringing together opposing polarities into one whole; or, bringing balance between the sun and the moon's energies within you.  We do this principally using the different yoga asanas (postures), consciously placing our bodies in different asanas to channel our life-force energy within in different ways.  

Classical Hatha yoga also focuses on the breath, and through different breathing techniques we are able to cleanse and clear any blockages within our internal energy channels.  In our practice we coordinate the body movement with the breath, using the breath to envelope our movements. Hatha yoga uses a particular type of breath known as 'ujjayi breath' or 'ocean breath' - named because the sound reflects that of the waves of the ocean.  In this way we focus on the present moment and consciously connect body and mind which in turn really works to calm the mind.  We use the different postures to direct the energy within our bodies in different ways, to recognise that we are all made of the same energy, we are all one, we are at union in yoga.

There are many benefits of adding Hatha Yoga to your life, physical and mental, here we summarise the main effects.

1. Improved sleep – Hatha Yoga reduces levels of cortisol in the body and this in turn effects how we sleep. A gentle yoga practice before bed can help signal to the nervous system that it’s time to relax and prepare the body for sleep.
2. Improved core strength – a strong core isn’t just about having six-pack abs but a strong physical core that includes the glutes, thighs and trunk. Most of the asanas help to build a strong core both when practising dynamically and holding in static postures. The static postures are typically held for longer than in other yoga styles and this also really helps build strength and stamina in our core.
3. Relief from stress, anxiety and depression – the sun salutations help to really calm the mind and sooth our nervous system, really connecting our breath and body movement. This helps us to keep our mind focused on our practice and here in the present moment – a mindful practice…or mind-empty practice to be exact! This has been shown to alleviate symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. 
4. Better mental health – Hatha Yoga calms the senses and improves our concentration, sharpening our focus. It brings balance to our emotions and stimulates our creativity, stimulating our learning capacity. 
5. Improved joint health and mobility – moving the joints through a healthy range of motion keeps them lubricated, healthy and mobile. They say “use it or lose it” and as we age this is most definitely true.  A gentle yoga practice can keep our joints healthy and working well. 
6. Improved flexibility – doing Hatha Yoga doesn’t just improve mobility but also flexibility, great for stretching off after your day-to-day activities that leave you feeling tight and stiff. Or as a compliment to your other training that can leave you feeling tight and achy. Hatha Yoga has been shown to improve flexibility in the connective tissue and stretches and improves the condition of the muscle fascia.
7. Reduced inflammation – there is increasing scientific interest into the effect of yoga on inflammation in the body and how it can reduce chronic inflammation such as arthritis, diabetes and heart disease.
8. General health – hatha Yoga has been shown to improve our overall health: increasing our metabolism, improving the functioning of all of our body systems, stimulating cell repair and regeneration, improving blood flow to the spinal cord and brain, stimulating the lymphatic system and cleansing the body, improving energy levels, improving the function of the heart and lungs, and bringing balance to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.
9. Better balance – there are several asanas that require us to balance on one leg or even our hands. We can work towards these postures, helped by a strong core, to develop our balance, proprioception (the way we feel our body in space) and equilibrium. Balance is important, particularly as we age, to help reduce our risk of falls.
10. An increase in body awareness – practicing Hatha Yoga can help us to get more in tune with our bodies and bring awareness to all parts of our bodies – a great way to understand how we move, how we feel, and to work with pain. 
11. Self-transformation – a deep sense of connection with your fellow students, the people in your life, nature, the earth…clearing the mind, spending time on your personal development journey really does have profound effects on how you experience other aspects of life off the yoga mat.