Hatha Yoga

Yoga has been around for thousands of years in India. It became steadily popular in the western countries over the last 100 years. Yoga, in the U.S. and other countries in west, are stress-relieving exercises. The poses, which are sometimes named after mammals, fish, and reptiles, along with breathing exercises became popular for stress reduction. Today, it is considered as alternative or supportive treatment to many conditions, including anxiety and stress.

The clinical use of yoga

Yoga helps the heart to work more efficiently. It can even lower blood pressure. Yoga is an alternative treatment for stress disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, osteoarthritis, and asthma. Well-designed yoga sessions can help in the treatment of back pains. In other studies, yoga was found to be effective in controlling diet (among binge eaters), headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes.

What is hatha yoga?

Hatha yoga is a form of yoga that focuses on physical poses and controlled breathing. Several variants and versions of hatha yoga exist. But all the versions and variants include two basic components – poses and breathing.

Hatha yoga poses

In an actual hatha yoga class, you may learn anywhere from 10 to 30 poses. More-advanced students are given advanced stretching and twisting poses. The easiest would be the corpse pose that involves lying on the floor, completely relaxed. The most difficult requires years of practice to master.

Point of advice: You don’t have to do all the poses that your instructor demonstrates. If you feel uncomfortable with a pose demonstrated by your instructor, or if you can’t hold it, as long a time, as the instructor could, don’t do it. Just sit down quietly and deeply breath until your instructor moves on to another pose.

Breathing

Controlling your breathing is an important part of yoga. In yoga, breathing signifies your vital energy. Yoga principles claim that controlling your breathing can help you control your body and gain control of your mind. Concentrate on your breathing.

Yoga cautions

Yoga is safe if you are generally healthy. In unhealthy individuals, yoga can put strain on your lower back and on your joints. Some may have neck pains after a yoga session. See your doctor first if you have any problem with your back and with your joints. In the following conditions, yoga positions may result to clinical problems: Uncontrolled high blood pressure, blood clotting problems, eye problems (like glaucoma), and osteoporosis.