Hatha Yoga
Phone: 416-858-5703
Email: hathayoga@balancedbodystudio.ca
The word Hatha is a compound of the words Ha and Tha. The word "ha" refers to the solar nadi (pingala) in the subtle body and "tha" the lunar channel (ida). However, when the two components of the word are placed together, "hatha" means "forceful", implying that powerful work must be done to purify the body. Yoga means to yoke, or to join two things together, hence hatha yoga is meant to join together sun (masculine, active) energy with the moon (feminine, receptive) energy, thus producing balance and greater power in an individual. Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold (fire and water, following a similar concept as yin-yang), male and female, positive and negative. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body via physical postures or "asanas", purification practices, controlled breathing, and the calming of the mind through relaxation and meditation. Asanas teach poise, balance and strength and are practiced to improve the body's physical health and clear the mind in preparation for meditation in the pursuit of enlightenment.
Hatha Yoga consists of six of the eight limbs of Yoga: Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
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