I’ve been saying for awhile that I was going to get involved in yoga. I am not really interested in the weight loss aspect, but more in the mind-body connection that is opened up to you when you begin an endeavor like this. Yoga is the traditional physical and mental discipline originating in India. You can find yoga in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. There are various forms of yoga to include Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga. A popular form of yoga is Hatha Yoga.
Introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, Hatha Yoga is considered a preparatory stage of physical purification that the body practices for higher meditation. Hatha Yoga is what many people in the West associate with the word Yoga. It is used to practice for mental and physical health throughout the West. Yogi Swatmarama, a 15th century sage in India, compiled Hatha Yoga Pradipka.
Hatha Yoga Asanas refers to the seated position used for meditation and is not just used in the Hatha form of yoga. Asana is one of eight limbs that is taught in the practice of yoga and also includes the Dharana or fixing of attention on a single object, and Dhyana or the intense contemplation of the nature of the object of meditation. That anatomy of Hatha Yoga includes the practice of moral restraint and spiritual observances. The most comprehensive work on Hatha Yoga comes from Hatha Yoga Pradipika by the Yogi Swatmarama.
If you are a first time practitioner of Hatha Yoga, you will no doubt be looking for instructive guides and visuals to get you started. To find the best Hatha Yoga dvd you will need to know what type of instruction you are looking for and what you need to get started. On the Internet, www.yogahealth.com/Hatha_Yoga will give you insight as to the type of instruction you will need and the best dvd’s available.
There are also several publications and books that are Hatha Yoga illustrated. They give detailed pictures and information on positioning and thought training as a new practitioner. A Hatha Yoga video may also be helpful to you as a beginner.
The goal of yoga can range from improving your health to improving your mental state. Many yoga traditions teach the liberation from all worldly suffering and the cycle of birth and death and at which point there is a realization of identity with a supreme being. The Hatha Yoga postures also offer enlightenment into the mind-body connection.
If you are interested in becoming an instructor, Hatha Yoga teacher training can also be obtained. The Yoga Alliance offers a certification that can include a 200 or 500 hour certification. During the certification process, you learn how to help others concentrate and focus on their meditative techniques for yoga. Yoga has long been considered a practice in higher enlightenment and by teaching or becoming a practitioner of yoga, you will yield great results in your life. Be Healthy!
