I want to share a wonderful explanation of the benefits of Hatha Yoga taken out of Richard Freeman's book, "The Mirror of Yoga". I just love it when an author makes a connection with his readers by using metaphores which are easily absorbed and digested:
"Hatha means "sun" (ha) and "moon" (tha), and it can be used to describe any yoga practice that unites opposite patterns within the nervous system in order to open up the core of the body for our observation. A central component of hatha yoga is asana (yoga poses), the practice of yoga postures, in which we work the body; we turn it, stretch it, and explore its subtleties. Another component is Pranayama (breathwork), in which we stretch, unfold, refine, and closely observe breathing. Within these physical practices of hatha yoga we work the body like we knead dough when making bread, so that it becomes transformed from an amorphous lump of unconscious flesh and bones into something that is vital and full of life. Through this work we find that both the body and the mind wake up; they begin to unite with each other and with our everday experience of life. As we continue to practice we gradually begin to find that we can extract from the body all the juice of insight and consciousness that lies within it."
Here's a little clip of Richard showing off his gymnastic like sequence...
If you're new to yoga, don't let this scare you off. You don't have to be a pretzel or gymnast to enjoy the benefits.
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