Hatha Yoga

The styles of yoga on offer are endless. Teachers often blend different practices to suit their needs, and give it a name that ends up on a class schedule, familiar only to those who frequent the studio.  Most types of yoga stem from a few different schools, which have splintered into countless directions.

Yoga developed in India as one of six traditions of astika (orthodox) classical philosophy. Only a small branch of the classical yoga tradition, called hathayoga, focuses on the physical body. The branches of yoga are:

raja yoga: cultivation of the mind/meditation
karma yoga: discipline of action
bhakti yoga: blissful devotion to the divine
jnana yoga: path of knowledge

Hatha yoga was originally an offshoot of raja yoga, rather than its own branch. In the West, we are best acquainted with hatha (physical) yoga, and use the term loosely to describe yoga that is fairly basic, slow, and relaxing. If you are new to yoga, a beginner’s hatha class is a good place to start, especially if you are out of touch with your body.

Because “hatha” is used so generally, ask what the class is like before you show up.

Sivananda, Integral, and Kripalu are all traditions of hatha yoga, founded by Indian guru-émigrés. They all stress the spiritual aspects of yoga and include chanting, as well as short periods of meditation. Their basic classes are great for beginners and they also have gentle or restorative classes.

Viniyoga developed from the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and his of Madras-based student T.K.V. Desikachar. It stresses the adaptation of yoga practice to the needs of each person.

Links to local studios indicate that I've been there and they're solid. Not always brilliant, but solid.

 

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