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Understanding Yoga Yoga holds that "prana" or life force is inherent in all things and begins with the breath. An old time classic: "Autobiography of a Yogi" by the renowned Master of yoga: Paramahansa Yogananda, founder of Self Realization Fellowship (a must read by any serious practitioner of yoga!) includes meditation techniques which teach "pranayama" or yogic breath control. The awareness of the breath is the foundation of Hatha Yoga. This is the branch of yoga that many westerners are most familiar with.  The word "Hatha" is a combination of two Sanskrit words "Ha" and "Tha" meaning "Sun" and "Moon". This refers to the upward and downward (fire/water, ying/yang, positive/negative) energy currents in the body. In "Yoga", Sanskrit for "union", the practitioner "yogi", "yogin" or "yogini" (female) systematically brings these currents into balance by harmonizing them through "pranayama" or "breath" and in its most subtle form, "lifeforce" control. Awareness of the breath, combined with movement into "asanas" or "postures", form the basis of the discipline of Hatha yoga. Sometimes the postures are done in "Vinyasa" or "flow" style, providing a vigorous workout. Sometimes they are done by holding the postures for prolonged periods of time paying particular attention to detailed and correct alignment thereby allowing the body to move through tight spots and blockages that may be encountered. The latter can be done in a strong or very gentle way depending on the skill and endurance level of the student.
A regular Hatha yoga practice has benefits on many levels. The postures can provide tremendous physiological and health improvements as elasticity and limberness are restored to the spine. Constant awareness of movement in conjunction with the breath brings calmness to the mind and fluidity of motion in the body. Body and mind are linked through the breath. When the mind is focused on the breath, it becomes very calm and still and the yogini shifts her perception from an outer to an inner level of awareness hereby integrating all physical, mental and spiritual faculties and "yoga" or "union" is achieved. The beauty of this 7000 year old practice is that it can be practiced by almost anyone regardless of age or skill level.
Hatha is only one component of the vast science of Yoga which covers every aspect of living. Hatha falls under the umbrella of "Raja" or the "Royal" yoga which has as its foundation in the meditative practice of "Kriya" yoga. The asanas were designed to help subdue the discomforts of the body and quiet the mind so that the yogi can transcend both and rediscover in the highest level of awareness his true "Self". Throughout the ages the practice of yoga has and is continuing to produce "Masters" who have freed themselves of the limitations of the body and the mind by conquering the allures of the senses and reaching into the vast regions of unending awareness. As Carl Gustav Jung so eloquently puts it yoga offers "... undreamed of possibilities".
-Richard Manuputy, FitnessWorks Yoga Instructor
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