HATHA YOGA

Many people think that Yoga refers only to asanas (exercise) and pranayama (breathing techniques), but these are only two parts of Yoga. The goal of practising Yoga is to gain control of the physical body. The practitioner tries to gain control of the prana (life energy) and by controlling the prana, one gains control of the mind.

The 5 points of Yoga

There are hundreds or more of such techniques and therefore as many different Yogas. In order to simplify and clarify the topic, Swami Vishnudevananda summarised the vast science of Yoga into the following 5 principles which are easy to understand and include in one's daily life.

• Asanas - Proper Exercise
• Pranayama - Proper Breathing
• Savasana - Proper Relaxation
• Vegetarian - Proper Diet
• Vedanta & Dhyana - Positive Thinking & Meditation

The four paths of Yoga

The various Yogic practices have been traditionally categorised into the following four paths.

• Jnana Yoga , which is the Yoga of wisdom and develops the intellect or will.
• Bhakti Yoga, the Yoga of devotion, which opens the heart.
• Karma Yoga, the path of action of selfless service.
• Raja Yoga, the royal or psychological Yoga which involves the mind. Hatha Yoga is a  branch of Raja Yoga which prepares the Yogi for the higher stages of Raja Yoga.

Sivananda Yoga, the Yoga of Synthesis

Swami Sivananda recognised that every Yogi, or human being for that matter, possesses and identifies with each of these elements: Intellect, heart, body and mind. Swamiji therefore advocated everyone to practice certain techniques from each path. This came to be known as the Yoga of Synthesis. He also taught that in accordance with individual temperament and taste one can emphasize the practice of certain Yogas over others.

The traditional and basic Sivananda Yoga class consists of the following elements:

• Initial relaxation
• Pranayama (breathing exercises)
• Preparatory exercises (Sun Salutations, leg raises, ...)
• Asanas (exercises and postures)
• Final relaxation

General benefits of Yoga

• gentle stimulation of the circulatory system
• improves Kyphosis, lordosis ad scoliosis
• balancing muscle length and muscle strength
• hormonal balance
• detoxifies the internal organs and increases the blood supply to them
• encourages the ‚rest and repair’ function of the parasympathic nervous system
• deep relaxation
• prana flow giving energy and creates a unique sensation of well–being
• affects the chakras positively

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