Hatha Yoga
Hatha is a Sanskrit word. Its two most widely-used translations are “for health” and “sun/moon”. Hatha Yoga renews, invigorates, and heals the body, while stretching and strengthening the muscles, joints, and spine and directing blood and oxygen to the internal organs and nervous system.
Through the years, Hatha Yoga (which is the most popular form of Yoga in the United States and in many parts of the world) continues to evolve and flourish. Hatha Yoga is the Branch of Yoga that focuses on the physical well-being of a person and believes that the body is the vehicle of the spirit. A lot of different Yoga Styles have evolved from Hatha Yoga. All these styles aim to balance the mind, the body, and the spirit through the practice of various asanas or poses. However, the emphasis varies. Some styles put emphasis on the strict alignment of the body, while others focus on the coordination of breathing and movement.
All these Yoga Styles have common roots, however. In fact, the founders of three major styles -- Astanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga -- were all students of Krishnamacharya, a famous teacher at the Yoga Institute at the Mysore in India. Two other styles, Integral and Sivananda, were created by disciples of the famous guru Sivananda. No style is better than any other. The style you use is a matter of personal preference or a matter of need.
