I have recently returned to teaching Yoga after a long break and I asked a friend who has spent his life as a university professor if he had some advice for me. He said “demystify the subject” and that is entirely my aim in class.
Traditional Haṭha Yoga is the practice of three subjects: Posture (āsana), Conscious Breathing (prāṇāyāma) and Meditation (dhyāna). These three subjects are intertwined. The ancient Yogis used āsana to gain the physical strength and steadiness required for long periods of meditation. Meditation gives strength of mind for prolonged periods of exercise. They support each other.
Simple, accessible techniques exist to unite and complement all three and this is the core of Haṭha Yoga.
Āsana combines alignment and movement with a range of techniques to enhance strength, balance, and flexibility, that can work for everyone from those with limited physical capacities to Olympic athletes. There are hundreds of āsanas and we will work with a few dozen in my classes.
Prāṇāyāma is not automatic habitual breathing, it is intentional, mindful breathing. Practicing prāṇāyāma increases lung capacity and oxygenates the tissues. It works because lungs can be controlled consciously in a way that most internal organs cannot. You can’t consciously control your kidneys but you can consciously control your lungs. Haṭha Yoga teaches a dozen or so breathing techniques.
Meditation calms the mind and there is evidence that it can reduce blood pressure and boost the immune system. There are only a few meditation techniques and we’ll look at one or two in depth.
Yoga was strongly associated with the religions of the East. While this is historically true, these religions cannot claim dominion over Yoga any more than Christianity can claim dominion over prayer. Yoga is a set of physical and mental techniques that anyone can use. Although Yoga is ancient, it has changed significantly since its introduction to the West.
Its origin is in ancient Buddhist and Hindu techniques used to aid meditation and is at least 3000 years old. It is compatible with all religions. Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Atheists can practice yoga without fear of religious conversion.
In the 20th Century many Yoga teachers came from India to the West including my teacher, BKS.Iyengar. In 1954 Mr Iyengar was invited to Switzerland. From there, his influence spread worldwide.
In recent years Yoga has settled well into gyms and fitness studios all over the Western world.
Mr Iyengar’s teacher was Krishnamacharya who is often considered the “father of modern yoga”. Krishnamacharya also taught K. Pattabhi Jois who founded Ashtanga Yoga (aṣṭāṅgayoga) and T._K._V._Desikachar who founded Viniyoga.
