HATHA YOGA

The Sanskrit word 'yoga' is often translated as 'union' between body, mind and spirit. Patanjali told us 2000 years ago that 'yoga is the settling of the mind into stillness'.  It is said there are many paths up a mountain, but the view from the top is just the same.  So there are different yogas that will guide us towards this settling of the mind, eg Karma Yoga (the yoga through selfless service), Bhakti Yoga (yoga through devotion) and Hatha yoga (the yoga of physical action) and each suits different personalities. There are different styles within Hatha yoga, but all are focused on the body and use postures, breathing and pranayama, relaxation and meditation as a means of bringing a sense of balance and wholeness to the body, mind and spirit.

Hatha Yoga postures strengthen and tone every muscle, nerve and gland in the body - they are just as concerned with regulating the mental, emotional and energetic health of your inner body as they are in increasing the strength and flexibility of your muscles and joints.  Hatha Yoga strengthens the immune system, increases circulation and lung capacity, stimulates the glands, and enables the body and mind to rest and relax deeply.  Once you develop a regular yoga practice you can start to feel the benefits in all areas of your life.

The asanas (postures) I use in my classes will vary and depend on the abilities of the students.  One of the main things to remember, however, is that Hatha Yoga is non-competitive - the objective in asana work is not how far you can stretch or contort your body, but to combine stability (stira) with ease/relaxation (sukha).  What makes yoga 'yoga' and not just physical exercise is the attitude and awareness that you bring to your practice.

Further Information

Click the following link(s) to download pdf file(s) of further information relating to Hatha Yoga.

- How to banish backache
- Peeke Performer

YOUR INSTRUCTOR - ROZ BROWN

I first began practising yoga in a small way over 20 years ago - mostly because 'Lyn Marshall's Everyday Yoga' was a 15-minute daily programme that followed 'Sesame Street'.  My young son and I would watch Sesame Street together, then watch and do the yoga together. The yoga drifted to the back of my mind as my son outgrew his daily dose of the big yellow bird.

It didn't drift back until quite a few years later when my mum was diagnosed with arthritis and I was fearful that the painful stiffness in my neck and shoulders were the onset of arthritis in me too.  I joined a local yoga class and recognized of course that this pain was all due to the stress and tension I carried around with me.

Yoga became an essential part of my life when I realised how significant it had been in helping me come through into the light at the end of one of life's dark tunnels.  It was at that point that I knew I wanted (and needed) to give back to yoga what it had given me and I sought out a British Wheel of Yoga Teaching Diploma course.

Along my own path of yoga, I have been privileged to learn with some of Huddersfield's most respected teachers.  I have also studied with Amanda Latchmore, Philip Xerri, Jane Cluley (Jayadhara), Richard Roberts (Krishnadhyanam), Rob Nairn and Paul Harvey; and shall be attending a weekend retreat led by Swami Dharmananda later this year.

Roz also teaches Preganancy & Yoga, Tuesday's 7.45 - 9.15pm

My favourite quote of the moment is "Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, today is a gift"

Qualifications

October 2007 - British Wheel of Yoga Teaching Diploma