• What is Hatha Yoga?
• What are the eight limbs of yoga?
• Who is B.K.S. Iyengar?
• What should I look for in a yoga instructor?
• Why do we use props in our Hatha Yoga class?
• How do we adapt classic yoga and Pilates poses to fit people with mobility limitations?
• How is an exercise ball used in a yoga class?
• How do I keep my sticky mat clean?

What is Hatha Yoga?

Literally, "Hatha Yoga" means the union of opposites. Hatha means force, willpower, or forcibly against one’s will. Yoga means to yoke, union, communion.

The union of our will to the will of God, which enables us to look evenly at life in all its aspects. To teach the means by which the human soul may be completely united with the Supreme spirit and thus attain liberation. To quiet the mind by placing attention on the breath and on the movement and stillness of the body. To create strength, flexibility and stamina. Harmonization of mind, emotions, body and spirit. A psychophysical technology developed and refined over the centuries by spiritual aspirants who needed to strengthen and energize their bodies for long hours of meditation and prayer.

“The purpose of yoga is to facilitate the profound inner relaxation that accompanies fearlessness. The release from fear is what finally precipitates the full flowering of love. In this state you will love what you see in others, and others will love you for having been seen. This is the softened perception of the world that yoga promotes.

Therefore, the apparently simple benefits that accrue from the regular practice of yoga can change your life in very profound ways. Do not underestimate the value of being balanced, centered and coordinated, of being strong and light, of being more flexible, without pain, experiencing the subsequent feelings of invisibility or transparency, and of being more sensitive…

Yoga will make you sensitive to the stillness, the presence, the hush, the peace of God. This deep inner stillness is at the core of your being. It is the ground, the joy of your being. The radiant peace you will experience is what happens naturally when the creative energy of God is allowed to flow through you unobstructed.”

(From Erich Schiffman on the practice of yoga in Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness.)

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What are the eight limbs of yoga?

Yoga is the inhibition of the modification of the mind (or Yoga Citta-Vrtti-Nirodhah). How is this accomplished? Through the eight limbs of yoga. (Eight limbs = Ashtanga)

I. Yamas—Commandments of universal moral discipline

A. Ahimsa…nonviolence, is expressed as more than the negative command of not killing, but more than this, it is the positive expression of an all embracing love.

B. Satya…truth, is always expressing the truth and strictly avoiding exaggeration, pretense, equivocation and untruth.

C. Asteya…nonstealing, is the abstinence from misappropriation of all kinds.

D. Bramacharya…control of vital force, in the strict sense this is expressed as a life of celibacy and self control. It is a state of mind in which the Yogi remains free of the attachment to sensual pleasures, which create a disturbed state of mind.

E. Aparigraha…non-possessiveness, is also expressed as a state of mind in which the Yogi feels no loss or lack of anything. He is content with what he has, and works for the sake of service, not for the fruits of his labors.

II. Niyamas—Individual rules of conduct

A. Saucha…purity, is maintaining a state of purity in the physical and subtle bodies through proper food and right thinking so that each vehicle will be able to express fully it’s purpose in life.

B. Santosa…contentment, is a cultivated state of mind in which calmness and serenity pervade no matter what the external situation is.

C. Tapas…self discipline, is the burning desire to achieve the highest goal. Some are born with it, and others must cultivate it.

D. Svadyaya…self-education, is the study and reflection on the fundamental truths of life, derived from reading, digesting and meditating on their meaning.

E. Isvara Pranidhana…non attachment, dedication, is practiced by developing an attitude of surrender or devotion in one’s actions by developing the intuition and knowledge that each person is alive to fulfill a unique role in life.

III. Asana—Posture    The Yogi develops mastery over the body to maintain perfect health, develop will power, and eliminate physical distractions through the practice of steady and comfortable postures.

IV. Pranayama (Prana = life force, Yama = restraint)—Control and restraint of prana is brought about through working with the breath. Mastery brings control over the mind and health in the subtle bodies.

V. Pratyahara—Sense withdrawal   Through the use of willpower, the mind is withdrawn into itself so that no distractions are created through the organs of the senses.

VI. Dharana—Concentration    This is the first inner practice whereby the mind is confined within a limited mental area but distractions still occasionally occur.

VII. Dhyana—Contemplation   The state whereby distractions are completely eliminated and the mind is held on one object indefinitely.

VIII. Samadhi—Bliss   The state beyond dhyana whereby the consciousness of the mind (mental self-awareness) disappears and the object of contemplation, the contemplator, and contemplation become one. The yogis describe this as a state of total freedom and bliss, indescribable by mere words.

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Who is B.K.S. Iyengar?

B. K. S. Iyengar of Puna, India, teaches Hatha Yoga with a unique emphasis on posture and correct spinal alignment. His addition of props, such as straps, blocks, mats and blankets, allows the yoga practitioner to fully explore the range of each asana, no matter their individual limitations. He surmised that props facilitate the practitioner’s move from “doing” an asana in incorrect alignment to “being” in an asana without tension. He teaches that props support a slow and controlled approach to a physical, mental and spiritual balance in each asana, for each individual.

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What should I look for in a yoga instructor?

Look for an instructor who has or is in the active process of earning a Yoga Alliance certification. Your yoga instructor should be committed to continuing education. She or he should have a documented history of practicing yoga with a certified instructor for several years, as well as a strong, ongoing, personal practice and a compelling interest in teaching yoga.

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Why do we use props in our Hatha Yoga class?

“…time, culture, society, food and genetic factors cannot be discarded when one wants to look at yoga with the intention of reducing problems and promoting health and well-being.” —Desikachar

B.K.S. Iyengar brings to Hatha Yoga a unique emphasis on posture and correct spinal alignment. His addition of props, such as straps, blocks, mats and blankets, allows the yoga practitioner to fully explore the range of each asana, no matter their individual limitations. Props facilitate the practitioner’s move from “doing” an asana in incorrect alignment to “being” in an asana without tension. Props support a slow and controlled approach to a physical, mental and spiritual balance in each asana.

“Props educate the body.”—Patricia Walden

"Props allow you to completely surrender to the pose and allow the power of yoga to fully work in you.”—Suzanne Deason

“By supporting the body with props, we alternately stimulate and relax the body to move towards balance.”—Judith Lasater

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How do we adapt classic yoga and Pilates poses to fit people with mobility limitations?

We focus on gentle, thorough stretching and look for progress individually, over time. We use many kinds of props to help people achieve spinal alignment and balance so that they do not have to force themselves into a pose, and we keep our classes smaller. Our classes are taught by well-trained, hands-on instructors.

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How is an exercise ball used in a yoga class?

We use the exercise ball to warm up, to help with balance, and to create strength and endurance, especially in our core area (the torso, front and back).

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How do I keep my sticky mat clean?

The folks that make Tapas Mats (sticky mats) say if your mat is lightly soiled, using a spray bottle or damp cloth, wet the soiled surface with water then wipe it dry with a clean terry cloth towel. For heavier soiling, wash your mat in a tub of cool water and mild detergent. Use only a small amount of soap because any residue may cause your mat to become slippery when it is wet with perspiration. Rub mat with a soft cloth or let soak. Rinse thoroughly. To hasten the mat’s drying time, lay it on a dry towel and roll the mat and towel like a sleeping bag. Step on the rolled up mat and towel to squeeze most of the water from your mat into the towel. Unroll your mat and hang it to air dry. With use and washing, your mat should become softer and stickier.

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