What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha Yoga is considered a general category that includes many styles of Yoga. Hatha grew out of yogic tradition, thought to date back as early as the 5th Century, which involves the practice of asana (postures) and breathing techniques (pranayama). 

Today, Yoga classes vary enormously from one studio to the next. Here at The Stable Health Studio our Hatha classes are a mix of gentle seated and standing poses, aimed at beginner or intermediate levels, focusing on careful alignment and breath control. We also explore elements of Vinyasa Yoga - essentially meaning that we use the breath to guide us from one pose to the next, creating a more dynamic and continuous flow of movement. 

We also offer Yin classes - a slower paced style of Yoga. Poses are held for longer periods of time, deeply stretching the connective tissues in the body (fascia, tendons, ligaments etc) with the aim of increasing flexibility and improving circulation in the joints rather than focusing on the muscles, which is usually the physical focus in yang (more active) styles of Yoga. Instead of moving swiftly from one pose to the next to build strength, in Yin Yoga we have the opportunity to find stillness. By holding each pose for up to 5 mins or longer we encourage the joints in the body to explore their fullest range of movement. Yin practice will improve the flow of energy in the body leading to an enhanced state of physical, emotional and mental well-being.

There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach in yoga - it is about exploring what feels right for you