Tantric Hatha Yoga
First, a few simple Sanskrit definitions:
Tantra - from the root words tanoti expand and trayati liberation, expanded awareness
Hatha - from the words ha sun and tha moon, the meeting of two opposite energies
Yoga - from the root word yuj to attach, joined together
Tantra - from the root words tanoti expand and trayati liberation, expanded awareness
Hatha - from the words ha sun and tha moon, the meeting of two opposite energies
Yoga - from the root word yuj to attach, joined together
Tantric Hatha Yoga starts with the premise that we have forgotten our true identity, layering it over with personae to fit the culture that we find ourselves living in. There is often a struggle between our true self and our social self, resulting in feelings of dissatisfaction, restlessness, fear, anxiety, or depression. In order to distract ourselves from these negative feelings, we may find ourselves turning to excessive behaviors, such as eating or drinking too much, compulsively exercising, over-spending, watching hours upon hours of television, or surfing the 'net relentlessly - until we are finally numb. Tantric Hatha Yoga proposes that who we are, at our very core, is an expression of the divine in all of us and that it is our divine right to know ourselves deeply - physically, spiritually, and emotionally. When we truly know who we are, our capacity for pleasure increases exponentially. Our senses are heightened, and, as a result, our experience of the world around us is enriched. Living from this place we may find ourselves requiring less and less and enjoying what we do have more and more.
Yoga in the United States has become very popular as a form of exercise. Yoga will strengthen and tone the body, but it offers so much more. The practice of Tantric Hatha Yoga weaves together the body, mind, and spirit to create an experience that can connect us to our body, soothe the nervous system, heighten sensation, open the heart, and bring about feelings of joy and pleasure. This is accomplished by generating chalana (sanskrit term for 'churning') through slow movement, supported stillness, attention to breath, and time for meditation and integration. By churning the body, mind, and heart, the external personae slowly soften and melt, revealing our true identities. A Tantric Hatha Yoga practice can help us learn to appreciate ourselves for who we are, and, in turn, appreciate more of the world around us.
Tantric Hatha Yoga can be mild and gentle as well as breathtakingly intense. It all depends on what your body wants in the moment. Tantric Hatha Yoga is not about attaining a perfect form or posture, for you are perfect just the way you are.
Yoga in the United States has become very popular as a form of exercise. Yoga will strengthen and tone the body, but it offers so much more. The practice of Tantric Hatha Yoga weaves together the body, mind, and spirit to create an experience that can connect us to our body, soothe the nervous system, heighten sensation, open the heart, and bring about feelings of joy and pleasure. This is accomplished by generating chalana (sanskrit term for 'churning') through slow movement, supported stillness, attention to breath, and time for meditation and integration. By churning the body, mind, and heart, the external personae slowly soften and melt, revealing our true identities. A Tantric Hatha Yoga practice can help us learn to appreciate ourselves for who we are, and, in turn, appreciate more of the world around us.
Tantric Hatha Yoga can be mild and gentle as well as breathtakingly intense. It all depends on what your body wants in the moment. Tantric Hatha Yoga is not about attaining a perfect form or posture, for you are perfect just the way you are.
