For me, yoga is much more than the time spent on my mat. It is about “living” my yoga, which means incorporating these principles into my everyday life and experiences. It is the linking, the “yoking” of body and mind, allowing me to connect with the divine spark inside me, letting me flow with the spirit of God. Then I am truly practicing yoga.

What is Hatha Yoga?

Although there are many different styles of yoga, nearly all styles grow from similar roots grounded in Hatha yoga. In Sanskrit “HA” means sun and “THA” means moon. Hatha represents the duality in life, such as ying and yang or darkness and light. Hatha is the yoga of balancing these opposing forces. It is the yoga of physical well being. Hatha yoga uses postures, breathing, and meditation to purify the mind, body, and spirit.

Communion with spirit

In my personal practice, the physical yoga asana (posture) leads me to a quiet, still space where a communion with spirit is easier. For me, this is the true essence of yoga. It is an interconnectedness that gives my body permission to be in a state of freedom. It is a true well-being, a state of healing. Making this connection fills me up. It gives me more than energy; it generates a steadiness for maneuvering the shallow and deep, the rocky and smooth, the fast and slow currents of this river called life.