Hatha Yoga Poses

Basic hatha yoga poses is extremely simple to pick up. No exercise equipment is needed. You only spend 30 minutes at the most doing everything. All that is needed is yoga mat and some space then unless you have serious mobility issues, you can get started right away. The human body is a very resilient and surprising piece of machinery. It can do things that can surprise us.

We can do things we did not know we can do. Yoga is an excellent case in point. Chances are, if you have seen pictures of asanas or yoga poses, you have seen the yoga practitioners do things that normally, you would not think possible, but they do it.

Chances are, you can do it too, but not immediately. Doing any one of the advanced asanas without prior conditioning can lead to severe injury on the part of the one doing the attempt. Proper and consistent practice of basic hatha yoga poses is necessary in order to make these advanced poses achievable.

There are said to be over 8,400,000 asanas or yoga positions compiled by the yoga masters over the period of 5,000 years that yoga has been in existence. For most yoga novices, a lot less are required in order to get started. The number of hatha yoga asanas recommended by instructors varies but usually only a little more than 12 basic hatha yoga poses are taught to beginners.

Even if one does not desire to be able to perform the more advanced and complicated asana, there are benefits to practicing hatha yoga poses, no matter the school of thought you choose to follow. Improved balance, strength, and flexibility are the first most obvious benefits.

A benefit from practicing basic hatha yoga poses that might be less obvious would be a greater awareness of oneself and of nature. Yoga has also been shown to offer health benefits such as improved internal organ function, a boosted immune system, reduction of the symptoms of many chronic diseases and many, many other benefits. Yoga of all kinds, including basic hatha yoga, aids relaxation and reduces tension without fatigue and too much exertion.

Body Movements of Yoga

Basic hatha yoga poses involve seven types of body movement during poses including circumduction, flexion, abduction, adduction, rotation, extension, and hyperextension. Combinations of these body movements are used to create the yoga stances and positions. These movements are combined with breathing poses and concentration. Breathing is also the guide in basic hatha yoga for coming into an asana, holding an asana, and coming out of it. All the movements are ideally done gracefully. To learn how to do basic hatha yoga poses, look for a qualified instructor and failing that, look for educational videos that may help you.