By Paul Jerard, E-RYT 500

There are many forms of Yoga. Among the nine main styles, Hatha is the most commonly practiced, outside of India. Some may think of Hatha as a physical exercise, a gateway to physical mastery, or consider it to be a form of Yoga for back pain. Regardless of the reason for practicing, Hatha Yoga is often practiced by those who feel stressed.

The concept of Hatha Yoga, for stress, is nothing new. People who live in urban areas, often experience higher levels of stress and anxiety, in comparison to those who live in rural areas. The birthplace of Yoga is India; and many Indian cities claim this title, but cities of any kind can cause their own form of anxiety.

Crowded living conditions, and the quick pace of daily life, are factors that raise stress levels, while causing back pain, headache, high blood pressure, anger, substance abuse, and much more. Yoga, for stress relief, was a solution the ancient Yogis developed to raise the quality of life.

We tend to think that Yoga for stress management is something new, but now, realize it was a holistic solution, which dates back thousands of years ago. The idea of “Yoga for the people” is a new one. Throughout our history, and for a variety of reasons, the masses did not have access to information like we do today.

Before starting Yoga classes, you should see a medical doctor. There are many pre-existing health conditions, which need to be taken into consideration, such as the condition of your joints, pregnancy, blood pressure, heart condition, glaucoma, aneurysm, joints that have been replaced, and more.

If you require Hatha Yoga for chronic stress, you should look for a gentle style, and find a teacher who is safe and compassionate. There are many forms of Hatha Yoga. Bikram, Iyengar, Sivananda, Kripalu, and Restorative, are just a handful of the many sub-Hatha styles.

All of them focus on physical posture (asana). However, be sure that you will learn pranayama (Yogic breathing), meditation, and relaxation techniques, too. The physical postures will enable you to channel nervous energy in a positive way, but pranayama, meditation, and relaxation techniques, are extremely valuable tools for lowering stress levels.

The end result is you feel calm after a Yoga session, and your attitude will change for the best. The most common benefits of Yoga students are developing inner calm and the feeling of being more energized. This is a balanced combination, which will relax your body and mind, without any negative side effects.

© Copyright 2008 – Paul Jerard / Aura Publications

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