Ashtanga vs. Hatha

Offering flexible solutions to fit anyone’s lifestyle, yoga can be broken down into two primary types: hatha yoga and ashtanga yoga. Comparative to yin and yang, these two styles of yoga are as similar as they are different. Hatha yoga is a concentrated approach that deeply emphasizes each individual pose while ashtanga yoga is a much more rapid sequencing of poses that focuses on the transitions as much as the poses themselves. However, they both continue to offer hugely beneficial advantages to those that embrace and practice yoga routinely.

Hatha yoga is concerned with shaping the body into deep poses and stretching its limits. Emphasizing perfect form and extended lengths of time exploring the unique aspects of a single pose, hatha yoga is the best path towards flexibility and promotes an exceptional core workout. Toning the body to be able to comfortably and steadily maintain some of the more advanced yoga poses requires a solid constitution, but practicing hatha yoga should always be coupled with studious meditation.

One of the greatest advantages of hatha yoga is the amount of time it allows for self-reflection and mental exercises alongside the slow yet methodical stretches. Becoming lost within one’s own psyche, reviewing ancient memories, and solving potential problems is easy to achieve while the body is distracted in a blissful asana. This focused contemplation, when done right, contributes much to a balanced mental state of being.

Ashtanga yoga, conversely, concerns itself with quick movements and repetitive actions. Usually following predetermined sequences that work most parts of the body, ashtanga yoga encourages smooth transitions between poses that exhibit impressive amounts of control and precision. Offering a decent core workout, the real advantage to practicing ashtanga yoga is its ability to supply proper cardiovascular exercise. The rapid movement demonstrated by an ashtanga sequence stimulates the entire body, improving circulation and strengthening the lungs.

During an ashtanga routine, it is wonderfully easy for the human consciousness to become focused only on the moment. By keeping the body in a constant state of flux by shifting effortlessly from pose to pose, the mind begins to think only about the current state of physical being, dropping all illusions of fear and regret. Letting the body pleasurably shift about removes anxious worrying by instilling confidence upon the practitioner. Ashtanga yoga is called “power yoga” in some studios and the premise is generally the same.

Whatever your preferred style of yoga, practice on a regular basis. Supplementing your life with an enriching, habitual, yogic exploration will help your reach your fitness goals and encourage healthy behaviors that last a lifetime. Hatha yoga is practically a full-feature massage for the entire body that can keep you looking and feeling young. Ashtanga yoga, or power yoga, helps mold your body into a specimen of human perfection. Either of these approaches will change the quality of life you experience and combining them into complex routines that affect your entire body is not an impossibility.

By Dakotah; All Rights Reserved @2014