Yoga – Origins and Evolution

Yoga is a Sanskrit word derived from the root “yuj” which means union. In its application, it is a broad set of physical, mental, energetic and spiritual practices, the oldest of which originated in India over 5,000 years ago. In its traditional form, yoga provides a practical way to connect the individual to their true self (svabhava), inspire in the individual responsible action (karma), and unveil to the individual their life purpose (dharma). Through its evolution, yoga has influenced, and been influenced by, numerous other practices throughout the world. Distinguished teachers and lively communities have created divers lineages and styles of yoga; rich traditional wisdom with contemporary insights. Today, yoga can mean different things to different people, but for most it is way to live a more engaged and mindful life.

Kushala Yoga Specializes in Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is a branch of yoga that originated around one thousand years ago in India. It is a refined, powerful and transformative practice that calls on the body, breath and mind to work as one. In this class you will be lead through a balanced practice of yoga postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama) and mindfulness techniques (samyama) to improve not only the physiological systems of the body, but also steadiness of mind and a more intimate connection to yourself.

The word Hatha comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “force”. Hatha Yoga is a practice of balancing complimentary and opposing forces: action and rest, right and left, feminine and masculine, hot and cold, rationality and intuition, movement and stillness, and more. Hatha Yoga practices include postures, breathing techniques, mediation, mantra, mudras and more.

Through the course of life, we have the tendency to favour things that we “like” and avoid things that we “don’t”, which gradually create imbalances in our bodies and habits in our minds. Hatha Yoga helps us to soften our conditioning, to become ourselves again.

In modern times, Hatha Yoga has branched out into many varieties including Flow, Power, Yin and Restorative. In the West, the word “yoga” has become synonymous with “hatha yoga”. At Kushala, we offer many types of Hatha Yoga for various levels of experience and interest. We recommend you try an All Levels Yoga class to get a feel for the spectrum of benefits that yoga offers.

Read our FAQs for more information on your frequently asked questions.

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