哈他瑜伽 Hatha Yoga

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    大多数人说到“瑜伽”时，实际上他们指的是哈他瑜伽。哈他瑜伽是由瑜伽圣哲湿瓦玛罗摩(Swatmarama)15世纪在印度提出的。这个瑜伽体系是最受大众欢迎的一种，其它几种瑜伽包括力量瑜伽，奉爱瑜伽，阿斯汤加瑜伽和昆达里尼瑜伽也都是源自哈他瑜伽。哈他（Hatha）这个词来自梵文术语 “ha”意思是“太阳”和“tha”意思是“月亮”。因此，哈他瑜伽是作为瑜伽的一个分支，连接该系统的一对相反的趋势正（太阳）和负（月亮）。它关注瑜伽八分支法中的第三步（体式）和第四步（呼吸控制法）。

哈他瑜伽是要获得身体和心理的平衡，并尝试通过身体的体式、呼吸技巧或呼吸控制法和冥想，获得心理的更微细精神元素的自由。

1）体式是身体所处的各个位置，这些位置的目的是要改进健康，去除肉体、因果体和灵性体的疾病。 “asana”这个词在梵文中的意思是“场所”，不仅指肉身身体的场所，也指与神学有关的身体的场所。它们本来的意思是冥想，因为体式可以使你感觉放松很长一段时间。定期练习体式将能保证你的肌肉的柔韧性和骨骼的力量，以及非身体上的回报，如发展你的意志力，专注力，和自行撤回。

2）呼吸控制法是从“prana”(生命力或能量源)和“ayama”(控制)得来的。它是呼吸控制的科学。这是哈他瑜伽的一个重要部分，因为古时代的瑜伽修行者们相信，通过控制人的呼吸，可以揭开控制人的思想的秘密。练习呼吸控制法能够帮助释放我们身体潜伏的能量。

练习哈他瑜伽，能够帮助你认识你所隐藏的身体和精神的潜能。通过连续练习体式，你能获得柔韧性和力量，学会在其它方面压力的情况下更加放松。哈他瑜伽的放松术练习，会打开能量通道，这反过来，允许精神能量自由流动。一些哈他瑜伽体式也能按摩调节你的内在器官，帮助防止如糖尿病，关节炎，和高血压类的疾病。它们也能带给体内部腺状功能的平衡。另一方面，呼吸控制法可以帮助治疗哮喘病和支气管炎。

哈他瑜伽也能帮助你应对压力，消除紧张，对付焦虑和消沉。更重要的是，它能帮助你使你的心态处在关注的状态，为冥想做准备，最终地，找到开悟之道。

What most people refer to as simply "yoga" is actually Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is a system of yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a yogic sage in the 15th century in India. This particular system of yoga is the most popular one, and it is from which several other Styles of Yoga originated including Power Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga. The word "hatha" comes from the Sanskrit terms "ha" meaning "sun" and "tha" meaning "moon". Thus, Hatha Yoga is known as the branch of Yoga that unites pairs of opposites referring to the positive (sun) and negative (moon) currents in the system. It concentrates on the third (Asana) and fourth (Pranayama) steps in the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

Hatha Yoga tries to achieve balance between body and mind, as well as attempts to free the more subtle spiritual elements of the mind through physical poses or Asanas, Breathing Techniques or Pranayama, and Meditation.

1） Asanas are various body positions designed to improve health and remove diseases in the physical, causal, and subtle bodies. The word "asana" is Sanskrit for "seat", which refers not only to the physical position of the body but also to the position of the body in relation to divinity. They were originally meant for Meditation, as the postures can make you feel relaxed for a long period of time. The regular practice of Asanas will grant the practitioner muscle flexibility and bone strength, as well as non-physical rewards such as the development of will power, concentration, and self-withdrawal.

2）Pranayama is derived from the words "prana" (life-force or energy source) and "ayama" (to control). It is the science of breath control. This is an important part of Hatha Yoga because the yogis of old times believed that the secret to controlling one's mind can be unlocked by controlling one's breath. The practice of Pranayama can also help unleash the dormant energies inside our body.

The practice of Hatha Yoga can help you recognize your hidden physical and mental potentials. Through the continued performance of Asanas, you will gain flexibility and strength, and learn to be more relaxed under otherwise stressful situations. Hatha Yoga's Relaxation Exercises will open the energy channels, which in turn allows spiritual energy to flow freely. Some Hatha yoga poses also massage and tone your internal organs, helping to prevent diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension. They also bring balance to internal and glandular functions. Pranayama, on the other hand, can help manage asthma and bronchitis.

Hatha Yoga can also help you cope with stress, relieve tension, and deal with anxiety and depression. More importantly, it will help you put your mind in a focused state to prepare for Meditation and, eventually, the search for enlightenment

   （By Weyoga Ashish）