Hatha vs Vinyasa?

Anyone else stood there staring not knowing what was going on ‘’isn’t yoga…just yoga?’’

You’re defiantly not alone.  At my first yoga class, I didn’t know what style it was or what to choose. I just went along with it. I later discovered I was doing a vinyasa class.

Vinyasa yoga is a fast flow of poses, building up sequences. It allows you to move in a quick and in a creative way over and around your mat.

History of Vinyasa Yoga.

Vinyasa when broken down translates as ‘Vi’ in a special way and ‘nyasa’ to place. So, its meaning is to move mindfully in a special form of pose and breathe.

In Vinyasa yoga, you will move around your mat linking breathe to movement. There will often be use and variation of a sequence called Sun Salutation. To warm the body and get energy moving and flowing within our systems.

Vinyasa yoga often focuses on fluid or continuous movement throughout the yoga class. During Vinyasa flow, the teacher may guide you using Ujjayi breathe, which is a breathing technique that is both calming and energising. This breathe creates an internal sound, much like the sound of an ocean. You will feel a build up of heat and focus during a Vinyasa sequence.  During a class you may repeat a sequence or flow of movements a few times, breathing and moving mindfully whilst being present.

Vinyasa

In a yoga class, you may hear me say ‘‘take your vinyasa’’ this is a sequence we move through to join other movements into a nice flow.

History of Hatha.

Hatha is an umbrella term for what yoga has become in the western world. This is the name that all yoga styles fall under, all these styles offer variations and slight differences to make them unique. So yes, Vinyasa is a form of Hatha. As too are multiple other well know modern forms.

Hatha yoga is a young form of yoga, thought to be hundreds of years old rather than thousands.

Hatha translates as ‘’force’’. However, when this word is broken down into two the meaning changes. ‘’Ha’’ meaning Sun and ‘’Tha’’ meaning moon. You could refer to this as having similarities to yin-yang, yin meaning night and yang meaning day. Both opposites or extremes must be equal, alive or in harmony with one another.

This style of yoga is a slower paced flow with longer strong holds. Building heat and strength in the body and linking the body to the mind. You may have heard of this as strong yoga; it can be challenging not just physically but mentally.

With both yoga styles, we move mindfully and challenge not only our physical being but also our inner strength.

Strong holds

Hatha can be slow moving but builds strength in our muscles and the mind.

But which style will benefit me?

I wish I knew the answer, but that is a question you will only be able to answer through experience.

Test it out, see what makes you feel the best, which you feel a connection too. The style that keeps drawing you back. Once you’ve found it, you’ll know.

But wait you enjoy both styles… brilliant, keep doing what you’re doing. There are no rules, we can practice any form of yoga that feels right in that present moment.

In fact, yoga does even have to be done on your mat, calming the mind, and breathing mindfully or becoming present is in fact a form of yoga.

Up next…

Why yoga, and what are the benefits?