“Ha” means "sun" and “tha” means "moon". Hatha yoga is commonly translated as the yoga that brings union of opposites. Sometimes Hatha Yoga is also translated as the "forceful yoga", because it can require the most physical exercises of all yoga types. Hatha Yoga is certainly the yoga that is the best known in the West, which is probably why so many definitions of Hatha Yoga exist.

Exercising postures, or Asanas, in Hatha Yoga has two essential objectives. The first objective of  asanas is to bring health and energy to body and mind. When these exercises are performed regularly our health is preserved and strengthened, and the path of hatha yoga is opened. Mastering of postures is not the objective in itself, though mastering  postures certainly strengthens the power of will and concentration. The second and more important objective is to prepare to practice meditation. Real meditation requires us to be able to relax the body and focus the concentration or inner gaze for extended periods of time. Posture practice prepares us for this and provides a better the basis for developing the inner meditation techniques.

We have the following Hatha classes which vary in intensity and focus.

Hatha Basics: This class slows down the pace of a regular Hatha class and breaks down poses in order to focus on three things: breath, alignment and bandhas. Breath is our life force, and alignment keeps our bodies safe in postures. Sun Salutation postures are performed slowly, with conscious awareness to detail and alignment. Bandhas, or energy locks, help us retain our own energy. In this mindful yoga practice, you will release tightness and gain strength in a nurturing environment. Great for beginners and those with injury.

Hatha: A broad spectrum class appropriate for all levels. More postures will be introduced and the class will move from one asana to another. There will be standing, seated and lying down postures; plus balance postures including head or shoulder stands. Yoga stretching will be an integral part of every class with a period of meditation at the end.  

Hatha Flow : This is a more challenging class and requires a good-working knowledge of the basic yoga postures. The class leads through a series of breath-synchronized postures which are linked to one another through a flowing movement--thus "flowing" into one another and inspiring the style name, Hatha Flow. The class harmonizes each movement of the body to each breath taken, so the breath is not forced to follow the actions of the body as occurs with other forms of exercise.

Yoga Stretch: This relaxing class is open to everyone, as stretches are customized to each session’s attendees. As we learn to lengthen the time we hold our stretches, we gain the ability to release deep-rooted tension and rejuvenate our bodies. If we always just flow from one posture to another we only gain a partial stretch. Moving too quickly can also strain our joints and create undesirable contractions in our muscles. It takes time for our muscles to lengthen and achieve their maximum--or "Optimal"—flexibility.