Traditional hatha yoga
in a modern world
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The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word yuj, meaning to join or unite.
With that in mind, we may think about yoga as a practice that unites not only the body and mind, but also the individual consciousness with the universal consciousness.
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The name “hatha yoga” (pronounced HAH-tah) combines two Sanskrit words: ha + tha, or sun + moon.
Every person contains both sun and moon energy. Sun energy (also called pingala) is active, warming, and masculine. Moon energy (also called ida) is passive, cooling, and feminine.
In hatha yoga, we balance these two opposing energies in the body and mind. We do this by using asana (physical postures) to prepare the body for meditation.
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Yoga emerged in ancient India over 3,000 years ago. Some say Lord Shiva was the inventor of yoga, and that he imparted the knowledge of yoga unto humanity.
Yoga is one of the oldest sciences in the world. The earliest written mention of it is in the Rig Veda, which is one of four ancient sacred texts called the Vedas (all written in Sanskrit). But because the Rig Veda was originally passed down orally, there is no way to pin down precisely how old yoga is.
Over subsequent centuries, yoga was developed by rishis (sages). These rishis compiled their practices in the Upanishads, an enormous sacred work consisting of 200+ scriptures. Then Patanjali, drawing upon a variety of ancient sources, authored the Yoga Sutras around 200 BC.
Yoga is a major component in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions.
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Asana (physical postures) are merely one small part of yoga. Traditional yoga includes eight limbs:
Yama (ethical codes: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, and non-greed)
Niyama (personal observances: cleanliness, contentment, self-discipline, reflection and study, and surrender to the divine)
Asana (physical postures)
Pranayama (expansion of breath)
Pratyahara (sensory deprivation)
Dharana (concentration)
Dhyana (meditation)
Samadhi (enlightenment)
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In the US, most studios present their yoga classes as physical workouts. Hot yoga and classes with quick-changing, dynamic flows are very popular. They do not often emphasize the spiritual elements of yoga or include the other yogic limbs.
Here’s how my classes are different:
Quality over quantity! I do not rush students through poses.
I emphasize the spiritual aspects of yoga and draw from all eight limbs.
I default to using Sanskrit names for postures, techniques, etc as much as possible.
I pay attention to the student’s current state, rather than forcing them into a sequence that feels out of sync.
I believe it’s essential to honor the origins of yoga, rather than whitewashing or appropriating it.
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Myth #1: Yoga = asana
Truth: There is so much more to yoga beyond asana! Asana is only 1 of 8 yogic limbs according to traditional practice.
Myth #2: You have to be skinny to do yoga.
Truth: Yoga is accessible to any and all body types. Your physical appearance has absolutely nothing to do with your ability to practice yoga.
Myth #3: If a person uses modifications, it means they are less advanced.
Truth: Using modifications does not make a person less advanced; sometimes it means the practitioner is more advanced, because they know what their body needs to receive the most benefit from the posture.
Myth #4: If you are flexible, it means you’re an advanced yoga practitioner (and vice versa).
Truth: One has nothing to do with the other. Some people are simply born more flexible than others. Over years of practice you may become more flexible than you were before, but this is merely incidental. You can be an extremely advanced practitioner and still not be able to twist yourself into pretzels. By the same token, a person is not automatically advanced just because they are very flexible.
Myth #5: Yoga must be aesthetically pleasing.
Truth: Yoga is not about the look. It is about the substance. If we are focused on what our practice looks like, we are missing the whole point of practicing in the first place.
Meet the Instructor
Hello! My name is Amber, and I am a yoga instructor (200 YTT) trained in traditional hatha yoga.
My yogic journey began two decades ago, when I first became interested in Eastern philosophy (especially Buddhist, Hindu, and Taoist). I devoured all the resources I could get my hands on regarding these ancient traditions and began to develop a daily meditation practice. At this time, I favored the zazen meditation technique, and learned several Buddhist and Hindu mantras that are still very close to my heart.
During my first year of undergraduate college, I leapt at the chance to enroll in a yoga class. I was very fortunate that my instructor favored the spiritual roots of yoga, rather than treating it as a workout class. She taught me how to connect my mind and body, and also how to move through the world more intentionally—not just when meditating or on my yoga mat, but in my daily life.
I spent subsequent years attending more yoga classes and developing my practice. There were some years I practiced less, and some years I practiced more. At the same time, I got to know myself and my particular struggles with mental health. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, then (years later) with autism and ADHD.
Over years of yoga practice I gradually learned how to calm my nervous system. My panic attacks—which once occurred multiple times per day—subsided dramatically. I came to realize that the soothing of one’s nervous system is the key to spiritual development, and I wanted to help others achieve similar results. I enrolled in a 200 YTT training based in Rishikesh, India.
This training opened my eyes to the ways in which the Western yoga world has appropriated and fundamentally changed the ancient practice of yoga. But more than that, my training showed me how to connect with the old ways. I learned that yoga is not an art, but a science. I learned the vast importance of the yamas (ethical codes) and niyamas (personal observances). I learned about the true meanings of the chakras, the history of the shatkarmas, the proper Sanskrit names and alignment for postures, the complexity of the 72,000 nadis coursing through the body… and so, so much more beyond that.
Today, I understand that even though I am a teacher of yoga, I will never stop being a student. I love teaching private classes because each student has something different to show me about yoga. I love curating lessons to help students meet their unique potential.
As for my personal practice, I continue to heavily incorporate meditation and mantra along with asana. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism remain very close to my heart. I love listening to lectures from Alan Watts and reading sacred texts before bed. Above all, I continue to develop my practice, not just on the mat, but also as I show up in the world in general.
“Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”
—Zen Buddhist proverb
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