What is Hatha Yoga?

  • Hatha Yoga is the traditional term to describe doing the asanas (yoga poses) and pranayama (breath control) together.

    So actually almost every class you might go to is Hatha yoga!

  • They follow a classical Indian structure - passed down through a lineage much like a martial art - which also includes chanting mantra, eye exercises and ending with 10-minute Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation).

  • All these elements work together to create a meditative style of practice and work to bring mind, body and breath into harmony.

    This is the feeling we experience when we walk out of yoga class on a cloud - the inner peace of mind and connection to the heart - that is the very essence of why we practice yoga.

    Yoga means to unite. As soon as you have united mind and body through the breath, you are there!

    1. Full workout and extension for the spine and improved posture

    2. Increased strength and mobility

    3. Boost in blood circulation, providing increased oxygen and nutrients around the body

    4. Twists and compressions working the digestive system and nervous system

    1. Deepening and lengthening the breath during class calms the emotions and your mental chatter

    2. Yoga activates the left side of our brain, our intuition and creativity

    3. Practicing focus and concentration improves it off the mat too

    4. Proven better coordination and memory

Yoga lineages

Similar to martial arts, yoga is traditionally passed down through a lineage directly from teacher to student.

Sivakami teaching.jpg

The Yoga for All Abilities lineage goes back to Swami Sivananda, who was a great saint in India at the turn of the century and was responsible for sending a number of his disciples to the West to spread the philosophy of yoga.

Sivananda trained as doctor, serving poor rubber plantation workers in Malaysia for many years, before founding his famous ashram in Rishikesh, North India.

Here he helped and took in many people, training them in yoga philosophy, Hatha practices of poses and breathing techniques and in living a life of joy and service.

One of them was the guru of Sonia Sumar, Swami Satchidananda, who founded Integral Yoga and delivered the opening speech at Woodstock Festival in 1969.

Testimonials

  • "I'm so happy to have discovered Laura's class local to me. Laura is a very warm and friendly person, makes everyone feel very welcome and is evidently so knowledgeable and experienced. In classes she is very supportive and takes care of everyone's individual needs. I really love the deep relaxation we do at the end!"

    Rebecca, Tottenham

  • "Laura is a fantastic teacher, and also a genuinely lovely person! She is observant and constantly checking your positioning. Her class is truly for all levels, and you work hard but somehow become very relaxed. I always look forward to yoga."

    Irena, Tottenham

  • I came to do some stretching and found the class was very relaxed, very accessible and joyful! The way we moved through the poses it felt very effortless, the hour was over just like that. There wasn't a moment where I was thinking, I can't do this, or I don't want to.

    Annie, Tottenham