Hatha Yoga Booking Form  

NEW Hatha Yoga Course (10 weeks, Part 1)

Starting 7th March 2023, 07:00 – 08:00 pm

Location: Camlad House

We are please to offer Hatha Yoga course in accordance to our systematic syllabus. 

Suitable for age 16 and above, all abilities. 

Adult: £ 120 per course. 

Subsidised for students, people on benefits, over 70 on low income: £ 80 per course due to cost of living crisis.

Payment due 1 week before course starts.  Please read the Hatha Yoga information below to ensure a better practise.

Subsidised classes are available to make it accessible for all, if you are in a fortunate position and wish to help support others; donate now so we can continue to provide accessible teachings for the benefit of all.  

Hatha Yoga Course (10 weeks, Part 8)

Starting 10th September 2023 , 08:45 – 09:45 am

Location: Online

We are please to offer Hatha Yoga course in accordance to our systematic syllabus. 

Only for students who have completed the previous parts.

Adult: £ 120 per course

Subsidised (Students/unemployed/over 70): £ 80 per course

Payment due 1 week before course starts. Please read the Hatha Yoga information below to ensure a better practise.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga is the science of controlling the body and purifying its internal systems which keep the body fit and healthy. As everything has its purpose, the body too has a purpose other than eating, drinking, and merrymaking. Hatha Yoga is meant to conquer tamoguna (heaviness/dullness) and rajoguna (extrovertness) of the body, thus giving an opportunity for sattvaguna (equiminity) to act freely. A person becomes quiet, happy, and wise, when sattvaguna becomes predominant. The body is certainly a means to help unfold the truth.

The benefits of Hatha Yoga are physical health and mental well-being. The whole body becomes stronger, healthier, more beautiful and supple. It also reduces stress and is a means to bring balance, harmony, peace and happiness to mind and body.  Best time to practice Hatha Yoga is in the mornings, this will set the day with peace, harmony and energy.

The Meaning of the Word 'Hatha'

In Sanskrit, the word 'hatha' means by force, by compulsion. The body, being predominantly tamoguna, will not be smart to act, and therefore some people are fond of sleep and are quickly influenced by inertia. They cannot be active because the body itself will not get up. Even when the senses (such as the eyes, nose, and ears) are awake and alert - and even when the mind wants the body to get up - the body may not obey. The body needs to be forced to arise and be active. Taking help from the mind and senses, the body must be forced to act. However, forcing the body without any system may have adverse effects. Therefore, a systematic and scientific method has to be adopted to achieve the union of the mind, senses, and body. This system is called Hatha Yoga.

 Exercises

 There are many exercises which help the body to be active. People in general, either by necessity or by compulsion, do act and do practise exercises. Why then should there be Hatha Yoga?

Exercises develop the muscles, making them strong, and they check the development of intelligence and subtle perceptions. They may prevent certain illnesses, and produce others, but they do not have a system to bring the mind, senses, and body, into union, nor to cleanse the internal and external parts of the body. Walking, sitting, and moving of arms and legs, are also exercises, and are performed by intuition without any systematic learning. But the regulation of thoughts and deeds cannot be accomplished by these exercises.

Asanas

Asanas (postures) are not a discovery of any person, nor an invention, but an unfoldment of the human constitutional mechanism. The constitution of the body, and of all human beings, is the same.

The naming of asanas after trees, fish, animals, and objects, does not mean that they are derived from these creatures or objects, nor that they resemble them, but that the merit derived from the postures can clearly be seen in those creations after which they have been named. By the practice of asanas, one is able to develop human nature while annihilating animal nature from the body, senses, and mind.

Asanas are not exercises. It is wrong to call asanas exercises, even by mistake or unconsciously. Asanas are to be held, whereas exercises are to be practised with constant motion. Where exercises give a strong body and develop the muscles, Hatha Yoga asanas reduce weight, normalize the appetite, remove pain, and bring equanimity to the mind and body, thoughts and actions. By maintaining the equilibrium of the body and mind, thoughts and actions, we can maintain the best of health and peace.

Hatha Yoga Courses

Please wear loose fitting and natural fibre clothing which cover the whole body, such as a simple white t-shirt and loose comfortable trousers to enable maximum movement and coolness. No jeans, tank tops, Lycra, leggings and leotards please. 

For the safety of the students, articles such as glasses, watches, jewellery, piercing and belts must be removed before the class.

Also, please prepare a large clean towel to lie on if carpeted, not a foam yoga mat. 

Our traditional and systematic Hatha Yoga courses follows a strict and systematic syllabus lasting in total about four years, consisting of asanas, mudras, bandhas and pranayama. This course is suitable for both beginners and those with some experience. Everybody starts at the beginning of the syllabus regardless of previous practice and experience.

The courses are designed to enable you to have the knowledge and confidence to practice at home as well as to join the continuation courses. The Hatha Yoga Teacher will instruct you how to practice and concentrate as well as the names of the postures in Sanskrit. The teachers do not demonstrate in any classes as this will distract from your concentration and prevent corrections being made.

Hatha Yoga courses are open to all individuals above the age of 16 (the exceptions being pregnant women, those who are severely ill). Please notify us of any ailments you suffer from when filling in the form. 

Classical Hatha Yoga is practiced in a slow and controlled manner. This will build the strength and flexibility required for all postures and help develop concentration. 

We do not teach Hatha Yoga as a therapy or treatment, although we acknowledges its ability not only to prevent but also to cure illness. Students who suffer from any particular illness should not learn Hatha Yoga as a treatment but are advised to approach their doctor.

Each part of the course is a follow on of the last, and are not drop in classes.

Students who successfully complete the asanas syllabus with at least 2 years of practise time will then have the chance to join the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training course subject to qualification, ability and the cultivation of Seva.

Please pay the full fees 1 week before the start of the first class to secure your place and encourage commitment to learning. If students so paid discontinue their course, refunds are not given. Payment does not guarantee a place as we reserve the right to refuse students who did not complete the previous courses and absenteeism from too many classes.

The Trust trains Yoga Teachers to a very high standard and none of the teachers teaching at our centres receives any of the income from the courses. All proceeds go to the Trust to finance its programmes and activities.

You should always learn Yoga from a suitably qualified teacher. 

Email us on yoga@abhedashram.org for any queries.