Hatha Yoga is one of the best known forms of yoga practice in the world today since it gained mass popularity in the West in the early 20th Century.
'Ha' - meaning 'sun' and 'Tha' - meaning 'moon' is analogous to the intention of Hatha; to unite the opposites in all of us - the male and female energies, heat and cold, and strength with flexibility.
In a class, Hatha yoga concentrates on holding poses for a number of breaths, so the pace is typically slower than a dynamic Vinyasa class.
Hatha Yoga has a fascinating history and is rich in philosophy. Numerous significant Hatha texts, such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Shiva Samhita, record the legendary tale of the founder of Hatha - Lord Shiva - as well as the idea of subtle anatomy; the 72,000 nadis that channel life force energy and the chakras.