Hidden Language Hatha Yoga

The asanas by themselves in the first stage definitely benefit our health. Our muscles get stronger, we become more body-conscious, we sit straighter, we have a different attitude, we give our bodies more balance and rest. Our whole digestive system may respond better and the heart may become stronger. But there it ends unless it is understood that the asanas are meant to be stepping-stones to higher consciousness.

Swami Radha
“The Yoga of Healing”

The meaning of yoga is “union,” the bringing together of the various polarities within, in order to reach a state of balance and transcend our limited vision. But Truth is approached by degrees. We have first to know the truth about ourselves. We have learned to cover up our many fears very well. In Hatha Yoga we confront our fears as well as our potentials by balancing attention between the body and the mind. For example, a person who has a neck and shoulders as unyielding as a piece of steel is probably unyielding in daily life. Asanas might loosen up the neck and shoulders temporarily, but becoming aware of the psychological implications will help to make the change more permanent.