At Santosha Westboro, we offer alternating five-week Intro courses to Hatha and Ashtanga. Registration for the next Intro to Hatha is now open.

Hatha is the ‘original’ yoga. As any practice that includes poses (asana), breath awareness and, eventually, control (pranayama) and awareness of states of mind (meditation) can be called Hatha Yoga, so specialized yoga forms such as Ashtanga and Yin are its children.

Absolutely the best entry into the yoga experience, an Intro to Hatha Yoga is an overview of the landscape of the practice and gives you safe, stress-free guidance into the time-tested classical poses. Exercises to help you tune into your body and its natural state of grace will be provided, as will means to better observe and liberate your natural breath.

This course includes safe and simple meditation techniques suitable for home practice, and an introduction to yoga philosophy.

Pre-registration is required.

• LOCATION: Westboro Studio
• DATES: Tuesday evenings; February 21, 28; March 6, 13, 20
• TIME: 7:30 – 9 p.m.
• COST: $75 + HST

Curriculum

Week 1

Classic Surya Namaskar (sun salutations) and standing poses.
The natural breath experience, the sense and mind doors.
Yoga Philosophy: The Yamas 1.

Week 2

Balance poses, prone backbends, core awareness and strength, introduction to supported inversions. Deepening the breath, mental activity as flow.
Yoga Philosophy: The Yamas 2.

Week 3

Standing poses in detail, setu bandha sarvangasa and ustrasana (backbends), forward bending introduced. Abdominal and diaphragmatic breathing explored, meditative concentration.
Yoga Philosophy: The Niyamas 1.

Week 4

Standing poses vinyasa (flow) style, preparing for inversions, seated forward bends
Pausing the breath, stilling the mind.
Yoga Philosophy: The Niyamas 2.

Week 5

Full sequenced class: Surya namaskar, standing poses, balances, inversion preparation, backbending, forward bending, twisting, supported pranayama, relaxation.