About Hatha yoga
The practices of hatha yoga were designed to use the body as a tool to access and condition the mind and bring it into single pointed focus. Regular use of joint-mobility exercises, squats, stances, sun and moon salutes, bandha (energetic locks) and breathing exercises cultivate a quiet discerning mind for the purpose of observing the self and the reaction to that self. The ultimate goals are to remove obstructions and patterns in the physical, mental, and emotional body, so that movement and posture will become effortless and then the mind will become steady and able to observe oneness.
Classical Hatha Yoga utilizes rhythmic breathing, kriya, bandha coordination, and the system of vital energetic junctions referred to as marma. The ultimate intention is to free the peripheral body of its energetic obstructions, and to ignite the inner fire for healing and meditation. Shadow Yoga consists of circular and spiraling movements, warrior stances, and sun salutation forms that prepare students to safely and effectively practice the more advanced limbs of hatha yoga known as pranayama, pratyahara, dharna, dhyana and samadhi.
Classical Hatha Yoga utilizes rhythmic breathing, kriya, bandha coordination, and the system of vital energetic junctions referred to as marma. The ultimate intention is to free the peripheral body of its energetic obstructions, and to ignite the inner fire for healing and meditation. Shadow Yoga consists of circular and spiraling movements, warrior stances, and sun salutation forms that prepare students to safely and effectively practice the more advanced limbs of hatha yoga known as pranayama, pratyahara, dharna, dhyana and samadhi.
About My process
|
Richmond Dickson is the Owner and Director of The New England School of Therapeutics. He is also a Structural Integration Therapist, Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant, and yoga instructor. Richmond's teaching derives from his 20+ years of studying and practicing yoga, meditation, kinesthetic movement and healing arts. You can read more about his professional work at The Bodywork Clinic here. Richmond has studied yoga with a number of esteemed teachers, including Scott Blossom, Matt Pesendian, Andy Matinog, and Shandor Remete
|
|
about the student process
|
The In-Depth Studies course has been designed to offer students an opportunity to learn Hatha Yoga in a methodical way that will support a fruitful home practice. It will focus on foundational practices that include Karana, Asana, Kriya, Bandha, and Ayurvedic self-care. These practices have been developed to overcome the energetic and physical obstructions present in the body, for the purpose of rendering the mind sensitive towards the action. This process is intended to prepare the student for the more subtle work of Hatha Yoga and, therefore, should come before it. Without patience, persistence and proper guidance, the Hatha Yoga methodology cannot yield its intended results completely, if at all.
For this reason it is important that the student recognize the necessary level of commitment needed to acquire anything more than superficial / physical results from the practice of Hatha Yoga, to the extent that they are interested in such things. While much can be learned in the first few years of practice, the learning is more intellectual at the beginning as there is a lot of theoretical information that must be worked with in order to understand its application and use. Continued practice will lead to developing a mastery of the self which will serve to deepen the purification of the subtle body, heal the organs of reproduction, digestion and elimination, stabilize the mind, and set the foundation for safe and effective entry into the more subtle practices mentioned above. |