Planning A Fabulous Hatha Yoga Holiday!
Are you ready for a Hatha Yoga Holiday ? If you're the kind of vacationer who prefers lounging around the pool or hotel room with a good book or a movie, a hatha yoga retreat vacation may NOT before you. A Hatha yoga holiday provides plenty of relaxation time - in and out of class - but there's WORK to be done, too! They don't call Hatha yoga "power yoga" for no reason.
One of the great things about a hatha yoga holiday is that they are often held in some of the most beautiful and peaceful places on the planet, so you have a great opportunity to get outside (away from the phone, TV, and computer!) and commune with nature. This really helps you get back in touch with your body, mind and spirit.
A Hatha Yoga Holiday Can Be An Adventure!
So you've got the yoga DVD, taken the yoga class, and gotten the yoga T-shirt to prove it, huh? You're ready for the next step. Retreat from the routine with an exotic Hatha yoga workshop!
These retreats are designed with creating strength and providing opportunities for relaxation. They focus on the overall well-being of the individual, body, soul and mind. Often the Hatha yoga retreats are held in remote locations where there are also hot springs or other soothing features around for the individuals to participate in. There are also Hatha yoga retreats that are designed for corporate functions so that the company gives back to the employees and equips them with peace of mind for the workplace.
Hatha Yoga For Strength and Relaxation
In most circles, the two words 'strength' and 'relaxation' do not seem to go together. However, at a Hatha yoga holiday, the two go together exquisitely. The asanas of the Hatha yoga classes are designed for both of these features to be embraced in the Hatha yoga retreat. The asanas are poses that are designed to have the students hold them for different lengths of time. The students' body weight is what is used to strengthen the individuals in the class, which is very heavy, especially for those who are just beginning the class. In just a week-long holiday, you may not have time to build a lot of new muscles, but often by having the time, relaxation, and instruction available only at a retreat, yoga students are able to make good breakthroughs in their asanas and get to new levels they had not been able to attain while practicing at home.
In addition to strength, the Hatha yoga retreat is designed to help students to achieve relaxation. The breathing techniques that are taught help individuals learn to breathe through their diaphragm rather than through the chest. Breathing deeply helps to keep the body oxygenated and functioning at its highest ability so that thinking is clear and crisp. This breathing is done through the nose, even when the individual becomes tired and out of breath. It is controlled and helps to keep the individual calm, even when his body is shaking because the pose is so hard. This is an important life skill, helping individuals to remain calm and think clearly even when in stressful situations after the Hatha yoga retreat.
The Hatha yoga holiday will also teach individuals how to relax the parts of their bodies that are not being used in a particular pose. People will often hold their shoulders in a tense position even when those muscles are not necessary at that time, not being used for any purpose. Learning to relax all muscles except for those that are being used to maintain a pose is also a life skill that individuals can use when the Hatha yoga retreat is over so that they can maintain that relaxed state of being in their every day lives. The feedback you can get from instructors and other students can be invaluable.
Finally, remember - it is supposed to be a HOLIDAY. Some hatha yoga holidays are more intense than others, so choose your vacation destination and look at the itinerary of classes to see if you'll have time for site seeing or just "vegging out" or if you may want to add a few days on either end of your trip for independent travel.
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