Intense

“The ordinary meaning of the word Hatha is to be stubborn or tenacious — to persist in something with effort. The commentaries on Hatha Yoga Pradipika explain hatha as “with strength.” Here, the strength needed is not only mental, in the form of willpower or persistence, but physical too.”

From an article in The Hindu newspaper

• The practice of Asanas
• Sequences of Hatha Vinyasa
• Pranayama, Kriyas, and Bandhas

Hatha Yoga

A morning hatha yoga session is a ritual to start the day. Beginning with a short meditation and some easy Pranayama, warming up the body and breathing with the sun salutation before we go in a sequence of asanas. And finally, we end the session with a deep relaxation.

It is made to develop mobility and strength in standing and seated poses and to reinforce alignment. This practice will also help you to energize the whole being and relax the mind. On a deeper level, it guides you to develop your awareness of your body, breath, mind, and energy.

• I generally offer classes between 60 and 90 minutes. The level will be adapted to the practitioners, between beginners and advanced. Classes are rarely homogeneous, so I offer different alternatives for the difficult asanas, allowing each participant to choose his best option. Never forget that you are your real and unique master.

Hatha Vinyasa

A more dynamic and flowing variation of a hatha yoga class, designed for initiated practitioners, focusing on a sequence of asana with vinyasa flow. This practice is inspired by the Ashtanga Vinyasa created and taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois. Vinyasa does not only mean the repetition of that short flow between the asanas. It also means the art of sequencing yoga poses in a way where one flows effortlessly from one into another.

• In a Vinyasa class, more than in a Hatha class, I like to start slowly, stretching the legs, heating up the spin and joints, and warming up the breath using my favorite flow, the sun salutation. Then we go in a sequence of asana with nice flowing transitions, using vinyasa flows. I suggest the sequence of asanas, with alternative options, and you choose to go where it is good for you, that day, at this moment. After bending and twisting in all directions, holding each asana for 3 to 5 breaths, and flowing in between, the energy is spread all over the body. Then we start to slow down, enjoying a restorative moment on the gourd, followed by a few sitting or lying asanas. When the energy is back to the center, it’s time to go upside down. I love inversions and love to teach them. Of course, these are not easy asanas to achieve, and close supervision is required for beginners. Finishing the sequence with counter postures and final relaxation, more or less guided and long, depending on the length of the session.

Kriyas, Pranayama, Bandhas, and Mudras

No need to be an advanced practitioner to start learning and introducing these fundamental elements in your practice.

Kriyas

Are actions, techniques, and exercises made to purify and clean the body. It literally creates space, allowing your whole organism to breathe, and move, and your fluids to circulate. It’s part of a morning routine to keep your organs pure and healthy, to help your digestive system to work, and to open and clench your breathing tracts. And of course, to open energy channels, to liberate and raise your kundalini energy through the first chakras.

• I like to introduce Kriyas progressively in workshops, as it needs explanations and close supervision. Some are very easy, some need long training, perseverance, and constancy. An ideal Kriya session will be followed by a practice of Pranayama, in a 60 minutes class.

Pranayama

Is an ensemble of techniques, a complete practice using Asanas, Bandhas, and Mudras. It’s made to balance your energy, calm your mind, and establish a strong relationship of trust between your body, mind, and soul. Working against your easy habits to discover new potentials, to know your real limits, where you have to surrender. Watching the breath as an indicator, and using the breath as a tool. It’s all about developing breathing capacities, using its full potential, and training the mind to deal with its reptilian reflexes. An excellent tool to overcome anxiety, and to dive into deep states of meditation where the breath is suspended. Combined with Kriyas, it is the best way to unlock your energy (open the granthis), and raise Kundalini energy to reach up to the third chakra.

• I introduce easy Pranayam in my usual hatha yoga classes, but as Kriyas, it is better to work on it in workshops, even in private sessions, as it needs clear explanations and close supervision, especially for advanced Pranayama.

Bandhas

The Bandhas are there, it’s a part and function you already have and use. You engage them unconsciously at any time when you move naturally. But practicing Yoga Asanas and Pranayama is not a natural activity. That’s why it is important to start training and using Bandhas concisely, to engage and release them in a specific way, at a specific moment, with control. This will transform your practice of Asanas and Pranayama, you will evolve from climbing to flying, from holding to levitating.

• I’ll repeat constantly to my students, when and which Bandha needs to be engaged, and when to release, during the practice of Asanas and Pranayama. Here too, it is interesting to focus on Bandhas in a workshop, to spend time exploring how they work for you and how you feel when you engage and release them.

Mudras

They are used during yoga and meditation practices as a means of channeling the flow of prana, your life force energy. In fact, it’s a whole science. The variety of mudras and their effects are limitless. I hope to learn more about this in the next coming years.

• I’ll introduce some mudras, only in the practice of Pranayama and Meditation. I don’t have enough experience to share a general use of mudras. I only use a couple of them.