Shiva as Nataraja

The Hindu god Shiva as he is best known in the cosmic dance. His cosmic dance symbolizes creation, preservation and destruction all at the same time. Dancing, with his foot on the demon Aspasmara Purusha, or ignorance, which he has overcome. The dance also allows for the creative power of Shiva. The yoga postures called asanas ‘ in Sanskrit. An asana refers to an attitude that is firm and comfortable.

Hatha-yoga

Hatha-yoga is the classic form of yoga where other currents of yoga are from derived. Hatha yoga consists of a system of exercises, you can also call this a dance of exercises, in order to obtain control over the mind and the body. In the West it is especially this form which has gained fame, whereby it is often hatha-yoga mean, when one speaks of yoga. Hatha-yoga is a physical yoga variant that for the most part consists of the practice of postures (asana’s) and breathing technique (pranayama’s). Hatha-yoga is also made up of non-moving asana’s or static poses. An other physical form of yoga is Asthanga yoga (power yoga), in this form the asana’s are not static but only moving, often through a series of asana’s in series. Hatha-yoga has abundance series, of which the sun salutation is the most famous.

Hatha-yoga is a popular yoga to slow down or reduce stress. In addition to the techniques they also attributed a beneficial effect on the nervous system, hormones and other important organs and a relaxation of the body. The goal of hatha-yoga is therefore above all to promote the health and well being. Hatha-yoga is regarded as a road that consists of the bridge between the world of inside and out, between the material and the spiritual and between the essential and the existential existence. The contrast between Sun and Moon, comes in various manifestations. So is the air that enters through the right nostril to “breath of the Sun”, while the “breath of the Moon” by the left nostril. The balance between extremes is also reflected in for example:

• female/male
• movement/immobility
• inhalation/exhalation
• tightening/releasing

Form is emptiness, emptiness is form.

That goes not only for material forms but also for feelings and thoughts forms (Pranja-aparamita-sutra). Yoga is the game of form and emptiness, of inhalation and exhalation, begin and end, opening and closing.

In this way we get our life back that according to the yoga philosophy, the true nature of the soul is.

By this feeling of strength and vitality we are better able to cope with the demands of everyday life.