What I am going to say here about hatha Yoga goes against what most yoga teachers teach. You will not meet many people who know the sheer volume of yoga teachers and students that I have met. I think my opinion is valid and based on experience.
Hatha Yoga should not be used as a massage or a method of self-stimulation. Your yoga class should not be your hiding place. A yoga class is a place to practice yoga, connect with friends and then move on with your day. You should practice your yoga and then put it down until the next class. If you are showing up to yoga class an hour early, practicing for 90 minutes and then floating around the yoga school for another hour you have a problem that is of an addictive nature.
When you practice yoga you should not be attempting to reach some sort of altered state, you should be reaching for your natural state. The natural state is a combination of tension and relaxation, not just relaxation! A hatha yoga practice is a strong practice, it turns weak people into strong people. It takes discipline and effort!
The benefits of a dedicated yoga practice lie in its progressive nature. If you are coming to class day after day and not seeing improvements in technique or body you need to take a serious look at your practice and make some changes. You could argue that you are making powerful changes to your mind but I have yet to meet a yogi who uses yoga as therapeutic tool that does not still need to see a therapist! Yoga is therapeutic but should not be used as a substitute for therapy with a professional.
If there is any therapeutic value in a yoga class it lies in the relationships you make with other students. There is nothing more powerful than realizing that your problems are almost always shared and universal.
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