What is Hatha yoga?

"Ha" refers to the sun, or masculine energy, and "Tha" refers to the moon, or feminine energy. So Hatha is the uniting or balancing of these opposite but complementary energies.

Hatha yoga incorporates physical postures (asana) and breath control (pranayama) as a means to attain yoga's ultimate goal: control of the mind (dhyana). Hatha yoga is not a "style", but represents the third and fourth steps on Patanjali's eightfold path to attaining yoga - true peace of mind - as set out in the Yoga Sutra. A regular hatha yoga practice improves overall health and well-being through a stronger and more supple body and a calmer mind.

The effects of yoga reach deeper than the level of our physical form. We can say we are truly practicing yoga when our actions on and off the mat bring harmony and balance to all aspects of life. Yoga teaches us to accept life's ups and downs with equanimity and grace, and that by practicing contentment (santosha) we can find the true happiness that resides within each of us regardless of external circumstances.


Susan Hopkinson

Susan has taught traditional Hatha yoga in Brussels since 1998. For over 20 years she has studied yoga and yoga therapy with leading teachers in India, Europe, the United States and Canada. Her group classes are often developed around her students' immediate needs, and she teaches yoga to individuals dealing with such diverse issues as anxiety, breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, and fibromyalgia.

Susan believes that life's challenges present an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth, and are like signposts on the path. Relevant concepts of yogic and Buddhist philosophy and Ayurveda, India's ancient science of well-being, are woven into her teaching.

With roots in Toronto, Susan has been living in Brussels since 1991, where she lives with her daughter and son.