If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Hatha Yoga, which is also known as Hatha Vidya, is a particular style of Yoga, which was first introduced in 15th century India by Yogi Swatmarama. Yogi Swatmarama compiled the Hatha Yoga Prakipika, which is where he introduces the practice of Hatha Yoga as a stairway to the absolute heights of Raja Yoga. He believed Hatha Yoga to be a preparatory stage of total physical purification, which is capable of rendering the body completely fit for the practice of much higher meditation. The asana and the Pranayama in Raja Yoga were the original form of Yoga practiced by Hindu Yogis who planned to physically train themselves for longer periods of meditation. This particular practice is known as shatkarma.

The origin of the word Hatha comes from a compound of two words, Ha, and Tha. Ha is Sanskrit for Sun, and Tha is Sanskrit for Moon. Together, these terms refer to the principle energy channels or nadis of the subtle body, which are the same principles that govern Raja Yoga, including Yama, which is moral restraint, and Niyama, which are spiritual observances.

Hatha Yoga is the style of Yoga, which is most commonly considered when people use the blanket term ‘Yoga’. Hatha yoga is practiced both for mental health and physical health throughout the western countries. Traditional Hatha Yoga is a yoga path that is holistic in nature, which includes physical exercises called postures or asana, moral disciplines, meditation and breath control or Pranayama. The Hatha Yoga practiced in the west tends to consist primarily of postures and exercise only, without the meditation, the moral disciplines and the breath control.

Hatha Yoga is one of two popular branches of Yoga that focus on physical culture. The other branch of Yoga that focuses on physical culture is Raja Yoga. Together, these two forms of Yoga are referred to as Ashtanga Yoga, which means Yoga of Eight Parts. The word is derived from Ashta, which means eight, and Anga, which means limbs. The eight limbs are Yama and Niyama, which make up the ethical obligations, Asana and Pranayama, which are breath control, Pratyahara, which is withdrawal of sense, Dharana, which is the concentration, Dhyana, which is the meditation and finally Samadhi, which makes up the experience of unity along with god. Each of the limbs is viewed as a level of progress; each one providing benefits on their own, but also laying new foundations for higher levels as well.