With ha meaning "sun" and tha meaning
"moon," Hatha Yoga is commonly translated as the
yoga that brings union "of the pairs of opposites."
Sometimes Hatha Yoga is also translated as the "forcefull
yoga", because it requires a lot of physical
effort. Hatha Yoga is certainly the
yoga that is the best known in the West, which is part of the reason
why so many definitions of Hatha Yoga exist.
In
the indian tradition, Hatha Yoga is one of the four main traditions of Tantra
Yoga. Hatha Yoga is first of all concentrating on the practice of postures
(asanas) and breath control (pranayama) to energize the subtle channels (nadis).
Thus one might say Hatha Yoga concentrates on the third and fourth steps of the eight-fold path
of Ashtanga Yoga. The objective of
Hatha Yoga is obviously to remove the obstacles to address the further steps of
Pratyahara (sense-withdrawal), Dharana (Concentration), Dhyana (Meditation) and
Samadhi (Balance). In many Hatha Yoga schools, these further steps are seen as
part of Hatha Yoga. What's in a name ?
Excercising postures or Asanas
in Hatha Yoga has two essential objectives. The first is that
to practice any real meditation, one needs at the least one
posture in which one can be perfectly comfortable for a longer
period of time. The more such postures one can master, the
better the basis for developing the inner meditation techniques.
The second objective of excercising asanas in Hatha Yoga is
to bring health and energy to body and mind by opening the
nadis. When such excercises are regularly perfomed, the path
of hatha yoga is opened automatically, though one still has
to follow it further. The mere mastering of postures is no
objective in itself, though mastering various postures certainly
strengthens the power of will and concentration and the habit
of not paying too much attention to the information input
by the senses. Thus practicing asanas in Hatha Yoga directly
opens the path to Prathyahara and Dharana. Also see some
PICTURES OF ASANASas well as "Yoga Asanas and Doshas (body types).
Free video clip on how to develop your stable sitting posture :
The excercise of Pranayama in Hatha Yoga
is essential to master ones' breathing patterns. If one can
master breath, then the mastery of mind is within reach. Through
breathing excercises the flow of prana or vital life force
through the body is regulated. That energy is certainly needed
on the further steps of Hatha Yoga that ultimately may lead
to samadhi. Special breathing techniques, in which the flow
of breath though both nostrils is alternated, brings balance
to the two hemispheres of the brain. Pranayama in Hatha Yoga also
activates the Kundalini Energy.
So Hatha Yoga is a very good place to start
on the path of yoga. And even then it is important to realize
that if the first 2 steps of Ashtanga Yoga are neglected,
Yama and Niyama,
Hatha Yoga might not bring the desired results. Even simple
Hatha Yoga excercises should be avoided for example if you
have not been properly gone to the toilet.
Hatha Yoga comes in many varieties and traditions, such as Kashmir Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, etc..
In traditional schools, often some of the following categories of Hatha Yoga practice are used to optimally respond to the needs and objectives of the Hatha Yoga practicioner :
Shrishti Krama Hatha Yoga
This practice stimules growth on all levels in youth : physical, mental, spiritual. It requires a youthful and healthy body. The main objectives are to improve concentration, flexibility and energy flow through the nadis.
Siksana Krama Hatha Yoga
This Hatha Yoga practice aims at perfection in all asanas and the further development from pranayama excercises into the controll of the bandhas & other main instruments of yoga.
Rakshana Krama Hatha Yoga
The objective here is to maintain health, which is an ideal practice for the householder yogi. Relaxation is very important in this practice.
Adhyatmika Krama Hatha Yoga
Another practice particularly suited for householder yogis, but with a more spiritual objective : hatha yoga practices that lead to uncovering and strengthening the connection to the inside.
Chikitsa Krama Hatha Yoga
Cikitsa means therapy and this Hatha Yoga practice thus is a healing practice. It is about regaining balance on the physical, emotional and spiritual levels in order te remove dysfunctions.
Shakti Krama Hatha Yoga
This Hatha Yoga practice aims mostly at developing Shakti, which means power. It is mostly practiced by Sadhus (renunciates).
Combinations of these 6 practices are also possible of course and many yoga schools have developed other practices.
The above overview on
Hatha Yoga was extracted and synthesized by Peter Marchand from various sources,
among which the following are the most important :
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