HATHA YOGA
Posted On Saturday, November 21, 2009 at
at
12:33 PM
by test
Hatha yoga means literally the “forceful yoga.” As its name implies, this approach to
yoga emphasizes the vitality and life force of the physical body. Hatha yoga is undoubtedly the most well known, popular, and frequently practiced style of yoga in the West. It places great emphasis on purifying the body through a variety of means that include physical exercise, cleansing rites, and specific breathing techniques. These practices not only strengthen the body through the force of exercise, they can also help you to expand your own personal force, or store of energy, through their vitalizing effects. One of the most influential and widely read texts on hatha yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, written in the 14th century C.E. In this seminal manual, the author describes 16 physical postures as well as a variety of cleansing and breathing practices and what are known as locks and seals to control the flow of energy within the body.1
In its emphasis on physical postures, or asanas, hatha yoga is often considered one of
the steps on the eight-limbed path of yoga, which forms an important part of classical, or
raja, yoga. However, it is important to bear in mind that emphasis is placed on making the body as whole and complete as possible in order to achieve the ultimate goal of liberation. Practitioners of hatha yoga believe that in order to achieve the fullest unfoldment of our minds and spirits, we must do our utmost to have a body that is at ease and free of disease. Hatha yoga is thus a way of balancing or harmonizing body and mind. This intent is highlighted in the esoteric interpretation sometimes accorded to the word hatha. According to some practitioners, the word hatha is comprised of two syllables that stand for the sun (ha) and the moon (tha), implying a deep union of the body and the mind and of the masculine and feminine energies within each individual—man and woman alike. Thus, the word hatha reminds us that at heart, yoga is a search for underlying unity and wholeness.
Hatha yoga practitioners see the body as a wonderful vehicle for self-realization. For
without a body, we would not be alive today, and thus incapable of seeking the path of
transformation. Hatha yoga urges a man to respect his body as a temple of the divine spirit of the universe. The practice of hatha yoga is thus an opportunity of honoring your own inner divinity.
Hatha yoga has become so popular, particularly in the last few decades, that there are now many styles for practicing it. Surprisingly, however, most of the styles of hatha yoga that are practiced today trace their roots to a handful of yoga teachers, who traveled from India to the West in the 1960s and 1970s to train practitioners here in their particular approach to yoga; or to a small number of Westerners who traveled to India during the same time period to train as teachers with a few celebrated masters.
The teachers of the 60s and 70s differed in their approach to presenting yoga from the gurus who had preceded them. The earliest teachers of yoga who traveled to the West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries emphasized the traditional sacred texts and metaphysical aspects of yoga. The newer generation of teachers, while revering all aspects of the yoga tradition, also incorporated much more of the physical exercise aspect of yoga into their teaching. Their approaches to yoga appealed to Western practitioners, and, consequently, much of the yoga that has developed in the United States has focused on the physical postures of hatha yoga.The following chapters will introduce you to the main approaches to hatha yoga that have helped to define hatha practice in the West. Because there are now so many styles of yoga available, the choice of a practice can seem overwhelming. These chapters will introduce you to the main styles of hatha yoga so that you can be better informed as you undertake your own practice of yoga.
Each of the main styles of hatha yoga is generally named after the individual who first introduced or was influential in the teachings of that style, such as Iyengar Yoga and Sivananda Yoga; the institute that was founded based on their teachings, such as yoga taught at the Himalayan Institute and Integral Yoga; or for a prominent element or focal point of the approach, such as Ashtanga Yoga and kundalini yoga.
Nearly all the various styles of hatha yoga have as their base a common repertoire of
physical postures and practices, which have evolved over the centuries. The emphasis on how to perform these practices can differ widely from one style of yoga to another, however. Understanding the differences among these styles can help you choose the style of hatha yoga that is right for you. The following chapters describe the major styles of hatha yoga that you are likely to encounter in your exploration of yoga today. As you read these chapters, please bear in mind that the approaches to yoga presented are grouped together under hatha yoga for convenience. In addition to instruction in the physical postures of yoga, most of these approaches can also help you incorporate a full range of yogic practices into your life.
In its emphasis on physical postures, or asanas, hatha yoga is often considered one of
the steps on the eight-limbed path of yoga, which forms an important part of classical, or
raja, yoga. However, it is important to bear in mind that emphasis is placed on making the body as whole and complete as possible in order to achieve the ultimate goal of liberation. Practitioners of hatha yoga believe that in order to achieve the fullest unfoldment of our minds and spirits, we must do our utmost to have a body that is at ease and free of disease. Hatha yoga is thus a way of balancing or harmonizing body and mind. This intent is highlighted in the esoteric interpretation sometimes accorded to the word hatha. According to some practitioners, the word hatha is comprised of two syllables that stand for the sun (ha) and the moon (tha), implying a deep union of the body and the mind and of the masculine and feminine energies within each individual—man and woman alike. Thus, the word hatha reminds us that at heart, yoga is a search for underlying unity and wholeness.
Hatha yoga practitioners see the body as a wonderful vehicle for self-realization. For
without a body, we would not be alive today, and thus incapable of seeking the path of
transformation. Hatha yoga urges a man to respect his body as a temple of the divine spirit of the universe. The practice of hatha yoga is thus an opportunity of honoring your own inner divinity.
Hatha yoga has become so popular, particularly in the last few decades, that there are now many styles for practicing it. Surprisingly, however, most of the styles of hatha yoga that are practiced today trace their roots to a handful of yoga teachers, who traveled from India to the West in the 1960s and 1970s to train practitioners here in their particular approach to yoga; or to a small number of Westerners who traveled to India during the same time period to train as teachers with a few celebrated masters.
The teachers of the 60s and 70s differed in their approach to presenting yoga from the gurus who had preceded them. The earliest teachers of yoga who traveled to the West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries emphasized the traditional sacred texts and metaphysical aspects of yoga. The newer generation of teachers, while revering all aspects of the yoga tradition, also incorporated much more of the physical exercise aspect of yoga into their teaching. Their approaches to yoga appealed to Western practitioners, and, consequently, much of the yoga that has developed in the United States has focused on the physical postures of hatha yoga.The following chapters will introduce you to the main approaches to hatha yoga that have helped to define hatha practice in the West. Because there are now so many styles of yoga available, the choice of a practice can seem overwhelming. These chapters will introduce you to the main styles of hatha yoga so that you can be better informed as you undertake your own practice of yoga.
Each of the main styles of hatha yoga is generally named after the individual who first introduced or was influential in the teachings of that style, such as Iyengar Yoga and Sivananda Yoga; the institute that was founded based on their teachings, such as yoga taught at the Himalayan Institute and Integral Yoga; or for a prominent element or focal point of the approach, such as Ashtanga Yoga and kundalini yoga.
Nearly all the various styles of hatha yoga have as their base a common repertoire of
physical postures and practices, which have evolved over the centuries. The emphasis on how to perform these practices can differ widely from one style of yoga to another, however. Understanding the differences among these styles can help you choose the style of hatha yoga that is right for you. The following chapters describe the major styles of hatha yoga that you are likely to encounter in your exploration of yoga today. As you read these chapters, please bear in mind that the approaches to yoga presented are grouped together under hatha yoga for convenience. In addition to instruction in the physical postures of yoga, most of these approaches can also help you incorporate a full range of yogic practices into your life.
Offshoots of the Major Branches of Yoga
Posted On Friday, November 20, 2009 at
at
12:31 PM
by test
There are many paths to choose from, and all the paths are equally valid.2
—Swami Rama
While most authorities on yoga generally agree that bhakti, jnana, karma, and raja are
the four major branches of yoga, there are several yoga practices, or traditional approaches
to yoga, that have gained prominence, and which might be considered offshoots of the
major branches of yoga. You may, or may have already, come across the names of some of
these offshoots. Being familiar with the following popular terms will help round out your
understanding of yoga.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini refers to a powerful energy depicted as a serpent (from kundala, which means
“coiled”). This energy is stored at the base of the spine, where it lies coiled like a snake. This
energy is considered feminine. It lies dormant until properly awakened, at which time it
rushes upward through the spine to join with the male aspect of consciousness at the crown
of the head, where the union of the feminine and masculine aspects of energy leads to selfrealization
and enlightenment. Practitioners of kundalini yoga employ specific practices to
aid the arousal of this energy. The movement of kundalini energy has been described by
some as having the force of a streak of lightning.
The awakening of kundalini energy can be one of the steps on the path to enlightenment.
For this reason, various practices have been developed over time to help practitioners
cultivate the releasing of this energy as a way of attaining enlightenment. These practices
can include physical exercises (asanas) and special breathing techniques (pranayama) combined
with meditation and recitation of sacred sounds to raise and release the kundalini
energy. Kundalini yoga has become so popular in the West that Chapter 7 is devoted to its
practice.
Laya Yoga
Laya means “melting,” “dissolution,” or “absorption” in Sanskrit. Laya yoga is an approach
to meditation that uses rites and special practices, such as breathing, to reach a state
of total absorption.
Mantra Yoga
Mantra means “thought” or “instrument of thought” in Sanskrit. (It is believed to be
related to the same root that gave rise to the words mental and man in English.) Mantra yoga
uses special sounds as instruments to focus and still the mind. The sages of yoga from time
immemorial have maintained that the universe was born of vibration, or sound. Therefore,
sound occupies a sacred role in yoga. Certain sounds are believed to have sacred powers.
One of the most famous of these sounds is the universal, untranslatable Om. Because sound
is so vital to the principles of yoga practice, Chapter 16 contains a special section on mantras
and guidance on how you might begin to practice them.
Tantra Yoga
Tantra means “loom” in Sanskrit. Tantric yoga uses a variety of practices such as external
rituals celebrating the divine feminine principle as well as more internal practices such
as meditation and mantra recitation to weave the way to enlightenment. Many scholars
believe that the practices of tantra are very ancient. According to some, tantra developed as
a reaction to classical yoga practices, which traditionally had been reserved exclusively for
certain castes of practitioners, especially men.
Tantra is particularly appealing to men who enjoy communing with others. Rather
than withdrawing into himself alone, a man can engage with others in order to achieve
liberation. This union can entail sexual union. As a result of this fact, tantric yoga is sometimes
mistakenly understood to apply only to sexual practices. Tantra, however, involves a
much wider range of rituals that are practiced in a sacred, ceremonial way to imbue them
with the power of transformation and self-realization. When tantric practices include sexual
acts, these acts are engaged in as a means of achieving self-realization. Kundalini yoga draws
on some of the practices that form part of tantra yoga.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha literally means “violence” or “force” in Sanskrit. Hatha yoga is frequently referred
to as the “forceful yoga.” It generally refers to the practice of the physical postures, or
asanas, of yoga. To many people, yoga is synonymous with the practice of these physical
postures. A variety of approaches to executing these postures has developed over time;
consequently, various approaches to hatha yoga have developed. The following chapters
will help you better understand the most important approaches to hatha yoga.
—Swami Rama
While most authorities on yoga generally agree that bhakti, jnana, karma, and raja are
the four major branches of yoga, there are several yoga practices, or traditional approaches
to yoga, that have gained prominence, and which might be considered offshoots of the
major branches of yoga. You may, or may have already, come across the names of some of
these offshoots. Being familiar with the following popular terms will help round out your
understanding of yoga.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini refers to a powerful energy depicted as a serpent (from kundala, which means
“coiled”). This energy is stored at the base of the spine, where it lies coiled like a snake. This
energy is considered feminine. It lies dormant until properly awakened, at which time it
rushes upward through the spine to join with the male aspect of consciousness at the crown
of the head, where the union of the feminine and masculine aspects of energy leads to selfrealization
and enlightenment. Practitioners of kundalini yoga employ specific practices to
aid the arousal of this energy. The movement of kundalini energy has been described by
some as having the force of a streak of lightning.
The awakening of kundalini energy can be one of the steps on the path to enlightenment.
For this reason, various practices have been developed over time to help practitioners
cultivate the releasing of this energy as a way of attaining enlightenment. These practices
can include physical exercises (asanas) and special breathing techniques (pranayama) combined
with meditation and recitation of sacred sounds to raise and release the kundalini
energy. Kundalini yoga has become so popular in the West that Chapter 7 is devoted to its
practice.
Laya Yoga
Laya means “melting,” “dissolution,” or “absorption” in Sanskrit. Laya yoga is an approach
to meditation that uses rites and special practices, such as breathing, to reach a state
of total absorption.
Mantra Yoga
Mantra means “thought” or “instrument of thought” in Sanskrit. (It is believed to be
related to the same root that gave rise to the words mental and man in English.) Mantra yoga
uses special sounds as instruments to focus and still the mind. The sages of yoga from time
immemorial have maintained that the universe was born of vibration, or sound. Therefore,
sound occupies a sacred role in yoga. Certain sounds are believed to have sacred powers.
One of the most famous of these sounds is the universal, untranslatable Om. Because sound
is so vital to the principles of yoga practice, Chapter 16 contains a special section on mantras
and guidance on how you might begin to practice them.
Tantra Yoga
Tantra means “loom” in Sanskrit. Tantric yoga uses a variety of practices such as external
rituals celebrating the divine feminine principle as well as more internal practices such
as meditation and mantra recitation to weave the way to enlightenment. Many scholars
believe that the practices of tantra are very ancient. According to some, tantra developed as
a reaction to classical yoga practices, which traditionally had been reserved exclusively for
certain castes of practitioners, especially men.
Tantra is particularly appealing to men who enjoy communing with others. Rather
than withdrawing into himself alone, a man can engage with others in order to achieve
liberation. This union can entail sexual union. As a result of this fact, tantric yoga is sometimes
mistakenly understood to apply only to sexual practices. Tantra, however, involves a
much wider range of rituals that are practiced in a sacred, ceremonial way to imbue them
with the power of transformation and self-realization. When tantric practices include sexual
acts, these acts are engaged in as a means of achieving self-realization. Kundalini yoga draws
on some of the practices that form part of tantra yoga.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha literally means “violence” or “force” in Sanskrit. Hatha yoga is frequently referred
to as the “forceful yoga.” It generally refers to the practice of the physical postures, or
asanas, of yoga. To many people, yoga is synonymous with the practice of these physical
postures. A variety of approaches to executing these postures has developed over time;
consequently, various approaches to hatha yoga have developed. The following chapters
will help you better understand the most important approaches to hatha yoga.