Hatha Yoga
Today we will discuss Hatha Yoga. What is Hatha Yoga?
It is the most popular form of yoga in the west. Its name derives from two Sanskrit terms “ha” meaning sun (masculine) and “tha” meaning moon (feminine). The two terms placed together means “forceful” which is taken to signify the power generated in a union of opposites. Yoga literally means to yoke these opposites together and thereby produce balance and a greater union.
Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold (fire and water, following similar concept as yin-yang), male and female, positive and negative. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body using physical postures or “asanas”, controlled or “pranic” breathing, and the calming of the mind through meditation and relaxation.
Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic yogic path, including many disciplines – asanas, purification procedures, poses, yogic breathing (pranayama), and meditation. The Hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the west consists of mostly asanas understood as physical exercises. It is also recognized as a stress-reducing practice which probably accounts for its popularity in stressful western cultures.
The system of Hatha Yoga was compiled in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by the Yogi Swatmarama in 15th century India. In that work, it is introduced as a prepration of the body for purification so that the body can be ready for long periods of higher meditation. the ultimate goal of this preparation and meditation is the attainment of “Samadhi” – a mastery of the mind through a high state of concentration