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Hatha Yoga is a form of yoga attributed to a 15th century Indian sage Yogi Swatmarama. This form of yoga is the foundation from which sprang various later forms of yoga that include Kundalini Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and Power Yoga.
Because it forms the base, Hatha Yoga is referred by people simply as yoga. The chief features of this form of yoga include the amalgamation of the two opposites ha (Sun) and tha (Moon). Hatha Yoga emphasizes the positive and negative currents that flow through the body system.
It stresses on the third and the fourth steps in the eight limbed structure of Yoga. The third step refers to asana (posture) and the fourth step to Pranayama (breathing). Hatha Yoga practice enshrines the importance given to the twin elements of Meditation through enacting difficult physical poses and Pranayama breathing exercises.
Through practice of the two elements, Hatha Yoga strives to bring about a balance between the body and mind. It stresses on the efficient performance of this important step so as to enable a Yogi to become pure and transcend into Raja Yoga and other spiritually higher forms of yogic practice.
Hatha Yoga is one of the strong yoga forms. Praana and Apaana are the positive and negative currents that form the body’s two amalgamating Hatha components. The difficult practice of Hatha Yoga is essential if a person wants to train his body to withstand the rigors of higher forms of spiritual meditation. In short, Hatha Yoga practice enables the body to become so hard that it can then withstand the test of any changes in the physical environment.
In order to practice the higher meditational forms known as Samadhi and Dhyana, such purification of the body from the adverse effects of changes in the physical environment becomes mandatory. Hatha Yoga practice enables the activation of the energy channels (nadis) of the body, which is essential for Kundalini awakening.
The practice of Hatha Yoga involves moral discipline, physical exercises (both asanas and Pranayama), and Meditation. As practiced in the West, Hatha Yoga involves only postures (asanas) and exercises.
All such opposite forms of energies such as yin and yang, hot and cold, male and female, and positive and negative are represented forcefully in Hatha Yoga. It proposes to amalgamate these opposite energies through the regular practice of postures and controlled breathing. The calming of the mind is the most important aspect in Hatha Yoga practice. This is accomplished through Meditation.
Poise, strength, and balance are the benefits achieved through the regular enactment of difficult Hatha Yoga poses. This helps to directly achieve good health. The meditational poses help in calming the mind concentrating it in the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. The Pranayama breathing exercises of Hatha Yoga help in supplying rich oxygen to the body’s energy channels (nadis) and help in activating them.
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