What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha yoga is an ancient system of yoga with references in the yogic literatures like Gorakhsha Samhita, Gheranda Samhita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika. Over centuries, many sects were formed in India, Nepal, and Tibet on the basis of hatha yoga. Here in this post we will share all about Hatha yoga, the real purpose of hatha yoga along with its benefits.

Hatha Yoga

The term is derived from the Sanskrit words ‘Ha’, and ‘Tha’, where ‘Ha’ represents “moon”, and ‘Tha’ represents “the sun”. The sun in Hatha yoga represents prana, the life force and moon represents the mind, the mental energy. This means hatha yoga is the union of pranic and mental forces. When the two energies unite, it leads to the awakening of higher consciousness.

Yogis in olden days used to practice Hatha yoga in order to unite their body, mind, and spirit. This helped them to sit for meditation for a longer period. Hatha yoga comprises a series of yogic postures called asanas, combined with breathing techniques and methods of concentration. Like any other form of yoga, Hatha yoga also aims to improve the health of the body, spirit, mind, and emotions; along with attaining the state of spiritual perfection. However, the primary purpose of Hatha yoga is to prepare the body to activate the spirit and achieve enlightenment. It prepares the seeker for Raja Yoga or higher practices of meditation and Samadhi.

Hatha yoga and activation of Kundalini Shakti

Hatha yoga is the union of prana and mind with the Self. It happens when union of Ida or Moon and Pingala the Sun occurs. There are three nadis in the spine, which are known as Ida, Pingala and Sushumna. Ida Nadi represents the negative force, (the flow of consciousness); while Pingala Nadi represents the positive force (the flow of vital energy), and Sushumna Nadi represents the neutral force (the flow of spiritual energy).

The union between these three flows takes place in Ajna chakra. When the Nadis are activated and the chakras awakened, it is time for awakening the Kundalini Shakti in Muladhara Chakra. Hatha Yoga basically focuses on the awakening of kundalini Shakti. When kundalini awakens, it ascends to the higher realms of consciousness, and establishes in Sahasrara chakra. This is called yoga, the union between Shakti and Shiva. Shakti is kundalini energy; and Shiva is the supreme consciousness seated in Sahasrara chakra. This means ultimate union and the ultimate purpose of hatha yoga is to experience this union.

Benefits of Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is considered as a therapeutic science throughout the world. Today, hatha yoga is taught all over the world because of the benefits it offers to the practitioner. Due to the change in the lifestyle of people, they have started becoming sick physically and mentally. Hatha yoga, however, helps people to lead a happy and healthy life by eliminating problems related to lifestyle disorders.

Hatha yoga is one of the best ways to treat people with lifestyle disorders. It improves the overall health of the person, from physical health to mental health. Today, just taking care of physical health is not enough. There are many mind related issues like depression, which should also be taken care and Hatha Yoga does that. One should not only be free from illnesses at physical level, but also he/she should be free from bondage and eccentricity of the mind. Hatha yoga does it very well and that’s the reason it is gaining popularity all over the world.

Difference between Ashtanga Yoga system and Hatha Yoga

Shatkarma (Six Purification Methods)

In the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali, importance is given to Yama and Niyama as the preparatory steps to higher practices. In Hatha Yoga, these two are not mentioned or are assumed to be tacitly practiced.  Instead, Hatha yoga emphasizes on Shatkarma or the six purification methods – Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Kapalbhati, Trataka and Nauli. Hatha yoga begins with Shatkarma. After Shatkarma comes Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.

Hatha yoga starts with Shatkarma because the purpose is to first purify the entire body, including the stomach, intestines, nervous system and other systems. The one who perfects Shatkarma can further practice Kriyas and Mudras like Vajroli, Sahajoli, Khechari, Shambhavi, etc. All these together make the procedure of Kundalini awakening easier and faster.

Prana (Life Force)

Another major difference between Patanjali’s yoga system and hatha yoga is the emphasis of controlling the mind through control of prana or the life force. According to the Hatha yoga system, the fluctuations of the mind cannot be controlled without controlling the prana. This is because when the pranas are restless, they affect the mind and vice versa. That is why most people fail to control the mind.

Hatha yoga focuses on practicing pranayama. It is believed that practicing pranayama regularly can conquer the mind effectively. However, it is important that the pranayama is practiced correctly and only after performing Shatkarma; the effects of pranayama can be uncontrollable. Pranayama creates extra heat in the body, it may bring down the temperature of the inner body, or awaken some of the centers in the brain, or change the wave of the brain etc. It is not easy to handle these changes; hence it is important that you perform Shatkarma first.

Practicing Shatkarma before pranayama prepares a solid base for better and higher practices of pranayama. Shatkarma purifies the whole system and removes all blockages on the paths of Ida and Pingala. And the breath in both the nostrils flows systematically. When your left nostril flows, it indicates ida is active, while in case of the right nostril, Pingala is active. With the left nostril, mind is dominant and with the right nostril, the pranas are dominant. Both the Ida and Pingala balance the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. When both Ida and Pingala flow equally it indicates the flow of Sushumna, which makes meditation easier and better.

Mudras & Bandha (Seal & Locks)

Patanjali yoga sutras do not insist on mudras and bandhas (seal & locks). While in hatha yoga, mudras are used in conjunction with pranayama (yogic breathing exercises). Mudras are a variety of techniques that are practiced to raise bindu and awaken the kundalini. The hatha yoga mudras are absolutely different from the tantric hand gestures also called mudras. This is a unique method developed by Hatha yogis to reverse the flow of the nectar of life and to awaken the kundalini. Hatha yogis can influence the subtle body by practicing Mudras, Bandhas and Kumbhaka (breath retention). The number of mudras varies in different texts. However, according to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika there are several mudras, namely – Maha mudra, Maha bandha, Maha vedha mudra, Kechari, Uddiyana bandha, Mula bandha, Jalandhara bandha, Vipareeta karani mudra, Vajroli mudra and Shakti chalana mudra.

All these mudras are internal actions, involving the diaphragm, throat, pelvic floor, eyes, tongue, anus, genitals, abdomen, and other parts of the body. Practicing mudras the right way helps to awaken Kundalini Shakti. People with awakened Kundalini get in touch with their own self, with the very essence of life. Hatha yogic mudras and bandhas are practiced to merge the mind into the self.

Summing it up…….

The sole purpose of Hatha Yoga is to remove barriers of the limited mind and become one with the universe. When the barriers of mind are broken, the lower mind becomes one with the cosmic mind. Hatha Yoga helps us realize the reality behind our existence and break all the bondages and lead a free life.

Practicing mudra, bandha, pranayama and asana on a regular basis will help you to conquer the mind. According to Hatha Yoga texts, “the ones who conquer the prana, conquer the mind easily.” So, practice Hatha yoga and enjoy all the benefits that it offers. Remember, it is not about how many hours you practice yoga, in fact, it is about how consistent you are. Consistency is what helps you achieve best results!