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What is Hatha Yoga?

Hatha Yoga is a style of practice outlined in an ancient text known as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. It recommends physical (rather than psychological) techniques for purifying the body to improve health and well being.

 

Western cultures interpret the general term 'yoga' as a series of physical postures, which in Eastern terms is actually known as 'hatha yoga'. In India, for example, Yoga is more likely to be perceived as an all encompassing lifestyle including moral codes of conduct, healthy eating, devotional practices, meditation etc.

 

Along with the ‘Siva Samhita’ and the ‘Gheranda Samhita’, the ‘Hatha Yoga Pradipika’ is one of the main classical texts written on Hatha Yoga. The HYP was formulated by Swarmarama sometime between the C13th and C15th. The name translates as ‘light on Hatha Yoga’ - ‘pradipika’ meaning, “self-illuminating or that which illuminates”.

 

In the text, Swarmarama sheds his own light on the ancient yogic wisdom which is thought to date back as far as 1500 years, although there is some controversy regarding the exact origins of Hatha Yoga. Many people believe that Hatha Yoga began being practiced during the C6th although there were also previous references made in the Upanishads and Puranas which pre-date this Buddhist era. In addition, evidence of Hatha Yoga has also been found in the pre-Columbian culture of South America, where, in St. Augustine, there are still large stone carvings illustrating Hatha Yoga practices.

 

Yogic wisdom evolved out of some of the tantric elements of the Buddhist tradition. Indians sought to reclaim the teachings which integrated bodily existence with spiritual existence. Whilst orthodox Buddhists felt that meditation was the highest path, yogis of the day, in particular, Matsyendranath, believed that before benefiting from meditation, one must purify the body and its elements. This differentiated hatha yoga and became its defining purpose.

 

In the HYP, Swatmarama presents Hatha Yoga without the personal and moral guidelines known as, ‘yamas’ and ‘niyamas’. He felt that by beginning with these observerances, practitioners could actually limit their own progress. In the introduction, Swamiji writes, “if harmony is not created in the personality, then self-control and self-discipline will create more conflict rather than peace of mind”.

 

Hatha Yoga is known as the science of purification. The word ‘hatha’ is formed from two beeja mantras, ‘ha’ meaning sun and representing prana – the vital force and ‘tha’ meaning moon and representing the mind or mental energy. The collective practices aim to develop and evolve human consciousness through a series of steps known as ‘Kaya Sadhana’ or ‘The Spiritual Practice of the Body’.

 

The HYP presents practical ways to purify the body (and therefore the mind), the aim being to unify the mind and body. These ways include:-

• Asanas – disciplines practice of physical postures to bring health and steadiness to both body and mind

• Shatkarmas or Kriyas – the purification of the internal bodily systems including neti, dhauti, basti, kapalbhati, trataka and nauli to promote the circulation of vital subtle energies

• Pranayama – breathing techniques which increase and regulate prana

• Mudras and Bandhas – energy locks which direct and contain prana

The HYP advocates the use of these practices in order to reach ‘pratyahara’ – control or withdrawal of the senses. This in turn progesses the practitioner towards ‘dharana’ – concentration, ‘dhyana’ – meditation and finally, ‘Samadhi’ – absorbtion with the Divine or Supreme Self.

 

 

Bibliography

 

Muktibodhananda – HathaYogaPradipika, 1993, Bihar School of Yoga

BWY Class handouts

 

Written by Justine Aldersey-Williams July 2007

 

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