What is Hatha Yoga?

The most widespread practice of yoga in the Western countries is called the hatha yoga though is not a surprise that some of you may not know it. Unlike the original version of yoga, hatha yoga concentrates more on the physical regimen that aims to give mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

The Birth of Hatha Yoga

The history of hatha yoga dates back in the fifteenth century India when Yogi Swatmarama, a sage at that period, introduced it as a form of "a stairway to the heights" of Raja Yoga. It is the preparatory stage of physical purification that makes the body fit for the practice of higher form of meditation. Hatha yoga is also known as "hatha vidya" and the word "hatha" is a combination of the words "ha", which means sun and "tha" that means moon. They are said to refer to the prinicipal "nadis" or the energy channels of the body and must be fully functional to attain the state of "dhyana" or a certain aspect of meditation.

Some people may link that the origins of hatha yoga dates back in the tenth or eleventh century with Goraknath, a yogin during those times. The oldest surviving text about hatha yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by yogin, Yogi Swatmarama. It is said to be derived from old Sanskrit writings and personal yogin experiences of the Yogi himself. The text relates about shatkarma, asana, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis, and mudras among others.

The Concept

The total concept of the traditional hatha yoga is a holistic yogic path that includes moral disciplines, physical exercises, breath control, and meditation. The hatha yoga that is widely practiced and popular in the western countries mainly composed of the "asanas" or posture and other exercises.

Hatha yoga is only one of the two concepts of yoga that concentrates on the physical culture and the other yoga is the Raja yoga. Both of these are referred to as Ashtanga yoga. The main difference is that the Raja yoga concentrates more on the "asanas" or postures to get the body ready for a prolonged meditation, which concentrates mainly on the meditative "asana" poses. The hatha yoga on the other hand concentrates on balancing the mind and body through physical exercises, controlled breathing, and calming the mind through meditation and sheer relaxation.

Different positions or postures are recommended by practitioners to help lessen or avoid health problems ranging from constipation through cancer. It was said that it helps to reduce stress, pressure, and other mental worries that people today are frequently exposed to.

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