The practice of hatha yoga
Hatha Yoga is primarily practiced for health and vitality. Hatha Yoga was introduced in the fifteenth century by Yogi Swatmarama. Hatha yoga focuses on the purification of the physical being which leads to the purification of the mind or vital energy. The exploration of these physical-spiritual connections and body-centered practices led to the creation of Hatha Yoga. Today In the West, hatha yoga has become very popular as a purely physical exercise regimen divorced from its original purpose.
Whatever the historical details, Krishnamacharya has become the undisputed father of modern hatha yoga. Krishnamacharya’s first yoga lessons were from his father and grandmother and were passed down through generations of practice.
Hatha Yoga follows that line and thus successfully transcends being particularly rooted in any one religion. This exploration of these physical and spiritual connections and body-centered practices led to the creation of Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga has been included in the lifestyle of these traditions. Hatha Yoga classes tend, among other things, to emphasize physical mastery.
Hatha also means force or determined effort, and yoga, of course, translates as yoke or union. The very name hatha yoga, a combination of “ha” meaning sun and “tha” meaning moon, denotes the union of opposites. Through the practice of yoga, an individual can gain insight into physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Hatha Yoga represents opposite energies: hot and cold, fire and water following the theme of ying and yang, masculine and feminine, positive and negative. Hatha yoga tries to balance the mind and body. Balance of mind and body is achieved through physical exercises (also known as asanas), controlled breathing (pranayama), and relaxation or meditation.
Pranayama refers to breath control in yoga. In this yoga it is defined as a means to unite or control the breath and the mind using the syllable Om. In this case, yoga has extremes, fasting practices, breath control and postures to transcend the body, and not cultivate it. Asana body postures that are contemplative in nature and designed to align the body and achieve the optimal situation for relaxation.
Traditional yoga is a holistic yogic path and is becoming very popular.