Hatha Yoga
Literally, hatha yoga is a yoga that brings union “of the pairs of opposites”, with ha meaning “sun” and tha meaning “moon”. Sometimes Hatha Yoga is also translated as the “forceful yoga”, as it seems to compel the most physical exercises of all yoga types.
Over the years, Hatha Yoga is the best known in the West, which is probably why so many definitions of Hatha Yoga subsist.
Hatha Yoga and Other Forms of Yoga
Hatha Yoga is very well known for being connected to other forms of yoga just like Tantra Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. Likely in the indian tradition, hatha yoga is one of the four main traditions of Tantra Yoga. It basically concentrates on the practice of postures or asanas and breath control or pranayama to energize the subtle channels or nadis. Hence then concentrating on the third and fourth steps of the eight-fold path of Ashtanga Yoga.
Hatha Yoga’s ultimate objective is to remove the hindrances to address the further steps of Pratyahara or sense-withdrawal, Dharana or Concentration, Dhyana or Meditation and Samadhi or Balance.
Exercising Postures
The exercising postures or more well-known as Asanas in Hatha Yoga has two significant objectives. The first one is to practice any real meditation. A yogin must have at the least one posture he can be perfectly comfortable to perform for a longer period of time. The more he can master such posture, the better the foundation for developing the inner meditation techniques. While, the second objective of Asanas is to bring energy and good health to the mind and body by opening the nadis.
Nevertheless, when Asanas are regularly done, the path of hatha yoga is opened automatically, although one must make some follow-ups. Basically, the simple mastering of postures is no objective in itself, although mastering different poses will strengthen the power of concentration and will. Hence, practicing exercising postures or asanas in Hatha Yoga will open the path to Prathyahara and Dharana as well.
Pranayama and Hatha Yoga
Do you know that the exercise of Pranayama in Hatha Yoga is very important for you to master your breathing patterns? Likely, if you can master it, then the mastery of mind is also within your reach.
Basically, through breathing exercises the flow of prana or vital life force through the body is regulated. So it is very significant to learn some special breathing techniques, that would alternate the flow of breath though both nostrils bringing balance to the two hemispheres of the brain vital to Pranayama and Kundalini Energy.