Hatha
Yoga Hatha
yoga, also known as Hatha vidya, is a particular system
of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a sage of 15th century
India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In this
treatise Swatmarama introduces Hatha Yoga as 'a stairway
to the heights of Raja Yoga', hence a preparatory stage
of physical purification that renders the body fit for
the practise of higher meditation. This practise is called
shatkarma. The word Hatha is a compound of the words Ha
and Tha meaning sun and moon and refers to the principle
nadis (energy channels) of the subtle body that must be
fully operational to attain a state of dhyana or samadhi.
In other respects Hatha yoga follows the same principles
as the Raja Yoga of Patanjali including moral restraint
yama and spiritual observances niyama. Hatha Yoga is what
most people in the West associate with the word "Yoga" and
is practiced for mental and physical health throughout
the West.
Some traditions attribute the origins of Hatha Yoga with Gorakhnath, a yogin
of the 10th/11th century CE but the oldest surviving comprehensive text
of Hatha Yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Yogi Swatmarama. This work
is nonetheless derived from older Sanskrit texts on Yoga besides Yogi Swatmarama's
own yogic experiences. It includes information about shatkarma, asana,
pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis, and mudras
among other topics.
Many
modern schools of Hatha Yoga derive from the school of
Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who taught from 1924 until
his death in 1989. Among his students prominent in popularizing
Yoga in the West were Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, famous for
popularizing the vigorous Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga style,
B.K.S. Iyengar who emphasizes alignment and the use of
props, Indra Devi and Krishnamacharya's son T.K.V. Desikachar
who developed the Viniyoga style. Desikachar founded the
Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, with the aim
of making available the heritage of yoga as taught by Krishnamacharya.
Another
major stream of influence was Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh
(1887-1963) and his many disciples, including Swami Vishnu-Devananda
- founder of International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres,
Swami Satyananda - of the Bihar School of Yoga, and Swami
Satchidananda - of Integral Yoga, among others.
Concept
Traditional Hatha Yoga is a holistic yogic path, including moral disciplines,
physical exercises (e.g., asanas (postures) and Pranayama (breath control),
and meditation. The Hatha yoga predominantly practiced in the West consists
of mostly asanas (postures) and exercise.
Hatha
Yoga is one of the two branches of Yoga that focus on the
physical culture, the other one being Raja Yoga. Both of
these are commonly referred to as Ashtanga Yoga, i.e.,
Yoga of eight parts ('ashta' meaning eight and 'anga' meaning
limbs). The eight limbs are described below in detail.
The main difference is that Raja Yoga uses asanas to mainly
get the body ready for prolonged meditation, and hence
focuses more on the meditative asana poses: Lotus Pose
(Padmasana), Accomplished Pose (Siddhasana), Easy Pose
(Sahajasana) and Pelvic Pose (Vajrasana); Hatha Yoga utilizes
most of the asana poses. Similarly, Raja Yoga's use of
Pranayama is also devoid of extensive locks (Bandha).
Hatha
represents opposing energies: hot and cold (fire and water,
following the same concept as the yin-yang), male and female,
positive and negative. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind
and body via physical exercises, or "asanas",
controlled breathing, and the calming of the mind through
relaxation and meditation. Asanas teach poise, balance & strength
and are practiced to improve the body's physical health
and clear the mind in preparation for meditation in the
pursuit of enlightenment.
The Yoga
of Patanjali is Ashtanga or comprised of 8 limbs, Yama
and Niyama, which are ethical obligations, Asana, Pranayama,
which is breath control, Pratyahara, which is sense withdrawal,
Dharana, which is concentration, Dhyana, which is meditation,
and Samadhi, which is the experience of unity with God.[1].
The eight limbs are more precisely viewed as eight levels
of progress, each level providing benefits in and of itself
and also laying the foundation for the higher levels.
NOTE:
In some schools of thought, only Raja Yoga is considered
to be Ashtanga Yoga, and Hatha Yoga is thought to consist
of six limbs focused on attaining Kundalini. In this scheme,
the six limbs of Hatha Yoga are defined as Yama, Niyama,
Asana, Pranayama, Mudra (specific postures to help lock
in the breath), Nadanusandhana (hearing of the eternal
sound within the body), the whole process cultiminating
in the attainment of Kundalini. Due to this, this version
of Hatha yoga is also sometimes referred to as Kundalini
Yoga.
Yama and niyama
Main articles: Yamas and niyama
Yama is a "moral restraint" or rule for living virtuously. Ten yamas
are codified in numerous scriptures, including the Hatha Yoga Pradipika compiled
by Yogi Swatmarama, while Patanjali lists five yamas, and five niyamas (disciplines)
in the Yoga Sutra.
The
ten traditional yamas are:
Ahimsa:
Abstinence from injury, or harm to any living creature
in thought, word, or deed. This is the "main" Yama.
The other nine are there in support of its accomplishment.
Satya: Truthfulness in word and thought (in conformity with the facts).
Asteya: No stealing, no coveting, no entering into debt.
Brahmacharya: Divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithful when
married.
Kshama: Patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.
Dhriti: Steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing
each task through to completion.
Daya: Compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward
all beings.
Arjava: Honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.
Mitahara: Moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming
meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs.
Shaucha: Purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech.
Patanjali's five yamas, or moral restraints, are ahimsa (non-injury), satya
(truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (continence or chastity)
and aparagriha (abstinence from avarice). He also lists five niyamas, or
disciplines, which include shauca (purity), samtosha (contentment), tapas
(asceticism), svadhyaya (study), and ishvara-pranidhana (devotion to the
Lord).
Asanas (Postures)
Asanas are contemplative in nature and were originally intuited by yogis during
meditation; the Kundalini naturally brings forth these postures or movements,
called Kriyas, during deep meditation. These movements are meant to help to
remove blockages (disease) in the causal, subtle, and physical bodies.
In the
ancient author Patanjali's work, Asana is classified as
the third rung of 8 in the ladder of the practice of Raja
Yoga.
Hatha
yoga in the west primarily concerns itself with asanas
or postures.
Pranayama (Breathing)
The words 'Prana' (life-force) and 'Ayama' (to prolong or regulate) make up
Pranayama. Pranayama seeks to control & regulate the breath. In one variation,
the Rechak (exhaled air), Poorak (inhalation) and Kumbhak (Retention during
normal inhaling and exhaling) are the 3 parts of the breath that are regulated.
Pranayama is practised to develop mental, physical and spiritual strength.
Though the beginner's Pranayama is relatively harmless, safely progressing
to more advanced practices requires the guidance of a knowledgeable teacher.
General
Directions for Yogasana
A western style yoga class.Listed below are traditional directions for performing
Hatha Yoga.
A glass of fresh water
should be taken before performing asanas.
Stomach should be empty. Asanas can be performed 8 hours after a meal, 2 hours
after a glass of milk and one hour after eating fruit.
Always perform asanas early in the morning. If this is not possible, the next
best time would be evening around dusk.
Rich, very dry, left-overs, very hot or too much food should be avoided.
Force or pressure should not be used while performing asanas.
One must not go out in the cold after performing asanas.
Lower the head and other parts of the body slowly; in particular, raised heels
should be lowered slowly.
The breathing should be controlled and should always be through the nose. The
benefits of asanas increase if pranayama is performed simultaneously.
If the body is stressed, perform Shavasana.
Asanas should be performed in a well-lit, clean and ventilated room. The atmosphere
should be peaceful.
Light physical exercises, followed by yogasana, pranayama and meditation is
the ideal sequence.
Yogasanas, especially inverted poses, are to be avoided during menstruation.
In contrast, modern teachers do recommend Yogasana for relief from cramps during
this period.
During pregnancy, after the first 3 months, exercises that require lying on
stomach are to be avoided. (Inverted poses should be avoided especially
in the third trimester - This site recommends it for pregnancy - not too
sure, clarification requested.)
Health
Benefits ascribed to Yogasana practice
Different asanas are recommeded by practitioners to cure or prevent problems
ranging from constipation to cancer. It is known to reduce stress and other
mental worries.
Etymology
Hatha yoga, pronounced ['h???], is also known as hatha vidya or the "science
of hatha" yoga. The word Hatha comes from combining the two sanskrit terms "ha" meaning
sun and "tha" meaning moon. The word "ha" refers to the
solar nadi (pingala) in the subtle body and "tha" the lunar channel
(ida).
Hatha yoga. (2007, January 10). In Wikipedia, The
Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 07:58, January 14, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hatha_yoga&oldid=99831180
Copyright (c) Wikipedia.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU
Free Documentation License, Version 1.2. |
