Most of the yoga we practice in studios today can be attributed to him, though “Vinyasa” classes are generally based on the Ashtanga system and “Hatha” classes are based more on the Iyengar and Viniyoga systems.
Desikachar, who would popularize his version of yoga around the world through the popular systems of Ashtanga, Iyengar, and Viniyoga. He would, in turn, become the teacher of Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Krishnamacharya was heavily influenced by physical culture and adapted the techniques of earlier yogic texts into simple systems of exercise that could be done on a daily basis by normal people in order to keep them physically and mentally healthy. The popularity of Hatha Yoga in the west can be more or less traced back to two men: Tirumalai Krishnamacharya and Swami Sivananda Saraswati. It is now thought that the term was originally intended to mean simply “force” or “effort,” and describes the intense physical and mental discipline required to master these techniques.Įither way, the bottom line is that Hatha Yoga is but one type of Yoga among many others in the larger context of Indian philosophy and spirituality, which encompasses Indian religious traditions as diverse as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Islam. The implication was that the practices are meant to balance and unite the solar and lunar energies in the subtle body.
It was long thought that the word Hathawas formed from the roots “Ha” and “Tha” which means “sun” and “moon,” respectively. It also gives an account of the workings of the Chakras, the energy centres, and the Nadis, or energy channels, of the subtle body.
Traditional hatha yoga sequence series#
The book also outlines a series of breathing exercises, called Pranayama, and a series of exercises intended to manipulate the energies of the subtle body, called Mudra, and Bandha. These postures are called Asana, and they are the closest thing to what most now conceive of as Yoga, but they are just the beginning. The work is divided into four chapters that are meant to outline a gradually deepening practice of yoga that focuses on the physical body, and gradually moves in layers towards the more subtle aspects of embodied experience.Īmong the techniques outlined are a series of postures intended to develop the physical body and cultivate awareness of the subtle body. It was originally intended to be a compilation of several early texts that have not survived. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika dates back to the 15 th century and was written by the Rishi Swatmarama. However, the first complete systematized exposition of the posture, breathing, purification, and meditation practices that constitute Hatha Yoga was a text called the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. There is textual evidence of some of the practices of Hatha Yoga dating back to the 1 st century, and archaeological evidence that may date back even further. Let’s dive in a bit deeper and explore what the term actually means and why the distinction was made between these styles. The truth is that, technically, almost all of the breath and posture-based yoga that we do in studios in the west is actually Hatha Yoga. Hathaclasses are still active, strong practices, with a focus on alignment, engagement, and energy. They are also distinguished from Yin classes, which tend to feature extremely long holds of poses that are maintained completely passively within your normal mobility. These classes are usually a bit more vigorous and athletic and involve linking together poses with movements called Sun Salutations. In this way, they are distinguished from Vinyasa classes, which tend to have a strong focus on movement that is purposefully connected to the breath. These classes may also incorporate breathing practices or detailed alignment cues to incorporate within these poses, as the longer time in the pose allows for a bit more fine-tuning. In most Western yoga studios the word Hatha is usually meant to refer to slow-paced classes with a strong focus on stretching and long holds of poses. There’s a short answer and a long answer. Hatha Yoga is a term that is thrown around a lot in the Yoga world these days.Īs usual, the answer to this question is complicated.
Traditional hatha yoga sequence how to#
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika What is Hatha Yoga? History How To Start Top 10 Poses Top 10 BenefitsĮverything you need to know to start your own nourishing and uplifting Hatha Yoga practice!
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