Hatha yoga, the most widely practiced branch of yoga in the world according to Yoga Yoga, aims to help you build strength and flexibility, improve focus, mental balance, and posture, reduce stress and increase lung capacity. Understanding the rich history of Hatha yoga and its poses will give you a new appreciation for your next yoga session.
The Term "Hatha"
The word "Hatha" comes from the Sanskrit words "ham," meaning "life force," and "tham," meaning "mental force." Combined with the term "yoga," or "union" in Sanskrit, Hatha yoga is the art of unifying the body and mind through a series of poses, called "asanas."
Basic Poses
While nearly all schools of yoga draw from the same set of asanas, Hatha yoga focuses on the poses as a means of achieving unification between the body and the mind. The term "asana" means "seat," and the various asanas were used as body positions for long periods of meditation. Each pose should feel comfortable, stable and relaxed when performed properly, according to the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika," one of the first texts on Hatha yoga.
Historical Purpose
Early practitioners believed that by creating balance between the mind and body, you could awaken the centers of spiritual energy within your body, known as "chakras." Once all seven chakras have been awakened, the coil of energy, called "kundalini," thought to be located at the base of the spine will uncoil, ascending up the spine and into the mind.
Evolution of Hatha Yoga
While the history of Hatha yoga and its accompanying poses are firmly rooted in religion, the focus of the practice has gradually switched to the physical as it has gained popularity in the West. Instead of practicing Hatha yoga to release the kundalini and achieve enlightenment, most modern Western practitioners seek physical strength, muscle tone, flexibility and stress relief.
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