Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual discipline. Kundalini and hatha are two forms of yoga practice. Yoga has numerous benefits, including reducing stress, improving flexibility, realigning the posture, reducing joint pain and improving overall wellness. You should consult your doctor if you are considering practicing yoga for the first time.
Hatha Purpose
Hatha is the most commonly known form of yoga. It was introduced to India in the 15th century by Yogi Swatmarama. Many other styles of yoga have originated from hatha -- kundalini is one of them. The word hatha originated from the Sanskrit language. It means sun and moon. This style of yoga aims to maintain balance between the mind and body through the utilization of physical asanas, or poses, combined with breathing techniques.
Kundalini Purpose
Kundalini is a life force, or spiritual energy, which is believed to be located at the base of the spine. It is symbolized as a coiled snake. Unlike hatha, the purpose of kundalini yoga is to awaken the sleeping kundalini energy and enable it to run up the spine to the crown of the head. On its way, this energy will pass through each of the chakras, or energy centers, that are located along the spine. The chakras are associated with major anatomical aspects, such as the stomach, solar plexus, heart and throat. According to kundalini theory, there are three knots located at the base of the spine, the heart and the eyebrows, each of which restricts this flow of energy. Using the kundalini asanas and breathing techniques enables the energy to clear these obstacles.
Hatha Asanas
Hatha yoga combines a number of poses that are aimed at stretching the muscle and stimulating the internal organs. Hatha yoga poses incorporate sitting, standing and lying postures, including the cat, cobra, bow, shoulder stand, bridge and locust poses.
Kundalini Asanas
Kundalini has fewer poses than hatha yoga. Kundalini yoga is practiced for increasing self-awareness, attaining bliss and reaching a higher consciousness through waking kundalini. The kundalini poses include the easy pose, the lotus, the rock, the perfect pose and the hero pose. All of these asanas are sitting poses.
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