By the end of the 20th century, most westerners were aware of an exercise tradition from India called yoga. Many were also aware that this tradition included physical, mental and spiritual elements. What's less well known is that, like karate, yoga consists of many substyles, each with their own unique elements. Kundalini and Hatha yoga are two of these schools.
Yoga History
Yoga as a practice is so old, it's mentioned in the "Baghavad Gita" --- a collection of origin stories and moral parables roughly analogous to the Christian Old Testament. Much like kung-fu, different yogic traditions grew as regional specialties throughout the early history of India. As India modernized during the 20th century, some of these regional styles became more organized and widespread. Yoga spread to the west first during the 1960s and 1970s. It saw an additional boost in popularity during the group fitness boom around the turn of the 21st century.
Yoga Postures
The practice of yoga consists of assuming body postures, or asanas, intended to foster a specific state. Physically, these postures improve strength, balance, coordination, flexibility and relaxation. Breathing and visualization techniques promote relaxation, health and spiritual development. Which states and growth areas receive the greatest focus is one of the aspects that most clearly distinguishes different yoga traditions.
Hatha
Hatha yoga is said to form the basis of yoga as a tradition. It incorporates the breathing, posture, meditation and visualization aspects of yoga practice. In sanskrit, "ha" means "sun" and "tha" means "moon" --- meaning this style is "the yoga of the sun and moon." In the west, hatha yoga has enjoyed the most widespread popularity, and it is practiced mainly for fitness and stress relief. If you are in a yoga program that doesn't identify itself as a specific style, you are probably practicing hatha yoga.
Kundalini
Although "kundalini" also refers to a specific method of breathing and meditation used in many yoga traditions, the style of kundalini yoga was organized and brought to the west as an independent practice by Yogi Bhajan in 1969. The kundalini method uses the classic poses but focuses on breath and energy manipulation, both for relaxation and as a spiritual practice.
References
- Yoga Site: Yoga Styles
- "Yoga For a New Age"; Bob Smith; 1986
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