Hatha Yoga

A Science of Body purification and awakening of Pranic energy.

Hatha - Science of Body – Mind Balance

Ha – Pingala nadi or sun principle Tha – Ida nadi or moon principle Hatha is balance between Pingala and Ida Nadi is Pranic Energy channel or passage

Pingala Right nostril Sun / Male principle Physical Energy Represents Body

Ida Left nostril Moon / female Mental Energy Represents Mind

Balance of Body & Mind

Imbalance of physical and mental energies is state of disease.

Imbalance is due to blockages in the ‘nadis’ or energy passages.

Aim of Hatha Yoga - Purification of this ‘nadis’ or energy passages.

Origin of Hatha Yoga

Origin in Tantras Development in 6th century AD to 15th Century AD Founded by Great Sage Matsyendranath and his

disciple Gorakshanath. Reference books

Hatha Yoga Pradipika – Swami Swatmaram Gheranda Samhita – Sage Gheranda Goraksha Satakam – Guru Gorakshanath Shiva Samhita Yoga Taravali – Sage Adi Shankaracharya

Contents of Hatha Yoga

Shatkarmas – 6 cleansing techniques Asanas – body postures Pranayama – control of prana / breath Mudras – psychic gestures (inducing mental

attitudes) Bandhas – Energy locks

Shatkarma – Cleansing tech.

To remove accumulated toxins in the body. Homeostasis – Balance of entire body and

mind, especially the Nervous system and endocrine system.

Removing blockages to Nadis. Awakening the psychic faculties.

6 Shatkarmas

Neti – nasal cleansing Dhouti – internal cleansing Basti – yogic enema Nouli – abdominal massage Kapalbhati – frontal brain cleansing or

cleansing of lungs Trataka – cleansing of eyes

Asanas

Steady and comfortable postures Aim of Asanas is to achieve healthy body and

stable mind 8.4 million asanas Most important are 2, Padmasana (Lotus

pose) & Siddhasana (Perfect or balance pose)

Mastery of Asana – maintaining for 3 hours in steady and comfortable way.

Pranayama

Pranayama – control & extension of prana (vital force)

Emotions, desires create blockages in nadis, blockages dissipates energy, aim of pranayama is to clear this blockages.

8 types of pranayama in Hatha yoga. Preparation - Nadi Shodhan or Anuloma

Viloma or Alternate nostril breathing (purifying the Pingala & Ida)

Types of Pranayama

Surya Bhedan – right nostril breath Ujjayi – Victorious breath / psychic breath Sitkari – Cooling breath Shitali – Cooling breath Bhramari – Humming bee breath Bhastrika – Bellows breath Murchha – Swooning or fainting breath Plavini – Gulping breath

Mudras & Bandhas

Mudras – Psychic gestures which induce a particular state of mind.

Bandhas – Pranic Energy locks Mudras & Bandhas control the pranic energy,

which is awakened with pranayama practice. 10 Mudras & 3 Bandhas in Hatha Yoga Janaldar Bandha – chin lock Moola Bandha – root lock Uddiyan Bandha – Abdominal lock