"The Sanskrit word हठ haṭha literally means 'force'."
A slow-paced yoga style that involves holding poses for extended periods while focusing on controlled breathing and deep relaxation.
History and Philosophy of Yoga: Understanding the origin, development, and philosophy of yoga is an essential foundation for the practice. Knowing the eight limbs of yoga, Yamas, Niyamas, Asanas, Pranayam, Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi, is also key to the practice.
The Anatomy and Physiology of Yoga: Learning about the human body, its systems, and functions are beneficial for a yoga practice, as it helps perform the asanas and pranayama in a safe and effective manner.
Meditation and Mindfulness: Hatha yoga is about connecting the mind and body. Meditation and mindfulness are known to help achieve mental focus, reduce stress, and promote relaxation.
Pranayama: Pranayama means "control of breath." Learning different techniques to control and regulate breathing can help improve physical and mental health.
Asanas: Asanas are yoga postures that help improve flexibility, strength, balance, and posture. Understanding different types of asanas and their benefits can help practitioners engage in fulfilling yoga sessions.
Preparation and Sequencing: Proper preparation of the mind and body before beginning a yoga session is crucial. Studying sequencing and the use of props can help design safe and effective yoga sessions.
Yoga philosophy, ethics, and spirituality: Studying the philosophy, ethics, and spirituality surrounding yoga help practitioners understand the deeper meaning of the practice and how it can enhance their daily lives.
Chakras and energy systems: Deeper knowledge of the chakras and energy systems helps practitioners bring balance and harmony to their bodies and minds.
Benefits of yoga: Studying the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of yoga helps beginners appreciate the value of the practice.
Teaching Methodology and Teaching Practice: Learning teaching methodology and teaching practice helps those interested in sharing the practice with others. It helps them design appropriate sessions, pay attention to student's needs, and stay safe during yoga practice.
Ashtanga Yoga: A physically demanding form of yoga that involves a set sequence of postures.
Bikram Yoga: A type of yoga that is performed in a room heated to 105°F with 40% humidity, which helps to promote sweating and flexibility.
Iyengar Yoga: A form of yoga that focuses on alignment and uses props such as blocks, belts, and blankets to help students achieve proper posture.
Kundalini Yoga: A spiritual form of yoga that focuses on the energy of the body and involves chanting, breathing, and meditation.
Vinyasa Yoga: A dynamic and flowing form of yoga that focuses on linking breath and movement.
"Some hatha yoga style techniques can be traced back at least to the 1st-century CE, in texts such as the Hindu Sanskrit epics and Buddhism's Pali canon."
"The oldest dated text so far found to describe hatha yoga, the 11th-century Amṛtasiddhi, comes from a tantric Buddhist milieu."
"Almost all hathayogic texts belong to the Nath siddhas, and the important early ones (11th-13th c.) are credited to Matsyendranatha and his disciple, Gorakhnath or Gorakshanath."
"Bindu (vital force, that is, semen, and in women rajas – menstrual fluid)."
"Two early hatha yoga techniques sought to either physically reverse this process of dripping by using gravity to trap the bindhu in inverted postures like viparītakaraṇī, or force bindu upwards through the central channel by directing the breath flow into the centre channel using mudras."
"The important early ones (11th-13th c.) are credited to Matsyendranatha and his disciple, Gorakhnath or Gorakshanath."
"A yoga based on raising kuṇḍalinī through energy channels and chakras, called Layayoga ('the yoga of dissolution')."
"Other early Nāth texts like the Vivekamārtaṇḍa can be seen as co-opting the hatha yoga mudrās."
"These later texts promote a universalist yoga, available to all, 'without the need for priestly intermediaries, ritual paraphernalia or sectarian initiations.'"
"A development of hatha yoga focusing particularly on asanas (the physical postures) became popular throughout the world as a form of physical exercise."
"This modern form of yoga is now widely known simply as 'yoga'."
"Hindu hatha yoga texts appear from the 11th century onward."
"Some of the early hatha yoga texts (11th-13th c.) describe methods to raise and conserve bindu."
"...directing the breath flow into the centre channel using mudras (yogic seals, not to be confused with hand mudras, which are gestures)."
"Later Nāth as well as Śākta texts adopt the practices of hatha yoga mudras into a Saiva system."
"In the 20th century, a development of hatha yoga focusing particularly on asanas (the physical postures) became popular throughout the world as a form of physical exercise."
"This modern form of yoga is now widely known simply as 'yoga'."
"Two early hatha yoga techniques sought to either physically reverse this process of dripping by using gravity to trap the bindhu in inverted postures like viparītakaraṇī."
"Almost all hathayogic texts belong to the Nath siddhas, and the important early ones (11th-13th c.) are credited to Matsyendranatha and his disciple, Gorakhnath or Gorakshanath."