Information on Hatha Yoga

Few are aware of it but the most widespread of all yoga exercises that is practiced in the west is known as hatha yoga. Contrasting from the yoga of the traditional version, hatha yoga concentrate more on the physical side that intend to provide the lift to the mental, physical and emotional state.

Hatha Yoga and its Past

Hatha yoga has its past that goes back to India in the fifteen century when a wise and learned teacher at that time by the name of Yogi Swatmarama pioneered a type of "a stairway to heights" of raja yoga which is the foundation phase in which the body is physically purified to make it suitable for a elevated form of mediation. Hatha yoga is also recognized by the name "hatha vidya" and "hatha" is actually the amalgamation of the words, "ha" which imply sun and "tha", on the other hand which means the moon. Together they are known as the principal "nadis" which is the channels of energy found in the body and they must be liberated to reach the height of "dhyana" or one form of mediation.

To some, the original hatha yoga goes back to the tenth or eleventh century and pioneered by Goraknath, a yogin at that time but the oldest still in existence text about hatha yoga was written by another yogin known as Yogi Swatmarama and it is called Hatha Yoga Pradipika. The text is known to be originated from an ancient Sanskrit writings and individual yogin experiences by the man personally. The text encompasses shatkarma, asana, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis, and mudras along with others.

The notion of Hatha Yoga

The entire notion of the ancient hatha yoga is a holistic yogic path that encompasses moral restraint, physical workouts, breath management and meditation. The type of hatha yoga that is popularized and practiced in the west is known as "asanas" or posture and other type of poses.

Besides hatha yoga, raja yoga is the other form of yoga that concentrates on the physical state and they are collectively known as ashtanga yoga. The key difference between the two is that raja yoga concentrate more on "asanas" or a stance to prepare the body for extended period of mediation that has its focus chiefly on meditative "asana" poses. In contrast, hatha yoga concentrates on a mind, body balance by physically exercising, being in command of your breathing and reassuring the mind through meditation and utter rest and respite.

Yoga teachers usually proposed that you adopt different stance or pose to ease and prevent health troubles from constipation to cancer. For people of today that are constantly subjected to stress, pressure and other mental uncertainties, hatha yoga is very helpful.

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