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