Origin of Hatha Yoga:
Originated from principles of Tantra
Tan(Tannuti) – Expansion (of consiousness)
Tra(Trayathi) – Liberation (of pranic energy)
Both these states are state of samadhi also called as shivam
Shivam – Consiousness
Sakthi – energy or nature
All object is a form of energy.Even we have that but we are not utilising it to the fullest extent.
When we are using it to its fullest, it is called samadhi or enlightenment
Hatha Yoga founded by – Matsyendranath
Spreaded by – Gorakshanath (his direct disciple)
Intresting fact – In one of their (all naths)ears, they have huge piercing and wore a heavy wooden earing
Hatha Yoga – Combination of bakthi yoga (treating everyone equally with unconditional love) and
moving away from material world
Foundation of Hatha Yoga:
The goal of our life is to attain enlightenment.So, hatha yogis give utmost importance to their physical body
to be healthy for leading a long life(100 and above years).Then only we can keep our mind healthy.Mind and body are
directly proportional
For leading a long life, we should detoxify ie) remove toxins away from body.In Hatha Yoga there is
a technique for vomiting for taking out excess acidity using salt water.This is not something unnatural.Even
cats and dogs eat grass to vomit out unnecessary things
After removing toxins from our body, we should balance our body systems like mascular system, endocrine system
etc and medical science uses homeostatis for balancing
The next step is strengthening by strecting the limits of our body
Pancha Kosha:
Five levels of our body
Apart from physical body, we still have four more levels of existence
Annamaya Kosha – physical body which is made by the food we eat.Aasana practice is recommended for this
Pranamaya Kosha – energy(prana) body.This energy is stored somewhere in the body and when we start exercising
it is released.That is why we feel hot.Also, we can feel negative energy when someone near us gets angry.
Pranayama is recommended for this
Manomaya Kosha – Mind body where we feel different emotions like happy, joy, sadness,depression etc.
Meditation is recommended for this to control our mind fully
Vijnanamaya Kosha – Knowledge body.Each cell in our body has DNA which stores genetical information.Deep state
of meditation is recommended for this
Anandamaya Kosha – Self realization.Union of jeevathma with paramathma
Pranamaya Kosha:
More focussed by Hatha Yoga because energy is controlling the body and mind and thus acts as an interface between
annamaya and manomaya kosha.eg) If we do carry heavy things from one place to another one entire day,
we feel tired because of losing prana.The next we study by sitting comfortably in a chair for a exam, we still
feel tired for the same reason.
Prana moves in our body through passage called nadis.72000 nadis are there.If we control 3 nadis, then rest
can be easily controlled.Those 3 nadis are Sushumna,Pingala and Ida
Sushumna – Spiritual nadi.Can be awakened by self realization
Ha – Pingala(right nostril) which represents sun priciples of our body
tha – Ida(left nostril) or moon principle
Hatha – balance of ida and pingala
We breathe through only one nostril at a time.When right nostril is active, sun principles or masculine or
physical energy is active which is connected to physical body process. When left nostril is active,
moon principles or feminine energy is active which is connected to mind
Hatha – balance of body and mind
Body and mind are imbalanced in our day to day life.Eg) If mind tells to do yoga, body tells no I am lazy.
If body tells enough to a chocolate, mind tells no.Eat more.This imbalance results in disease.Hatha yoga says
the disease itself means there is some blockages in the nadis where prana flows.
Hatha yoga focusses on purify these blockages so that prana flows easily in our body and hence physical and
mental energy is balanced
Balance is achevied by:
1. Shatkarmas – 6 cleansing techniques like jala nethi
2. Aasanas – Body postures
3. Pranayama – Control of prana which is acheived through controlled breathings (more powerful than aasan).
Breathing is controlled by Cortex, a part of brain when we pay attention to breathing.Cortex is the place
where thinking process happens.So when doing pranayama, we focus on breathing and not thinking
4. Mudras – physical gestures to control mind
5. Bandhas – energy locks.Controlling the prana directly like moola bandha where we can control our mind
6. Meditation
9 types of pranayama is given in Hatha Yoga
