What Is Hatha Yoga?

Modern "Hatha Yoga" is not the same as traditional Haṭha Yoga, a system of practices to "raise and conserve the physical essence of life." (1) Nowadays the term "Hatha" more commonly refers to a stillness-based approach to asana practice, differentiated from the flowing styles that have become popular in the West.

Asana practice is only a small part of traditional Hatha Yoga, which was more centrally focused on practices of mudra and kumbhaka (pranayama). We are interested in the traditional practices that have trickled down to the modern day and also those that have been lost. Some seem completely outdated, and some simply don't fit the modern impressions of what yoga practice is. We will explore as many of them as we can.

We will do a series of posts on traditional and modern Hatha Yoga, including:

1. the meaning and origins of the name "Hatha"
2. mudras, the central practices of traditional Hatha Yoga
3. the practices of shatkarma (the six cleansing actions)
4. asanas, some of which are old, most of which are not
5. meditation on the inner sound (nada)
6. kumbhaka or pranayama

Don't hesitate to write with questions or comments.

1. Mallinson, James. "Hatha Yoga" entry in Vol. 3 of the Brill Encyclopedia of Hinduism.