Hari Aum.
Hatha yoga is a branch of yoga that involves working with the body to attain God. It involves certain postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), hand movements (mudras) and certain muscle contractions/body locks (bandhas).
According to yoga philosophy, each human being has three bodies. The outer body that is made of food - called 'sthula sharira' in Sanskrit (meaning 'gross body').
Then there is the subtle body made of the mind, emotions and intellect- this is called 'sukshma sharira'.
Finally, there is the causal body which contains the storehouse of past karmas- this is called the 'karana sharira'.
Hatha yoga works upon the physical body and the subtle body. Prana or life energy (known as 'chi' in Chinese medicine) flows through thousands of prana-channels called 'nadis' in the subtle body (similar to blood flowing in blood vessels in the physical body).
Through asanas, pranayama, mudras and bandhas, the practitioner of hatha yoga causes the kundalini to rise and experiences samadhi.
Asana and pranayama cleanse the nadis and ensure the proper flow of prana in these. They are not merely a form of physical exercise.
Today, there are many good yoga schools all over the world that teach hatha yoga. Hatha yoga is meant to be done with a calm, meditative attitude (not as a form of aerobic exercise as some schools teach it).
I studied hatha yoga at the local Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre set up by Swami Vishnudevananda, a disciple of Sivananda.
The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres worldwide teach a 'teachers training course'. Here, they teach the 12 basic asanas along with surya namaskar and pranayamas (anuloma-viloma and kapalabhati). They also teach the Bhagavad Gita and sadhanas such as japa, kirtan and meditation.
This is an excellent course that I would highly recommend. I did the course in the summer of 2006 mainly for my own understanding. I was a medical student at the time and did this during my summer holidays after the yearly examination. I do not teach hatha yoga though I do have the Sivananda Yoga teacher qualification- might take up teaching some day (currently too busy with medical work, sadhana and other activities).
I find that even a short period of just 15 minutes of some basic asanas and pranayama makes the body feel much better. One feels less stiffness in the spine and muscles and there is a pleasant, refreshed feeling afterwards.
'Surya namaskar' in particular is excellent. If one does not have much time, even 10 minutes of this, warms up the entire body and stretches the back, arms and legs wonderfully. One can have a meditative attitude while doing this (it involves 'namaskar' or bowing down to a deity).
Instead of Surya namaskar, when I do these exercises, I like to call it 'Vishnu namaskar' as I imagine that I am bowing down to Vishnu - this makes it a devotional practice rather than just a physical exercise. A devotee of Shiva or Devi may like to call it 'Shiva namaskar' or 'Devi namaskar'.
Simple pranayamas such as anuloma-viloma (alternate nostril breathing) and kapalabhati are also good to do daily or at least a few times a week.
I strongly recommend practitioners of all forms of yoga, whether bhakti yogis, jnana yogis or karma yogis, to also perform a little hatha yoga exercises even just a few times a week.
It is essential to maintain a healthy body with supple spine to be able to do sadhana to attain God. Yoga asanas and pranayama are very helpful in this.
Physical aerobic exercises are also good to do (but not immediately after yogic exercises) but these consume energy/prana, while yogic exercises increase prana in the body. Both are needed for a healthy body.
Here is a link on Hatha Yoga by Swami Sivananda:
http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=440&format=html
These are the 12 basic asanas taught by the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres:
https://www.sivananda.org/teachings/asana/12-basic-asanas.html
Hari Aum Tat Sat
Hatha yoga is a branch of yoga that involves working with the body to attain God. It involves certain postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), hand movements (mudras) and certain muscle contractions/body locks (bandhas).
According to yoga philosophy, each human being has three bodies. The outer body that is made of food - called 'sthula sharira' in Sanskrit (meaning 'gross body').
Then there is the subtle body made of the mind, emotions and intellect- this is called 'sukshma sharira'.
Finally, there is the causal body which contains the storehouse of past karmas- this is called the 'karana sharira'.
Hatha yoga works upon the physical body and the subtle body. Prana or life energy (known as 'chi' in Chinese medicine) flows through thousands of prana-channels called 'nadis' in the subtle body (similar to blood flowing in blood vessels in the physical body).
Through asanas, pranayama, mudras and bandhas, the practitioner of hatha yoga causes the kundalini to rise and experiences samadhi.
Asana and pranayama cleanse the nadis and ensure the proper flow of prana in these. They are not merely a form of physical exercise.
Today, there are many good yoga schools all over the world that teach hatha yoga. Hatha yoga is meant to be done with a calm, meditative attitude (not as a form of aerobic exercise as some schools teach it).
I studied hatha yoga at the local Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre set up by Swami Vishnudevananda, a disciple of Sivananda.
The Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres worldwide teach a 'teachers training course'. Here, they teach the 12 basic asanas along with surya namaskar and pranayamas (anuloma-viloma and kapalabhati). They also teach the Bhagavad Gita and sadhanas such as japa, kirtan and meditation.
This is an excellent course that I would highly recommend. I did the course in the summer of 2006 mainly for my own understanding. I was a medical student at the time and did this during my summer holidays after the yearly examination. I do not teach hatha yoga though I do have the Sivananda Yoga teacher qualification- might take up teaching some day (currently too busy with medical work, sadhana and other activities).
I find that even a short period of just 15 minutes of some basic asanas and pranayama makes the body feel much better. One feels less stiffness in the spine and muscles and there is a pleasant, refreshed feeling afterwards.
'Surya namaskar' in particular is excellent. If one does not have much time, even 10 minutes of this, warms up the entire body and stretches the back, arms and legs wonderfully. One can have a meditative attitude while doing this (it involves 'namaskar' or bowing down to a deity).
Instead of Surya namaskar, when I do these exercises, I like to call it 'Vishnu namaskar' as I imagine that I am bowing down to Vishnu - this makes it a devotional practice rather than just a physical exercise. A devotee of Shiva or Devi may like to call it 'Shiva namaskar' or 'Devi namaskar'.
Simple pranayamas such as anuloma-viloma (alternate nostril breathing) and kapalabhati are also good to do daily or at least a few times a week.
I strongly recommend practitioners of all forms of yoga, whether bhakti yogis, jnana yogis or karma yogis, to also perform a little hatha yoga exercises even just a few times a week.
It is essential to maintain a healthy body with supple spine to be able to do sadhana to attain God. Yoga asanas and pranayama are very helpful in this.
Physical aerobic exercises are also good to do (but not immediately after yogic exercises) but these consume energy/prana, while yogic exercises increase prana in the body. Both are needed for a healthy body.
Here is a link on Hatha Yoga by Swami Sivananda:
http://www.sivanandaonline.org/public_html/?cmd=displaysection§ion_id=440&format=html
These are the 12 basic asanas taught by the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres:
https://www.sivananda.org/teachings/asana/12-basic-asanas.html
Hari Aum Tat Sat
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