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Hatha Yoga

The famous Hindu erudite in India during the 15th century named as Yogi Swatmarama is the discoverer of Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is also termed as Hatha Vidya and the complete compilation is known as Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

Hatha is called as the use of persistence or force in Sanskrit. Monier-Williams described hatha yoga as “a kind of forced Yoga or an abstract meditation”.

This kind of system is considered as the basic level for the purification of the body and let the body prepare for the advance level of meditation or Yoga. The basic practice includes various asanas and also the breathing form known as pranayama or shatkarma. This kind of Yoga related to physical exercise was initially famous in the west during the latter half of 20th century and was termed Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga provides both the mind and soul anf thus relaxing the mind and soul.

Origin of Hatha Yoga

The Hatha Yoga is detailed in the complete textual form is called as Hatha Yoga Pradipika and is associated to Yogi Swatmarama. This Pradipika includes description from both the old Sanskrit and experience of Yogi Swatmarama. The Pradipika gives the description about the following bandhas, kriyas, mudras, shakti, nadis, asana, kundalini, chakras, pranayam, shatkarma and few of the details of other yoga forms.

Lord Shiva has been ascribed with the hatha yoga propound. The story for this goes as a fish over heard the preaching of yoga when Lord Shiva was telling the same to Goddess Parvati. During the entire preaching the fish remained still. It has been considered that fish got mercy from Lord Shiva and the fish later was called the siddha Matsyendranaatha. Later Chaurangi got skilled with the hatha yoga from Matysyendranaatha. Chaurangi was a limbless man but he got his hands and feet back after Matsyendranaatha just blessed him after looking at him. The pradipika talks about few famous yogis like Adi Natha, Matsyendranath, Gorakshanath who are still very well known as yoga gurus.

Poses of Hatha Yoga

Since few last years the hatha yoga is being practiced and is getting famed in all the parts of United States. Hatha Yoga is being practiced by the people of all age groups for both physical and mental purification. The yoga of this type is practiced in a particular fashion. Hatha Yoga relaxes both the mind and soul. The final progression of this yoga is done generally with Sun Salutation. Below mentioned are the postures that are followed when practicing hatha yoga:-

  • Tadasana (The Mountain Pose)
  • Urdhava Hastasana (The Upward Hand Pose)
  • Uttanasana (The Forward Bend)
  • Low Lunge
  • Adho Mukha Savasana (The Downward Facing Dog Pose)
  • Kumbakhasana (The Plank Pose)
  • Chaturanga Dandasana (The Four Limbed Staff Pose)
  • Urdha Mukha Savasana (The Upward Facing Dog Pose)

Benefits of Hatha Yoga

One can gain numerous mental and physical benefits by practicing Hatha Yoga. The basic purpose of practicing hatha yoga is to purify both mind and soul and getting the body ready for advance level of meditation. The major profits of following hatha yoga are as mentioned below:-

  • Gain litheness and power
  • Superior mobility of muscle joints
  • Benefits to the spine
  • Easing of the back pain.
  • Increasing resistance, poise and stability
  • Helps in losing weight
  • Benefits to the respiration, digestion and improving the immune system
  • Relieving the stress for both mind and body and hence relaxing the body both physically and mentally
  • Enhancing the absorption and concentration
  • Hatha Yoga in current times seems beneficial for problems like arteriosclerosis, chronic fatigue, arthritis, AIDS, asthma, diabetes and obesity.

 

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