Aptum On Hatha

Do you find yourself getting confused with the term "Hatha"? Hopefully this post will help! Although there is a vast amount of information out there, here are some tidbits of my experience and what I've learned delving in to the realm of traditional Hatha practice.

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The topic of Hatha yoga in Western culture is a very broad topic, with many different opinions as to what a Hatha yoga class or sequence entails.

One of the most common things seen here in yoga studios are gentle classes being labelled “Hatha” to depict an easier style of class, in which people with a lower level of physical fitness or practice ambition can go to and experience very accessible poses. In fact, Hatha means the exact opposite in Eastern culture. I have never experienced a traditional style Hatha class from any lineage that has ever been easy.

Hatha in Sanskrit has a few different translations such as stubborn, tenacious and forceful. Hatha yoga is a forceful form of yoga, but this does not mean it forces the body. Instead, it uses dynamic techniques with very powerful effects. The practitioner must develop both physical and mental stamina.

Hatha yoga is said to have originated in Eastern India as opposed to its newer relative Vinyasa, which is said to have originated in Northern India. The two eventually met at some point in time where the fusion of Hatha/Vinyasa was created. Most of the postures between Hatha and Vinyasa are relatively the same, the main difference being that Vinyasa is much faster with linking and transitioning of multiple postures together, where as in a Hatha practice, the postures are held one by one for a longer period of time.

The basis of all yoga postures, yogic mindset practices and pranayama breathing techniques derive from the Hatha yoga system. Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Sivinanda, and even modern day flow yoga practices all come from the roots of what is known as the 84 asana system in Hindu philosophy. This system was said to be created by Yogi Matsyendranatha from what is known as the “Natha” sect of physical culturists of Hatha Yogis. This would have been between 5th and 10th Century A.D. This original 84 asana system has been passed down over the generations from teacher to student and the original sequential order of postures is yet to be found. The original 84 asanas have 1000s of different posture variations amongst the lineages as well.

84 also stands for the divine union between the practitioner and the universe. 84 years is 1,008 revolutions of the earth around the moon and considered living a full life in Indian culture.

The whole concept of Hatha yoga is to bring balance back to all systems of the body and have them work in harmony together. This is said to create an impulse to the awakening force responsible for the evolution of human consciousness. When Hatha yoga is not used with this intent, its true purpose is lost.

Anatomically hatha works off the expansion and compression principle in terms of the asanas. You'll notice in a truly traditional class there will be a backbend followed by a forward bend, side bend by a traction posture or a floor posture followed by savasana. This is to create constriction at one point of the body thus making a turniquette effect where blood flow is restricted to that part and then released with the counter posture or savasana to allow new blood flow and oxygen in to that part of the body. When followed very thoroughly this technique is impeccable to modern yoga techniques.

The reason why Hatha yoga also makes the practitioner so flexible is because of what is known as the agonist to antagonist approach to stretching postures. For example when stretching the hamstrings one is to tightly contract the quadricep muscles, hip flexors and belly muscles to release the opposing side of the body, when this is done correctly and regularly the release is much more long lasting than a passive static held stretch in which that is taught in most modern day classes.

Over the years I have had the experience of being exposed to both the modern day and the old school forms of Hatha. While every modality has something valuable to offer and learn from, I always come back to the traditional 84 asana practice. I have never experienced any other form of yoga to give me the health benefits, mental clarity and physical fitness level I have been given from doing this practice on a daily basis. These techniques have been around for 1000s of years. They are still used to today and passed down in Indian culture because they work!

When potential students or clients come to me curious about starting a yoga practice, my answer is to practice Hatha yoga. I have seen the greatest benefits in my students and severely injured clients from being given traditional Hatha yoga postures and Hatha based therapeutic exercises. The reason it is so effective is because everything in Hatha yoga is very precise and progressive. There is no jumping from point A to point D without integrally learning all the steps in between. Hatha is traditionally used as a prescription where not all 84 postures are practiced by the student. Instead, the teacher gives the student a prescription of postures and exercises to bring their body back to balance and equilibrium.

Each posture serves a unique purpose. I’ve seen astounding results in following this simple traditional “yoga prescription” technique in my yoga therapy clients. I will go as far as saying it’s a 100% success rate in recovery with the clients willing to do their sequences of exercises and poses daily outside of the sessions.

As for teaching traditional Hatha in a class setting, I have observed students to build strength, flexibility, stamina, and much more mental focus in a shorter period of time than those who attend flow or vinyasa classes on a regular basis. The feedback I also get from students who attend class regularly will tell me that they have never experienced such tangible results and overcome injuries so quickly until they started a regular Hatha practice.

A large part of the population has really lost touch with connection to both mind and body. Because of the wholesome and slow nature of the Hatha practice, it gives people a chance to really restore that connection.

- Dustin Vieler -