The earliest reference to Hatha Yoga dates back to 400 C.E. from Sage Patanjali’s groundbreaking text, “Yoga Sutra.” Sage Patanjali essentially summarized ancient yoga practices from earlier traditions, as some components of Hatha are said to be at least 1,000 years older. When brought to the Western world from India, Hatha Yoga represented an umbrella of yoga styles, although now it is known as another type of yoga, or sibling to the wide range of yoga genres.
Historically, Hatha Yoga consisted of “ashtangas:” translating from Sanskrit to “eight branches.” Hatha Yoga was designed to be a system of philosophies employed to improve one’s life, a kind of roadmap to enlightenment, with yoga translating to “union” or “connection.” The physical aspect, “Asanas” that are now widely focused on in most yoga practices, was only one part of eight integral limbs.
The Eight Limbs of Hatha Yoga (adapted from Sage Patanjali’s “Yoga Sutra”)
- Yamas: Relating to the world
a.) Ahimsa (non-harming)
b.) Satya (truthfulness)
c.) Asteya (non-stealing)
d.) Bramacharya (moderation)
e.) Aparigraha (generosity)
2. Niyamas: Relating to ourselves
a.) Sauca (cleanliness)
b.) Santosa (contentment)
c.) Tapas (self-discipline)
d.) Svadhyaya (self-study)
e.) Isvara Pranidhana (surrender to the divine)
3. Asanas: Our physical practice of yoga postures. The practice of asanas allows us to sit still for prolonged meditation.
4. Pranayama: Relates to our breath work and the practice of controlling prana (or life force).
5. Pratyahara: The ability to focus internally in an effort to withdrawal senses away from external factors.
6. Dharana: Practicing finding our drishti or “sight”
7. Dhyana: Honing our awareness without focus
8. Samadhi: Gaining the ability to understand our fundamental existence
These eight branches, although not explicitly defined in modern day Hatha Yoga classes, still inform the practice today. Presently, Hatha Yoga has folded these eight limbs into a more concentrated form, centering on meditation, asanas and breathing, giving homage to the history, but updating its emphasis to today’s yoga students and practitioners. When defined in full, the word “Hatha” in Sanskrit translates to “forceful” or “strong.” This refers to asanas or the mental clarity/focus needed when practicing Hatha. Since Hatha was designed to prepare students to meditate for long periods of time, this style provides a release of stress and tension in the body through breathing techniques and meditation.
An alternate Sanskrit definition breaks Hatha into two parts and offers an abstract meaning: “Ha” meaning sun and “Tha” meaning moon. This light vs. dark ideology offers Hatha yoga students a way to practice balance in their postures, breath work, and meditation. Honing the essential balance by which the sun and moon co-exist, so are our bodies that thrive when in balance with ourselves: internally and externally.
Hatha Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, but remarkably in present day, it still has a commanding significance. It’s impossible to know the history of Hatha Yoga and not be inspired by its relevance to our current practice. The evolution of Hatha Yoga has provided access to the Western world, and with the eight traditional limbs distilled down to modern day Hatha Yoga, beginners are welcome to dive in while still reaping the benefits of a deep, meaningful practice, rooted in a history of enlightenment and “connection.”
Author: Sarah Ronau