What Exactly Is Hatha Yoga? (And Why I Keep Coming Back to It)
Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
Yoga comes in many shapes, forms and 'flavours' - the sheer number of types can be overwhelming. There is Ashtanga, Bikram, Hatha, Vinyasa.... And that's before even thinking about the more modern variations that have appeared in recent years.
In my own practice, Hatha yoga has become my favourite style. So, for the first of my reflections on yoga styles, I'm going to focus on that.
What Is Hatha Yoga?
When most people hear the term Hatha yoga, they often assume it refers to a particular style of yoga class.
For those who have tried it, it brings to mind images of slower movements, longer-held poses, and a gentler pace than some of the more dynamic forms of yoga like Ashtanga.
While that description isn't entirely wrong, it only scratches the surface of what Hatha yoga is.
Hatha is many things: a style of physical practice, a system of energetic balance, a philosophical framework, and even a complete path towards spiritual growth. It forms the basis for many other forms of yoga and, for that reason, I see it as one of the most holistic approaches to practice.
How can a yoga practice be holistic?
Photo by Erika Fletcher on Unsplash
At one end of the scale, Hatha yoga is described in key yogic texts as follows: 'For those completely scorched in the fire of suffering, Hatha yoga is a refuge.'
Others have described it as something that 'invites mindfulness into our actions, so that we become increasingly aware of how we move, breathe, and ease into meditative stillness.'
Somewhere in between, it has been described is as 'the way towards realisation through rigorous discipline.'
At first glance, these ideas might seem worlds apart - the first and the second go so far as to even seem contradictory. One sounds gentle and reflective; another sounds demanding; and the other sounds intense.
Yet at their heart, all three point towards the same idea: Hatha yoga is a process of becoming more aware. It asks us to pay attention to our bodies, our breath, our habits, our thoughts, and ultimately ourselves.
More Than Just Physical Exercise
For many of us, a journey towards becoming more aware through yoga begins with a yoga mat. However, Hatha yoga includes a much broader collection of practices than simply Asana or poses.
These include pranayama (or breathwork), and dhyana (or meditation), amongst others. Each serves a different purpose, but each practice works together with the others - rather than separate practices competing for importance, they form part of a larger whole.
This is perhaps one of the greatest lessons Hatha yoga offers.
Progress is rarely achieved through a single action.
Instead, growth comes from many small practices working together over time.
What can Hatha yoga offer to yogis?
Photo by Silviu Zidaru on Unsplash
The reason Hatha yoga resonates so strongly with me is that life often feels busy, noisy, and overwhelming. The fact that there is a practice designed not only to strengthen us, but also to support us feels deeply comforting to me.
Hatha yoga embraces the whole person - it recognises that we are not simply physical bodies to be stretched and strengthened — we are also minds, emotions, habits, memories, beliefs, experiences, and aspirations.
Hatha yoga asks us to acknowledge all aspects of ourselves. The parts we celebrate. The parts we avoid. The strengths we proudly display. The fears and insecurities we would rather hide. Rather than trying to fix or fight those parts of ourselves, yoga invites us to become curious about them. In this sense, Hatha yoga is not about perfection - It is about integration.
My own experience of Hatha yoga
The longer I spend practicing yoga, the less I see Hatha yoga as a style of exercise and the more I see it as a way of life. It encourages us, and gives us skills to care for the body while also cultivating awareness of the mind.
It invites us to move, breathe, reflect, and rest.
Hatha yoga doesn't remove life's challenges, but it does offer us a path to navigate through them.
And like so many worthwhile things, that path begins with small steps.
A Few More Small Reflections
A Different Kind of Small Beginning