HEALTH is a natural state of wellness. There are many words to describe a diseased state of mind and body, but none to describe health. Hatha Yoga, is a practice of moving the body rhythmically, gracefully and yet with dynamic breathing in different postures. The idea is to stay for as long as one is comfortable in that particular posture.
Introduced by Swatmarama in the 15th century in his compilation Hatha Yoga Pradipika - Hatha simply means harnessing the body that has a certain Hatham or stiffness about it in its set patterns of behaviour and movement. The meaning is the same as the Tamil word Adam, which is usually referred to stubborn behaviour especially of children in throwing tantrums and demanding what they want. Similarly, the body too throws tantrums. Hatha Yoga is the practice of providing a counter posture to every movement of the body, mental in the form of thoughts and physical in the form of actions. This movement, done comfortably and regularly evens out the energies in the body that get collected up on the wrong side leading to disease.
Asana is always understood as posture or the position in which the body is placed - it can be the posture of a crocodile, a bird, an animal, a tree or even a dead body. It is not the posture, but the body and mind comes to a state of total rest when in that posture. This ultimately needs to become a habit, so the two stay healthy and relaxed when not in that posture too.
Hatha also integrates the two aspects of the human energy - namely the sun energy called the Pingala and the Moon energy called Ida. If the Pingala is predominant, the person is positive, aggressive, active and can also turn restless. If the Ida is predominant, then the person is mostly sleepy, tired and inactive. Practice of Hatha Yoga brings about a healthy balance of the two. Hatha also means forceful and it is a strong practice done for purification.
Traditional practice of Hatha Yoga is a holistic path which includes moral discipline, physical and purification procedures, yogic breathing and meditation. In the west, it is understood as a stress-reducing physical exercise.
Asana simply means seat - the same as you tell someone Aasan grahan keejiye, or “Please take your seat.” Here the understanding of seat is more subtle. By practice of Hatha Yoga regularly, the body and mind becomes settled in its own self or base and not moved by the worries of the past or anxieties of the future. Such a mind remains healthy by itself and also keeps the body in a state of good health. It is not given to excesses in food, speech or lifestyle. These lead to good health ultimately. Asana simply means seat - where the mind is at complete rest and in tune with the body. Such a mind remains healthy by itself and also keeps the body in a state of good health. It is not given to excesses in food, speech or lifestyle.
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