Hatha Yoga

HATHA YOGA

The Sanskrit word ‘Hatha’ can be translated as the active path of yoga – as ‘ha’ is the ‘sun’ and ‘tha’ is the ‘moon’. Hatha is known as the yoga of balance of Ida and pingala nadi in our body which represents sun and moon energy in our body. It includes the practice of postures and breathing technique.

Ida, Pingala and sushumna nadi are the three principal energy channels running from the base of the spine and to the head, opening into the crown chakra (Sahasrara). Sushumna is in the centre visible nadi known as the spinal cord, where by which most of the energy flows take place in the body. Ida on the left and pingala on the right of it.

Prana is the life-energy that enters our body through the breath. Once it is entered, it travels through a nerve like network of nadi or energy channels. These nadi transport the life energy to every small and big parts of our body.

IDA – The sanskrit word ‘Ida’ translates to ‘comfort’. Therefore, when life energy flows through Ida, we are relaxed or in restful state. It is associated with white or blue colour which has cooling and moon like qualities such as creativity, imagination and introversion. Imaginably, Ida is called as ‘Chandra Nadi’.

It flows from the left side of the mooladhara chakra in spirals, passing through each chakra in turn, forming a crisscross pathway which terminates on the left side of the ‘Ajna chakra’.

Ida connects to the left nostril and is called the left channel. Left nostril is linked to the right side of the brain which controls the left side of the body.

QUALITIES OF IDA (SHAKTI)

– Cooling, Feminine, Creative, Calming, Emotional, etc.
It can be understood as a ‘rest cycle’ or the activity of parasympathetic nervous system that signals the body to rest and relax.

CONTROLLED BY IDA

• Biological and physical parts of the left side of the body.
• All emotional / mental process.
• The mechanisms that helps relax the body and mind.

PINGALA – The sanskrit word ‘pingala’ translates to a shade of orange called ‘tawny’ (orange-brown). It is also the name of one of the door-keepers of the sun god. It embodies the sun and is called as ‘surya-nadi’.

It flows from the right side of the mooladhara chakra, mirroring the ida, and terminating at the right side of the ajna chakra.

It is the energy channel connected to the right nostril and responsible for the activity cycle of the activities of the sympathetic nervous system. It connects to the right nostril and is called as the right channel. Right nostril is linked to the left side of the brain.

QUALITIES OF PINGALA

– Hot, Shiva, Red, Masculine, Action

In addition, Pingala nadi dominance would be great for physical tasks, analytical thinking, self-expression, arousel and doing extroverted things. It is the healthy energy that motivates and improves organisational skills.

CONTROLLED BY PINGALA

– Biological and physical parts of the right side of the body. – Logical, reasoning and analytical abilities.
– Mechanisms that lead to activity or arousel.

SUSHUMNA – The sanskrit word ‘sushumna’ translates to ‘supremely gracious’ or ‘compassionate’.It is also called the Brahmananda – The channel of Brahman. It plays a key role in achieving the supreme bliss.

It is unquestionably the most important energy channel. It passes through the central axis of the body through the spinal cord, designed for the passage of ‘Kundalini’. It lies between the ida and pingala originating from the mooladhara chakra and ending in the crown chakra (Sahasrara).

The sushumna channel is filled with nothingness (shunya). A yogi has to awaken the kundalini, energy dormant power at the base of our spine, by various yogic practices. Hatha yoga is uniquely focussed on transforming the physical body through purification and cultivation of subtle energies of the body.

The ultimate goal of this type of yoga is to redirect the vital energy into the central channel and draw it upwards the crown chakra.

PRACTICES OF HATHA YOGA