Hatha Yoga relates to the restraint of breath (Pranayama), Asanas, Bandhas and Mudras. 'Ha' and 'tha' mean the union of the sun and the moon, union of Prana and Apana Vayus. 'Hatha' means any tenacious practice till the object or end is achieved. Trataka, standing on one leg, (a kind of Tapas) and similar poses are all Hatha Yoga practices. Hatha Yoga is inseparable from Raja Yoga. Raja Yoga begins where Hatha Yoga ends. Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga are interdependent. Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga are the necessary counterparts of each other. No one can become a perfect Yogi without a knowledge and practice of both the Yogas. Hatha Yoga prepares the student to take up Raja Yoga.
A Hatha Yogi starts his Sadhana with body and Prana; a Raja Yogi starts his Sadhana with his mind; a Jnana Yogi starts his Sadhana with Buddhi or intellect and will.
A Hatha Yogi gets Siddhis (psychic powers) by uniting Prana and Apana and by taking the united Prana-Apana through the six Chakras (centres of spiritual energy) to Sahasrara at the crown of the head. A Raja Yogi gets Siddhis by Samyama, i.e., combined practice of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi at one time. A Jnana Yogi exhibits Siddhis through pure will or Sat-Sankalpa. A Bhakta gets Siddhis through self-surrender and the consequent descent of grace. Kriyas, viz., Neti, Dhauti, Nauli, Basti, Tratak and Kapalabhati belong to Hatha Yoga. All need not practise these Kriyas. Those who have got much phlegm in the body should practise these Kriyas. Learn these under an expert Hatha Yogi. Hatha Yoga is not the goal. It is only a means to an end. Take to Raja Yoga after possessing good health.
Do Asana, Kumbhaka, Mudra and shake the Kundalini. Then take it to Sahasrara through Chakras in the Sushumna. O children of light! Will you drink not, will you drink not, the nectar of immortality?
Brother! Attain good health. Without health how can you live? Without health, how can you earn? Without health how can you get success in Yoga or any undertaking? Possess wonderful health through the practice of Hatha Yoga. Drink the nectar in Sahasrara and live in the immortal abode of Siva.
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Next: Chapter 1: Yoga, 4.Yoga Asanas
Energy Enhancement Enlightened Texts Sri Swami Sivananda Essence of Yoga
Chapter 1
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 1.Yoga
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 1.Yoga, Yoga is a perfect practical system of self-culture. Yoga is an exact science. It aims at the harmonious development of the body, the mind and the soul. Yoga is the turning away of the senses from the objective universe and the concentration of the mind within. Yoga is eternal life in the soul or spirit. Yoga aims at controlling the mind and its modifications. The path of Yoga is an inner path whose gateway is your heart at energyenhancement.org
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 2.Essence of Karma Yoga
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 2.Essence of Karma Yoga, Karma Yoga is selfless service unto humanity. 'Your duty is to work incessantly but not to expect the fruits thereof.' This is the central teaching of the Gita at energyenhancement.org
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 3.Hatha Yoga
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 3.Hatha Yoga, Hatha Yoga relates to the restraint of breath (Pranayama), Asanas, Bandhas and Mudras. 'Ha' and 'tha' mean the union of the sun and the moon, union of Prana and Apana Vayus. 'Hatha' means any tenacious practice till the object or end is achieved. Trataka, standing on one leg, (a kind of Tapas) and similar poses are all Hatha Yoga practices. Hatha Yoga is inseparable from Raja Yoga. Raja Yoga begins where Hatha Yoga ends. Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga are interdependent. Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga are the necessary counterparts of each other. No one can become a perfect Yogi without a knowledge and practice of both the Yogas. Hatha Yoga prepares the student to take up Raja Yoga at energyenhancement.org
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 4.Yoga Asanas
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 4.Yoga Asanas, Health is wealth. Health is indeed a covetable possession. Good health is a valuable asset to one and all. It can be achieved by the regular practice of Yoga Asanas at energyenhancement.org
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 5.Pranayama
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 5.Pranayama, Pranayama is an exact science. It is the fourth Anga or limb of Ashtanga Yoga. It is the regulation of breath or control of Prana. Pranayama steadies the mind, augments the gastric fire, energises digestion, invigorates the nerves, destroys the Rajas, destroys all diseases, removes all laziness, makes the body light and healthy and awakens Kundalini at energyenhancement.org
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 6.Kundalini Yoga
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 6.Kundalini Yoga, Kundalini Sakti is the coiled-up, dormant, cosmic power that underlies all organic as well as inorganic matter. It is the primordial energy that lies at the basal Muladhara Chakra in a dormant, potential state. Kundalini Yoga is that Yoga which treats of Kundalini Sakti, the seven Chakras or centres of spiritual energy, the arousing of the sleeping Kundalini Sakti and its union with Lord Siva in Sahasrara Chakra at the crown of the head. The seven Chakras are pierced by the passing of Kundalini Sakti to the top of the head at energyenhancement.org
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 7.Raja Yoga
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 7.Raja Yoga, Raja Yoga is an exact science. It aims at controlling all thought-waves or mental modifications. It concerns with the mind, its purification and control. Hence it is called Raja Yoga, i.e., king of all Yogas. It is otherwise known as Ashtanga Yoga i.e., Yoga with eight limbs at energyenhancement.org
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 8.Control of Mind
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 8.Control of Mind, Mind is Atma Sakti. It is through mind only that Brahman or the Supreme Self manifests as the differentiated universe with heterogeneous objects at energyenhancement.org
- Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 9.Nada Yoga
Sri Swami Sivananda, Essence of Yoga Chapter 1: Yoga, 9.Nada Yoga, Sit in Padmasana or Siddhasana or Sukhasana. Close the ears with the thumbs. This is Shanmukhi Mudra or Vaishnavi Mudra. Hear the music of Anahata sounds. You will have wonderful concentration at energyenhancement.org
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