Classical Hatha Yoga
The sublime philosophy ~ theory underpinning the sophisticated
Sadhana ~ methodology of Classical Hatha Yoga
Kundalini
Chakras
Nadis
Mudra
Bandha
Pranayama
Asana
Shatkarmas
Overview
• In today’s society the word Hatha Yoga has come to mean to the
uninitiated many things.
• Often Yoga teachers try to promote Asanas as Hatha Yoga, thus
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not only deluding their students but also they are perpetuating a
false understanding in themselves.
Everyone suffers as spiritual realization becomes only a pipe
dream. Yoga has always been about awakening, enlightment of
the spirit, this has never been an outcome of just Asana practice.
By systematically following the system of “Classical Hatha Yoga”
you will eventually “experience” Yoga.
Shatkarmas
• Originally Classical Hatha Yoga, which is a complete system of Yoga
in itself, only consisted of six techniques known as the Shatkarmas.
• Shatkarmas: The main shatkarmas are Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Nauli,
Kapalbhati and Trataka. Classical Hatha Yoga later evolved over many
centuries to encompass Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha.
• Classical Hatha Yoga is a tried and proven path to self-realization that
has been finely honed and developed by Indian, Nepalese and Tibetan
Yoga Masters for millennia.
• It not only confers a healthy mind and body but also leads the sincere
and dedicated aspirant to psychic and spiritual awakening and to the
discovery of their inherent creative potential.
• This is the path of Yoga most suited to the Yoga aspirant of today’s
world as it works systematically from the grosser physical body that we
are already familiar with through to the most subtle aspects of our
total personality. Thus making Classical Hatha Yoga the ideal
foundation for the most advanced Yoga’s.
Asana
• Asana: Asana is the next limb of Classical Hatha Yoga. In Raja
Yoga, asana refers to the sitting meditative posture used for the
higher stages of Raja Yoga i.e.) Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana,
Dhyana, Samadhi, but in Hatha Yoga1 it means something more.
• Asana is a specific body position, which helps to open the energy
channels (nadis) and the psychic energy centers (Chakras) .Hatha
Yoga is a process through which purification and control of the
body takes place by restructuring the pranic flow.
• Foremost important Asanas are: Siddhasana or Siddha Yoni
Asana (Adepts pose) and Padmasana (Lotus pose) which all
classical Hatha yoga texts recommend as the most important to
master. Additional asanas up to 82 are also recommended until
one is ready for higher Yoga’s such as Raja Yoga or Kriya Yoga,
which is an advanced form of Kundalini Yoga. The Classical
Ancient Hatha Yoga Texts are:
Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gherand Samhita,
Hathratnavali, Shiva Satarka
Pranayama
• Pranayama: Is the next limb of classical Hatha Yoga following
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Shatkarmas and Asana. Classically Pranayama is commenced
after ones body has been prepared through Asana and one has
commenced to moderate and purify the diet and is practicing
some shatkarmas according to the instructions of the teacher.
The word “Prana” is a combination of two syllables, pra and na.
Prana denotes constancy, a force in constant motion. Prana is the
vital life force and pranayama is the process by which the
internal pranic store is increased or expanded. Pranayama is
comprised by the words prana and ayama, which means” pranic
capacity or length”.
Pranayama is a technique through which the quantity of prana in
the body is activated to a higher frequency.
Bandha
• Bandha: Is the next limb of classical Hatha Yoga following the Shatkarmas,
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Asana and Pranayama.
A Bandha is a Psychomuscular energy lock, which redirects the flow of
psychic energy “Prana”in the body. Individually there is three Bandhas, but
the combination of all three Bandhas is sometimes used to make a fourth
very important lock or Bandha. The Bandhas are:1) Moola Bandha6 triggered
by the contraction of the Perineum in the male and the Cervix in the female
body. 2) Uddiyana Bandha : Abdominal retraction lock 3) Jalandhara Bandha :
Throat lock.
Maha Bandha: the Great lock is the coordinated combination of the previous
three Bandhas.
Universal Prana or life force in the physical body is subdivided into five prana
vayus. These Prana Vayus are operating in different locations, they flow in
different directions and perform different functions. The Prana Yayus are
Apana, Samama,Prana,Vyana,Udana. The three most important are Prana,
Apana and Samana. The natural movement of Prana is upwards, Apana
downwards and Samana is sideways.
Through the practice of Maha Bandha the direction of Apana and Prana is
reversed and made to flow towards Samana. The force of Samana is
strengthened and redirected backwards to help awaken the transcendental
Nadi of Sushumna.
Mudra
• Mudra: In classical Hatha Yoga after practicing Shatkarma,
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Asana, Pranayama, Bandha the student of Hatha Yoga begins
the practice of Mudra.
Mudra literally means “gesture” a physical, mental and psychic
attitude which expresses and channels the cosmic energy of
Prana.
The most famous Mudras are: 2Khechari Mudra, Maha Mudra,
Maha Bheda Mudra, Vipareeta Karani Mudra,Vajroli and Sahajoli
Mudra, Naumukhi Mudra and Yoni Mudra, Shambhavi Mudra,
Manduki Mudra, Shakti Chalini Mudra.
Mudra’s channel the refined and subtle pranic energy that is
produced through the preceding Asana, Pranayama, Bandha, and
arouses or induces a particular state of mind.
When this state arises Deep Meditation can become
spontaneous. Cultivation of this state of high energy opens the
doors of perception through which a Yogi explores their
consciousness
Nadis
• Nadis: Nadis are Psychic channels through which flows the distribution of prana in
the Astral body or Pranamaya Kosha.
• “When we heat ice, we speed up the energy within it, and the ice becomes
water. The characteristic expression of water is flow. So to in the pranamaya
kosha, the prana flows in rivers of energy”. Quote: Swami Satyananda
Sasaswati.
• According to Ancient Yogic Texts there are 72,000 or more nadis through which prana
and consciousness are distributed throughout the body. There are Ten main nadis out
of which, three are the most important. These Nadis are Ida, Pingala and
Sushumna. Ida is the channel of mental energy, Pingala the channel for vital energy
and Sushumna Nadi is the channel for spiritual energy. When the left nostril is flowing
Ida is active, and when the right nostril is flowing Pingala is active.
• But when both are made to flow perfectly equal for an extended period of time
through Sadhana (“Spiritual Practice ie: Yoga”) or other means, this is said to herald
the auspicious moment when the transcendental Nadi of Sushumna begins to open
and flow.
• The Physiological correlate for Sushumna is the Canal Centralis of the spinal cord.
Perfection of Nadi Shodhan Pranayama and many other techniques begins the
awakening of Pranas in the Pranamaya Kosha3 “Pranothana” and eventually through
much effort Sushumna. Through Sushumna you can experience deep transcendental
experiences related to the mystical Chakras and Kundalini.
Chakras
• Chakras: A Chakra is a Psychophysical reality or entity4, a
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vortex of light or psychic energy existing multidimensional at the
interface between body and mind.
At the grosser level the Chakras have associated links in the
physical body through various Endocrine Glands, Nerve
Plexuses, Organs and the (CNS) Brain and Spinal Cord.
On a more subtle level Chakras operate like transducers stepping
down the cosmic energy like a top down hierarchy of energy and
consciousness filtering down through the depths of the
Unconscious Mind to permeate the physical Body.
Chakras can be understood as part of the here and now mortal
body and part of the complex and immortal collective super
conscious state of the divine, which is inherent in all beings.
Kundalini
• Kundalini: The Goal of Yoga is to awaken your dormant potential, which is the
evolutionary spiritual force known in Tantra as Kundalini. Stabilizing the awakened
state of Kundalini in Samadhi is the Goal of all Yogas.eg Hatha, Raja, Kriya,
Kundalini.
• Few ever achieve the highest goal which is said to be a transcendental state of supreme
bliss at one with all of creation. It is only reached through diligent Sadhana for many
years under the tuition of a capable Master of this Science.
• This is our evolutionary destiny to have a firm grip of the experience of Kundalini and
have permanent access to the wisdom that it reveals.
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Quotes
Kundalini does not belong to the physical body, though it has to be searched for there,
nor in the mental body or even in the astral body. It is in the unconscious causal body,
in that particular state of awareness where the concept of time, space and object is
completely lost. The seat of the unconscious in man is in the perineum, known in
yogic terminology as Mooladhara. It is a gland, a muscle, it is a body in which all the
unconscious powers and initiatives of man are hidden. “Quote by Swami Satyananda
Saraswati”
• 5By Pranayama and other yogic processes the static Shakti is affected and becomes
dynamic. When completely dynamic, when Kundalini unites with Siva “Divine
Consciousness” in the Sahasrara, the polarization of the body gives way. The two poles
are united in one and there is the state of consciousness called Samadhi. “Quote by
Swami Sivananda Saraswati”
Some Verses of Wisdom
From the
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Circa 6th Century AD
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There is no asana like Siddhasana, no Kumbhaka
like Kevala, no Mudra like Kechari and no Laya or dissolution
of the mind like Nada, the inner sound
C2Ver75: There is no doubt; the state of Raja Yoga is also
attained through Kevala Kumbhaka. By retention Kundalini is
aroused, Sushumna becomes unobstructed and perfection of
Hatha Yoga takes place
C2Ver76: There can be no perfection if Hatha Yoga is
without Raja Yoga or Raja Yoga without Hatha Yoga. Therefore,
through practice of both, perfection is obtained
C4Ver114: While the prana does not flow in the middle passage
(Sushumna), while the Bindu is not steadied by restraining the
Prana, while the mind does not reflect spontaneous Meditation,
then those who speak of Spiritual knowledge are only indulging
in boastful and false tales
References
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Saraswati, Swami Muktibodhananda & Swami Satyananda: Commentary by
Hatha Yoga Pradipika1 by Yogi Swatmarama, Bihar School of Yoga
Munger, Bihar, India, 1985
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Saraswati, Swami Satyananda,
Kundalini Tantra2 Bihar School of Yoga,
Munger, Bihar, India, 1984
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Saraswati, Swami Niranjanananda
Prana Pranayama Pranavidya3
Bihar School of Yoga
Munger, Bihar, India, 1994
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Saraswati, Swami Anandakapila (Dr.Jonn Mumford)
A Chakra & Kundalini Workbook4
Llewellyn Publications
St. Paul, MN, USA, 1993
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Saraswati, Swami Sivananda
Kundalini Yoga -Yoga Kundalini Upanishad, Tenth Ed5,
Divine Life Society, Rishikesh, UP, India
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Saraswati, Swami Buddhananda,
Moola Bandha the Master Key6
Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, Bihar, India, 1978
Copyright © Swami Mounamurti Saraswati
Satyam Yoga Centre
satyamyoga.com
Conclusion