Understanding Hatha Yoga: Unveiling the True Path to Self-Remembrance and Freedom
It’s not widely taught or understood in the West, but Hatha Yoga is considered the foundational branch of all branches or ‘styles’ of yoga.
For commercial reasons, today’s marketers (and even some yoga teachers) often refer to it as the ‘gentle’ option because it can be more readily adapted to make it accessible. But that is super misleading.
The Misconception of Hatha Yoga in the Modern Fitness Industry
It’s my belief that it suits the modern yoga industry (which more accurately is the fitness industry) to categorise Hatha Yoga in this way.
Why have one traditional practice that promises systematic and sustainable progress and has proven time-tested results when you can be sold into a whole smorgasbord of classes from Vinyasa to Rocket, to Hot and Dynamic.
These modern ‘styles’ of yoga are generally not as accessible to all individuals and ages and appeal to the western mindset, with a focus on physical performance. They have all been developed in the 20th and even 21st Century.
My take on this is these styles cleverly separate us and differentiate us, so our sense of ‘individual self ‘or ego personality can be sold to more effectively. Which is almost fine if the purpose is to get us ‘in the door’.
Instead, the more spiritual, ritualistic and meditative aspects of this ancient tradition get steadily ejected from the Yoga curriculum and the consumer is misled into thinking they are still practicing Yoga because the fitness industry says it’s still Yoga.
A Time-Tested Practice Rooted in Tradition
Compare that to the traditional practices of Hatha Yoga and Tantric Hatha, which have been around for 5,000 years and survived thanks to decades of Yogis protecting and generously sharing the tradition orally from teacher to student. The technology and science of traditional Yoga has stood the test of time producing not just healthy, strong and thriving individuals but in some cases enlightened beings who have broken through their conditioned patterns and really know who they are, beyond the individually constructed self.
To achieve that state is Yoga and is true freedom.
Hatha Yoga vs. Modern Yoga: The Ego Trap and Fleeting Results
Far from delivering you into the promise of Yoga, modern practice tends to keep us in the realm of the ego and individualised personality self (ego). My experience is at best there are moments of connection and relaxation, but they are fleeting and hardly ever enduring. In other words, it doesn’t last. This is great for the fitness industry as it keeps you coming back to class and paying your membership fees.
Even more genius is you will think it’s your fault you’re not getting anywhere near a state of freedom and Yoga because you are not working hard enough, or you aren’t advanced enough in a posture!
You see how that works? We couldn’t be getting it more wrong if we tried.
Exploring Hatha Yoga as a Tantric Path to Self-Remembrance
So, what is Hatha Yoga, and why is Hatha Yoga considered a Tantric Yoga (which is what we teach at Yoga Local).
First of all, both Hatha and Tantric Hatha work with the many purification techniques, practices and postures that if taught well, start to remove the obstacles preventing us from remembering all we can be and all that we are (pure consciousness). Yoga is a state of self-remembrance folks, not a state of flexibility. Flexibility simple comes along for the ride. 🤯💣
So, what do I mean by obstacles? This could be anything physical, emotional, mental, karmic (consequences of our previous actions) that cause us to doubt, fear, resist, play small or limit us in life. Everything from that bad back, the stress of keeping up with the Jones’, to staying unhappily in a job that is taking you down!
Overcoming Obstacles and Limitations
Hatha Yoga focuses its efforts on the physical purification and the physical body. On this level of who we are, change is more difficult to make and maintain but thought to be more stable.
From the Tantric standpoint, having a stable and healthy body is a HUGE asset and tantric practitioners readily use the techniques of Hatha Yoga (and Ayurveda) to achieve optimal health and well-being as they take to the demands of a disciplined, progressive spiritual practice.
Tantric practitioners however work not only on the physical level (dense) but on the energetic level (subtle) where change or transformation, is said to be more instantaneous.
Tantric practice you could say is a more efficient and direct way to make that change happen.
Moon, Sun, and Fire: The Warrior’s Journey
But a warning on the tantric fast tracking!
It’s never a great idea to add an onboard motor to a vessel that is ‘off course’ and doesn’t know where it’s going. So stabilising and purifying the mind is always where the Tantric Hatha Yoga path begins. Stability remember is key, not flexibility.
Moon (Mind), Sun (Prana), Fire (Consciousness) is the traditional Hatha Yoga pathway that prepares any student (beginner to advanced) to continuously show up for and withstand the transformation process.
Think about it, even when we want change, we resist it. Even our imbalances can feel better than change. It’s scary. So, practicing through this progression is not for the feint of heart. It requires a Warrior’s attitude and a will of steel! You get to face what needs to be faced and are compassionately guided through skilful practice to do what needs to be done, not necessarily what you want to do. This is not a soft option. Your strength and resilience are meant to be built as they are tested.
The Power of Tantra: Energetic Transformation and Awakening Kundalini
To clarify Tantra’s specific forte on this path is energetic purification. Practically speaking it’s about directing the breath, breath control and mastering the energy field so we can unlock our innate potential. I think of it much like creating the spark that brings flames to wood.
That unlocked potential is often referred to as Kundalini. The activating of which gives us access to higher consciousness and remembrance of who we really are! Light, illumination, power, transformation and enlightenment are the result of working with fire!
Unlocking Your Potential: Hatha Yoga as a Systematic Pathway to Higher States of Awareness
The Hatha Yoga (Tantric Hatha Yoga) progression of Moon, Sun, Fire offers the science, the practices, the systematic pathway to stabilise and strengthen the body and mind. From that space we achieve the capacity to skilfully manage and direct our energy, which is what creates the ‘flame’ (don’t get trippy on me – it’s a metaphor 😉). The fire represents our courage, and determination to live life to the full, and is what propels our consciousness into higher states of awareness. We transform.
Consistency and Transformation: The Key to Fortifying Body, Mind, and Energy
The transformation only truly happens when you show up on this path consistently. To fortify and purify the body, to master the mind, to master energy to unlock potential and remember just how awesome we are, and how awesome life is.
Making the Choice: Hatha Yoga or Superficial Gains?
Or we could bounce around in the many different styles of modern yoga, buy into the marketing and trade that all in for a depleted nervous system and maybe a six pack! The choice is still ours.
What are you choosing?
