Be a Hatha Yogi

According to Wikipedia, Hatha Yoga is a system of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In this treatise, Swatmarama introduces Hatha Yoga as a way of physical purification that the body practices for higher meditation. The word Hatha is a compound of the words Ha and Tha meaning sun and moon. A Yogi has to join together sun (masculine, active) energy with the moon (feminine, receptive) energy, thus producing balance and enlightenment in an individual.

Hatha Yoga is a strong practice done for healing and purification. Hatha Yoga is what most people in the Western world associate with the word "Yoga" and is most commonly practiced for mental and physical health. The most comprehensive text of Hatha Yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Yogi Swatmarama. It includes information about shatkarma (purification), asana (postures), pranayama (subtle breath energy), chakras (centers of energy), kundalini (enlightenment energy), bandhas (energy control), kriya (purification techniques), nadi (energy channels), and mudras (energy gestures).

Traditionally, Shiva is credited with propounding Hatha Yoga. It is said that on a lonely island he gave the knowledge of Hatha Yoga to Goddess Parvati, but a fish heard the entire discourse. Shiva took mercy on the fish (Matsya) and made him a siddha (Buddha), who came to be known as Matsyendra. Matsyendra taught Hatha Yoga to Chaurangi and to Goraksha. Goraksha gave it to Swatmarama.

Modern schools of Hatha Yoga derive from Krishnamacharya, who taught from 1924 until his death in 1989. Among his students prominent in popularizing Yoga in the West were Pattabhi Jois, famous for the vigorous Ashtanga Yoga; B.K.S. Iyengar, who used props; Indra Devi and Krishnamacharya's son T.K.V. Desikachar, who developed the Viniyoga style. Another major stream of influence was Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh (1887-1963) and his disciples Swami Vishnu-devananda - founder of International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres; Swami Satyananda - of the Bihar School of Yoga; and Swami Satchidananda - of Integral Yoga.

Steps

  1. Look within yourself. Spiritually, humans can be compared to onions. Tensions and inner conflicts (inner stress) must be dissolved layer by layer. When one layer is peeled away, the next quickly appears at the surface until the inner core is revealed. At this point, a lasting inner joy is found, and the Yogi or Yogini lives in light.
  2. Inner joy appears in a person when the tensions (Samskaras) in body and soul have been dissolved. We need exercises for the body (Yoga, Meditation) and for the soul (reflection, Positive Thinking). Buddha developed a very simple yet genius practice. This consisted of “sitting, going, and thought practice.” This is the center of a successful Hatha Yoga Practice. You need body work (Yoga, walking), mental work (reflection, reading, praying, mantra) and meditation (sitting or lying). And everything in balance, in the right moment and with the right technique.
  3. Vary your routine. When one varies one’s activities between body work, mental work and meditation, the inner conflict and tension can be done away with. When a person only meditates, the spirit becomes dull and listless. Routine movement makes the spirit clear, keeps the body healthy and gives the person inner energy. If you only go or do Yoga asanas, the mind is restless. Inner happiness comes from inner peace. If the body is kept very quiet, you can get into deeper dimensions of meditation.
  4. Meditation can be practiced either in a sitting position or lying down. Some people can meditate better when sitting, others when lying down. Those who fall asleep easily when lying down, should meditate by sitting. Those who cannot sit straight for a long time should practice meditation lying down.
  5. Strive to get rid of inner conflict. In addition to periods of sitting and relaxing in combination with movement, working with the thoughts is important in getting rid of inner conflict. A Yogi or Yogini should develop his or her thoughts with love, wisdom, and self-discipline. He or she should learn to bring the thoughts into stillness, until the thoughts are always tranquil. Then he or she only thinks when thinking is required.
  6. Learn the five activities. This basic model of stress resolution can be extended to the way of the five activities. The five activities are: lying down (or sitting and meditating), reading, walking (or Yoga asanas), doing good for others (work), and to enjoy life.
  7. Meditate. There are two levels of meditation. The first level consists of purifying himself through visualizations, mantras, and breath exercises to activate the Kundalini energy. Then you stop all thoughts. The spirit comes entirely to rest. You let the thoughts and feelings come and go as they would. Suddenly, peace and happiness appears.
  8. Read spiritual books. Reading spiritual books helps to cleanse the spirit by helping let go of inner conflict. Everyone can read books to obtain spiritual inspiration. There are thousands of spiritual books available.
  9. Exercise. Another activity of those seeking enlightenment is movement, particularly cardiovascular sports such as walking, running, biking, swimming. Yoga is also a good form of movement. Even the Dalai Lama rides a stationary bike every day, for a half an hour. Swami Shivananda likes to take walks. There are appropriate exercises for everyone. Yogis living in caves developed the very well-known sun salute, for example.
  10. Do good...for yourself and others. The fourth activity is that of Karma Yoga (doing good). Karma Yoga opens the heart, gives inner power, and develops the consciousness towards all-encompassing love. Karma Yoga can be practiced one to six hours per day. Swami Shivananda recommended one hour, while Sai Baba is for six. Yogi Nils found three to four hours per day to be a good amount for him. Karma yoga can also be practiced by working people, but of course money is needed to exist in today’s world.
  11. Enjoy your life. The fifth activity consists of enjoying life. We should bring joy into our lives. That opens our hearts, and brings light inside us. Everyone is predisposed towards something. You can listen to music, eat something delicious, read a good book, watch a movie, find time for your favorite creative hobbies, and so forth. It is important though, to pay attention to the amount with which we busy ourselves with enjoyment. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing, too little makes life sad.
  12. Get rest. Also, too much direct contact with other people during the development of inner happiness should be avoided. A yogi should find out how much contact with others is good for him or her. At a certain point, physical rest can cause the energy of a person to go inward. The person no longer has to direct oneself towards outer activities, and puts more worth on the inner spiritual cleansing, the dissolving of inner conflict, and the development of inner happiness.
  13. Again, look within. This turning point must be discovered by each yogi for him or herself. It is difficult to find and difficult to hold onto. Life energy tends toward an excess of activity or towards dullness. Both need to be avoided with daily exercised self-discipline. When we keep inner calm, inner happiness appears. We can develop our true selves, and our sense of life.



Tips

  • The spiritual techniques of the unknown Yogi are simple. They consist of walking, reading, helping others, and lying in bed. Everyone can do that. The secret here is the right application of the right technique at the right moment. Then the inner tension dissolve and inner happiness appears. Yogis know when they need which technique. When the body is dull and lacking energy, the Yogi goes for a walk. When he or she feels restless, he or she practices Yoga or meditates. When the spirit seems to rebel against the spiritual way, a book on spiritual topics helps to bring back the conviction towards enlightenment.
  • A Yogi senses the inner conflict and uses the proper techniques to dissolve the tension. That is usually what the body and soul wants the least at that moment. Wherever the neurotic tendency to feel repelled towards something is usually the way to the light. On the other hand, we need to sometimes give the body and soul what they would like, otherwise tension is built. The way to happiness requires a lot of wisdom and inner sensitivity. Ask your inner voice for spiritual guidance, “What is right at the moment? What is the way of truth? What do I need today? What do I want today?”
  • An unknown Yogi and follower of Swami Shivananda in Germany meditates for six hours and goes for an hour walk twice a day. He practices Yoga for an hour and reads a spiritual book for one hour. He also works towards the happiness of others three to four hours per day. He exercises constantly. He divides these spiritual exercises in a way that enables him to constantly undergo the inner purification process. If we meditate before going to sleep, meditation continues while sleeping. When we work in a state of relaxation, work becomes a type of meditation. Eating, sleeping, working, and even watching TV are Yoga exercises for him.
  • For Swami Shivananda the spiritual daily schedule is the central technique on the Yoga path to light. When we live and practice spiritual exercises for the body and mind everyday, then we will reach enlightenment. The number of hours required on a daily basis to attain a life in the light (in happiness) varies from person to person, and their situation and abilities.
  • Swami Shivananda (also written Sivananda) lived from 1897 to 1963 in India. He was one of the greatest Indian saint of modern times.[1] By profession, he was a doctor. He taught the yoga of the trinity (Trimurti Yoga), the combination of Hatha Yoga (spiritual exercises), Karma Yoga (work for a happy world) and Master Yoga (daily connection with an enlightened master). He pushed for the cooperation of the religions. But all the yogis should cooperate with each other, too. According to Swami Shivananda, enlightenment occurs via relaxation, practice, and love. When a Yogi or Yogini lives in an area of peace, he or she is already halfway there. The second half is tackled with spiritual practice. In order to pass through the gate to a life in light, all-encompassing love must be at the heart of the seeker of enlightenment. When a Yogi lives for the happiness of others, then the ego can be dissolved. When the ego disappears, the person is in light. Individuals who reach this point relax so deeply into their souls that the energy of happiness awakes from within.

Warnings

  • Both teachings are correct. Exercise and practice as well as merely existing are both important along the spiritual path. Each person must go into the self and find out what point at one moment is the most important for him or her. Who is prone to inertia, should emphasize the intense practice. Who is internally restless, should first found to be. Every type of person needs a special way of approaching stillness and exercise in order to grow optimally along the spiritual path. Live in the light and the live will be easy, peaceful and happy. Not always, but always often.
  • How important is the life of existence in order to be happy. Who lives in being, can be at peace with life. He lives very relaxed. Such a way of life dissolve well all the internal tension. On the other hand, it is on the Yoga Way too important to practice every day consistently. Even the intense spiritual practice is an important way to resolve the tension. There are two different schools of yoga. One teaching is to live based on existence (Ramana Maharshi, Lao Tzu, Buddha) and the other focuses on the spiritual practice (Swami Shivananda, Sai Baba, Amma, the Dalai Lama). Who is right?
  • Enlightenment, inner happiness, and existence (being) are tightly connected. Those who come into a deep state of being reach for enlightenment. Those who let go of all attachments to external things, relaxed so deeply in their soul that enlightenment and inner joy can be found. One can look at existence as a stage preceding enlightenment. A Yogi or Yogini must first come into being. Then develop enlightenment (the inner happiness) by itself. However, it goes the other not without practicing.

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sivananda
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