Heart to Heart Soul to Soul
Hatha Yoga
The Alchemy of Body, Breath and Mind
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga is a sacred path, a dance between opposites, an inner alchemy in which sun and moon, Shiva and Shakti, body and mind come together in harmony. The Sanskrit word Hatha carries deep symbolism, referring to the subtle energies that flow within and through us.
The syllable Ha represents the sun—the active, fiery principle, the manifesting force, the Yang energy that radiates and moves. Tha represents the moon—the receptive, calming aspect, the Yin energy that nurtures and reflects. Together they symbolize the two main nadis (energy channels) in our body: Pingala (sun) and Ida (moon). When these energies are in balance, a subtle opening is created in Sushumna, the central channel, through which the Kundalini energy—the divine life stream—awakens and rises.
But Hatha also means strength, a reference to the discipline and surrender needed to purify and refine the body and mind. Originally, this strength was not just sought in physical exertion, but primarily in the mental clarity and spiritual dedication that the path of yoga demands. The asanas (physical postures) were merely a preparation for a deeper state of inner peace and awareness.
Hatha Yoga is an inner journey, a sacred process in which the higher and lower selves merge. Pranayama (conscious breathing) helps to direct and balance the prana—the vital life energy. With every breath, the connection with the divine is felt more deeply, with every movement the temple of the body is healed and opened.
This form of yoga is not a battle of opposites, but a gentle merging of light and shadow, action and silence, matter and spirit. It invites us to transcend the illusion of duality and experience a deep state of unity and presence.
When body, breath and mind come together in harmony, the physical no longer becomes a limitation, but a channel through which the divine can reveal itself.
Prana or Breathe
An important part of Hatha Yoga is pranayama, breathing. This is the most effective way to control the life force. Pranayama purifies and balances the subtle energy pathways or nadis in the body. The three main nadis are: the central orbit 'sushumna' with on the left side of the body the orbit 'ida', which is associated with the moon and on the right the orbit 'pingala', which is associated with the sun. Also of interest are the chakras, the energy wheels or centers at points along the spine where the ida and pingala nadis intersect. These three nadis converge at the base of the spine where Kundalini, also called the Goddess Shakti, lies curled up like a serpent to rest. The intention is to bring the left and right streams to the middle lane. After much practice, the Kundalini awakens and is pulled up through the central orbit, resulting in the life force being used for transcendence. Hatha yoga can be described as a self-transformation system.
Yoga poses
Well-known and popular Hatha Yoga postures are The Sun Salutation (Sūrya namaskāra), The Moon Salutation (Chandra namaskāra), The Plank (Phalakasana), Downward Facing Dog Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana), Side Angle Pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana), Janu Sirsasana (head-knee movement) and Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana).
Flexibility & Power
Hatha yoga develops strength and flexibility, optimizing breathing, more energy, focus, intuition, and connection. Body, Mind and Spirit are connected to each other, but also the connection to everything around us.
𝓟𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓪-𝓿𝓻𝓽𝓽𝓲-𝓷𝓲𝓻𝓸𝓭𝓱𝓪𝓱