Defining Terms
We have all heard different terms used to describe yoga classes. Most people who are familiar with yoga have heard the terms Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa, Ashtanga Yoga, and Iyengar Yoga. What do these terms actually mean and are they used correctly, and why does it matter? First, let’s briefly discuss this list of terms and practices, and then focus more on the term Hatha Yoga as Hatha Yoga will be the theme of this multi-part blog post series.
Vinyasa is often described, in common parlance, as a class or practice where you flow from one pose (asana) to another. The word vinyasa literally means putting down in order or an assemblage. However, a practitioner might do an asana practice in a disorganized fashion or intentionally out of order to learn from that type of experience. This is called vishamanyasa. For more on this, check out B.K.S. Iyengar’s Volume 2 of the Astadala Yogamala.
Ashtanga Yoga, in the U.S., often refers to a practice developed by Pattabhi Jois in the 20th century. Pattabhi Jois prescribed a preset sequence of yoga poses combined with breath, referred to as a series. The “primary series” is the first of these series. When you accomplish the primary series, after much practice, you move on to the next more challenging and advanced sequence. The actual term Ashtanga Yoga, however, means eight limb yoga and has been around for thousands of years. Henceforth in this post, the term Ashtanga Yoga will refer to eight limb yoga, not the yoga of Pattabhi Jois.
Iyengar practitioners also reference what they do as Ashtanga Yoga, but more commonly say they practice Iyengar Yoga, to differentiate their practice from other lineages. Guruji B.K.S. Iyengar himself would say he does not call what he does Iyengar Yoga, but rather he refers to his practice as Patañjali's Yoga in reference to the great sage that codified yoga approximately 2,000 years ago.
If this all feels deep in the weeds, not to worry. Some people study just one of these individual lineages for their whole life. In other words, there is no way to explain it all here. Understanding each of these lineages is not the purpose of this post anyway. The focus is Hatha Yoga and starts by looking at the term Hatha and its use.
Defining Hatha Yoga
So what about Hatha Yoga? Hatha Yoga is not Ashtanga or eight limb yoga. It is not, however, in conflict with the teachings of Ashtanga Yoga. In fact, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika states that Hatha Yoga’s purpose is to prepare the practitioner for higher forms of yoga. Some would say that Ashtanga Yoga is that higher practice.
More on what Hatha Yoga is in a moment, but first let us look at how the term is commonly used today. In the U.S., the term Hatha Yoga is typically used to describe a practice of yoga where you hold the poses, which differentiates it from vinyasa. Someone might ask: “Do you practice vinyasa or Hatha Yoga?” A teacher might use the term Hatha Yoga to denote that they are not teaching vinyasa. But, are they comparing apples to oranges? In their minds and in the way they are intending, yes, they are making an apt comparison. However, the term vinyasa describes a way of practicing poses (yogasana), while the term Hatha denotes a much larger system of poses, ethics, morals, body cleansing techniques, meditation and more. In this way, it is not a comparison of similar items. An apt comparison is that you wouldn’t ask, “Do you practice Christianity, or do you practice praying?” I have even seen people describe their teaching style as “Hatha” Yoga because they were not Certified Iyengar Yoga teachers and needed a way to describe their teaching style without using the Iyengar name. More on this relationship between Iyengar Yoga and Hatha Yoga in part 3!
The use of yogasana or yoga postures or “seat” for a more literal definition has been prescribed in the practice of yoga going back for at least thousands of years. There are so many reasons an individual might practice asana. It could be practiced for health and wellness, fitness, exercise, or even mental and emotional stability. But the main goal is Kaivalya, meaning a true identity of the Self where the Self “stands alone.” In other words, it is a path to the correct understanding of who we are. We could also say that asana practice serves to help prepare the body for the practices to come.
The term Hatha Yoga likely originated from the Nath Sect. This group of people, potentially dating back to the 10th century, used a myriad of practices, including asana, to prepare the self for more challenging practices to come. From these people we have the preeminent text on the subject, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. This text is estimated to have been compiled in the 15th century. And although asana is an important part of the practice of Hatha Yoga, it is only mentioned in the first chapter. And, for the purposes of this post, this ancient text is the true source for defining the term Hatha Yoga.
More about the Hatha Yoga Pradipika
When we look into this text to discover just what is Hatha Yoga, we discover a broad array of practices, including asana, but also pranayama (yoga breathing techniques), satkarmas (purifications), mudra (seals), mantra (chanting), and meditation. Some of these practices are quite severe sounding in today’s society. For example, there is the practice of cutting the flap of skin under the tongue (the frenum) in order to be able to roll the tongue back to the nasal passages to block them off in a form of pranayama. This and many other practices are described in the text.
Reflecting back on vinyasa to help us understand terms, I don’t have any data for this, but would venture a guess that when doing asana practice, the people of the Nath likely did practices where they went from one pose to the next, like vinyasa or “flow” yoga is described, and also held poses for several breaths, seeking the benefit of a wide variety of practices. Iyengar yoga, similarly, prescribes jumpings or sun salutations, as well as holding poses for up to a few minutes.
How about the word Hatha itself? What does that specifically mean? Often it is described as meaning sun and moon (ha and tha) and implies a union of these energies. Furthermore, it relates these to the pingala and ida nadis. These are channels that are described as lying on the left and right side of the spine and are thought to relate to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. The actual Sanskrit word, though, translates as “force.” Interestingly, whereas the practice of Ashtanga Yoga has a goal of self-discovery through a quieting of the mind, Hatha Yoga deals with the energy in the body and preparing it for things to come.
Does it matter if people misuse these terms? In some ways, I am not sure that it does. As a practitioner and teacher of Iyengar yoga, I simply find myself more and more careful with the verbiage I use. My aim here is to share information in the hope that it will help you have a better understanding about what it is you are doing and why you are doing it. With a sense of humor, next time someone tells you they practice “Hatha Yoga” you could jokingly ask to look under their tongue.
If the study of the ancient texts, like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, interests you, please join our yoga philosophy class that meets on Zoom every Sunday, from 9:30 – 10:30 am. If you live in Asheville, you are welcome to attend the group in person. Our participants live all across the country. No previous knowledge of Sanskrit is necessary. The class is free of charge; the only entrance “fee” is curiosity and the willingness to learn. Join us! It’s nourishing and FUN!
With Much Love,
Randy
