hatha

Hatha is a branch of yoga that emphasizes physical techniques intended to purify the body and prepare the practitioner for higher meditation. The term hatha is commonly rendered as forceful or strenuous effort, but its exact etymology is disputed; some theories interpret ha as sun and tha as moon, while others relate the term to prana and apana, or to balancing opposing energies.

Historically, hatha yoga arose in medieval India among ascetic and tantric traditions, and it is associated with the Nath lineage. Classical hatha is described in later texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Gheranda Samhita, and the Shiva Samhita, generally dated to roughly the 14th to 17th centuries. These works present a system of practices intended to purify the body's energy channels (nadis), awaken dormant energy (kundalini), and prepare the practitioner for meditation.

Practices typically include asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), bandhas (energy locks), mudras (gestures), and cleansing techniques (shatkarmas). The emphasis is on balancing bodily energies, increasing vitality, and stabilizing the mind through controlled breathing and postures. In modern usage, hatha yoga is often taught as a general physical practice and is frequently taught under the banner of Hatha Yoga, sometimes with varying emphasis on fitness, alignment, or spiritual aspects.

While hatha yoga is sometimes presented as a complete system, it is one path among many within yoga and is distinct from the broader philosophical system of Raja yoga, even though both may share techniques and aims. Its global popularity in the 20th and 21st centuries has made hatha a umbrella term for many styles of physical yoga that prioritize postures and breath work.