What is Hatha Yoga?
In Hridaya Hatha Yoga, the physical postures (asanas) combine with Advaita, the non-dual vision. Asanas are performed while holding the inner spiritual attitudes recommended in the traditional texts of Tantra Yoga and Kashmir Shaivism.
The practice is oriented towards getting intimate inner knowledge of the physical body and its bio-energies as well as of our Real Nature, the Spiritual Heart. Therefore, a contemplative attitude is indispensable.
Hatha Yoga practice engenders relaxation and happiness rather than effort or strain. Even if it, by itself, may not result in spiritual realisation, Hatha Yoga can give us a more adequate ‘starting point’ on the spiritual journey.
Hatha Yoga is practiced to create the state of relaxation and openness needed in order to realize the transfiguration of the body. Therefore, it is very important to maintain the witnessing attitude, which, through the alchemy of asana practice, leads to the intuition of our True Nature.