Understanding Classical Hatha Yoga

People often say "Yoga and Gym are the same." This is a fundamental misunderstanding. A gym builds your body, but yoga is a tool to access higher dimensions of life. Physical fitness is just a small, pleasant consequence of the practice.

Many people approach yoga to lose weight, but ancient yogis did not invest their lives in this. Yoga is a science of consciously holding postures to alter the very way you think, feel, and perceive life, to exist in union with creation.

In Classical Hatha Yoga, we never use props like ropes or blocks. The journey to a posture is the most transformational part. Using props can cause injury and bypasses the necessary preparation your body and energy system need to undergo.

I am often asked why we do not play music during Hatha Yoga. To connect with the source of creation within you, your body, mind, and energy must be one hundred percent involved. Music can be a distraction that prevents this total focus.

There is a myth that women should not do yoga during their menstrual cycles. This is not true. As Sadhguru says, if the process that creates life is seen as impure, then all of creation is impure. The practices can be of great benefit during this time.

A simple sadhana tip. When you are in an asana, just be in the asana. Avoid the temptation to adjust your clothes or scratch an itch. The goal is to turn your focus inward, and this requires your complete involvement.

This series explains the concept of "Organ Comfort." Modern ideas of comfort involve slouching, but this puts pressure on your vital organs. Keeping the spine erect is the only way your organs can be in maximum comfort, which is essential for health.

This series explains the concept of "Organ Comfort." Modern ideas of comfort involve slouching, but this puts pressure on your vital organs. Keeping the spine erect is the only way your organs can be in maximum comfort, which is essential for health.

This series explains the concept of "Organ Comfort." Modern ideas of comfort involve slouching, but this puts pressure on your vital organs. Keeping the spine erect is the only way your organs can be in maximum comfort, which is essential for health.