Hatha Yoga

The basic concept of Hatha Yoga claims that the Universe is formed by two opposing and complementary forces, a positive polarity and a negative polarity; these two forces interact with each other and are the cause of Creation and Dissolution of the Universe and of all life.

The word Hatha is the composition of two Bija Mantra (seed syllables); the syllable "ha" means moon and "tha" sun. The moon is the symbol of Manas Shakti (mental energy) and of Ida Nadi, the sun is the symbol of Prana Shakti (vital energy) and of Pingali Nadi.
When, through Hatha Yoga practice, these two energy flows are balanced and unified, a suitable condition for the reawakening of a third stream of energy, that is spiritual energy, is created.

The path of Hatha Yoga begins with the six purification practices, known as Shatkriya or Shatkarma, which are designed to clean up tracts and physiological systems and the entire pranic circuit, so that prana can flow freely in Nadis and chakras; it continues then with Asanas, Pranayama, and Mudras and Bandhas.