Honoring Yoga’s Roots

This lineage acknowledgement is one small step towards recognizing the impacts and working towards reparations for the harm caused to the people and wisdom traditions of India by the violent and exploitative means of colonization, capitalism and white supremacy.

It is an attempt to provide some context for the Yoga that I practice and share, and the ways I am working to relearn and more deeply understand my relationship to Yoga.

Any attempts to summarize history will always leave out large swaths of context and information, and any unintentional omissions or errors are solely my own. 

Yoga’s Historical & Cultural Roots

Yogic practices began to emerge on the subcontinent of India from 800 BCE - 200 CE, as part of a cultural shift towards an individual exploration of spirituality and self-realization. Texts from that time period include Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, which share different approaches to Yoga (big Y). These texts do not detail physical postures; the texts primarily outline ethics, meditative and/or devotional practices. Some of the physical postures of Yoga that we might see in contemporary yoga classes today began to emerge after 1100 CE, when systemization of a number of yogic practices (including fasting, cleansing, mudras, chanting, meditation on the subtle body, and physical poses) began to be recorded and codified. Many of these practices were actively suppressed during the violent and destructive British colonization of India, in an attempt to destroy Indigenous wisdom and culture. 

A number of yogic practices were revived by Indian Independence activists in the 1930s, who were hoping to reconnect Indians with their cultural heritage. The physical poses, often known as hatha yoga, began to be taught more widely across India and around the world, in some places fusing with other physical fitness trends. Hatha yoga (with a focus on asana, or physical postures) has since developed into a multi-billion dollar aspect of the fitness industry, however most of the industry is in large part extracted from its original cultural context(s) and wisdom traditions. 

The North American yoga industry primarily focuses on one aspect of Yoga -- asana -- a Sanskrit word which can be translated as “seat." Asanas were originally the seated poses for meditation, but later evolved to include more complex physical shapes. Asana is one of eight limbs of Yoga as outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, the other 7 limbs spanning ethics, breath practices, and deepening levels of concentration and meditative contemplation. It should be noted that there are many texts and traditions that outline other limbs or systems of yoga, but Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is the most widely known text in North American contexts. 

The Himalayan Tradition

Hatha Yoga in the Himalayan Tradition, which includes rules of conduct and observances, as well as cleansing practices, asana, pranayama, and relaxation practice—is designed to relieve tension in the body, balance the nervous system, and gently withdraw the mind from its usual preoccupations.

Read Pandit Rajmani Tigunait’s desciption of Hatha Yoga here: “Hatha Yoga: Much More Than Asana”

Group classes labeled “hatha” can vary widely, depending on the teacher and his/her background and interests. Some classes will be quite physical, while others will focus more on breathwork and meditation practices. In general, the classes I teach are inspired by the Himalayan sage tradition of The Himalayan Institute where I received my training — a living tradition from which I continue to learn and practice. The asanas are traditional, straightforward, & effective.

I also intersperse modern functional movement practices which prepare the body for traditional poses. We use tools such as blankets, bolsters & blocks to make the poses your own — you’ll find each practitioner doing something a little different in my classes, as each person honors their unique body & mind on any given day.

Hatha group / private classes combine mindful asana (postures), breathwork, and a finishing guided relaxation (Often I hear from new students that the guided relaxation at the end of class is a unique feature of Hatha classes). In general, traditional “Hatha” classes tend to move at a steady, intentional pace. We focus on the breath and hold poses a little longer than in a vinyasa flow style class. Poses are sequenced intelligently and in a specific order to facilitate mindful movement of energy in the body, to soothe the nervous system, and to focus the mind.

In layman’s terms — students often say, “I just FEEL good after class,” “I slept better after class,” “I feel more focused and energized during the day.”

Hatha yoga is well-suited for beginners because it gives one time to investigate a pose, breath technique or meditation focus. That said, Hatha is also perfect for more seasoned students — holding postures is an incredible way to build strength and focus, breath techniques advance your practice on and off your mat, while relaxation practices soothe the nervous system & calm the mind. The ultimate goal of “yoga” is to master the fluctuations of the mind — an advanced practice in itself!