Hatha yoga: Keep the Flame of Yoga Burning

By Y Chinmay

Hatha yoga is the combination of ham and tham, representing the masculine and feminine aspects of our existence, and also the physical and mental force.

The ultimate aim of Hatha yoga is the union of Shiva and Shakti or the awakening of the kundalini , the hidden potential within us. There are many ways of doing Hatha yoga. Its practice begins with the purification of the physical body, the carrier of energy and the meridians or nadis.

Once this is achieved, the body becomes ready to carry the kundalini shakti. There are three aspects to body purification: neti or cleaning the nostrils and sinus cavities, dhauti or cleaning the stomach and basti or cleaning the small and large intestines.

Besides, some asanas and pranayamas are practised to make the body toxin-free. Tratak is practised to make the mind focused. In the beginning itself the practitioner feels its effect. But in the long run it brings about a personality change.

Neti, basti and dhauti involve cleansing with water, and their practice requires expert supervision. Tratak, however, can be practised without supervision. For neti , you need a special plastic pot with a nozzle. Warm, saline water is filled in this pot and the fluid is introduced into the nostril.

As the water passes through the nose it cleans up six major sinus cavities, thereby relieving you of sinusitis. The nostrils have a lot of nerve endings. So when water touches them, they stimulate the cells on both the right and left sides of the brain, aiding mental growth. After neti , kapal bhati pranayama is done to make the sinuses water-free. This stimulates the frontal lobe, which is responsible for skills like good social interaction and a good personality.

Dhauti is not advised for those with heart ailments or high blood pressure. This involves drinking saline warm water and bringing it out. Repeated roughly six times in a row, it expels the excess acid and bile from the body, thereby relieving acidity. At the psychic level, it expels repressed emotions and the practitioner is left with a euphoric feeling.

Basti involves drinking six glasses of water and practising five asanas Ñ tadasana, tiryak tadasana, kati chakrasana, supta bhusangasana and udara-karasana , eight rounds each. This flushes the entire intestine and rejuvenates the body. The mucus layer is regenerated and the digestive powers increase. The practice of a short yoga nidra or psychic sleep is followed and meals are taken 20 minutes afterward. This practice relieves all kinds of gastrointestinal problems.

Tratak can be done at night. Sit straight in any meditative posture. Put a candle at eye level, at arms length, away from the eye. Light the candle and sit for two minutes with eyes closed. Relax and become aware of the natural breath. After two minutes open your eyes and look at the still candle flame. Make sure the flame is not flickering and that you can observe without blinking as long as your eyes are comfortable. Stop if it hurts the eye or your eyes water. Ten to 30 seconds is enough. Repeat around five times.

After closing the eyes every time search for the after image. It appears as a bright green spot. Do not struggle to get it. It appears on its own. Try to bring it to the eyebrow centre. Keep the eyes closed, rub both palms together, generate sufficient heat and place the closed palms over the closed eyes without touching the eye lids. Hold for 30 seconds and gently open the eyes.