The Yoga that people are most familiar with is Hatha Yoga which is the term used to describe all forms of physical yoga practice. There are actually many types of yoga that do not involve physical practice, including selfless service to others (Karma Yoga), the yoga of devotion and worship (Bhakti Yoga) and the yoga of insight and contemplation (Jnana Yoga). However, when most of us think of ‘Yoga’, we are generally referring to Hatha Yoga.

Hatha Yoga is often translated as ‘forceful yoga’ because it involves physically manipulating the subtle energies in the body to bring about greater physical health, which then facilitates mental and spiritual development. The main aim of Hatha Yoga is to purify the energy channels in the body (nadis), bringing the two main channels into harmony (ida and pingala) so that the central channel (shushumna nadi), which is associated with experiences of awakening and insight, begins to flow. While the traditional aim of Hatha Yoga is therefore spiritual liberation or enlightenment (moksha), it’s perfectly okay to practice this form of yoga for its health benefits. The physical and non-physical benefits happen on their own — all you have to do is practice.

While the exact origins of Hatha Yoga are not clear, many of the practices have existed for thousands of years. We may glean the spirit of Hatha Yoga in key Indian texts such as the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita and later the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. One of the most famous ancient texts that is often used to philosophically validate contemporary yoga practice is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Some of the well-known styles of Hatha Yoga include Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Anusara, and Vinyasa and the many hybrid forms that have emerged including Hot Yoga and Power Yoga. Today, the term Yoga is often used as a generic term to describe a class or practice that is based on asana (physical postures) and pranayama (breath control).

By contrast, the Ashtanga classes at Shri Yoga are taught strictly in the tradition of its most famous exponent – Sri K. Pattabhi Jois – and follow a set sequence of increasingly challenging poses. For more information about Ashtanga, see our Ashtanga page. Some of the benefits you may come to experience from ongoing practice of yoga include:

• Increased strength and flexibility


• Better posture and balance


• Less joint and back pain


• Improved digestion and immune function


• Improved circulation


• Regulated metabolism and weight loss


• Stress reduction


• A release of blocked emotion


• Greater self awareness


• Better sleep patterns


• Improved concentration and mental stamina


• A general sense of wellbeing and happiness