Hatha yoga as meditation

In Yoga diaryIn the Archives series, we share a curated collection of articles originally published in back issues dating back to 1975. These stories offer a glimpse into how yoga has been interpreted, written about, and practiced over the years. This article first appeared in the May 1975 issue Yoga diary. You can find more of our archives here.

Students of Mr. BKS Iyengar, world famous teacher and author of Light on yogahave learned that asanas are a strong spiritual discipline. Through the practice of asana (poses), the student can learn unequivocally about his own shortcomings. Naturally, the physical flaws are the easiest to detect. But the thoroughness of Mr. Lyengar’s approach also points to mental barriers to self-knowledge. This happens through various ways.

How physical growth turns into spiritual growth

First, regular practice makes the body strong and flexible; especially the nervous system is regulated. With this new integration on the physical level, the mind is no longer disturbed by imbalances in the body. A calmer mind is the first condition for continuing self-exploration.

This dynamic method of Hatha Yoga also promotes spiritual growth through its very profound effect on the ego. Because physical shortcomings are immediately brought to attention in this method, the student quickly learns humility; they learn that in the past they have practiced those asanas that were easy, and that they have avoided those asanas that were difficult. By understanding their asana practice, the student finds that their attitudes toward life in general and toward spiritual development are likely to be much the same. They can then begin to practice those asanas and perform spiritual tasks that are difficult for them, and undoubtedly exactly what that particular student needs to become more self-aware.

Finally, as one continues the sincere practice of this method, Hatha Yoga is no longer seen as a separate yoga, but the elements of the other yogas such as mental (Jnana) and devotional yoga (Bhakti) develop spontaneously within practice. Greater sensitivity enables intuitive insights that then bring about devotion to the guru within. This in turn leads to further understanding, and so, through the practice, a spiral of increasing understanding and devotion continues.