The Hatha Yoga Pradipika
'Hatha yoga is the greatest secret of the yogis who wish to attain perfection (siddhi). Indeed, to be fruitful, it must be kept secret; revealed it becomes powerless.'
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1:11, Muktibhodananda.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Sanskrit for ’Light on Hatha Yoga,’ is the foremost guide to mastering the energies of the body. It gives detailed instruction on asana (physical posture), pranayama (breath control), and other advanced yoga techniques. It even includes in-depth description of inversions and vajroli mudra. The author warns the reader that without proper guidance by an experienced practitioner or guru, the path of Hatha Yoga can be very dangerous or even catastrophic. In order to keep spiritual aspirants safe and maintain integrity in the yoga tradition, key pieces of instruction were intentionally left out. It was expected that the text would be read by practitioners who had access to an expert teacher.
That being said, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a wealth of knowledge for experienced and inexperienced yoga aspirants alike. From shatkarma (purification) to pranayama, this text will help illuminate the path of yoga with countless little gems of insight and pearls of technical guidance. It is an excellent companion to anyone setting out on the fast-paced, forceful path of Hatha Yoga.
- Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1:11, Muktibhodananda.
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Sanskrit for ’Light on Hatha Yoga,’ is the foremost guide to mastering the energies of the body. It gives detailed instruction on asana (physical posture), pranayama (breath control), and other advanced yoga techniques. It even includes in-depth description of inversions and vajroli mudra. The author warns the reader that without proper guidance by an experienced practitioner or guru, the path of Hatha Yoga can be very dangerous or even catastrophic. In order to keep spiritual aspirants safe and maintain integrity in the yoga tradition, key pieces of instruction were intentionally left out. It was expected that the text would be read by practitioners who had access to an expert teacher.
That being said, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika is a wealth of knowledge for experienced and inexperienced yoga aspirants alike. From shatkarma (purification) to pranayama, this text will help illuminate the path of yoga with countless little gems of insight and pearls of technical guidance. It is an excellent companion to anyone setting out on the fast-paced, forceful path of Hatha Yoga.
