Yoga, Bodies and Transformation

A conversation about physical practice and how it evolved

What exactly is haṭha, the generic term for yoga that works with the body? Although it literally means “violence” or “force”, it implies something subtler. Texts that describe its techniques say they have to be practised carefully – or in other words gently and slowly, which is how they’re often taught in modern classes called “hatha”.

However, texts also say physical effort is just a way in. And as I recently discussed on a podcast, modern teaching can leave it unclear where that actually leads:

“There’s this assumption that you know, we do a bit of stretching, and we get a bit more flexible, and we get a bit more open. And then suddenly, at some point, somewhere down the line, some magic’s going to happen, and it’s going to change us. And I think that’s part of the modern confusion. Because none of this stuff is actually anchored in philosophy…”

Scroll down for a transcript, or stream the conversation via the player below. I wind up concluding that we need our own philosophy.