Yogasthah

One of the most common perceptions of Hatha Yoga today is that it is primarily a form of physical exercise. Often, the conversation around yoga begins and ends with its physical benefits.

The following excerpt from Sadhguru's article, *Hatha Yoga Guide: Science, Benefits and Insights*, offers a deeper perspective.

> "Today, the hatha yoga that people are learning is not in its classical form, not in its full depth and dimension. Largely, the 'studio yoga' that you are seeing today is unfortunately just the physical aspect of it. Just teaching the physical aspect of yoga is like having a stillborn baby. That is not only no good, it is a tragedy. If you want a live process, it needs to be taught in a certain way.

> Hatha yoga does not mean twisting your body, standing on your head, or holding your breath. There was a time when I was personally teaching hatha yoga as a two-day program. People would burst with joy; tears of ecstasy would flow simply doing asanas. That is the way yoga needs to be done. Unfortunately, the hatha yoga in the world today brings peace for some, is healthful for others, and is a painful circus for many.

> Most yogis just use the simple postures to break the limitations of who they are. That is all I learned when I was eleven years of age – just a few simple postures. It is just the way it is done that makes the difference."

— **Sadhguru**

**Source:** *Hatha Yoga Guide: Science, Benefits and Insights*
https://isha.sadhguru.org/en/wisdom/article/hatha-yoga-benefits