Difference between Kundalini Yoga and Hatha Yoga
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- October 11, 2021
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Yoga is a holistic health approach that connects your body, mind, and spirit. It fosters your physical, mental, spiritual, and social development. Although there are different forms of yoga, Kundalini and Hatha yoga are the most popular forms practiced worldwide. In today’s article, we will discuss the difference between these yoga forms. Read on!
What is Kundalini Yoga?
Kundalini yoga focuses more on the spirituality side by combining singing, chanting, movements, and breathing patterns in a specific manner. Some aspects of kundalini yoga are similar to Hatha yoga, but the core concepts are different. Kundalini refers to the coiled energy at your spine, particularly at the base.
It is the first charka’s location in yoga. Bear in mind that a chakra is a center of energy in your body. Besides, Kundalini yoga aims to loosen or untangle the coiled energy in your spine to stimulate the other six chakras, giving you peaceful sensations throughout your body with increased energy levels.
The practice involves balancing your breathing patterns, meditation, and physical yoga poses. You can practice different breathing techniques, such as dog breath, the breath of fire, and alternate nostril breathing. Kundalini yoga also involves a wide range of mantras.
So, the primary factor that makes kundalini yoga different from Hatha yoga is Kriya (action), the combination of breathing exercises, mantras, and physical poses. Let us now discuss Hatha Yoga. Continue reading!
What is Hatha Yoga?
Hatha is a form of yoga that focuses more on the physical side with a slight concentration on meditation and breathwork. The most common Hatha Yoga poses are Child’s pose, downward dog, mountain, tree pose, bridge pose, and the three worrier poses.
So, Hatha Yoga aims to improve your physical health by focusing on various poses. Remember, it is a slow-faced and physically demanding form of yoga. Hatha and Kundalini yoga shares a few physical postures and breathing exercises.
However, the techniques have different structures and frameworks, meaning people practice Hatha and Kundalini yoga differently. Kundalini yoga promotes your spiritual enlightenment, opens your third eye, improves cognitive function, enhances self-perception, relieves stress, and boosts self-esteem.
On the other hand, Hatha yoga strengthens your core muscles and musculoskeletal system and ensures energy reaches and activates your chakras. Not only does hatha yoga awakens the kundalini energy, but it also transfers it to the crown chakra.
Moreover, there are different forms of hatha yoga, such as Asanas, Surya Kriya, Bhuta Shuddhi, etc. However, each form shares a common goal of purifying your body’s physical aspects by refining the five elements: earth, water, air, fire, and ether.
Final Words
Kundalini yoga aims to awaken energy at the base of your spine. Hatha yoga stretches and strengthens your muscles. If you want to enhance your physical health, we recommend practicing hatha yoga.
In contrast, if you want to boost your spiritual energy, practice kundalini yoga. Hatha yoga focuses on your body’s alignment and postures, while kundalini primarily emphasizes pranayama and Kriya. Combining both methods can help you achieve your physical, mental, social, and emotional goals.