ha-tha yoga

2.33 When these codes of self-regulation or restraint (yamas) and observances or practices of self-training (niyamas) are inhibited from being practiced due to perverse, unwholesome, troublesome, or deviant thoughts, principles in the opposite direction, or contrary thought should be cultivated.
(vitarka badhane pratipaksha bhavanam)

* vitarka = troublesome thoughts, deviating (from the yamas and niyamas)
* badhane = disturbed by, inhibited by
* pratipaksha = to the contrary, opposite thoughts or principles
* bhavanam = cultivate, habituate, thought of, contemplate on, reflect on

Ha-tha yoga is literally based on the union of opposites. It is the path of union that comes from the merging of the dualities implicit in life. Those dualities can be described as light/dark, inhale/exhale, masculine/feminine, positive/negative, active/receptive, freedom/restraint, up/down, in/out, among many others. In the physical practice we are constantly bringing in opposing energy, activating both the down and the up, the in and the out, the inhale and the exhale to bring ourselves into greater balance, harmony and then eventually union and merger with the universal (bad word, but no word can contain the true meaning).

In the physical practice, each asana contains within it the duality. You cannot do a split, which may be imagined as the extreme of outward projection of flexibility without energy drawing in to contain the stretch of the hamstrings. That's not ture. you can do a split without any energy drawing in. You cannot do Hanumanasana, in the yogic sense without that inward energy. And likely, if you never draw energy in while working at the extremes of flexibility, you will end up injured.

The practice however that Patabjali was referring to was not the physical practice of yoga. It was not hatha yoga specifically at all. It is any form of union. And in such a case, it is not really about the body, at least not specifically about the body.

In this case he is referring to negative thought forms. But as we go deeper into understanding, we dismantle the concept of negative and positive. But what is really important is that to reach the state of union, or balance, when anything is out of balance, we keep it in check with the opposite. We cultivate the opposite in our energy and in our life.

I was teaching the other day, and had arrived just on time for the class. There were no students at the time, which I had anticipated, so I had not left my house early. But knowing my responsibility, I rushed to get to the class, pedaling quite vigorously, and with an anxiety that I would be late. I had a moment to settle, and then students came into the class. About halfway through I felt the energy of the room still in a kind of manic, racey state. This is where the sutra became resonant. We were off balance, wobbling on one leg because we were not grounded. And so after struggling with tree pose, we lay down on the floor, to work with the legs there. Instantly then energy shifted, the breath got deeper, and we all seemed to "land" differently. We worked back up slowly, having deepened into the connection to the legs and feet. The second time around, some minutes later, the tree pose was steadier, the breath was deeper and the entire room was more concentrated and settled.

It is true on the mat, and it is true in life, that as we get out of balance in one direction, it is often helpful to cultivate the opposite. It is not a case of trying to eliminate or create a problem out of the state of imbalance. It is just that we constantly need to be brought back to the centre.

Tree pose is a great example, as is any balancing pose, even Tadasana. When standing, the muscles in the foot, ankle and lower leg are never static. They are constantly shifting and responding to the tiny movements of the body. To maintain balance, we don't fight or resist this process and force rigidity. We let the body naturally balance itself through the activation of opposing energy.

Balance is never static. As I imagine the feelings of union and connection and oneness to be as well. There is a constant "small dance" (a phrase used in contact improvisation) as weight shifts. So as we fall out of balance, in a pose, or in life, the ha-tha of yoga is cultivation of the opposing energy.

vitarka badhane pratipaksha bhavanam
om tat sat.
om shanti.
peace.