A Holistic Approach to Hatha Yoga

Sadhguru says Hatha Yoga is not a physical conquest but a gateway to inner alchemy. Without mastering the breath, the door to Tantra remains closed. Nigam Tantra begins where the ego ends, and the body becomes a temple.

Article | Shree Siddhashram | March 08, 2024

Sadhguru: Yoga is not merely a physical fitness regime, nor is it a relaxation technique isolated from deeper spiritual goals. True Yoga, in its profound form, is the science of aligning the body, breath, mind, and the inner Self with the cosmic order. It is the journey from the gross to the subtle, from the finite to the infinite. In this grand spectrum of yogic systems, Hatha Yoga stands as a foundational pillar—an ancient discipline that prepares the practitioner for subtler experiences of consciousness. However, what is often missed in mainstream narratives is the esoteric lineage and depth of Hatha Yoga, especially its integral connection with Nigam Tantra—a rarely discussed yet powerful path rooted in Vedic and yogic tradition.

The body is the altar. The breath is the flame. The mantra is the offering. And silence is the God.

This article unfolds a holistic perspective on Hatha Yoga—its spiritual, energetic, physiological, and metaphysical dimensions—while establishing how it serves as the very initial and preparatory steps for Nigam Tantra, a sublime path of inner alchemy and divine integration.

The breath is the thread; consciousness is the needle—Tantra stitches the soul to the source.

1. What is Hatha Yoga: Beyond the Postures

The word Hatha (हठ) is often misunderstood as mere physical exertion or force. Etymologically, Ha refers to the solar force (Pingala Nadi), and Tha refers to the lunar force (Ida Nadi). Thus, Hatha Yoga is the union of these two polar energies within the body. It is a subtle science of balancing the body's dualities—active and passive, masculine and feminine, heat and coolness, dynamism and stillness.

Traditionally, Hatha Yoga includes:

Asanas (postures)
Pranayama (breath control)
Shatkarma (six cleansing practices)
Mudras (energy seals)
Bandhas (energy locks)
Dhyana (meditation)

But the goal is not physical flexibility, rather, it is Sthira Sukham Asanam—a steady, comfortable state of being, as stated by Patanjali. Hatha Yoga is a preparation to enter Raja Yoga—the state of deep meditation and inner absorption.

In Nigam Tantra, you do not seek gods—you dissolve in Godhood.

2. The Nigam Tradition and Tantra: A Sacred Overview

The term Nigam refers to the Pre-Vedic scriptures and knowledge. The Nigam first came from the Shiva before the Veda. Nigam Tantra, therefore, is not to be confused with the commonly known Agamic Tantra, which is found in the Tantras of Shaiva, Shakta, and Vaishnava sects. Nigam Tantra is:

Different from so-called Tantra.
Associated with Dharma-Artha-Kama-Moksha, Antaryaga, and the journey inward.
Rooted in the first Shiva's teachings, and the balancing among Dharma-Artha-Kama-Moksha Sadhanas, and the transformation of consciousness.

While Agamic Tantra involves elaborate rituals, deities, and external symbology, Nigam Tantra is more sacred, related to the transformation of Tan-Mon-Dhan, Abosolute change of Consciousness and upgradation of consciousness. Nigam never told Tyag or sacrifice. It is meditative, internal, as well as it is ritualistic based on the human lifestyle and consciousness. It aims to purify the subtle body (Sukshma Sharira) and awaken the inner fire, the Kundalini.

And in this subtle journey of Nigam Tantra, Hatha Yoga forms the preparatory and essential ground—without which the seeker’s body and mind remain unprepared for higher states of consciousness.

Each breath in awareness is a mantra that unlocks subtle dimensions.

3. Hatha Yoga as a Prerequisite for Nigam Tantra

A. Purification of Nadis and the Subtle Body

Nigam Tantra emphasizes working with Prana, the vital force, and consciousness channels (Nadis). Unless the Ida, Pingala, and especially the central Sushumna Nadi are purified, no inner ascent can happen.

Hatha Yoga’s practices—especially:

Shatkarmas: To remove gross and subtle impurities.
Asanas: To open energy centers.
Pranayama: To regulate and balance pranic flow.
Mudras and Bandhas: To direct and store energy—

They are indispensable for preparing the energetic landscape for deeper Tantric absorption.

Without this foundational purification, the practitioner may misinterpret spiritual experiences, suffer from energetic imbalances, or even face psychic disruptions.

B. Awakening the Dormant Energy

Nigam Tantra talks about Kundalini Shakti as the hidden divine power coiled at the base of the spine. But for this Shakti to awaken gracefully and safely, the body must become a sacred temple.

Through Hatha Yoga:

The spine becomes supple and strong.
The breath becomes rhythmic and smooth.
The mind becomes one-pointed.
The nervous system becomes resilient.

Thus, Hatha Yoga builds the foundation for the Kundalini to rise without friction and ascend through the chakras toward Sahasrara.

Nigam Tantra is the flowering of a tree whose roots lie deep in Hatha Yoga.

4. Stages of Hatha Yoga Leading to Tantric Transformation

Stage 1: Shodhana (Purification)

Shatkarma practices cleanse the inner organs.
Neti, Dhauti, Basti, Nauli, Kapalbhati, and Trataka are not just detox techniques; they clear the mind, awaken Prana, and begin inner alchemy.
Purification ensures that no energetic blockages exist for the ascent.

Stage 2: Sthirata (Stability)

Through Asana, one attains Sthira (steadiness) and Sukha (joy).
Mastery over posture leads to a stable spine, which is essential for long meditations and channelling Kundalini.
Certain asanas (Padmasana, Siddhasana, Vajrasana) are especially emphasized in Tantra.

Stage 3: Pranayama and Bandhas

Nadi Shodhana Pranayama purifies Ida and Pingala.
Kumbhaka (breath retention) is used to pause the fluctuations of the mind and awaken Prana Shakti.
Bandhas (Mula, Uddiyana, Jalandhara) are used to lock and direct the awakened Prana upward.

Stage 4: Mudra and Pratyahara

Mudras like Khechari, Shambhavi, and Yoni Mudra help in internalization and sensual withdrawal.
The Yogic gaze shifts inward, and the practitioner enters Dharana, a meditative absorption—key for Nigam Tantric processes.

5. Nigam Tantra as a Continuation of Hatha Yoga

Once the physical and pranic dimensions are prepared through Hatha Yoga, the gateway to Nigam Tantra opens. Here, the focus shifts from physicality to:

Dhyana (Meditation) on Bindu and Nada.
Inner sacrifice (Antaryaga) instead of external rituals.
Working with Manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (consciousness).
Developing Jnana Agni (Fire of Knowledge) that burns ignorance.
The use of Beej Mantras internally to activate Chakras.

The seeker is now capable of perceiving inner dimensions—the journey of Nigam Tantra unfolds as:

Dharana (concentration on inner light or sound).
Dhyana (absorption in Divine Consciousness).
Samadhi (merging with the Absolute).

Without Hatha Yoga, this journey is unstable and superficial.

Asana is not for the body’s delight but for the soul’s silence.

6. Hatha Yoga and Nigam Tantra in Nath and Siddha Traditions

The Nath Yogis, led by Matsyendranath and Gorakhnath, perfectly integrated Hatha Yoga with Tantric and Nigam philosophies. Their texts are like:

Goraksha Shataka
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Shiva Samhita

Demonstrate that Hatha Yoga is not the end, but the beginning of spiritual transformation. They practiced:

Deep inner alchemy (Deha Siddhi).
Chakra awakening and control over five elements (Pancha Mahabhutas).
Achieving Kevala Kumbhak and Ajapa Jap, where the breath spontaneously repeats Soham or Hamsa.

The Siddha tradition of South India also reflects this synergy, where physical immortality (Kayakalpa) is pursued through Hatha Yoga and internal Tantric processes.

Stories of Ancient Hatha Yogis

Gorakhnath, the great Nath Yogi, taught how Hatha Yoga purifies the body and prepares the yogi for the supreme state. His disciple, Matsyendranath, was said to have revived himself from death using yogic mastery.
Sage Dattatreya, in the Tripura Rahasya, explains how the body is the temple where Shiva (pure consciousness) and Shakti (Kundalini) unite through yogic discipline.

7. The Importance of Holistic Integration in Modern Times

Today, Hatha Yoga is reduced to fitness regimes. This distortion strips away its spiritual core and its role in Tantra. A holistic approach to Hatha Yoga must include:

Yogic ethics (Yama and Niyama).
Internalization of practice beyond performance.
Integration of pranic and mental disciplines.
Understanding that every asana is a meditative posture, and every breath is a gateway to the divine.

By reconnecting Hatha Yoga to its deeper role in Nigam Tantra, we revive the path of:

Inner strength.
Subtle realization.
Yogic wisdom beyond the superficial.

Without purification, energy is chaotic. With discipline, energy becomes divine." — Goraksha Samhita.

Conclusion: From Hatha to the Infinite

Hatha Yoga is not an end—it is the doorway to subtle dimensions, to higher consciousness, and ultimately to union with the Divine. When practiced holistically and sincerely, it:

Opens the inner temples of the body.
Channel pranic currents into spiritual flames.
Awakens the dormant seeds of Tantra hidden in the nadis and chakras.

Nigam Tantra begins where Hatha Yoga matures. It is the spiritual flowering of all the groundwork laid by the yogic discipline. The practitioner who walks this path with integrity, patience, and awareness does not merely perform yoga—he becomes Yoga.

A Holistic Approach to Hatha Yoga - Sadhguru