"Like an unbaked earthen pot thrown in water, the body is soon decayed [in this world]. Bake it hard in the fire of training in order to strengthen and purify the body."
The Gheranda Samhita

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras defines Hatha Yoga as the first four rungs of the eight-limbed yoga system of Raja Yoga (astanga) and is essentially the most effective way to keep body and mind strong and free from disease.

The word "Hatha" comes from the root words hakaram, meaning "sun" and thakaram, meaning "moon." "Yoga” means to join or unite, so "Hatha yoga" is the union of the sun and moon. In other words it helps to balance active and passive energies within the body and mind.

It consists of four main physical practices shatkriya, asana, pranayama, and mudra.

• Shatkriyas are the six cleansing practices; the neti, or nasal wash; nauli, abdominal churning; dhauti, a group of techniques for cleansing the digestive tract: basti, the lower wash or cleansing of the colon; kapala bhati, the cleansing breath; ami trataka, gazing at an object
• Asana comes from me root axan, which means easy. The 12 main asana postures help the body to become flexible, strong and relaxed.
• Pranayama means to control the Prana or the subtle energy of the vital breath. Pranayama cleanses the nadis (channels through which prana circulates) and strengthens the nervous system. It is the link between body and mind.
• Mudra means "seal" or "sign" and is mentioned in the Hatha Pradipika and other Hatha yoga texts, when combined with bandhas or locks and specific pranayama techniques they can create powerful currents of energy within the body.

All Hatha Yoga practices have a therapeutic application, cleansing strengthening, rejuvenating and restoring the body and mind to their optimum health. Hatha Yoga is just as relevant now as it ever was, especially as modem life presents many challenges to well-being, the ability to eliminate toxins and remove waste from the body is critical.
For this reason it is often prescribed by Ayurvedic practitioners as part of the client's recovery and ultimate maintenance of on-going preventative medicine.