Yogis believe breathing to be the most important metabolic function we breathe roughly 23,000 times per day and use about 4,500 gallons of air, which According to yogis, if these steps are followed diligently, a person can reach high levels of health and mental awareness.ДЄs it has subsequently developed, hatha yoga has concentrated mainly on two of the eight paths, breathing and posture. These eight steps include moral and ethical considerations (such as honesty, non-aggression, peacefulness, non-stealing, generosity, and sexual propriety), self-discipline (including purity, simplicity, devotion to God, and self-knowledge), posture, breath control, control of desires, concentration, meditation, and happiness.

The original philosophers of yoga developed it as an eight-fold path to complete health. Some yoga masters ( yogis ) claim that hatha yoga was originally developed by enlightened teachers to help people survive during the Age of Kali, or the spiritual dark ages, in which Hindus believe we are now living. The Sanskrit word ha means 'sun' and tha means 'moon,' and thus hatha, or literally sun-moon yoga, strives to balance opposing parts of the physical body, the front and back, left and right, top and bottom. The origins of hatha yoga have been traced back to the eleventh century a.d. Hatha yoga is the path which has physical health and balance as a primary goal, for its practitioners believe that greater mental and spiritual awareness can be brought about with a healthy and pure body. Some of these paths include service to others, pursuit of wisdom, nonviolence, devotion to God, and observance of spiritual rituals. There are several branches of yoga, each of which is a different path and philosophy toward self-improvement. Many people in the West mistakenly believe yoga to be a religion, but its teachers point out that it is a system of living designed to promote health, peace of mind, and deeper awareness of ourselves. Yoga is derived from a Sanskrit word which means 'union.' The goal of classical yoga to bring self-transcendence, or enlightenment, through physical, mental, and spiritual health. Yoga was developed in ancient India as far back as 5,000 years ago sculptures detailing yoga positions have been found in India which date back to 3000 b.c. Hatha yoga postures also stretch and align the body, promoting balance and flexibility. There are nearly 200 hatha yoga postures, with hundreds of variations, which work to make the spine supple and to promote circulation in all the organs, glands, and tissues. Hatha yoga uses bodily postures ( asanas ), breathing techniques ( pranayama ), and meditation ( dyana ) with the goal of bringing about a sound, healthy body and a clear, peaceful mind. It is the branch of yoga that concentrates on physical health and mental well-being. Hatha yoga is the most widely practiced form of yoga in America.

Hatha yoga book from early 1970's