Hatha yoga Yoga. Hatha yoga practice has many elements, both behavioral and of practice. The Hatha yoga texts state that a successful yogi has certain characteristics. Section 1.16 of the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika", for example, states these characteristics to be "utsaha" (enthusiasm, fortitude), "sahasa" (courage), "dhairya" (patience), "jnana tattva" (essence for knowledge), "nishcaya" (resolve, determination) and "tyaga" (solitude, renunciation). In the Western culture, Hatha yoga is typically understood as "asanas" and it can be practiced as such. In the Indian and Tibetan traditions, Hatha yoga is much more. It extends well beyond being a sophisticated physical exercise system and integrates ideas of
Aparoksha from which unity of existence is derived. This knowledge is gained by establishing a "guru-shishya sambandha" (Guru-shishya tradition) with a teacher who has already experienced that kind of knowledge (Aparoksanubhuti); the karma or acts required to be done, after gain of "Aparoksha jnana" is "Vidya-karma" which consists in "sravana" (hearing of srutis), "manana" (reflection) and "nididhyasana" (meditation on Brahman). Aparoksha is "savikalpa jnana" (knowledge) when one re-recognizes the non-dual nature of the ever-realized Self (Tat Tvam Asi), it is the immediate knowledge gained through the "pramanas"; practice of "Dhyana" (meditation) removes all "vikalpas" (varied thoughts) and leads to "nirvikalpa" or