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
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga and never taught by Sharath. However most of his teachers who claim to have been taught by him will teach the above methods, exercises, & postures, even though none of what they teach is part of the Ashtanga method of instruction under Sharath. Pattabhi Jois also did not require students to independently drop back and come up from back bending before progressing to the 2nd series. Sharath changed the requirements, and has now made this mandatory. However, it is important to note that Pattabhi Jois was the founder of the system, and taught each of his original students differently, instructing