Hatha yoga ethics, diet, cleansing, pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation and a system for spiritual development of the yogi. The Hatha yoga texts place major emphasis on "mitahara", which connotes "measured diet" or "moderate eating". For example, sections 1.58 to 1.63 and 2.14 of the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" and sections 5.16 to 5.32 of "Gheranda samhita" discuss the importance of proper diet to the body. They link the food one eats and one's eating habits to balancing the body and to gaining most benefits from the practice of Hatha yoga. Eating, states "Gheranda samhita", is a form of a devotional act to the
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga the practice have been made since its conception. Nancy Gilgoff, an early student, describes many differences in the way she was taught ashtanga to the way it is taught now. According to her experiences, some of the differences include: Pattabhi Jois originally left out seven postures in the standing sequence, but later assigned Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana and Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana before the Intermediate Series was given; Utkatasana, Virabhadrasana A and B, Parivritta Trikonasana, and Parivritta Parsvakonasana were not in the series at this point; and Jois did not give her vinyasa between sides of the body poses or between variations