What Is Hatha Raja Yoga?

Yoga is so much more than a physical practice — it is a path of self-discovery, unity, and transformation. Of all the different branches of yoga, Hatha Raja Yoga has been a true compass for me, guiding both my personal practice and the way I teach.

Hatha Yoga is often known as the path of physical and energetic discipline, but in reality it is a much broader system that seeks to balance our inner polarities: “Ha” (sun) and “Tha” (moon). Through postures, breathwork, concentration techniques, and meditation, we cultivate a state of harmony between body, mind, and spirit.

From this root have blossomed many of the modern styles you might recognize today — Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Yin Yoga… all of them draw from the tradition of Hatha, adapting to different needs but sharing the same essence: preparing the body and mind to go inward.

Some key texts help us understand the depth of this tradition. Among them are the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which describes the essential techniques of the practice; the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which lay out the philosophical foundations and the steps toward self-realization; and the Bhagavad Gita, a universal song that reminds us yoga is not just practiced on the mat, but in how we live and act in the world.

Hatha Yoga treats the body as a temple:

• through asanas (postures) to purify and strengthen,

• pranayama (breathwork) to expand life force energy,

• bandhas and mudras to direct and refine that energy,

• and relaxation and meditation to guide us into inner silence.

It is not simply physical training — it is a method for harmonizing body, mind, and energy. When we practice Hatha, we prepare the soil: we cleanse the inner pathways so the mind can become still and we can go beyond the visible.

Raja Yoga, known as the “royal path,” is the yoga of meditation and the mind. It leads us inward, toward concentration, contemplation, and the deepest union with our true self.

When these two paths meet, we find Hatha Raja Yoga — a practice that integrates the physical and the spiritual, the outer and the inner. It’s not just about doing postures, but about creating a bridge to meditation and self-awareness.

My Personal Journey

My yoga journey began in 2015, when I discovered that yoga was not just exercise, but a language for living in my body, listening deeply, and healing. What started as curiosity quickly became a deep love and a way of life.

Today, I hold over 1,000 hours of certified yoga training (560 of them in Hatha Raja Yoga), which have given me a solid foundation in philosophy, anatomy, practice, and teaching. But beyond the hours and the certifications, what truly defines me is how I live and share yoga — as a personal, human, and transformative experience.

In my classes, we do much more than postures. We create a space where you can listen to yourself, release what no longer serves you, and reconnect with your essence. Every session becomes a unique, intimate experience — because I believe yoga is so much more than movement. It is a homecoming to yourself.

Although Hatha Raja Yoga is at the heart of my teaching, there is another path that beats deeply within me: Bhakti Yoga, the yoga of devotion and love. Chanting mantras has been medicine for my soul, a way to open my heart and celebrate the sacred in everyday life.

That will be the topic of my next post, but I wanted to plant the seed here — because Bhakti has been such an important pillar on my path.

✨ Thank you for joining me on this journey.

If you choose to be part of my classes, workshops, retreats, or community, you won’t just find a space to practice — you’ll find a personal journey inward, toward your strength and your calm.

See you on the mat, in the breath, and in that unique moment where everything meets.

With love always,Angiie 🌸