“Haṭha Yoga is Prāṇāyāma.”
– Śrī T Krishnamacharya

“People often ask me if I teach Āsana.
When I say “Yes, I do.” they say,
“Oh you are a Haṭha Yogi.”
If I talk about the Yoga Sūtra
they say, “You are a Rāja Yogi.”
If I say I am chanting the Veda,
they say, “You are a Mantra Yogi.”
If I say I just practice Yoga,
they can’t understand.
They want to put a label on me.”
– TKV Desikachar Religiousness in Yoga
‘Various Approaches to Yoga’
Chapter Seventeen Page 247-248

“Another Siddhi is Haṭha Yoga.
Instead of energy going here and there,
it is right where it should be in the top of the head.
Haṭha Yoga – Equipoise of energy.”
– TKV Desikachar France 1983

‘Āsana brings steadiness, health and lightness of limb.’
“For me, still to this day, one of the finest, simplest, direct and most succinct definitions on the purpose of Āsana within the processes and practices of Haṭha Yoga, is the definition offered in the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā Chapter 1 verse 17. It is a definition valid for any situation, or presentation, or as a response to questions from any background or level of interest around why we practice Āsana.
It can also be a springboard to discussing physiological qualities such as the relationship of Agni to the energetic qualities of health and lightness of limb. Or it can be a springboard to discussing psychological qualities such as the relationship of the Guṇa, Rajas, to mental qualities such as steadiness.”

Haṭha Yoga is about Nāḍī Śodhana.
Rāja Yoga is about Citta Śodhana.

Within the energetic processes in Haṭha Yoga
the concept of Candra is that which can direct
Prāṇa and Apāna in order to influence the activities of Sūrya.

Links to Related Posts:

Though there are many different aspects to formal ‘home’ practice……

Laṅghana Kriyā can be used for pacification or for purification

We can learn how we can fine tune our practice according to our basic nature…

Yoga as a View, Practice and Tool – Part Two

Prāṇāyāma within Rāja Yoga and Haṭha Yoga

The Westernisation of Yoga Āsana with its emphasis on structural focus……

Haṭha Yoga has another role other than mere freedom of movement……

The seeds from Krishnamacharya’s and Desikachar’s teachings on Haṭha Yoga……

The breadth, depth and potential of Desikachar’s teachings on practice……

Religiousness in Yoga Study Guide: Chapter Seventeen Theory: Various Approaches to Yoga Pages 237-249