Comparison of Hatha and Raja Yoga

How Hatha Yoga Became More Popular

- Shri Harold Sequeira

Later, in the 11th Century A.D., Gorakshanath and his disciples developed Hatha Yoga, where Asanas, Pranayama, Pratyahara were the main Angas - branches. Goraksha admitted that where Hatha ends Raja Yoga starts.

Actually, Hatha Yoga was one of the satellites of Raja Yoga; but Hatha became more known and popular because it was something that could be seen and understood by the common man; whereas Raja was for those with a discriminative mind.

Hatha aims to build strength, flexibility, suppleness, a slim body and so forth, whereas Raja and other forms of yoga are more internal and the benefits are more subjective.