02/01/2026
Yogavaganza Welcomes a Vibrant Year 2026!
Semiotically speaking, some of us will categorise the year 2026 as the Yang Fire Horse Year. A combination which takes place once in 60 years. A dynamic year with strong events that later will become historical.
Still in the semiotics spirit, we can also add more categorisation to the period where this combo takes place: the period nine. A fiery period.
Fire is an element which is considered supportive for a spiritual practice on its higher evolution. On its lower evolution, it’s an element of expression and entertainment.
The horse, one of almighty animal for its power and beauty. Its posture and shape, semiotically and tacitly inform us of its capability. Including its independence on making a decision whether or not to comply with a command. A genius on its own regard.
In such a physique and posture, the term Hatha Yoga could be explained as an analogy. Hatha Yoga is a term in Yogavaganza’s two glossaries: one is a misnomer or contemporary definition and understanding, and the other one is the classical definition. The latter, has at least two definitions. We’ll be breaking them down below.
No system of Yoga is as enigmatic as Hatha. A popular definition tends to see Hatha as a combination of Yin and Yang or Moon and Sun. A balance between the right and the left side, or in wider sense: a duality. The classical definition, defines Hatha as force. Something that requires efforts and exertions. Hence, the classical text on Hatha Yoga require some set of qualities for the practitioners which are above any other yogic paths qualifications.
Patanjali, perhaps came to the rescue to soften both the practice and the qualifications, which further creates a huge space for interpretations of the path. We return to semiotics again, the method of interpreting and making symbols.
Patanjali works is a compilation on the practice of Yoga over times. The fundament of a yoga practitioner in Patanjali’s work is ethics ( Yama and Niyama). Mentally and psychologically, these two basics are hard to practice in perfection. However, in spectrum, these are doable compared with the classical Hatha Yoga qualifications that demands already a perfection in all aspects (great physique, healthy, high morals and ethics).
This perhaps justify the next two hierarchies of Patanjali Yoga: Asaba and Pranayama. Amongst Yogic treatises, only in Patanjali we find no specific technics and details of Asana and pranayama practices. On how many masters of Yoga referred their Asana systems to Patanjali Yoga, make an interesting phenomenon. There’s where Hatha Yoga becomes enigmatic. Especially when practitioners think or interpret that a hatha yoga class Is one that is Yin Yoga like, or gentle or more relaxing.
Modern mind has shifted the essence of true Hatha path to an interpretation and application in the total opposite of what was intended. However, even as a misnomer, Hatha Yoga is one of a great system that brings huge benefits to the practitioner. Is there any theory to such a phenomenon?
It makes us see the rationale of Yoga of Synthesis by Swami Sivananda with two popular texts such as Patanjali and Hatha Yoga Pradipika being taught only for advanced practitioners, akin to initiating the practitioners to a Hatha System. Initiating only.
Yoga asanas and pranayama as the backbones of Hatha system are very technical. In general yoga it self is very technical. Good technics make the impossible becomes possible.
This is the reason the term semiotics is used. The ancient knowledge system seemed to be very semiotics. Even in the Galen era, semiotics was one of a medical methods.
So, the misnomer has evolved as the formal definition of Hatha Yoga. Referencing to Patanjali, we can drop the qualifications of a nearly perfect human being for practicing the path. One doesn’t have to have a perfect shape as a horse would, to practice the so - called Hatha Yoga. Though, ethics remains non negotiable in any Yogic system. Perhaps, it has to be read as: in any system which technicalities are dominant. Ethics needs to be mastered for anyone attempting to master techniques and technology.
Happy New Year!
Tresya Yuliana
Yogavaganza founder
