Shatkarma (often referred to as kriya) are esoteric exercises and techniques to purify the body and cleanse the energy pathways. Mudras include hand gestures and an intense fusion of asana, pranayama, and bandha.

Thus, the Tantra yogis developed the yoga postures (asana) and breathing exercises (pranayama) that are most commonly used today in Hatha Yoga. The physical body is used to activate energy through the practices of asana, pranayama, mudra, and shatkarma.

The development of energy is focused on the purification and cultivation of prana and the activation of kundalini. In Tantra Yoga, the subtle bodies of energy and spirit are developed to create a bridge from the physical to the Devine. The energy of Shakti (dynamic, creative, feminine) and Shiva (static, destructive, masculine) are seen as a continual play that manifests in a multitude of forms. The energetic focus of Tantra yoga originates from the worship of Shiva and Shakti–the dynamic and static principles of the universe. Once the kundalini energy has been activated it is encouraged to flow up the nadis and chakras to eventually the crown chakra to “spill from the top” and create samadhi or enlightenment. These Tantric techniques and rituals primarily focus on the cultivation and build-up of kundalini energy. Thus, Tantra is a type of yoga that weaves together many different techniques, such as mantra meditation, visualization, mudras, pranayama and initiation to study the inner-universe through our human body. Thanks!īecause it elaborates ( tan) copious and profound matters, especially relating to the principles of reality ( tattva) and sacred mantras, and because it provides liberation ( tra), it is called a tantra. The contextual meaning of the word Tantra has changed over time when used in different yogic texts. Originally Tantra was used to mean “weave or loom,” and later was used to define “technique, device, or method.” A more current and relevent definition comes from the Kāmikā-tantra text: Understanding the techniques and goals of tantra yoga is important as hatha yoga originated from this system of yoga, and tantra provides a context for the individual practices and techniques of modern yoga. Tantra instead discovered the value in the awareness and delight in the body’s inner world of energy. Previously, yoga techniques were focused on the renunciation of the physical body and a conscious effort to detach from the suffering encountered in the body. Instead of expanding and focusing one’s awareness outwards, Tantra saw the value of the body as a tool to explore and delight in. The Tantrics developed innovative yet unorthodox techniques for allowing one to experience the reality of the true Self–the oneness of the entire cosmos. Tantra Yoga is a relatively modern revamping of the ancient Vedic and yogic spiritual practices.

Tantric yoga