How did physical yoga develop and what was its purpose? The word hatha is often used today for a gentler approach – perhaps in contrast to flow. However, its original meaning was “forceful,” and its powerful methods included arm balances. To explore where hatha came from, and how it relates to modern yoga, we’ll read the fifteenth-century Hatha Pradipika. Over four weekly sessions (from November 18, at Triyoga Camden), we’ll see how it builds on earlier teachings, combining Tantric ideas with ascetic techniques to transform the practitioner.