Page:Hatha yoga - or the yogi philosophy of physical well-being, with numberous excercises.djvu/155



student will notice, as he reads the chapters of this book, that there is an esoteric and an exoteric side of Hatha Yoga. By "esoteric" we mean "designed for only the specially initiated; private" (Webster's Dictionary), and by "exoteric" we mean "external; public—opp. to esoteric" (Webster's Dictionary). The exoteric or public side of the subject consists in the theory of the obtaining of nourishment from the food—the irrigating and eliminating properties of water—the advantage of the rays of the sun in prompting growth and health—the benefit of exercise—the advantage of proper breathing—the benefit to be derived from fresh air, etc., etc. These theories are well known to the Western world as well as to the Eastern; to the non-occultist as well as the occultist, and both recognize their truth and the benefits to be obtained by putting them into practice. But there is another side, quite familiar to the Orientals and to occultists generally, but unfamiliar to the Western world and not generally known among those who pay no attention to occult studies. This esoteric phase of the subject revolves around the subject of what the Orientals know as Prana. The latter, and all occultists, know that man obtains Prana as well as nourishment from his food—Prana as well as a cleansing effect from the