What is "hatha yoga"

n. yogic exercises (popular in the West) that combine difficult postures (which force the mind to withdraw from the outside world) with controlled breathing

Hatha yoga ( Sanskrit , ), also called Haṭhavidyā , is a branch of yoga. The word haṭha (lit. "force") denotes a system of physical techniques supplementary to a broad conception of yoga.

Hindu tradition believes that the deity Shiva is the founder of hatha yoga.

In the 20th century, hatha yoga, particularly asanas (the physical postures), became popular throughout the world as a form of physical exercise, and is now colloquially termed as simply "yoga".