Which type of Yoga is for you?

Fri, 03/05/2010

“To further understand then how yoga works,
I endeavor to understand what yoga is”.

Yoga traditionally was called a teaching of liberation – moksha shastra. It seeks to free us from our limited perception/understanding of who we are.

“Who we are today is based on what we identify with”.

If we associate ourselves with our particular bodies, names, possessions, and relationships, we are reduced to be finite persons limited by our own finite identification. Who we really are is beyond all of this. The yogic perspective declares us as immortal beings, part and piece of the universal consciousness.
– Brahman

Yoga helps us understand this fundamental truth. It chips away at our finite identification and liberates us to become infinite in our awareness and capabilities. The word "Yoga" itself is derived from a Sanskrit word "Yuj", which means to unite. Union with Cosmic Intelligence is the Yogic objective.

Which type of Yoga is for you?

All human beings are unique, different in their inherent strengths and weaknesses, so the yogic seers designed various paths/approaches that correspond to specific emotional and mental capacities, preferences or approaches to life. All the paths lead ultimately to the same destination - union with Brahman. No form is better than the other; there are just different paths. With this overview, may you find the yoga path best suited to bring you health
and enlightenment.

All of these paths may not be for you. You will have to choose which path or paths may help you progress along your inner journey. Do you simply want to increase your flexibility? Do you want to become a more giving person? Do you seek union with the Divine? Do you search for knowledge and wisdom?

You choose the road. It will make all the difference.

Jnana or Gyana Yoga (Wisdom Yoga)

Aims at: liberation through the steady application of intellect to discern between the real and the unreal.

Jnana literally means 'knowledge'. In the context of yoga it means the process of meditative awareness that leads to illuminative wisdom. The goal is to seek the knowledge hidden in all of us through questioning, meditation, and contemplation. This is considered the most difficult path, because it requires tremendous strength of will and intellect, a radical shift
in perception.

Raja Yoga (Royal Yoga)

Aims at: absolute control of body, energy, senses and mind through concentration and meditation.

Often called the "royal road," raja is considered the complete yoga because it focuses on controlling both the mind and body in order to attain enlightenment. When body and energy are under control meditation comes naturally. Raja Yoga usually refers to Sage Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga. ("Ashta" means eight and "Anga" is limbs, so it means Eight Limb Path).

Karma Yoga (Action Yoga)

Aims at: liberation through self-transcending service.

The word is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Kri' which means "to do". Thus everything that we do, all actions is Karma and Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Selfless Work, without any expectations in return. Karma is the path of eliminating the ego and attachments. Karma yoga focuses on the causes and effects of an individual's actions. It purifies the heart by teaching how to live a life of spiritual action and selfless service.

Bhakti Yoga (Devotional Yoga)

Aims at: liberation through self-surrender to the divine.

Bhakti means "to serve the Divine." It is a way of union through devotion and involves surrendering oneself to the Divine through prayer, worship and ritual. This surrender is generally in the God or supreme consciousness in any of the forms. It may even be a Guru for his disciples. Continuous meditation of God or object of faith gradually decrease the ego of the practitioner, which further prevents new distractions, fickleness or even pain and induces strong bonds of love. Slowly the practitioner loses the self-identity and becomes one with the object of faith; this is a state of self-realization.

Hatha Yoga (Force Yoga)

Aims at: liberation through physical transformation.

The syllable 'ha' denotes the pranic (vital) force governing the physical body and 'tha' denotes the chitta (mental) force thus making Hatha Yoga a catalyst to an awakening of the two energies that govern our lives. It is concerned with physical and mental purification and training. Hatha yoga strives to bring the physical body into a perfect state of health so the soul has a fitting vehicle of expression to work through. Hatha uses asanas (postures), pranayama (control of breath), and relaxation to control the physical body and the subtle life force called prana. Within hatha yoga, there are many styles or types of physical yoga, such as ananda, ashtanga, bikram, integral, iyengar, kripalu, kundalini, sivananda, and viniyoga, to name a few.

Tantra Yoga (Continuity Yoga)

Aims at: liberation through ritual, visualization, subtle energy work and the perception of the identity (or continuity) of the ordinary world and the transcendental reality.

This is the sensual yoga. By embracing Tantra, we become more "complete" by recognizing and stimulating our inherent sensual spirituality. We discover parts of our sensuality that have been asleep or repressed. Energy is released that is evolutionary and "upwardly motivated." We can learn to use this energy for pleasure, for achieving our worldly goals, and for aiding our spiritual evolution.

Mantra Yoga (Potent sound Yoga)

Aims at: liberation through the recitation (aloud or mental) of empowered sounds (beej mantras such as aum, hrim etc).

Mantra is a Sanskrit word derived from two roots: Manasa or mind and tarana or save. Mantra is something that saves, which uplifts the mind. Mantra Yoga has its origin in Vedic Sciences and also in Tantra, in fact all the verses in Vedas are called mantras. It is said that any person who can chant or sing Vedas can achieve the ultimate salvation or union with supreme consciousness only by chanting the mantras, which is the aim of Mantra Yoga. It is the power of the word to create or destroy that this path emphasizes. It utilizes the focus intent to make every word you speak be in harmony with Spirit and your own soul.

Kriya Yoga (Yoga of Action with Awareness)

Aims at: liberation through the scientific art of perfect God-Truth Union.

To live and act totally consistent to action with awareness is called 'Kriya Yoga'. Kriya means action, and Yoga means citta-vritti-nirodha: Citta (mind), Vritti (ideas), Nirodha (control). The process is control of ideas in the mind to contemplation; through discrimination to spiritual independence. Tapa (penance), Svadhyaya(self-study), Isvarapranidhana (devotion) together form Kriya Yoga. Kriya Yoga is not a matter of doing but of being aware of everything that one may be doing.

Kundalini Yoga (Yoga of Awareness)

Aims at: merging with the universal Self through the raising of ones Kundalini.

The word "kundalini" literally means "the curl of the lock of hair," it is a metaphor, a poetic way of describing the flow of energy and consciousness that exists within each one of us. This system of Yoga is concerned with awakening of the psychic centers or energy chakras within us. There are seven main chakras in human beings. In Kundalini Yoga, higher-level chakras are awakened and also the activities associated with these higher psychic centers.

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