Different Types Of Yoga
by Dr. Shashikant Patwardhan
http://ayurveda-foryou.com
Bhakti yoga ("Yoga of Devotion") is the path of devotion
(to the Divine). It is pure selfless love from the heart. A bhakti
yogi feels that whenever he thinks of God, God thinks more
of him. A relationship between a Bhakta and God can never
be described in words.
Karma yoga ("Yoga of Action") is the path of selfless
service. For a karma yogi, the activities of human life is a
God given opportunity to serve Him. He does not feel that
the world is an illusion, does not encounter the ego given
'highs' of success or the 'lows' of failure. Thus a karma
yogi is detached while carrying out his duties on the earth.
Karma Yoga can also be summed up in a statement by Sri
Bhagavan Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita: "Worshipping Him
with proper actions, a man attains realization". One key to
Karma Yoga is the performance of right action and service
for its own sake, without consideration of the immediate or
apparent results.
Dnyana yoga ("Yoga of Wisdom") is the path of knowledge.
A dnyana yogi wants to understand the transcendental truth.
He wants to solve the mystery of birth, death and the
purpose of life. Hindu scriptures describe a Dnyan yogi as
one who utters Neti, Neti meaning 'not this, not this' to
differentiate between what is permanent and impermanent.
He uses viveka (discernment) for moving on from avidya
(ignorance) to vidya (knowledge). He discerns that the
world as perceived by the senses is not real, but an illusion
conjured up by the mind.
Dnyana Yoga is the yoga of the philosopher and thinker who
wants to go beyond the visible, material reality. The Dnyan
Yogi finds God through knowledge. Dnyana Yoga is summed
up in the Upanishads by the following statement: "In the method
of reintegration through knowledge, the mind is ever bound to
the ultimate end of existence which is liberation. This
method leads to all attainments and is ever auspicious."
Ashtanga (eight step) yoga was developed by Patanjali.
The eight steps that would lead a seeker from ignorance to
truth are :
Yama Self control
Niyama Strict observance of character
Asanas Body postures
Pranayama Breathing exercises and control of prana
Pratyahara Withdrawal from sense desires
Dharana Concentration on an object
Dhyana Meditation on the Divine
Samadhi Union with the Divine
Hatha Yoga ("ForcefulYoga"): It is a yoga concerned
with physical and energetic purification and training.
Its goal is to bring the physical body into a perfect state
of health so the soul has a fitting vehicle of expression to
work through. It embraces many practices, including
physical postures and breathing exercises (pranayama)
which also act upon the physical nervous system and
etheric body which is considered a corollary aspect of the
physical body and brings the vital energies of the physical
and etheric bodies under conscious control.
Raja yoga ("Royal Yoga") is a science. There is no
unconditional faith required. It is similar to a person who
would go to the doctor for illness, and take the medicine
the doctor gives with a faith that it will cure him. If he
followed all the doctor's orders but still wasn't cured then
it is the fault of the doctor and not that of the patient.
Kundalini yoga: Most of the saints have agreed that the
culmination of the Kundalini Shakti is essential for
enlightenment. Various types of raja yogas (including siddha
yoga, kriya yoga, laya yoga, sahaja yoga etc.) end with the
activation and culmination of the kundalini shakti at the
crown chakra. They may be referred to as Kundalini yoga.
Kundalini is the dormant energy which lies at the base of spine.
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