Yoga is generally understood as a process of unification. This unification is multifaceted. In one dimension, it is an unification of the various systems that exist within the human being including the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual systems. In total there are believed to be five different systems within human life.
These are typically referred to as the koshas which are the physical, energetic, mental , subtle, and bliss sheaths. In our current understanding of yoga, we are working to unify these five bodies or layers of the human being . Another process of unification occurs between of the individual consciousness and the universal consciousness.
This unification is often referred to as Samadhi and is one of the primary transformations that occur within the practice of yoga. Observing this from a different angle, Samadhi is a transformation of perception in which disillusionments about the world are reformed so that the truth behind reality is visible in its purest of form.
Of course, yoga is not just one system. There are many types of yoga to explore.
Yoga, as a system, has developed into various branches through which people pursue the evolution and unification of the elements within their being. Each branch retains its own unique set of ideas and philosophies which defined the process and eventual obtainment of complete unification.
There is no right or wrong system of yoga as the each possesses their own distinct characteristics that accommodate the needs of various characteristics and personalities that exist among human beings. Each system is designed to accommodate a different personality type, and yoga has developed into a broad reaching system that can be practiced by nearly anyone who is interested in pursuing a spiritual life.
A practice like Jnana yoga is ideal for someone who is philosophically minded whereas the practice of bhakti yoga is good for someone who is emotionally perceptive and inclined towards a sense of devotion. In this article we will be reviewing the more mainstream practices of yoga which are derived from the tradition of yogic spirituality. These traditions of yoga are as young as 500 years and as old as several thousand. While there are many modern practices of yoga which have been defined by various teachers, the systems we will be discussing are traditional systems which have been in existence throughout many generations.
Here is an overview of the major types of yoga.
Bhakti Yoga
The first system we will discuss it is Bhakti yoga. Bhakti yoga is a practice in which the spiritual practitioner focuses on developing a state of devotion within the mind and the heart. In bhakti yoga a strong sense of faith is necessary as one is expected to submit themselves to God through a process of self surrendering. The practices and techniques of bhakti yoga are therefore designed to help surrendered the ego and embrace with love the thought of the creator. The more common practices of bhakti yoga are kirtan (chanting/song), japa (mantra repetition), and meditation on the divine.
Usually the practice of bhakti yoga is advised to be practiced by those who are well connected to their emotions and also receptive of more subtle feelings within themselves and others. As the practitioner devotes their whole being towards the religious divine emphatic love defines the custom of bhakti-yoga . A perception in God or a greater being is critical to the practice, and without it, it’s near to hopeless to rehearse bhakti yoga.
The devotion that’s practiced by the bhakti Yogi isn’t 1 of captivity towards the divine. Instead, this is a relationship that’s full of camaraderie, love, and good fellowship. In bhakti-yoga individuals view God as a pal, a fan, a dad, or mom. It’s through this connection that bhakti-yoga is practiced. There are numerous facets of devotion for the bhakti yogi; there are many sorts of God that are worshiped in yoga including Shiva, Vishnu, Brahman, Parvatti, etc. Aside from the metaphysical sorts of God, a guru or instructor can additionally be worshiped within the practice. The main purpose of the practice is to assist in unifying the person being together with the worldwide and relinquishing the egotism .
Karma Yoga
Karma is a facet of human life that’s accountable for our ideas, emotions, and activities. It’s believed in yoga as previous activities and occasions compel us to consider another existence on the planet to balance the inequalities that we’ve inflicted within the macrocosm as well as our spirit that Karma retains the cycle of re-birth in movement. After collected Karmic value is balanced or ruined subsequently cycle of birth and passing is discontinued as well as the spirit is reunite to its sources inside the worldwide divine. The custom of Karma yoga directly addresses this principal facet of life, works to abolish the effects of Karma with disciplined activity that invents a separation between the person and the effects of Karma. This separation happens via a procedure for disassociation where the person distinguishes themselves from the gains or losses from their activities inside the entire world.
The custom of Karma yoga is normally based around one’s Dharma or responsibilities within the entire world. Dharma is dependent on the actions of the individual in the recent past, including both the past of the current life together with the past of prior lives. In some respects, Dharma is the most effective method for someone to make use of their time on earth for spiritual improvement since it is based upon the practical capabilities and potentiality of the individual . One of the principal parts of Dharma is acting in the world without thought of the gains or losses of one’s actions . The practitioner lives and acts within the entire world without the expectations or imposed perceptions of how the future should unfold. The mind is focused on selfless service and doing work for the benefit of the greater good compared to the independent needs of the individual. In Karma yoga the practice is gradual as the individual liberates the spirit in the boundaries of egocentric idea procedures and slowly relinquishes the bonds of karma.
Though a Karma yogi might practice methods such as the asanas, breathing practices , and meditations, the primary focus of their spiritual practice is service and actions with all the focus of selflessness and humbleness. The first mention of Karma yoga is within the Bhagavad-Gita in a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna. In this dialogue, Krishna informs Arjuna that he can mix his consciousness with Krishna’s when he surrenders his actions to the divine (which in this situation is Krishna). Krishna encourages Arjuna to act and follow out his duty without worry or consideration of the benefits or losses of his actions . He informs Arjuna that acting in the name of Krishna (or divine) will provide him with the liberation that he has set forth to realize.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini yoga is a practice of yoga which originated from the practice of tantra yoga. Historically speaking, tantra yoga is believed to be one of the oldest forms of spirituality which is still in practice today. One of the vital aspects of tantra yoga is the incorporation of kundalini which is considered to be the primordial force existence within each human being . The practice of Kundalini yoga was formed to control and harness the potential of the kundalini energy within the body. Unlike the other systems of yoga, kundalini yoga can be a highly unstable practice of yoga if not controlled in the appropriate manner as the release of kundalini energy can lead to extreme physical and emotional ailments.
As a result, the tradition of kundalini yoga is a very complex system that is normally just practiced by those people who are well improved in the methods of spirituality. Among the primary pre-requisites of kundalini yoga is a powerful head as well as a healthier body without which the launch of kundalini electricity may be dangerous if not deadly. Even an unique term in psychology called kundalini syndrome has been invented for those people who have gone into dementia due to the improper launch of kundalini electricity. In kundalini yoga the techniques presented are designed to help awaken the kundalini electricity.
Besides its definition as the primordial vitality, kundalini is also called the serpent power. Ahead Of its awakening, the kundalini electricity rests in the foot of the backbone in the kind of a corkscrew coil like that of a serpent. When introduced, the kundalini electricity shoots up through the back, creating its way to the crown of the pinnacle. Contingent on the purification of the power channels over the spinal column called chakras, the kundalini will both reach the head along with its ultimate destination or is going to be adhered within among the chakras. Normally kundalini yoga begins by purifying all the chakras.
This purification helps you to preserve an equilibrium flow of prana in the body. It’s considered that the balance flow of prana inside the body results in a sound state-of mind and physique. When the body, head, and pranic stations are purified, the professional of kundalini yoga functions to discharge the kundalini electricity . The purification process an essential quality of the practice as it is helpful to ensure a smooth flow of kundalini energy through the chakra program.
For both the purification of the chakras along with the release of kundalini energy wide array of techniques are implemented. These include yoga asanas ( postures ), pranayamas (breathing practices ), meditations, and mudra (gestures) specially made to help regulate the pranic energy and awaken kundalini. Unlike some of the other systems of yoga, kundalini yoga should never be practiced through self training. It is crucial that one who is thinking about practicing kundalini yoga finds an adept practitioner and teacher of this system of yoga to direct them through the process.
Without such guidance, it’s likely that serious physical and psychological disorders will arise as kundalini energy is an extremely strong element within the human body that isn’t supposed to be controlled with unless the human anatomy, thoughts, and pranic channels are wholly purified. There are countless stories of individuals who released kundalini yoga prematurely and found themselves in a disoriented and neurotic state. There are lots of publications published on kundalini yoga and those people who have experienced kundalini energy constantly advise to truly have a tremendously knowledgeable and observant teacher to steer a practitioner through the method of kundalini yoga.
Hatha Yoga
The word hatha has several meanings. Ordinarily it is divided up into two individual words, ha and tha. The meaning of these words can be interpreted as the sun and the moon. It can also be said that these two words are Beeja Mantras or primordial sounds that are responsible for composing matter. At the same time, ha represents the pranic body while tha is that of the mental body. Whichever interpretation one chooses to believe or follow, an essential component of hatha yoga is a balancing of the polarities of energy within the body (ida and pingala) as well as a purification of the mind and the body.
Most people, in a modern context, consider hatha yoga to be a practice of the physical body. Hatha yoga comprises many more doctrines and methods that tackle more delicate facets of the human program , while this isn’t wrong. Among the crucial elements of hatha yoga is the part of purification. In hatha yoga purification happens within the various facets of the person; there’s a purification of the bodily, psychological , and dynamic, and psychological bodies. It’s thought that once all the bodies are purified than religious progress towards self liberation can happen.
Unlike before running the techniques of yoga Raja yoga, which we will discuss after, hatha yoga does not summarize a necessary of moral principles. Instead, hatha yoga starts with all the dynamic purification methods of pranayama as well as the yoga poses or asanas. After an appreciable comprehension of the two practices is achieved, more complex techniques including Shatkarmas ( body-cleansing ), Pranayamas (nadhi cleanse ), Mudras ( electricity directing ), Bundhas ( power locks), as well as other techniques which direct towards Samadhi ( self realization ) may be practiced.
Similar to many practices of yoga, hatha yoga keeps the fact techniques like meditation and attention should simply be practiced following the head along with the body having purified. Without such prep it’s worthless as no advantage is likely to be received in the practice to rehearse meditation. Hatha yoga originated from a number of texts all of which were composed between 500 1500 A.D. In comparison to the other kinds of yoga we’re discussing, hatha yoga is the most youthful of them all with its important text the Hatha Yoga Pradipika being finalized in the sixteenth century.
Hatha yoga could be regarded as a preliminary practice to more sophisticated systems of yoga, nonetheless it possesses within it self the ability to direct towards religious liberation. A more small process of yoga, hatha yoga may be practiced by many folks and doesn’t necessitate a nicely recognized body and mind to start the practice. Thus, this is a practice utilized by several who need to make use of yoga as an assistance towards religious independence.
Raja Yoga
Raja yoga generally is translated as royal union from Sanskrit and is regarded as the Royal route. The program of Raja yoga comes from the instructions of Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras that were composed between 100 and 300 A.D. Some might additionally reference this method of yoga has Ashtanga Yoga, nonetheless Raja yoga has become the conventional language useful for the custom of yoga directed by Ptanjali’s Yoga Sutras and a few differentiations distinguish the 2 from each other.
Here, we’re mainly concerned using the standard system of Raja yoga which continues to be practiced in India since the sources of the Sutras. Raja yoga is a path of instinct and additionally psychic perception. Hence both of these facilities are required in order for religious advancement to happen. Some religious experts like Swami Tureyananda consider that Raja yoga is practiced after one has got large transformation through preliminary methods of yoga.
Even nonetheless a few other teachers consider the custom of Raja yoga is commenced after preliminary states of Samadhi are experienced. Hence, Raja yoga isn’t a practice for the great majority of folks. In the yoga sutras, Patanjali lightly summarizes the necessary for the more complex techniques of yoga.
A large proportion of the yoga sutras are committed to knowing and managing your brain including its four aspects of Ahamkara, Buddhi, Manas and Chitta. Significant focus is given to the way the mind works and manages along with the different amounts and measurements which exist inside the head. The balance of the written text discusses the periods through which encounter across the road towards self realization, and focus is given to each of the different pitfalls that can spring up on the way.
The device of Raja yoga is typically summarized in defined within the “8-limbed path.” These limbs comprise:
- Yama – code conduct and self restraint
- Niyama – discipline, and spiritual observances, commitment to 1 practice
- Asana – configuration of a secure seat for the head as well as the body
- Pranayama – management of breath which results in an union and equilibrium involving your brain along with the body
- Pratyahara – withdrawal of the sensory organs of notion in the outside environment including all five senses (six if you include the mind )
- Dharana – concentration
- Dhyana – meditation
- Samadhi – self realization, or a super conscious state of being.
Together these eight limbs form the practice and systematic approach of Raja Yoga. Like kundalini yoga, Raja yoga requires a significant amount of guidance and direction without which many problems and ultimate failure will arise . It is therefore essential that one who is interested in practicing Raja yoga finds a teacher or guru who has perfected the system and has achieved a true state of self-realization.
Jana Yoga
The practice of Jana yoga is easily understood within the two words ‘Jana’ and ‘Yoga’ which together mean ‘Union through Wisdom.’ the practice of Jana yoga is a very practical system for the Western mind which usually approaches things through the intellect and rational deduction. While ultimately these two aspects are abandoned later in the path, Jana yoga begins with intellectual inquiry and rational observation. While Jana yoga encourages a belief in God or the supreme, it does not necessitate the belief and therefore it can even be used by those who are rational atheists. The techniques used in Jana yoga are primarily concerned with a process of deduction in which one observes all aspects of life.
As the practitioner gradually removes the illusions and misconceptions of the mind as they work towards the truth of their most fundamental nature a procedure of question and self query is undertaken. The tradition of Jana yoga could be comprehended inside the straightforward Sanskrit phrase “Neti, Neti, ” which is openly interpretted as perhaps not this, perhaps not that. In Jana yoga one eliminates the many layers of the onion of the head until they attained the center which is no thingness or attest.
Jana yoga has four important guidelines which helped to lead to the professional towards self realization . As Jana yoga is chiefly a system of query, it doesn’t demand techniques like pranayama and asanas as a way to attain self realization. The four recommendations of the Jana Yogi comprise : Viveka- Discrimination (between reality rather than truth); Vairagya- Dispassion (from attachment globe as well as your brain /human anatomy); Shad sampat- Six Merits (tranquility, dama (corticoafferent management), uparati (renunciation), titiksha (endurance), shraddha (faith), and samadhana ( attention )); and Mumukshutva- desiring liberation.
Decision When you have finished this post for the benefit of discovering a program of yoga that will help you develop spiritually, it might be wise to do additional research to the systems that look harmonious to your own requirements and character. Not every person is training yoga for the benefit of self realization. Each program of yoga supplies its exceptional advantages that evolve in the practice and consequently may be practiced with no aim of attaining self realization.
While the supreme aim of yoga is liberation, there are several advantages of the practice that normally happen as the entire body, head, and electricity inside the person are purified. Before commencing the practice it’s best to seek an experienced guide if you determine to take up the practice of Raja yoga or kundalini yoga, as mentioned previously. Nevertheless, finally, every program of yoga necessitates a guru or skillful professional who will direct the pupil via a special system of yoga.
Each fashion that we’ve mentioned previously is exceptional and there’s no correct or incorrect 1, or the one that is preferable to another. In fact, there are hundreds of different varieties of yoga, yet the ones we have mentioned are the primary branches for the practical side of yoga. When choosing a practice, select one that seems to have characteristics that are in harmony with your nature and individuality. Starting from there will give you a good relationship to your practice and make it easier to gradually introduce it into your life on a daily basis. A consistent practice provides the greatest opportunity for self- growth and transformation.
