Different Types Of Yoga
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
There are several types of yoga. The four main paths of yoga are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Raja Yoga. However, there are eight altogether. They are the following:
Raja Yoga/Ashtanga Yoga: Raja yoga has to do with refinement of the personality through the eight limbs of yoga. Ashtanga yoga and Raja yoga are often interchangeable with each other, and follow the same principles. These teachings about yoga are based on Patanjali’s yoga sutras, which will be covered later in this course. Patanjali is considered the collector of these yogic teachings many years ago. (Sutra means “thread;” a sutra could be considered a stream of consciousness or thought.) We will cover Raja yoga in more detail as this course unfolds, but for now, in a nutshell, Raja Yoga is a system of eight limbs of yoga, broken down into steps toward enlightenment. Each will be explained in greater detail in a moment.
The Eight Limbs are:
1. Yama (principles, restraints, don’ts)
2. Niyama (personal disciplines, observances, do’s, practices to perform)
3. Asana (yoga positions or yogic postures, what you might normally think yoga is)
4. Pranayama (regulation of the breath, using the breath to control consciousness)
5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses, stilling the mind and looking within)
6. Dharana (concentration on object, focus and one-pointed consciousness)
7. Dhyana (meditation, self inquiry, self introspection)
8. Samadhi (superconsciousness, non-duality, one with God)
Hatha Yoga: Hatha yoga, part of Raja Yoga in the asanas section, is the most physical aspect of yoga, and is what most people think of when they hear the word yoga. Ha means “vital force” and tha means “mental force.” Some also say that ha means “sun” and tha means “moon.” Ha is also described to mean ida nadi (moon) (remember from your Chakras & Auras course about the nadis, the channels that travel up the spine). Tha means pingala nadi (sun). The idea is that hatha brings together the opposing opposites and unites them. Hatha Yoga Pradipika is the authentic and oldest text on which hatha yoga is based, written by Swami Swatmarama in 1200 AD. Hatha Yoga includes:
1. Yogasana (yoga positions, asanas)
2. Six shatkarmas (detox techniques, practices for purification of the physical and mental bodies)
3. Mudras and Bandhas (energy harnessing and release techniques)
4. Pranayama (breathing practices)
Mantra Yoga: This is a method of harnessing the mind to be still while a part of it repeats a mantra over and over until it is still. We covered this subject in the Mantras & Mudras course here at UMS, so refer to it for more details. A mantra is often a Sanskrit word or phrase and originates in the Vedic sciences. Tantra also uses the concept of mantras to achieve the goal of stillness. It is also called Japa yoga.
Bhakti Yoga: Bhakti yoga is a path of devotion and complete surrender to God, or even a teacher or guru. This is a situation where a person is very trusting of the object of faith. People who are devoted to their spiritual teachers are practicing Bhakti yoga, as are the people who think of nothing but God, supreme being, and how he or she can serve that supreme being on Earth.
Karma Yoga: This is a path of right action. Selfless work is the goal, in service to humanity and its awakening. Karma yoga is also used if one believes he or she has a debt to repay to others or to society because of past life infractions. Karma yoga can alleviate outstanding balances, technically, in karmic debt. There is some argument as to whether any of us actually has a karmic debt or not, but either way, selfless giving is the point. It is to become a vessel for the divine to come through and manifest itself on the Earth as a helper to others, and at the same time free its practitioner from the bonds of negative karma.
Jnana Yoga: This is the path of the intellectual. Jnana yoga entails collecting knowledge and turning it into something that can be used in a practical way. Jnana literally means “knowledge.” This includes knowledge of the self, the world, the universe and how the mysteries work in human reality. It also includes developing the intuition and sensing mechanisms so that direct knowledge from the Source can be absorbed, for it is believed that all knowledge lies within each of us and can be accessed once we know how.
Kundalini Yoga: This kind of yoga works with the chakras, the aura and the nadis, the three channels that run up along the spine. The most focus is on awakening and stimulating the upper chakras, thus bringing about peak spiritual experiences. (See the UMS course Chakras & Auras)
Kriya Yoga: Kriya means “movement, activity” as pertaining to consciousness, not the body. There exist about 70 kriyas, but only 20 of them are commonly known, and they are still somewhat protected secrets by some communities. I snuck a peek at them myself, however, and found that they are found in the public view quite easily. Two types of Kriya are well-known the world over, that of Paramahansa Yogananda, a yogi who brought Eastern Indian teachings to the west in the 50’s, and Swami Satyananda Saraswati, who compiled them from secret teachings taught in the Yoga & Tantra Shastras.
Swara Yoga: This yoga has to do with sound. It is a discipline of observation, control, and manipulation of the body and consciousness. The breath is related to the movement of the tides, the rising of the sun and moon, the seasons, and the physical and mental bio-rhythms on any given day. Sound is used to deepen one’s experience through chanting “om” (aum), sacred songs, listening to sound, etc.