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Yoga Styles or Yoga Paths
or Types of Yoga
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Ashtanga Yoga (Patanjali's
Ashtanga Yoga - Eight limb / step yoga)
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The basis of ashtanga yoga is the
Yoga sutras (Sanskrit Verses) of Patanjali. We will consider the different
aspects of yoga while remaining under the guiding principles of Patanjali's Yoga
(Ashtanga Yoga). The Asana, Pranayama, Dharana, Dhyan & Samadhi or the Yama and
Niyama are systematically described by Patanjali in his Sanskrit Sutras (verses).
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Hatha Yoga
The term Hatha Yoga has been commonly used to describe the practice of asana (postures).
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. More correctly the techniques
described in Hatha Yoga harmonise and purify the body systems and focus the mind
in preparation for more advanced chakra and kundalini practices.
The Hatha Yoga system includes
asana along with the six shatkarmas
(physical and mental detox techniques), mudras and
bandhas (psycho-physiological energy release techniques) and
Pranayama (pranic awakening practices). Fine tuning of the human personality
at increasingly subtle levels leads to higher states of awareness and meditation.
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Mantra Yoga
 Japa Yoga,
Requirements, State of Consciousness in Matra Yoga, Methods of Chanting, Effects
of Mantra, How to Practice & Rules of Mantra Chanting)
Mantra Yoga -
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 Mantra Yoga
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Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti is a Yoga of devotion or complete faith. This faith is generally in the God
or supreme consciousness in any of the forms. It may be Lord Rama, Krishna, Christ,
Mohammed, Buddha etc. It may be a Guru for his disciples.
Important thing is the person interested in following this path should have very
strong emotional bond with the object of faith. The flow of emotional energy is
directed to this object. Mostly people suppress their emotions and that often reflects
in the form of physical and mental disorders. This Bhakti Yoga releases those suppressed
emotions and brings the purification of inner self.
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 looses the self identity and
becomes one with the object of faith, this is a state of self realization.
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Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is a path of devotion to the work. One looses his identity while working,
only selfless work remains. This state is very difficult to achieve. Generally some
rewards or incentives or outcome follows the work and one is attached to this reward
or incentive. This is not the Karma Yoga. Non-attachment with the work and becoming
the perfect instrument of the super consciousness in this manifested universe is
the ultimate aim of Karma Yoga.
In the initial stages of Karma Yoga, individual possesses strong sense of ego and
consciously or unconsciously he is attached to the fruits of his efforts or at least
praise or recognition but by continuous involvement in the work and change in mental
attitude, one can surely disassociate himself from the ego and his own personality.
In this state the work becomes worship to the God, it becomes spiritual, also the
individual becomes expert, skilled and Yogi. He achieves stability of mind in all
conditions, he is not disturbed or excited or happy in any of the situations. He
becomes divine & his actions represent God's will.
The essence of Karma Yoga as extracted from 'Bhagvad Gita' says: The world confined
in its own activity except when actions are performed as worship of God. Therefore
one must perform every action sacramentally and be free of your attachments to the
results.
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Jnana Yoga
Jnana Yoga is the process of converting intellectual knowledge into practical wisdom.
It is a discovery of human dharma in relation to nature and the universe. Jnana
Yoga is described by tradition as a means to obtain the highest meditative state
and inner knowledge.
Jnana literally means 'knowledge', but in the context of yoga it means the process
of meditative awareness which leads to illuminative wisdom. It is not a method by
which we try to find rational answers to eternal questions, rather it is a part
of meditation leading to self-enquiry and self-realisation.
Some of the components of Jnana Yoga are :
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Not believing but realising
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2.
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Self-awareness leading to self-analysis
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3.
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Experiencing knowledge
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4.
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Realising the personal nature
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5.
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Developing intuitive wisdom
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6.
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Experiencing inner unity
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Kundalini Yoga (From the Tantras)
 This system
of Yoga is concerned with awakening of the psychic centers or chakras, which exists
in every individual. (Please refer to the figure) There are six main chakras in
the human beings.
The mind is made up of different subtle layers. Each of these layers progressively
are associated with the higher levels of consciousness. Each of these levels are
related to the different chakra or psychic center located throughout the psychic
body. There are no of other chakras apart from the six main, which are associated
with planes below the human level. In all we have chakras that connect us to animal
levels of mind, to the instinctive realms of being or to the sublime heights of
consciousness.
In Kundalini Yoga, higher-level chakras are awakened and also the activities associated
with these higher psychic centers.The basic method of awakening involves deep concentration
on these chakras and forcing their arousal. Asanas, pranayama, mudra and bandha
and other forms of Yoga such as Mantra Yoga are also used to stimulate the awakening.
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Kriya Yoga
The word kriya means 'activity' or 'movement' and refers to the activity or movement
of consciousness. Kriya also refers to a type of practical or preliminary practice
leading to total union, the final result of practice. Kriya Yoga does not curb mental
fluctuations but purposely creates activity and awakening in consciousness. In this
way all faculties are harmonised and flower into their fullest potential.
Kriya Yoga originated in antiquity and evolved over time through practise and experience.
The full form of Kriya Yoga consists of over 70 kriyas out of which only 20 or so
are commonly known.
The kriya practices are inscribed in numerous tantric texts written in Sanskrit.
To date only a few of these have been translated into other languages. The most
authoritative magna opus on the subject of Kriya.
The practices of Kriya Yoga were propagated by Swami Satyananda Saraswati from secret
teachings described in the Yoga and Tantra Shastras. The kriyas, as taught by Satyananda
Yoga?, are one of only two systems of Kriya Yoga recognized the world over, the
other being that of Paramahamsa Yogananda.
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Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga usually refers to the system of yoga that is described in the Yoga Sutras
of Sage Patanjali. In this ancient text Sage Patanjali describes eight stages of
yoga which are known collectively as Raja Yoga.
Raja Yoga is a comprehensive yoga system which deals with the refinement of human
behaviour and personality through the practice of the yamas (restraint) and niyamas
(disciplines); attainment of physical health and vitality through asanas (postures)
and pranayamas (pranic breathing techniques); management of mental and emotional
conflicts and development of awareness and concentration through pratyahara (sensory
withdrawal) and dharana (concentration); and developing the creative aspect of consciousness
for transcendental awareness through dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption
in the universal identity).
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Swara Yoga
Swara is Sanskrit word, meaning sound or note. It is also a continuous flow of air
through one nostril. Yoga means union, so Swara yoga is a science which is realization
of cosmic consciousness through control and manipulation of breath.
Swara Yoga is science which is a complete study, observations, control and manipulation
of breath or Swara. Pranayama is only related to control of breath in various ways.
In swara yoga, you will find association of breath in relation to activities of
sun, moon, various seasons, physical and mental conditions of individuals etc. So
Swara Yoga is more comprehensive in theory and practices related to breath.
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