Raj Yoga

Raj yoga mostly concentrates on self-realization within one’s mind. With the aid of Meditation,  Asana, and Pranayama. This particular type of yoga is considered as the highest state of yoga. “Raja” means King. This can be termed as the king of yoga.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga is considered to be the most powerful yoga. It focuses on awakening the energy which is found at the base of the spine. Kundalini yoga involves classic poses, chanting and meditation. There is an emphasis on breathing.

Karma Yoga

Karma means action or deed, and the result of that action. By practicing karma people try to do those actions that bring the most amounts of good and the least amount evil. Karma yoga dedicates actions to God. It is the performance of actions in union with the devine. It also involves selfless service. The history of Karma yoga dates back to before 800 BC. When yoga referred to life disciplines and paths.

Kriya yoga

Kriya yoga consists of meditation technique that help with a person’s spiritual growth. The goal of Kriya yoga is union with the divine. It works with the spiritual energy deep in the spine. Kriya yoga is mentally drawing the energy up and down the spine.

Samkhya Yoga

The term ‘yoga ‘ emerged for the first time in the metaphysic of the Samkhya, a philosophy born of “buddhi”  meaning mind and which is basically the meaning of the term ‘Sankhya’. In the Sankhya theory of cosmic evolution there sprouted the seeds of a systematic philosophy of ‘yoga’ called the ‘Sankhya-yoga’. It recognized two ultimate entities-prakriti and purusha or nature and spirit.Sankhya acclaims that the objectives universe in its infinite diversity evolves out of this prakriti when it is yoked with purusha. The purusha has no physical entity and manifests only when yoked with prakriti. Sankhya calls the manifested cosmos the ‘parinama’(result) of this yoga of the male and female elements, or evolution out of the union. In visual terms this is envisioned as the physical mating of shiva with Parvati, his shakti and represented in art as such.

Sankhya gives to yoga a definite metaphysical shape and the status of an independent philosophy. It perceives creation as a cyclic evolution on the completion of which the objectives universe dissolves and the cyclic process begin a fresh. The Sankhya theory of evolution makes no reference to god and thus incidentally yoga evolved as a secular concept with the result that almost all sects in India adopted it with alike zeal. Hindu personified purusha and prakriti in shiva and shakti and perceived the creation as the result of the union of the two. Later evolution of yogic thought also perceives this cosmic element in the union of Vishnu and Lakshami.

It must be noted here that the woman, who is the prakriti, creates by union with the male but through her own expansion.

This quality of expansion in her exclusive preserve and is evident in the sexual act where it is the female who expands while consummating the union (or yoking). Similarly while carrying the fertilized seed in her womb her belly expand.

Bhakti Yoga

The word “bhakti” means devotion. Devotion cannot be compared with any other approach, it is something super. When you develop devotion you rise above all doubts. You feel the presence always with you, and you feel that you are totally protected. You can develop that kind of devotion by constant remembrance of the Divine.

A Bhakt is devotee, and his goal is to attach himself completely to God, as his most beloved. Our entire nature is based on such love. We are attached to so many things. From early childhood, we learn to cling to someone or something parents, sisters or brothers and lates to position, money or education.

There are hundred of saints and songs who expounded on different relationship with God, and they all attained to the same goal. So you bring god to a level you can understand, and then have a relationship as you would in the world.

Stick to one type of relationship. Choose a particular form of God that you are devoted to and then that becomes your Ishta Devta, the beloved form of god for you. Start giving everything, doing everything, for the sake of your beloved. When you have a sweetheart, if you get a nice sweet mango, what do you do immediately? You think,” Ah she will love it. I will keep it for her.” You keep all the best things for your beloved do that with god also. Offer everything to her, that’s dedication- offering to God, constantly living in his memory.

Vinyasa Yoga

The root of vinyasa in Sanskrit is vi, which means “in a special way” and  nyasa, which means “to place”. Vinyasa is a term used to describe a style of yoga itself as well as a category of other forms of yoga. While there is some accuracy to both attributions, a more exact meaning of vinyasa is a method by which to help a student progress from one point to the next point through a combination of movement and breathe.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana yoga is the path of yoga that basically deals with the mind, and as such, it focuses on man’s intelligence. Jnana yogis consider wisdom and intellect as important and they aim to unify the two to surpass limitations. Since they wish to gain knowledge, they are open to other philosophies and religion for they believe that an open. And rational mind is crucial in knowing the spirit.

Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is the most widely practiced form of yoga in India. It is the branch of yoga which concentrates on physical health and mental well being. Hatha yoga uses bodily postures ( Yoga Asana )  , breathing techniques ( Pranayama ) and meditation (Dhyan) with the goal of bringing about a sound healthy body and a clear, peaceful mind. There are nearly 200 hatha yoga postures, with hundreds of variations, which work to make the spine supple and to promote circulation in all the organs, glands and tissues. Hatha yoga postures also stretch and align the body, promoting balance and flexibility.

Types of Yoga

There are many forms of yoga being practiced by numerous people all over the world. Due to the benefits of yoga such as relaxation and inner calm, it is quickly gaining popularity in the western countries too. A large number of institutes have come up in recent years teaching people the techniques of yoga. Each technique of yoga is different from other in respect of the benefits they offer. It requires time and patience to learn these techniques as these are difficult to understand.

As yoga is a wide term in itself, a beginner may find it difficult to choose the right program for himself, that’s where the yoga schools come in. They’ll tell you about all the popular forms of yoga and their benefits and then you can go for the one which suits your need. There are different types of yoga for you to work on in order to keep up a healthy life, they are :

1. Hatha Yoga
2. Jnana Yoga
3. Vinyasa Yoga
4. Bhakti Yoga
5. Samkhya Yoga
6. Kriya Yoga
7. Karma Yoga
8. Kundalini Yoga
9. Raj Yoga

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