Yoga is a mental and physical health system practiced for thousands of years, first in India, its place of origin and now increasingly throughout the world. One of the factors of its popularity is the fact that even medical doctors are advising patients on the value of yoga and it is being intensively studied by scientists. What does yoga do for you? In a nutshell, it calms and relaxes both body and mind and uplifts the spirit. It is an excellent discipline for getting well and keeping well. Many people want to learn more about this wonderful practice, so this article is an introduction to it. There are six branches of yoga, to suit different personalities and these will be summarized below.
Raja Yoga
Raja is translated as “royal” and Raja Yoga is the branch of yoga primarily concerned with meditation. It is best for introspective and contemplative individuals. In this branch are eight ‘limbs’ or practices, formulated thousands of years ago in the work “Yoga Sutras” by the sage Patanjali, which must be strictly observed. They are yama-ethical standards, niyama-self-discipline, pranayama- control of breath, pratyahara-withdrawal of the senses, dharana-concentration, dhyana-meditation and Samadhi-ecstasy or total liberation.
Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is the yoga of selfless service. Yogis (as persons who practice yoga are called) believe in reincarnation. They believe that what kind of life one is reincarnated into (including whether one becomes another human or an animal), is dependent on the spiritual results of the actions in one’s past life, called Karma. The aim of Karma Yoga is to free ourselves of carrying bad karma into future incarnations, through selfless service. Examples of selfless service are working in soup kitchens, being a member of Doctors Without Borders, etc.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion and is the best method for those with emotional personalities. Bhakti yogis try to be aware that the divine is in everything around us and so all actions and thoughts must be infused with spiritual underpinnings. Persons like Dr. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi are exemplars of this path.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana Yoga is the yoga of study and is more suitable for those who are intellectual. It aims to achieve liberation for its practitioners through the study of the yogic scriptures. It has been described as the most direct, yet at the same time the most difficult, of the branches of yoga
Tantra Yoga
Tantra Yoga has been greatly misunderstood. It is meant for those who are drawn to ritual and includes consecrated sexuality. The word “consecrated” is important, because it doesn’t mean license to practice orgies. In fact, one of its aspects is the withholding of ejaculation. Somewhat amusingly, given popular misconceptions, some schools of Tantra Yoga recommend celibacy! It is especially beneficial to those who like religious ceremonies and who get inspiration from them.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga is the yoga of movement. It is the one most popularly attributed to yoga. It involves the use of various physical postures, all the while controlling and being conscious of the breath. It believes that in these postures and breath exercises, the entire being – mind, body and soul – is purified. It is especially good for those of a very physical nature and temperament.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Yoga [http://yoga.tips-and-gear.com/]
