The different types of yoga

The five types of yoga

1) Japa Yoga: this aims at increasing concentration of mind. It’s done through repeated recitation of a holy syllable, a divine name, mantra etc. e.g.: ‘God’, ‘OM’ , ‘Rama’, ‘Allah’, ‘Vahe Guru’ etc.

2) Karma Yoga: Its basic principle is to perform an action without any desire for the gain. The holy book, ‘Bhagavat Gita’ demands, all actions should be done without expecting its fruit. A Karma Yogi   will always consider his duty as a divine action, perform it with whole hearted dedication, but shuns away from all desires.

3) Gyana Yoga: Teaches us to acquire the knowledge of one’s spiritual entity through the study of scriptures, company of Saints and practice of meditation. It helps us to discriminate between self and non self.

4) Bhakti Yoga:  It centers on intense devotion to God. Fully surrender, before the divine power. A true Bhakti Yogi is humble, free from egoism and remains stable under the pressures of materialistic world.

5) Raja Yoga: Raja Yoga is popularly known as ‘Ashtanga Yoga’. Raja Yoga is meant for all round development of human personality. Ashtanga Yoga consists of 8 branches as the name Ashta denotes, the Sanskrit word ‘Ashta’ means ‘eight’.

The eight fold paths of Yoga

1. Yama.

2. Niyama.

3. Asana.

4. Pranayama.

5. Pratyahara.

6. Dharana.

7. Dhyana.

8. Samadhi.

Of these Pathyahara, Darana, Dhyana, are all different stages of meditation.

I feel it’s important to tell what Yamas and Niyamas are.

The five Yamas

1. Ahimsa.

2. Satya.

3. Asteya.

4. Brahmacharya.

5. Aparigraha.

Ahimsa is nothing but non violence, Satya is to be truthful, Asteya is not to steal, Brahmacharya is celibacy and Aparigraha is nothing but not to possess beyond actual needs.

The five Niyamas

1. Shauch.
2. Santhosh.
3. Tapa.
4. Swadhaya.
5. Ishwarapranidhana.

Shauch is cleanliness, denotes internal and external purification. Santhosh is nothing but contentment. Tapa is to make right efforts to achieve goals. Swadhaya is acquiring knowledge about self and supreme power through studying authentic texts, scriptures. Ishwara Pranidhana is complete surrender to the divine power.

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