Different Forms of Yoga
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Mantra Karma Bhakti Jnana Hatha Raja Kundalini Tantric Kriya
Yoga, as we know it in the West, is an expression of a vast and
multifaceted system of thought. There are many types of yoga. All forms
of yoga express
in different ways the basic definitions of yoga, i.e., to bind, to achieve
union. All aim ultimately at self transcendence. Below are listed a few
forms of yoga. None are better or worse than
another.
Mantra Yoga
Derived from the word man and meaning to think. Mantra yoga is sacred thought or prayer, i.e., repeating a mantra or sacred word.
Karma Yoga
Karma refers to action. The belief is that in life we can only act.
Karma yoga is central to the Bhagavad Gita, for example, "Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof. Never the fruits of action be your motive, and never cease to work. Be not affected by success or failure. This equipoise is called yoga."
Bhakti Yoga
Devotional yoga. Bhakti from bhaj meaning to serve, i.e., serving a greater power
If you know nothing but have Bhakti (devotion), God is pleased.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana means knowledge. Jnana yoga is yoga of the search for knowledge.
Jnana yoga assumes all knowledge is within us. Yoga Sutras say that the moment the mind is freed from the bonds of avidya (false understanding, etc.) jnana occurs spontaneously and this brings about samadhi (enlightenment.)
Hatha Yoga
This refers to the physical practice of yoga. i.e., the asanas or stretching poses
Hatha is derived from 'ha' referring to the cool energy of the moon (or chandra) and ida - a nerve channel (or nadi) which passes through the body, and 'tha' the hot energy of the sun (or surya) and pingala (another nadi)
Designed to eliminate stress and to strengthen and purify the body, thereby making it easier to enter a meditative state.
There are many schools of hatha yoga.
Raja Yoga
Raja refers to king
Raja yoga often refers to a purely meditative yoga. It is sometimes referred to as classical yoga. Raja yoga is associated with the Yoga Sutras, as is Astanga Vinyasa yoga.
Kundalini Yoga
The emphasis is on forceful breathing techniques to compel life force (prana) to rise up the spine into the crown chakra located at the top of the head thereby resulting in enlightenment.
It is sometimes thought of as a form of Hatha yoga.
Tantric Yoga
A path to self-transcendence through ritual means including consecrated sexuality. It is often misunderstood because of this.
Kriya Yoga
Cleansing yoga practices. Sometimes referred to as "asana and pranayama", and sometimes to practices such as cleaning orifices such as nasal passages cleansing (netti).