What is Yoga?         

 

Yoga is an ancient philosophy, thought to pre-date 3000 BCE and believed to have originated around the Indus Valley in Northern India. The word "Yoga" literally means 'union' or joining - the joining of the Self (prakriti) with Pure Consciousness, the Divine, the Transcendental Truth (purusha), however one may perceive it.

 

Yoga is a science of Life aiming to bring balance between the physical body, the mind and the spirit: between action, intelligence and the higher self, to enhance and maintain physical health and peace of mind through movement, breath awareness, relaxation and meditation techniques.

 

Interesting to note that for a word that translates as 'union', the tradition of yoga is diverse with many schools and approaches.. The multitude of yoga paths and orientations unify, though, upon the one goal of liberation. The Buddha is known to have said there are " 84,000 dharma gates" - 84,000 practices for attaining liberation...and tradition tells us there are 84,000 yoga asanas.

 

MANY YOGAS

 

Bhakti Yoga is often referred to as the path of Devotion. Some Bhakti yoga practitioners conceive of the Divine in a dualistic approach by seeing the Source as 'Other', separate from oneself. Others may repeatedly practice to completely annihilate the illusion of the ego until the Divine is realized as the only One reality. Kirtan, the call and response chanting of devotional songs, is a form of Bhakti Yoga.

 

Karma Yoga is the yoga of Action. It is practiced with an attitude of selfless service with no regard to personal praise or anticipated outcome. The egoless action of the karma yogi lives and expresses one's duties towards the highest form of Reality. The actions of Arjuna while in consultation with Krishna in the spiritual epic of the Bhagavda Gita is a clear representation of Karma Yoga.

 

Jnana Yoga is the yoga of knowledge, also referred to in the Hindu tradition as Vedanta. It is a path of nondualism; all polarities dissolve into the knowing of One. Beyond what you think is that which you are; use the mind to go beyond the mind. The great master, Ramana Maharshi continually taught his students to inquire, "Who am I?".

Self and God are not separate. .."as long as the I-sense lasts..true knowledge (jnana) and liberation is impossible."

 

Raja Yoga is the royal path, specific to the 'eight-limbed' yoga system of Patanjali. This is the path most yogis adhere to today. It incorporates the study of the Yoga Sutras, emphasizing the ethics and morals of a yogi's lifestyle. This path includes Hatha Yoga which is the root of all the styles of yoga practiced worldwide.

 

Mantra Yoga utilzes the power of sound to affect one's consciousness. Through the practice of reciting mantra, the activity of the mind dissolves, leading to Union. It is a path of devotion, as related to Bhakti Yoga.

 

Tantra Yoga is a spiritual practice that combines the yogi's sensations of the physical body and the pleasures of the world into acknowledgment of the Absolute-Divine-Truth. The tantric revolution arose from the past life-denying yogic traditions to realize Truth. Tantric yogis weave the sensuality of life's energies into the beautiful fabric of existence.

 

HATHA YOGA

 

VIGOROUS YOGA

 

Ashtanga - Founder Sri. K Pattabhi Jois, "Yoga is 99% practice and 1% theory". A method in which a set series of poses is linked by vinyasa (flowing movements) and synchronized with ujjiyi breathing to produce intense heat and internal purification.

 

Bikram - Founder Bikram Choudhury, "Yoga is the perfect vehicle for change..first by creating a strong and powerful body and mind..You can then begin to realize your human spirit." Bikram Yoga is a set series of 26 postures and breathing exercies repeated twice in a room heated to 105 degrees, to warm up the muscles quickly and promote detoxification.

 

Jivamukti - Founders David Life and Sharon Gannon, "You cannot do yoga. Yoga is the natural state." (S. Gannon) Jivamukti Yoga is based on the priniciples of Bhakti yoga and the virtue of ahimsa (non-violence). It combines a vigorous flow of postures with classic, spiritual philosophic themes incorporated into each class. Includes meditation and chanting.

 

Power - Founder Baron Baptiste, " What we need isn't another quick fix, but rather a rebirth - a whole life revolution." Power Yoga is an American adaptation of Ashtanga Yoga. Power Yoga is a rigorous, spiritually intense, dynamic, physically challenging yoga practice. Poses can be advanced and held for long durations of time.

 

Vinyasa - Founder Shiva Rea, "Vinyasa is a natural sequence, unfolding with creative intelligence- a conscious evolution connecting each moment with unifying breath." Vinyasa is a derivative of Ashtanga, an American free-form innovation.

 

ALIGNMENT and SUBTLE ENERGY YOGA

 

Anusara - Founder John Friend, "Follow your heart. Be open to its deepest longings." Anusara Yoga is a tantric-based system that combines attention to alignment with awareness on energy flow in the body in order to realize your divine nature. Each class has a heart-oriented theme.

 

Iyengar - Founder BKS Iyengar, "Yoga has to be done with the intellect of the head as well as the intellect of the heart. " Iyengar Yoga is a method that teaches awareness through attention to anatomical precision and alignment in the poses; emphasis is on healing the body and mind using postures.

 

Viniyoga - Founder Gary Kraftsow, "We practice to deepen our self-awareness, establish ourselves in the present, set a direction for our future and actualize our full potential." Viniyoga adapts the various methods of practice to the unique condition, needs and interests of the student to actualize self-discovery and personal transformation.

 

Yin Yoga - Founder Paul Grilley, "The connective tissue forms a mechanical continuum, extending throughout the body, even into the innermost parts of each cell."  Yin Yoga postures are practiced with the muscles relaxed and held for a long time focusing on stretching the connective tissues of the body.

 

Restorative - Founder BKS Iyengar, prompted by Judith Lasater, "By supporting the body with props, we alternatively stimulate and relax the body toward balance."  Restorative yoga creates specific physiological responses which are beneficial to health and can reduce the effects of stress-related disease, trauma, disabilities, injuries.

 

YOGA THERAPY

 

Yoga Therapy- Founder Sri T. Krishnamacharya, " Breath is central to yoga because it is central to life...and yoga is about life." Yoga Therapy is a personalized therapeutic practice, especially suitable to those who have suffered injuries or are recovering from a traumatic event, usually offered in a personalized, private session or in small groups.

 

MEDITATIVE YOGA

 

Integral - Founder Sri Swami Satchidanada, "The aim of yoga is to calm the mind. That's why we call it integral yoga, because we integrate everything- body, mind and spirit." Integral Yoga is a gentle practice integrating other yoga branches; karma yoga (selfless service), bhakti yoga (devotion) and emphasizes union with God.

 

Kripalu - Founder Swami Kripalu, "Those who do not know to sing and dance will never reach God." Kripalu Yoga is a free-flowing form of yoga that is as much a meditation in motion as it is a series of asanas. This yoga supports relaxation for a meditation practice and healing for someone with physical limitations.

 

Sivananda - Founder Swami Vishnudevananda, "Mantra is a particular wavelength of a spiritual mystical symbol. Eventually your mind will be tuned to it. At this time you have cosmic consciousness."  Sivananada Yoga is a spiritually oriented practice that empahsizes Vedanta philosophy and the recitation of mantras; incorporates karma, bhakti, raja and jnana yoga paths.

 

Kundalini -  Founder Yogi Bhajan, "The basic unit, you, is equal to radiance plus activity." Kundalini Yoga is energetic, composed of repetitive movements to promote the release of the kundalini, 'serpent' power energy residing in the base of the spine. Includes kriyas for internal cleansing and rejuevenation and mantra chanting.

 

                                                                                                                                                

 

REFERENCES:

Yoga Journal magazine- February 2008 Directory

'Mindfulness Yoga' - Frank Jude Boccio

International Yoga Teachers Association

'Yin Yoga' - Paul Grilley

'The Spiritual Reading of Ramana Maharshi'

American Viniyoga Institute

Restorative Yoga Teachers