The Eight main brances of Yoga:-
Yoga is a wide subject. There are thousands of things to know in Yoga. In Yoga there are eight man branch. If we make the tree of Yoga with eight branches -- each branch has it w own unique character. There are so many different paths, you are sure to find one that's right for your personality, lifestyle and goals.
Here are the eight prinicpal branches of Yoga:
1. Hatha Yoga, The Yoga of Physical discipline
2. Raja Yoga, The Yoga of Royal
3. Karma Yoga: The Yoga of self-transcending action
4. Bhakti Yoga: The Yoga of devotion
5. Tantra Yoga: The Yoga of continutity
6. Jnana Yoga: The Yoga of widsom
7. Mantra Yoga: The Yoga of potent sound
8. Guru Yoga: The Yoga of dedicaton to yoga masters
Hatha Yoga: The Yoga of physical descipline
Tha main goal of Yoga is to unite your spirit, body and mind. Hatha Yoga approach the same goal through the body ratr than throug the mind or emotions. The first step of Hatha Yoga is to allow your body properly purified and prepare wihout this the higher stages of connection, meditation and ecstasy are virtually impossible to achieve. Yogi or Yogini needs to make sure to take proper care of the body so that you can injoy not only health but also longevity and elightenment.
Raja Yoga: The Royal Yoga
Raja Yoga means literally "Royal Yoga" and is also know as "Classical Yoga". When you mingle with Yoga students long enough, you can expect to hear them refer to the eight fold paths as condified in the Yoga - Sutra of Patanjali. This is the standard work of Raja Yoga. Another name for this yogic tradition is "ashtanga-yoga" means "the eight - limbed yoga". The eight limbs of this prominent approach, which are designed to lead to enlightment or liberation are as follow:-
Yama
Niyama
Asana
Pranayam
Pratyahara
Dharma
Dhyan
Samadhi
Karma Yoga: The Yoga of self transcendng action
Karma Yoga seeks to influcence destiny positively. This path's most important principle is to act unselfishly, without attachment and with integrity. Karma Yoga practitioners believe that all actions -- weather bodily, vocal or mental - have far reaching consequences for which we must assume full responsibility.
Bhakti Yoga: The Yoga of devotion
In Bhakti Yoga, Yogi or Yogini believes that a supreme being transcends his/her life, and his/her feels connection between soul and supreme being. Bhakti Yoga includes many different ways to connect to supreme being like singin hymns of praise, making flower offering also called as "Mala" and thinking about the devine being.
Tantra Yoga: The Yoga of continuity
Tantra Yoga is the most complex and most widely misunderstood branch of Yoga. In the west and in India, Tantra Yoga is often confused with "spiritualized" sex. While sexual rituals are used in some schools of Tantra Yoga, this isn't a regular practice in the majority of schools. Tantra Yoga is actually strict spiritual descipline involving fair complex rituals and detailed visualization of deities. Another name for Tantra Yoga is "Kundalini Yoga" means "show who is coiled".
Jnana Yoga: The Yoga of wisdom
Jnana Yoga teaches the ideal of nondualism - that reality is singular and your perception of countless distinct phenomena is a basic misconception. What about the chair or sofa that you are sitting on? What about the light that strikes your retina? Jnana Yoga masters answers there questions by saying that all these things are real at your present level of consciousness, but they are not ultimately real as separate or distinct things. Upon elightment, everything melts into one, and you become one with the immortal spirit.
Mantra Yoga: The Yoga of potent sound
Mantra Yoga makes use of sound to harmonize the body and focus the mind. It works with "mantras", which can be a syllable, word or pharse. Traditionally, practitioners receive a "mantra" from their teacher in the context of a formal initiation. They are asked to repeat it as often as possible and to keep it secret. Repeation of"mantra" make their mind continuoulsy think of it and bring them nearer to enlightment.
Guru Yoga: The Yoga of dedecation to a Yoga master(s)
Guru means "the master". In Guru Yoga, Yogi or Yogini's guru(teacher) is the main focus of spiritual practice, such as Guru is expected to be enlightened or at least close to being enlightened. In Guru Yoga the goal is to merge your sould with Guru's sould. You must require full faith in your Guru. In Guru Yoga, you are asked to honor and meditate on your Guru until you merge with him or her. |