All techniques that bring about union of the soul and Spirit can be called Yoga.

There are various indirect and direct methods of directing and controlling the mind to attain the union of spirit with spirit.

Some of these are chanting, prayers, silence, emotional singing, intellectual meditation, social and religious work. However the five widely practised types are:

-       Bhakti Yoga

-       Gyaana Yoga

-       Karma Yoga

-       Hatha Yoga

-       TantricYoga or Kundalini Yoga

(See also: Yoga Systems, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Bhakti yoga is the yogic pathway to self-realisation by catalysing and channeling your emotions into devotion or love with an attitude of total self-surrender.

Bhakti yoga is based on pure and selfless love, a strong sense of total surrender to the Supreme Intelligence guiding this universe and it comes straight from the heart.

But this attitude of surrender and love does not call for any complacence in action. Rather, your emotional fervor and enthusiasm is productively channeled into a feeling of love for another person, a favorite place, a rewarding type of work and so on and one may also develop a feeling of love for all humanity.

(See also: Yoga Systems, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

There are many different asana s (postures) in yoga, which you can practise at any time of the day with excellent benefits. However, best results can be obtained only by doing yoga under expert guidance. Here's a listing of the commonly practised asanas with both the name of the asana in sanskrit and in english.

Read more here: » Yoga: Major Types of Asanas - Yoga Positions

Pranayam term is formed of joining two words- pran and ayam. It means strengthening and expanding the life force. Pran is the life energy or force, which empowers all the work of mind, body and senses. Without pran, our body is dead.

Ayam means expanding or strengthening this pran. It is essential for keeping our body and mind healthy and powerful. Pranayam is important for protecting us from diseases, sickness.

It is very important to understand the methods of pranayam before actually practicing it.

(See also: Pranayama, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

In Raja Yoga the goal is to quieten the mind through meditation where the attention is fixed on an object, mantra, or concept.

The aim of Raja yoga meditation is to successfully establish a mental link with the supreme source of all spiritual energy and power, the Supreme Soul, with the purpose of freeing the individual soul from sorrow, misery, pain, depression, fear, anxiety, illness, insecurity and phobias, and enabling the soul to once again experience constant peace, happiness, love and lasting health and prosperity.

(See also: Yoga Systems, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

"As you sow, so shall you reap" is an old and true saying. It points out the law of cause and effect which forms one of the fundamental laws of the Universe."

Karma Yoga is the path of detached action and selfless service. At this point, you may ask, how could action be detached if a goal or mission is to be accomplished!

Now, the secret of right activity is to do the action with full dedication and enthusiasm in the correct manner and mode of operation but you need not anticipate or be anxious about the consequences or result of this action.

(See also: Yoga Systems, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Sankalpa Yoga is 'reso-will', the power that is born of resolve, will and determination. This esoteric yogic science was widely practised 5,000 years ago.

Sankalpa Yoga is the science of creation. Like everything in nature, gyana (knowledge) comes through sankalpa. Sankalpa Yoga does not belong to anyone in particular, nor is it registered by any organisation. It belongs to all those who want to practise it. There is no one to command you, no bondage, no milestones.

(See also: Sankalpa Yoga, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Hatha Yoga deals with physical body and astral body purification and training. Its goal is to bring the physical body into a perfect state of health so the soul has an appropriate vehicle of expression to work through.

Hatha Yoga embraces many practices, including physical postures and breathing exercises ( pranayama ) , which also act upon the physical nervous system and etheric body. It helps bring the vital energies of the physical and etheric bodies under conscious control.

(See also: Yoga Systems, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

The first breath of life eventually leads to the last exhale at death, but for whatever span that lies between, breathing is an unassuming, if essential, part of living. It seemed odd to me that one would need lessons in how to breathe.

Yet people worldwide are turning to the intensive Art of Living course on lowering stress and finding renewed vigour and clarity through age-old Hindu breathing techniques.

(See also: Pranayama, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Gyana Yoga is the spiritual path of 'knowledge'. It aims at realising the Supreme Spirit through deep enquiry and constant contemplation upon the eternal truths. In Gyana Yoga, you will endeavour to achieve enlightenment through the study of sacred books of wisdom and truth.

Normally, people who are very well versed in religious and other scriptures (Scriptural scholars) are considered 'gyaan yogis'. But it is important to note that if knowledge is not balanced with devotion to God, then it will carry the danger of developing arrogance and one-sidedness.

Love sweetens our understanding just as knowledge sharpens and directs our love. Love that is uncontrolled by knowledge can be much like a hose that is turned on and then left without a guiding hand; it neighs and just gushes forth making it impossible to use it effectively.

(See also: Yoga Systems, Yoga, Yoga and Health, Yoga Systems, Yoga Positions)

Raja Yoga - The Yoga of Self Control

Raja means Ôroyal' and Raja Yoga is said to be the Ôking' of Yogas. It is the path of yoga which is mainly concerned with meditation. During practice, the yogi sits at ease to observe the mind and to silence floating thoughts. The practice induces a sense of centrality and teaches self honour and respect. One of the main beliefs of Raja Yoga is that the universe exists only for the self. It is based on the Eight Limbs of Yoga which is discussed in the Yoga Sutra.

Read more here: » Yoga Branches: Raja Yoga

Yoga Schools: The Six Branches of Yoga

Of the six branches of yoga, only one is concerned with Prana and physical body. The rest can be seen as spiritual disciplines.

Includes: Hatha Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga and Tantra Yoga

Read more here: » Yoga Schools: The Six Branches of Yoga

Bikram Yoga Ð Bikram Choudhury founded this style of yoga. It is typically practiced in a room with a temperature of up to 100 degrees. Scientifically, this warms and stretches muscles, ligaments and tendons in the order in which they should be stretched. Therefore it is a very sweaty practice. Bikram is a series of 26 Asanas accompanied by Kapalabhati Breath, the Ôbreath of fire'.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Styles: Bikram Yoga

Kundalini Yoga Ð In this style of yoga, the spine is regarded as a snake. It was brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan in the late 1960s. The practice concentrates on releasing the Kundalini energy which is found at the base of the spine. Kundalini Yoga includes a series of classic poses and chanting. The emphasis however, is not on the Asana but on the chanting. Spiritual transformation is the main aim of practice.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Styles: Kundalini Yoga

Sivananda Yoga Ð Sivananda was developed by Vishnu-devananda. Practice consists of Pranayama and classic Asanas - 12 basic poses. Diet and positive thinking are also heavily emphasised on in this style of yoga.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Styles: Sivananda Yoga

Svaroopa Yoga Ð Rama Berch founded Svaroopa Yoga. It introduces alternative ways of doing familiar poses with deep emphasis on the spine. It aims to open the spine by developing gentle movement from the tailbone right through to the top of the spine. It is another style of yoga which is not at all athletic and more involved in consciousness and healing properties.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Styles: Svaroopa Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga Ð Ashtanga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois. It is a very physically demanding form of yoga often known as Ôpower yoga'. The system of Ashtanga is based on six series of increasing difficulty. It involves performing a challenging sequence of poses with Ujjayi Breathing and vinyasas which will produce intense internal heat and a purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Styles: Ashtanga Yoga

Iyengar Yoga Ð Iyengar Yoga was named after B.K.S. Iyengar. This style of yoga focuses on detail and precise alignment of postures. Iyengar yogis use yoga props such as blocks and belts. The props are meant to help achieve the best possible pose and provide support to minimize the risk of injury. Iyengar poses are held longer and repeated several times.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Styles: Iyengar Yoga

Ananda Yoga Ð Ananda Yoga is a gentle practice. Swami Kriyananda developed this classical style of Hatha yoga that uses Asana and Pranayama to engage energies of the chakras.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Styles: Ananda Yoga

Anusara Yoga Ð Anusara is a combination of Hatha yoga and biochemical principles. It is a very modern style of yoga developed by John Friend. Practice is described as heart-oriented and spiritually inspiring and concentrates on outer and inner body alignment. Different students' abilities and limitations are deeply respected.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga Styles: Anusara Yoga