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

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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

Jnana Yoga - The Yoga of wisdom or knowledge

Jnana means wisdom or discernment. Commonly known as Yoga of the knowledge, Jnana focuses on man's intelligence. Yogis have an open mind for everything, they accept all philosophies and religions. Their unity of intellect and wisdom enables them to surpass boundaries and look beyond ideological controversies.

Read more here: » Yoga Branches: Jnana Yoga

Karma Yoga - The Yoga of Action

Karma yoga joins both the physical and mental aspects of Hindu philosophy to produce a single concept. It believes that the present relies on the past and that in turn, with your actions, you can alter the future. Selflessness is a primary requirement for karma practice. Steering your actions towards the good Ð saying good, thinking good, doing good will all facilitate selflessness. Acting this way eliminates egoistic and negative behaviour and enables you to influence your destiny.

Read more here: » Yoga Branches: Karma Yoga

Tantra Yoga

Tantra Yoga is probably the most misconstrued of all yogas. Most people perceive it as purely sexual, and although sex is a part of it, its key principle is actually consecration. This means to make everything you do, sacred or holy. It encourages a ritualistic approach to life. In this way, it draws our attention to our actions in all states, whether asleep or awake. Purity, devotion and courage are essential to Tantric practices.

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Hatha Yoga

Physical Yoga or the Yoga of postures is known as Hatha Yoga. It is the most popular form of yoga practiced in the West. This form of yoga consists of many different styles. The different styles of Hatha Yoga have common roots. The founders of three of the most popular styles, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Viniyoga were all students of Krishnamacharya, a famous teacher at the Yoga Institute at the Mysore Palace in India . This form of yoga brings together Pranayama and Meditation with physical poses in its aim to promote positive energy and good health of the body.

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Bhakti Yoga - The Yoga of Devotion

The Yoga of devotion is known as Bhakti Yoga. Practicing this form of yoga trains the heart to seek the purity in everyone and everything. This creates a warmth in the human mind and promotes love and tolerance for all. Bhakti yoga also teaches a devotion to God.

Read more here: » Yoga Branches: Bhakti Yoga

Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

Hatha Yoga is the branch of Yoga that focuses on the physical well-being of a person and sees the body as the driver of the spirit. Each of these styles of yoga use Asanas or poses to balance the body, mind and spirit. However, some emphasise the alignment of the body while others concentrate on co-ordinating the movement and breath. Ten of the most common styles of Hatha Yoga are described: Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Viniyoga, Bikram Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Ananda Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Jivamukti Yoga, Sivananda Yoga and Svaroopa Yoga.

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Yoga Philosophy explained thru the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. The roots of Yoga can be traced back roughly 5,000 years to the Indus Valley civilization, where seals depicting people performing asanas (yoga postures) were used in trade along the river. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. It is the union of all aspects of an individual: body, mind and soul. Hence, Yoga reunites all opposites - mind and body, stillness and movement, masculine and feminine, sun and moon - in order to bring reconciliation between them. Yoga is one of the six branches in Indian philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas – the ancient scriptures of India. There is a legend that says that the knowledge of Yoga was first offered by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati and then passed on to the world.

Read more here: » Patanjali: Yoga Philosophy and the Patanjali Yoga Sutras

Kriya Yoga is a scientific art of perfect God Truth union and Self-Realization. It was revived by a great Master of India, Babaji Nagaraj, as a synthesis of ancient teachings of the 18 Siddha tradition. It includes a series of 144 techniques or "Kriyas" grouped into five phases or branches.

Read more here: » Kriya Yoga: Introduction to Kriya Yoga

The word Yoga comes from the root Yuj which means to join. Yoga is restraint of the activities of the mind, and is the union of the individual soul with the Supreme Soul.

Hiranyagarbha is the founder of the Yoga system. The Yoga founded by Patanjali Maharshi is a branch or supplement of the Sankhya. It has its own charm for students of a mystic temperament and of a contemplative type. It claims greater orthodoxy than the Sankhya proper by directly acknowledging the existence of a Supreme Being (Isvara).

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yoga: Hindu Philosophy - The Yoga

Ethics or ethical science treats about Sadachara or right conduct, morality or duty. Ethics is the science of morals, that branch of philosophy which is concerned with human character and conduct.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Sadachara:Yoga of Right Conduct - Sadachara

Yogi Bhusunda

Yogi Bhusunda is one of the Chiranjivis amongst the Yogins. He was the master in the science of Pranayama. It is said that a big nest, like a mountain, was built by him on the southern branch of the Kalpa Vriksha, situated at the northern summit of the Mahameru. Bhusunda lived in this nest. He was a Trikala Jnani.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yogis: Yogi Bhusunda

Buddhist philosophy is the branch of Eastern philosophy based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha (c. 563 BC - c. 483 BC). Buddhist philosophy deals extensively with problems in metaphysics, phenomenology, ethics, and epistemology. Buddhist philosophy - Introduction. Samkhya Nyaya Vaisheshika Yoga Purva Mimamsa Advaita Vedanta Vishishtadvaita Dvaita Carvaka Jai ...

Including:

• Buddhist philosophy - Introduction
• Buddhist philosophy - Philosophical areas addressed in Buddhism
• Buddhist philosophy - Epistemology
• Buddhist philosophy - Metaphysics and phenomenology
• Buddhist philosophy - Interpenetration
• Buddhist philosophy - Ethics
• Buddhist philosophy - Historical development of Buddhist philosophy
• Buddhist philosophy - Early development
• Buddhist philosophy - Later developments
• Buddhist philosophy - Comparison with other philosophies
• Buddhist philosophy - Some Buddhist philosophers

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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)

 The word "yoga" often brings to mind a classroom of students attired in exercise clothing attempting to stretch their bodies into different postures. A more traditional yoga class will even include instruction in breathing techniques, concentration, meditation, and positive thinking. In the media today, yoga is often associated with health benefits such as stress reduction, lower blood pressure, and an overall decrease in illness and hospitalization rates. This is the Western idea of yoga. If we look to the Eastern approach, where yoga is a part of the great Hindu and Buddhist traditions, we find that yoga is all of these things but much, much more as well.

Read more here: » Yoga: Serve, Love, Meditate, Realize - The Inner Teachings of Yoga

The Sanskrit word 'yoga' is derived from the root verb yuj, which means union. The supreme union of individual mind and cosmic mind is yoga. In his Yogasutras , Patanjali advocated the eight-fold path of astanga yoga . Its eight limbs are: yama (self-restraint), niyama (life-regulating moral rules and observances), asana (postures of bodily restfulness), pranayama (breath control), pratyahar (withdrawal of senses), dharana (fixing the mind on the Supreme), dhyana (absorption of self), and samadhi (liberation of the soul).

Read more here: » Patanjali Yoga Sutras: Supreme Union of Body, Mind, Soul with the Patanjali Yoga Sutras

This FAQ gives an overview of those kundalini yoga practices which require conscious effort. Part I of III.

In Part III: 1) But even if kundalini is dangerous, isn't it a faster way to enlighenment?, 2) What are the origins of kundalini yoga?, 3) What is the classical literature of kundalini yoga?, 4) What is the precise role of the guru in kundalini yoga?, 5) Can't I learn it through books?, 6) Where can I gain instruction on kundalini yoga?, 7) Where can I learn more?

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Kundalini Yogas FAQ (part III of III)

The four main spiritual paths for God-realisation are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Karma Yoga is suitable for a man of active temperament, Bhakti Yoga for a man of devotional temperament, Raja Yoga for a man of mystic temperament, and Jnana Yoga for a man of rational and philosophical temperament, or a man of enquiry.

Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, Lambika Yoga and Hatha Yoga, are other Yogas. Yoga, really, means union with God. The practice of Yoga leads to communion with the Lord. Whatever may be the starting point, the end reached is the same.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Yoga: The Four Paths of Hindu Yoga

Kabir Panthis: Kabir Panthis are the followers of saint Kabir. They are numerous in all the provinces of Upper and Central India. There are twelve branches. Kabir Chaura is at Varanasi. It is a big monastery of Kabir Panthis. Dharamdas was the chief disciple of Kabir.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Kabir Panthis: Hindu Sects and Cults - Kabir Panthis