6 BRANCHES OF YOGA

Yoga is not just an exercise, or a way for us to keep fit. Yoga helps develop the body because a weak one is a hindrance to spiritual growth, but it does not simply focus on the physical. In order for anyone to be in harmony with themselves and their environment, he/she has to integrate the body, mind, and spirit. For these three to be integrated, emotion, action and intelligence must be in balance. Yoga provides a way to achieve and maintain this balance through the 6 branches of yoga.

Six Branches of Yoga

Hatha Yoga or Yoga of Postures
Hatha Yoga is perhaps the path of Yoga most familiary to us in the West. This branch of yoga uses physical postures (Asana), breathing techniques (Pranayama) and Meditation to achieve better health and spirituality. There are many styles within this path, including; Iyengar, Viniyoga, Astanga, Bikram, and Kundalini.

Bhakti Yoga or Yoga of Devotion
Bhakti Yoga is the path most followed in India. This is the path of the heart and devotion. Yogis who practice this branch see the Divine in everyone and everything. Bhakti Yoga teaches a person to have devotion to the Devine or to Brahma by developing a love and acceptance for all things.

Raja Yoga or Yoga of Self-Control
Raja means "royal" and it is the path which is considered to be the King of Yoga. Raja Yoga is based on the teachings of the Eight Limbs of Yoga found in the Yoga sutras.

Raja Yoga sees the self as central, and as such, respect for oneself and for all creation are vital to this path. Self-respect is achieved by learning to be masters of ourselves.

Jnana Yoga or Yoga of the Mind
Jnana Yoga focuses on man's intelligence. Jnana Yoga consider's wisdom and intellect as important and aims to unify the two to surpass limitations. This includes having an open and rational mind to other philosophies and religion in the pursuit of knowing the spirit.

Karma Yoga or Yoga of Service
Karma Yoga is the path of service for in this path, it is believed that your present situation is based on your past actions. So by doing selfless service now, you are choosing a future that is free from negativity and selfishness.

Tantra Yoga or Yoga of Rituals
Tantra Yoga is about using rituals to experience what is sacred. Although sex is a part of it, sex is not the whole of it since Tantra aims to find what is sacred in everything we do. Tantra Yoga teaches purity, humility, devotion, dedication to the Devine, cosmic love and truthfulness.