Branches of Yoga
Hatha Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Tantra Yoga are considered the main yogas, but there are many other types. The various yoga practices are a methodology for reaching the same destination.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga is the path of Physical Yoga is the most popular branch of Yoga. Hatha Yoga considered the body as the vehicle for the soul. Hatha represents opposing energies: hot and cold, male and female, positive and negative, similar but not completely analogous to yin and yang.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga is the Yoga of devotion. Bhaki Yoga teaches a person to have a devotion to God and all things through devotion to life and love.
Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga is the path of Yoga that focuses on meditation and contemplation. It is based on the Eight Limbs of Yoga which was discussed in the Yoga Sutra. The Yoga Sutras are built on a foundation of Samkhya philosophy and the Bhagavad Gita.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana in Sanskrit means “knowledge”, Jnana Yoga deals with wisdom and knowledge “knowledge of the true self”. Jnana Yogis use an open, rational and curious mind in studying the spirit. Jnana Yoga is the Quest for the Self. In Jnana Yoga the intellect is used as a tool to know about our true Self. To realize about our true self , Jnana Yoga probes the nature of the Self through the question “Who am I?”
Karma Yoga
“karma yoga” means “Path to Mergence with God through performing selfless service”. Karma Yoga is the science of action.
Tantra Yoga
Tantra Yoga is the path of ritual and perhaps the most misunderstood path. Tantra is the knowledge concerning Tattva (Truth) and Mantra (mystic syllables). It utilizes rituals to respectfully experience the sacred in everything we do, not just sex though sex is a part of it.
