Yoga Is Much More Than A Keep-Fit Routine

Yoga is made up of many types of disciplines that seek to bring people out of their own, material lives and into a state of harmony with a Supreme Being. The various types of yoga do not have a strict way of achieving the goals. The different guidelines of each type of yoga are to achieve the specific goals of that type. Some types exist to help the practitioner seek truth, intelligence or to calm themselves through meditation. Some yoga types are modified, Western versions of Hindu rituals, while some have remained more or less intact. Some types of yoga start by reciting a mantra, some with poses called asanas, and others begin with practiced breathing exercises.

Easy and relaxing, hatha yoga remains a popular type of yoga in the United States. Hatha is practiced by sitting quietly in a relaxed state before beginning the various poses. Gentle stretching is the hatha method for achieving goals. Bhakti yoga is about achieving deeper love. The main objective is to express love for God. Bhakti yoga practitioners visualize the Supreme Being close to them. In bhakti yoga, the Supreme Being receives constant feelings of love from the practitioner.

Serving humanity through selfless acts is the principle of karma yoga. To accomplish this, the practitioner seeks out selfless behavior that does not bestow any reward. Positive actions are drawn to the karma yoga practitioner by their positive acts. It is one of the most popular forms of yoga in the Hindu world. A mantra is repeated many times in mantra yoga in order to gain stillness. A deep meditative state is achieved after stillness comes. The goal of the meditation is to achieve a larger sense of consciousness.

Jnana yoga practitioners seek out a higher level of knowledge. Leaving behind the emotions and conscious thoughts is the path to jnana yoga enlightenment. Kundalini yoga strengthens the connection that exists between the mind and the body. A part of kundalini yoga is using sexual experiences in order to strengthen the bond. Physical touch is used as a means to connect the body and the emotions. Improving a future lifetime was once the goal of purna yoga. The current focus of purna yoga is on this life and its spirituality. Through diet, mediation and poses, purna yoga brings enlightenment. Seeking a larger spirituality, purna practitioners seek to love themselves.

Raja yoga is often called classical yoga. This type of yoga is used to achieve a higher mental and physical harmony. Holistic healing through raja yoga is done through making life peaceful and satisfying for the practitioner. By focusing on the mind, the raja practitioner can use poses and meditation to seek harmony.