What Kind of Yoga Do You Do?

By Monica Novak

Asanas (Yoga Postures)

What kind of Yoga Do You Do?

BikramVinyasa

AshtangaIyengarAnusaraHatha

Kali RaySwaroopa

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Do All Paths Lead To God?

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Rishis (seers)

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Swami SatchidandaMaster of Integral Yoga

“After you have decided which path is right for you,

stick to that path, but do not say to others that this is

the only one. Recognize all of the paths and respect

them. In the spiritual life, all paths lead to the same

place.”

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OshoA Radical Yogi

“Relate with others, but relate with yourself

also.Love others, but love yourself also.Go

out! - the world is beautiful, adventurous;it

is a challenge, it enriches.Go out fearlessly

there is nothing to lose,there is everything

to gain.”

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The MotherMaster of Supramental Yoga "I belong to no nation, no civilization, no society, no race, but to the Divine. I obey no master, no rules, no law, no social convention, but the Divine. To Him I have surrendered all will, life and self. " - The Mother

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Yoga Branches Raja-Yoga “Royal Yoga,” utilizes Patanjali’s eight-fold

path called “Ashtanga Yoga.” Hatha-Yoga “Forceful Yoga,” liberation through the

physical body. Jnana-Yoga “Yoga of Wisdom,” liberation through the

intellect (buddhi). Bhakti-Yoga “Yoga of Devotion,” liberation through the

divine. Karma-Yoga “Yoga of Action” liberation through selfless

service. Mantra-Yoga “Yoga of Sound,” liberation through psycho-

spiritual sounds. Laya-Yoga is “Continuity Yoga,” liberation through

samadhi (the dissolution of ego and object of meditation).

What Unites the Different Branches?Moksha-Shastra “Liberation Teaching.”Explorations of Consciousness.Dharma-morality and law.Svadhyaya-study.Commitment Before Enlightenment I chopped wood.No Effort is Wasted.

Raja Yoga or “Royal Yoga” Formulated by Patanjali during 2nd Century

C.E. based on his work the ‘Yoga Sutras’ (195 aphorisms). He is often studied and considered an authority on yoga.

Patanjali wrote the sutras in response to Mahayana Buddhism which taught non-dualism (reality is singular and distinctions are made by the ego, therefore illusion).

Patanjali stands out from Eastern counterparts by teaching the Self and Nature are distinct and irreconcilable. Patanjali teaches dualism.

Professes that nature is insentient, and includes the mind. Yoga is the extraction of the Self from nature.

Ashtanga “Eight Limbed” Yoga Yama - Moral Disciplines: non-harming (ahimsa),

nonstealing (asteya), truthfulness (satya) sexual restraint (brhamacarya), non-grasping (aparigraha).

Niyama - Self-Restraints: purity (shauca), contentment (samtosha), asceticism (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya) and devotion (ishvara-pranidhana).

Asana - Postures. Pranayama - Breath Control. Pratyahara - Sensory Control. Dharana - Concentration. Dhyana - Meditation. Samadhi - Ecstasy.

Hatha Yoga “Forceful Yoga”

The Body is a Vehicle.Yoga studios and fitness centers mostly

teach some form of Hatha Yoga.Asana and Pranayama are central used

to cleanse the nadis (channels) using prana (life force).

When the breath is mastered, the mind is also mastered.

Jnana-Yoga “The Yoga of Wisdom”Jnana means “knowledge”Self-Realization through discernment.Relies on the higher mind (buddhi).Non-Dualistic

Four Principal means

Discernment (viveka) to see the world as it is. Renunciation (viraga) of the enjoyment of

one’s actions fruits. The “six accomplishments” (shat-sampatti)

detailed on next slide. Spiritual Impulse (mumukshutva) or urge

toward liberation.

The Six Accomplishments

Tranquility (shama), the art of remaining serene.

Sense Restraint (dama), curbing one’s senses.

Cessation (uparati), from inappropriate action. Endurance (titksha), from opposites. Mental Collectedness (samadhana) or

concentration. Faith (shraddha) or experience of the sacred.

Bhakti-Yoga “Yoga of Devotion”

The Yoga of Loving self-dedication to the Divine.

Self-Transformation accomplished through worship and service of the Divine.

The practitioner is a devotee (bhakta) and lover, the Divine is the Beloved.

Nine Stages Toward Unification

Listening (Shravana) to Divine Names. Chanting/Singing (Kirtana) praise songs in

honor of the Lord. Remembrance (smarana) of God’s attributes. “Service at the feet” (pada-sevana) Ritual (arcana), performance of religious rites. Prostration (vandana) before the image of the

Divine. “Slavish devotion” (dasya) to God.

Nine Stages Toward Unification

Personal Friendship (sakhya).“Self-Offering” (atma-nivedana) or

transcendence.

Recommended Reading: Bhagvata Puruna and Shat-Sandarbha.

Karma Yoga “The Yoga of Action”Karma: action, work, product, effect,

etc.Freedom in action.Spontaneity of action.How to truly be free one’s actions?The Bhagavad Gita

Mantra Yoga “The Yoga of Sound”Mantra is a sacred sound.Mantras are given during initiatory

rituals.Mantra Yoga has 16 limbs.

Laya Yoga “Continuity Yoga”

Tantra-YogaMeditative AbsorptionNondualisticKundalini Shakti

cakras, nadis, marmas

So What kind of Yoga Do You Do?How do you strive to be more

connected with yourself?Is there a practice you have committed

to?