Yoga Is Much More Than A Exercise Routine
There are many types of yoga, all of which strive in their way to take the yoga practitioner away from the everyday, material existence and into the realm of a spiritual union with the universe’s Supreme Being. There is no special way of doing any type of yoga. There are guidelines for each, with each type having a different emphasis. Some types exist to help the practitioner seek truth, intelligence or to calm themselves through meditation. Some types have remained in their original form, while others have been changed in modern times. Yoga may start with a breathing exercise, a pose or with the recitation of a mantra.
In the U.S., hatha yoga is one of the most popular types for its relaxing effect. Hatha yoga begins by sitting still and relaxed before starting the hatha poses. Hatha poses should be done gently, with stretching that doesn’t tax the muscles. Bhakti yoga is devoted to love. The main goal of bhakti yoga is to create a closer connection with God. Bhakti yoga does not depend on yoga poses, but a visualization of the Supreme Being. The practitioner then practices sending love to God and keeping that love and awareness constant.
Serving humanity through selfless acts is the principle of karma yoga. In karma yoga, selfless actions are the fastest path to the goal. The positive acts of the practitioner draw positive actions to them. Karma yoga remains one of the most practiced forms of yoga in India. Stillness is achieved in mantra yoga by repeating a specific mantra over and over. A deep meditative state is achieved after stillness comes. The meditative state brings the practitioner to a state of higher consciousness.
Jnana yoga focuses on the power of the mind and the exploration of knowledge. The jnana meditation uses a release of thoughts and emotions to bring enlightenment. Kundalini yoga practitioners attempt to create a stronger bond between the body and mind. The connection can be enhanced through sexual experiences. 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. As it is most often practiced now, it focuses on the spirituality of the current life. Through diet, mediation and poses, purna yoga brings enlightenment. Purna is a way to learn to love the self in order to achieve a higher spirituality.
Raja yoga is sometimes called classical yoga. This yoga type is a way of achieving better physical and mental harmony. Creating a peaceful life is the goal, which allows the peace to holistically heal the body. The poses of raja yoga are meant to prepare for meditation and to keep the focus on the mind.