Six Branches of Yoga

Yoga is an ancient tradition of the Eastern world, and these older professionals tend to see yoga as a tree with six branches. What the six have in common are the asanas (physical postures and movements), Pranayama (breathing structured or breath control), meditation and a strong moral code.

1. Hatha Yoga

In India, “Ha” means sun and “tha” means moon. Hatha yoga refers to these two energy channels in the body. Its purpose is to prepare the body for the purest form of meditation to enter the branch of the 2nd. Hatha yoga was brought to us by an Indian yogi to purify the body to fit more into meditation. Yoga is almost entirely western branch of Hatha yoga, and Westerners are physical and mental comfort in the first half alone.

2. Raja Yoga

Raja and Hatha Yoga are closely interrelated. Raja means “royal” in India, and royal tradition, this branch of yoga has eight branches listed as follows:

– - Niyama self discipline – asanas – Positions – Pranayama – breath control – pratyahara – sensory deprivation – Dharana – Meditation – Samadhi – ecstasy

Raja yoga is often practiced by religious leaders and the inhabitants of the monastery. However, anyone can find advantages in the practice of Raja Yoga.

3. Karma Yoga

The basic teaching of karma yoga is that what we do and how we behave today influence our happiness and fulfillment in the future or a future life. The understanding of this cosmic principle helps us to create our current environment, with love and positivity to avoid negativity in our future. Karma yoga practitioners lead a life of dedication and service to the less fortunate.

4. Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti is a Sanskrit term meaning the love of God and humanity. The practice of bhakti involves controlling and channeling emotions and have tolerance for all who come into our lives.

5. Jnana Yoga

Jnana Yoga is the branch of intelligence. Following the paths of academic professionals, often those of teachers of yoga or other spiritual traditions. In our Western religious culture, the Jnana yoga practitioner can compare with the Jesuit priest, Kabala or academics Benedictine monks.

6. Tantra Yoga

Tantra yoga ritual prioritizes the best way to experience the divine. The word Tantra in Sanskrit means weaving or loom. Rituals in daily life lead to a recognition of the divine in everyday life that leads, in turn, to a reverent attitude in everyday actions.

Tantra Yoga is the most misunderstood of the six branches. The ancient book, “The Kama Sutra” is a well known example of this lack of understanding of the true goal of tantra yoga. It is a book of sexual positions and techniques, and in the tradition of westernized yoga, tantra yoga has been associated almost exclusively with these sexual practices published. Worldwide, however, most schools the teaching of this branch of yoga recommend celibacy.

When I finally understood by the West, Tantra ritualization of everyday events to appeal to them. Western civilizations tend to make the rituals of everyday events anyway – births, deaths, weddings, going to church, forming clubs, and all the many ceremonies and celebrations various commonly held, all are related to the rituals of Tantra yoga.

One of the best things of the six branches of yoga is not limited to just one, or a series. You can choose what you want when you practice. Follow your own path through yoga as their toolbox.