Different Types of Yoga

There are 5 major branches of yoga, namely, Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. These different types of yoga require a lot of self-discipline and perseverance. Yoga is an excellent way to stay healthy, improve immunity, and increase mind control.

Yoga, although an exercise regime, is more of a meditation form. It helps in making the body flexible and decreasing stiffness of the joints.

It helps in strengthening and toning the body muscles and making muscles lean and shapely. The various movements of yoga can ease neck pain, back pain, headaches, and other types of body pain.

It also helps control the effects of various aliments such as diabetes, hypertension, disorders related to digestive system, breathing troubles, varicose veins, and heart diseases. Yoga helps bring the mind and body together, thus increasing the concentration power of an individual.

There are over 600 types of yoga positions that can be mastered by practicing yoga regularly. Few types of yoga positions are:

• Utthita Parsvakonasana - Extended Side Angle Pose
• Tadasana - Mountain Pose
• Urdhva Hastasana - Raised Hands Pose
• Uttanasana - Standing Forward Bend
• Malasana - Garland Pose

• Utthita Trikonasana - Extended Triangle Pose
• Dolphin Pose
• Padmasana - Lotus Pose

The most common types of yoga that you'll come across is Raja Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Astanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, and Iyenger Yoga. There are many other different types of yoga that you may not have tried or heard of. Some of them are as follows.

This is a yoga of non-being. It means the power of nonexistence. It is a higher yogic practice of immersing into yourself without the use of mantras.

Buddi Yoga, meaning 'yoga of consciousness', is the highest stage of yoga. Buddi yoga represents the eighth stage of the 'eight fold path' consisting of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi. This yoga was first mentioned in the Bhagwad Gita.

Dhyana means profound meditation. 'Dhyana' leads to 'Samadhi.' It is aimed to develop self-consciousness to the level of perfection. In this type of yoga, one works on increasing the 'mass' of consciousness and obtaining power in subtlety.

In this form of yoga, the disciple attempts to connect his mind with the mind of his teacher through meditation. With the help of the teacher one can find the inner teacher, that is, the true nature of one's mind.

In this form of yoga, one converts intellectual knowledge into practical wisdom. It is a means to obtain the highest meditative state and inner knowledge.

Karma yoga is a path of devotion to work. It is very difficult to lose one's identity and work selflessly. One only works when one expects a reward or incentive. In Karma yoga work is thought as worship to God. A person achieves stability of mind and becomes spiritual.

Laya is dissolution or disappearance of oneself in the harmony of the absolute. It turns off the mind so that the individual does not act under his mind's command, but according to the will of God.

It is a combined discipline of the seven limbs (Sapta-anga), that is, six purifying practices; posture, seal, sensory inhibition, breath control, meditation, and ecstasy.

Yantra Yoga focuses on the mind through yantra, that is, geometric representations of the cosmos.

There are many more types of yoga that help in self-realization and salvation. You should try out the different types and find out the one that suits your body and mind. Different types of yoga are beneficial in improving one's life and also physical health. There are many yoga classes that teach great yoga exercises. Speak to the yoga teacher and find out the different types of yoga you can learn to improve the quality of your life.