Classical Yogas

Bhakti Yoga: The Yoga of Devotion

The spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to a personal form of God. The Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana are two important scriptures which explain and develop the attitude of bhakti.  The major schools are Shaivism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism.

Hatha Yoga: The Yoga of Vitality

 Hatha Yoga also called Hatha Vidya, is a system of Yoga introduced by Yogi Swatmarama, a sage of 15th century India, and compiler of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. In this treatise Swatmarama introduces Hatha Yoga as preparatory stage of physical purification that the body practices for higher meditation.

 Jnana Yoga: The Yoga of Knowledge

Jnana Yoga stresses the use of the mind to transcend the mind; it works with that part of the human mind which strives incessantly to know and understand. It trains discrimination, detachment, self-discipline, longing for freedom, hearing the truth, reflection upon that truth, and meditation, which is defined as consolidation and transcendence.  One who chooses this path studies the conclusions of the seers by reading the great scriptures and commentaries, then examining them in the light of his own intelligence and coming to his own realization. In deep meditation, he contemplates the characteristics of Consciousness in manifestation and, by doing so, gains insight and perfect realization.
 

Karma yoga: The Yoga of Selfless Action

This yoga emphasizes selfless action and service. The message of Karma Yoga is that when we work in harmony with the Power that runs the universe, we are not egotistically motivated, and we no longer maintain compulsive desires relative to the future. As we work with a cheerful attitude, doing what we are best suited to do, we know a harmony and an inner peace which those who strive and struggle can never know.

Kundalini:  Awakening energy

Once a guarded secret in India, kundalini yoga arrived in the West in 1969, when Sikh Yogi Bhajan challenged tradition and began to teach it publicly. This practice is designed to awaken kundalini energy, which is stored at the base of the spine and often depicted as a coiled snake. Kundalini mixes chanting, breathing practices, and yoga exercises. The emphasis is not on asana, but rather on chanting and breathing. Kundalini should always be taught by a teacher who practices and understands this powerful yoga.

Mantra Yoga: The Yoga of Sound

Mantra yoga means "union by voice or sound". This form includes the rhythmic repetitions of specific sounds, chants, or mantras. The practitioner repeats the syllable, word or phrase continually, sometimes for weeks, months or years on end. Certain syllables are believed to posses healing potential for specific purposes. (for example see Transcendental meditation where a mantra is assigned for individual use.)

Raja yoga:  The Royal Path

Raja means "royal," and the meditation route to Self-Realization.  It is direct and affords the opportunity of experience in different levels of awareness, beginning from where we start to where we are able to conclude after our meditation practice. Raja Yoga starts with the mind; its goal is a complete stilling of the mind, so that the light of the indwelling spirit may shine out. It makes use of asana and pranayama, and some consider it merely another name for Ashtanga Yoga, described elsewhere.

Yantra Yoga - The Yoga of Symbols

Yantra can stand for symbols or anything that has structure and organization. One use popular in the west is as symbols or geometric figures. Traditionally such symbols are used to balance the mind or focus it on spiritual concepts.

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Hatha Yoga Styles

(Can be an umbrella term for all physical yoga.)

Agni: 

The method of approach affirmed by this Teaching includes: 1. Refining the consciousness in the sacred fire of the heart. 2. Communion with the Teacher, also through the fire of the heart.  The primary practice of Agni Yoga, therefore, consists in awakening the latent fire of the heart. By refining this subtle psychic energy the yogi reaches all levels of attainment and accomplishes all miraculous acts of service. When the Teacher says to guard the treasure of the heart, it means to conserve and maintain with vigilance this most precious energy.

Anahata:

Anahata prescribes a flow of exercises, postures and short meditations. As a rule, the flow is not designed to be physically taxing but rather natural, and to encourage full breathing, awakening of the heart, and calmness.

Ananda:

Emphasis on Meditation
This gentle yoga combines breath awareness, affirmations, and yoga postures to move from body awareness through energy awareness to, finally, silent, inner awareness. The use of affirmations while in the asanas is a distinct feature of ananda yoga. This yoga style was developed by an American named Donald J. Walters, known as Swami Kriyananda. He devoted 45 years of his life to studying the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.

Anusara:

Heart-oriented
Founded by John Friend in 1997, anusara yoga integrates the celebration of the heart, universal principles of alignment, and balanced energetic action in the performance of asana. Anusara (pronounced ah-new-SAR-ah) means following your heart. In this school of yoga, each students abilities and limitations are deeply respected and honored.

Ashtanga:

The Power of yoga
For those who want a serious workout, ashtanga yoga offers a fast-paced series of sequential poses beginning with sun salutations. Students move from one posture to another in a continual flow and link movements to breath. This physically demanding yoga was developed by K. Pattabhi Jois to build strength, flexibility, and stamina. Power yoga, made popular by Beryl Bender Birch, is based on ashtanga. Best for: Sculpting your upper body. A standardized sequence of athletic poses that connects movements with the breath. Try: "Ashtanga Yoga" (DVD set at www.yogasuperstore.com).

Bikram:

Turning up the heat
Bikram Choudhury, known as the yoga teacher to the stars, developed this hot yoga practice. Be prepared to sweat in this one. The bikram class turns up the room temperature to anywhere from 85 degrees to 100 degrees. In this hot and steamy environment, students perform, always in the same order, 26 poses designed to cleanse the body from the inside out. This is a vigorous workout. Best For: working up a sweat. A series of 26 poses practiced in a room heated to 105 degrees to increase flexibility. Try: "Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class" (CD at www.bikramyoga.com).

Dahn Yoga:

Dahn Yoga's training methods are intended to improve the practitioner's health through development of the energy system and enhancement of the mind-body connection. The practice draws upon traditional notions of ki, also known as chi or qi. A typical class begins with what is called "Meridian Stretching" exercise, which is believed to stimulate the energy in the body. After these stretching exercises, practitioners normally follow a sequence of postures to accumulate and circulate energy in the body. Classes often include elements of meditation, as well.

Forrest:

Developed by Ana Forrest,  Forrest Yoga helps you connect to your core - getting strong and centered. It uses heat, deep breathing and vigorous sequences to sweat out toxins. The long holds in the pose progressions help you flush, oxygenate and rejuvenate every cell.

Hatha:

Best for Beginners
Although it's the umbrella term for all physical yoga, it is often used as a name for beginners classes that include basic poses, breath work and meditation. Try: Yoga Zone's "Introduction to Yoga" DVD

Integral:

The healing power of relaxation
This school of yoga is associated with two prominent figures: developer Swami Satchidananda, the man who taught the crowds at Woodstock to chant om for peace, and his student, Dr. Dean Ornish, who uses integral yoga as part of his treatment of heart patients. Integral yoga places almost as much emphasis on pranayama (control of breath) and meditation as it does on postures.

Note about Integral Yoga:
To not acknowledge Sri Aurobindo and his work with Integral Yoga would be disrespectful.   His Integral Yoga must not be confused with a trademark "Integral Yoga" of Swami Satchidananda.  Sri Aurobindo initiated and defined integral yoga in the early 1900s as "a path of integral seeking of the Divine by which all that we are is in the end liberated out of the Ignorance and its undivine formations into a truth beyond the Mind, a truth not only of highest spiritual status but of a dynamic spiritual self-manifestation in the universe."

Iyengar:

Symmetry and alignment
B.K.S. Iyengar developed this yoga style, which stresses understanding the body and how it works. Students focus on symmetry and alignment, using props such as straps, blankets, wooden blocks, and chairs to achieve postures. Each pose is held for a longer amount of time than in most other yoga styles. Teachers of this discipline must go through an intense, long, and rigorous training program. Best for: Perfecting your form. This practice emphasizes precise alignment and develops strength and flexibility. Try: "Yoga for Beginners" with Patricia Walden (DVD at www.yoga.com).

Jivamukti:

Perhaps the latest form of Hatha yoga, Jivamukti was created by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984. Like Ashtanga yoga, practice is vigorously physical but more intellectually stimulating. There is a great deal of emphasis on the educational aspect of the practice and students are taught how the philosophies of yoga came about.

Kripalu :

The yoga of consciousness
Kripalu emphasizes proper breath, alignment, coordinating breath and movement, and honoring the wisdom of the body. Developed by Yogi Amrit Desai, kripalu takes the student through three stages beginning with the steady practice of postures (stage one), then holding the postures longer and developing concentration and inner awareness (stage two), and finally surrendering to the bodys own wisdom (stage three). Ultimately kripalu leads to the experience of meditation-in-motion actually doing postures spontaneously and unconsciously.

Kriya:

As Yogananda describes Kriya Yoga, "The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-half minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment."

Satyananda Yoga:

Satyananda Yoga is a system of yoga developed by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.  The main emphasis of Satyananda Yoga is on inner awareness. Breathing techniques are taught from the beginning and most of the postures are practised with the eyes closed and the awareness directed inwards. As Satyananda yoga is a gentle style, it is suitable for all ages, whether fit or unfit, large or small.

Sivananda:

Encouraging a Healthy lifestyle
Sivananda yoga offers a gentle approach, which takes the student through the twelve sun salutation postures and incorporates chanting, meditation, and deep relaxation in each session. Teachers encourage students to embrace a healthy lifestyle that includes a vegetarian diet and positive thinking with meditation. This style of yoga was founded by Swami Vishnu-devananda, who published in 1960 one of the classics of yogic literature, The Complete Illustrated Book of Yoga.

Svaroopa Yoga:

Developed by Rama Berch, Svaroopa Yoga teaches significantly different ways of doing familiar poses, emphasizing the opening of the spine by beginning at the tailbone and progressing through each spinal area in turn. Every pose integrates the foundational principles of asana, anatomy and yoga philosophy, and emphasizes the development of transcendent inner experience, which is called svaroopa by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras. This is a consciousness-oriented yoga that also promotes healing and transformation. Svaroopa is not an athletic endeavor, but a development of consciousness using the body as a tool.

Tantra:

Sensual spirituality
Perhaps the most misunderstood yoga style, tantra is not about sexual indulgence. Rather, it is about discovering and stimulating sensual spirituality. This yoga works with the highly charged kundalini energy and, therefore, should always be guided and taught by a teacher. Tantra teaches practitioners how to use this energy for sexual pleasure, for bringing joy and wholeness to everyday life, and for aiding in spiritual evolution. Tantra yoga includes visualization, chanting, asana, and strong breathing practices.

Trul Khor:

Tibetan Yoga
Trul khor improves physical health and reduces the meditator's obstacles of drowsiness, agitation, and dullness. By working at the physical, energetic, and mental levels, trul khor supports the practitioner in spontaneously experiencing the natural state during formal meditation and during the stresses of daily life. While some of these exercises are vigorous, they are adaptable for people at various levels of fitness. Trul khor is a wonderful support for all spiritual practitioners, not just for those with an interest in physical yogas.

Viniyoga:

Gentle flow
This gentle form of flow yoga places great emphasis on the breath and coordinating breath with movement. Viniyogas flowing movement or vinyasa is similar to ashtangas dynamic series of poses, but is performed at a greatly reduced pace and stress level. Poses and flows are chosen to suit the students abilities. It teaches the yoga student how to apply the tools of yoga asana, chanting, pranayama (control of breath), and meditation in individual practice. Developed by T.K.V. Desikachar, the son of Krishnamacharya (teacher to some of the great yoga instructors including Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois), viniyoga places less stress on joints and knees since postures are done with slightly bent knees. Viniyoga is considered excellent for beginners, and is increasingly being used in therapeutic environments. Best for: Busting stress. Props such as bolsters and blankets support your body for relaxation.Try: "Yoga for Wellness: Healing with the Timeless Teachings of Viniyoga" by Gary Kraftsow (Book at www.viniyoga.com).

Vinyasa:

Best for Raising your heart rate
This steady stream of flowing movements coordinated with the breath doesn't stop until the final resting pose.Try: "Sun Salutations: Awakening the Flow" (DVD at www.soundstrue.com).

Vinyasa Krama:

Vinyasa Krama Yoga is a style of Ashtanga Vinyasa Hatha Yoga, where great importance is placed on the optimal and intelligent sequencing of asana and breath movements in yoga practice.

Yin:

Yin Yoga is an ancient system of Hatha Yoga specifically focused on strengthening and stretching the deep tissues around the hips and lower spine in order to improve one’s ability to comfortably meditate for prolonged periods. Yin Yoga focuses on floor postures. Asanas are never rushed – poses are relaxed and intentionally held for longer stretches of time. When appropriate, Yin yoga has also been used for physical rehabilitation.