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Classic Schools of Yoga

Yoga is unique among the world's great teachings in that its sages realized long ago that the search for inner peace and understanding may be pursued in many ways. As a result, many different schools of yoga have developed at different times during its long history, and new schools continue to arise. People today have a choice between six or more classic school and new styles established by a number of outstanding 20th-century yogis.

One meaning of the word "yoga" is "that which leads the practitioner to the understanding of the oneness, which is the ultimate state of the universe." That understanding may be reached in many different ways - through studying ancient writings, by a life dedicated to helping others with no thought of reward, through deep and prolonged meditation, or, as in hatha yoga, by learning to control the mind through exercising the body, breathing, and practicing concentration. Hatha yoga is most commonly practiced today, but there is a wide choice between the ancient schools, and the newer styles.

Hatha yoga:

This is the principal form of yoga practiced in the West and its texts emphasize that it is an introductory yoga. It helps beginners to learn, by practicing a number of brilliantly conceptualized techniques, to exert control over body and mind so that they may progress to a deeper stage. The Sanskrit word "hatha" is formed from the sounds "ha" and "tha," which symbolize both the positive and negative electrical forces of the sun and the moon. This is significant because a central aspect of the human body is electromagnetism; all body systems have an electrical component, and the heart and brain are regulated by electrical impulses. Among the techniques of hatha yoga are the asanas, however, the sage Svatmarama, describing some of the major asanas, points out that they are merely a technique for inducing a quiet, contemplative state. The adept yogi should be able to achieve that state of mind without practicing the asanas, and so need use only one posture - the sitting position, for meditation.

Raja yoga:

This is often called the king of yogas because "raja," originally a Sanskrit word, means "ruler." One of the leading hatha yoga sages, Svatmarama, declared: "I teach Hatha, only for the sake of Raja Yoga." The Buddha, as depicted in his meditative states, was practicing raja yoga. This classic school is the yoga of controlling the mind, the yoga, in other words, of scientific meditation, following the steps laid down by Patanjali. They lead the student through a series of stages: first to effective concentration or single-pointedness, and through a deeper state of contemplation to the ultimate stage, called samadhi. This is a liberating experience in which the consciousness can be said to have risen above the sorrows of human life.

Karma yoga:

The Sanskrit word "karma" means both work and destiny. Karma yoga is based on the concept that by being quiet and opening up to our intuition, the actions we have to undertake in life will become clear. These should then be carried out without thought of reward. This does not mean doing good for sanctimonious reasons, but because the right actions, however uncomfortable, may be necessary to advance a situation. Karma yoga is characterized by lack of organization. It is the yoga that exhorts its followers to live for the moment, to "be here now," engendering the state of mind that allows things to happen as they will.

Bhakti yoga:

This is also known as the yoga of devotion and will appeal to people who are naturally spiritual or who observe a religion. Yoga is not theistic, for the ultimate force of the universe, known as Brahman, is not thought of as human but as the universal consciousness, the first principle of everything. This, however, does not necessarily mean that worship need play no part in the development of life. Bhakti is the concept of adoration, which plays a major role in many religions. It is very much a personal yoga through which one can achieve higher states of consciousness. The concept of God is used by many people as a focus for meditation.

Jnana yoga:

The word "jnana" (pronounced "gyana") means wisdom, and jnana yoga is likely to appeal to people who naturally take an analytical approach to life. Jnana yoga is not exclusively the yoga of the intellect, however, although intellect has its role. Instead, it takes an intuitive route to seeking answers to the great questions of life, such as how to discriminate between the real and the un-real. Jnana yoga is often practiced in groups, who read and discuss the classic texts of yoga.

Mantra yoga:

This is the yoga associated with chanting monks in Tibetan monasteries. It involves raising the consciousness by chanting, aloud or to oneself, sounds, words, or sentences called mantras. The repetition of a mantra is central to Tibetan and some other schools of meditation. Chanting is a natural and enjoyable human activity, a way of expressing emotion. The idea behind chanting a mantra is that it assists concentration which may elevate the mind.

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