Introduction
Yoga, with
origins tracing back over 5,000 years in India, is a discipline that combines
physical, mental, and spiritual practices. It has evolved into various forms,
including Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Kundalini yoga. Each type emphasizes
specific elements, such as posture, breath control, or meditation. Practicing
yoga regularly enhances flexibility, strength, and balance, while promoting
relaxation and reducing stress. Research shows that it supports cardiovascular
health, improves mental clarity, and strengthens emotional resilience. With its
comprehensive focus on physical and mental well-being, yoga has gained
widespread acceptance globally as an effective tool for maintaining a healthy
lifestyle.
History of Yoga
History of yoga in India is long yet copious with
its pregnant past. In the Indian yogic culture, the first yogic Guru or the Adi
Guru is regarded as Lord Shiva. Shiva in yogic practice is known as the
relentless mediator and is depicted as sitting in elongated state of deep
serene in an undisturbed meditation.
Patanjali Yoga Sutras
Patanjali Yoga Sutras is the ancient treasure narrating
how to keep the body healthy. This yoga sutra is now one of the most acclaimed
elements of everyday life. Yoga is an art, a science and a philosophy that
touches the life of man at every level.
Yoga Philosophy
Yoga Philosophy is a fascinating inquiry into the
realms of Indian philosophy. The Yoga School of Philosophy introduced by
Patanjali forms a part of the orthodox school of Indian Philosophy.
Yoga Meditation
Yoga meditation is the unbroken flow of realization
of the object in the light of self-consciousness after the object has been
fixed that forms the main activity of this stage.
Types of Yoga Mudra
Different types of Yoga Mudra aid a person to achieve better health and
mental condition through proper and regular practice. Yoga Mudra is a gesture,
often done with hands, to symbolise a closing up or a seal.
Yoga Asanas
Yoga Asana traditionally means a `sitting
condition` or `position` of the body, which contributes to the steadiness of
the body and mind and a sense of well-being. Asanas are also based on the
natural postures of various animals, birds or even symbols like the tree,
lotus, bow and plough, etc.
Benefits of Yoga
Benefits of Yoga include detoxification, toning up
the muscles, purification of mind and overall wellness of body and soul. The
yoga asanas have a healing process that tranquil the mind as well. This is
linked to the proper functioning of the organs of the human body.
Practice of Yoga Asanas
Practice of Yoga Asanas entails several considerations in
order to benefit optimally from them. A good course of daily Asanas exercises
the joints and major muscle groups, like the spinal and abdominal muscles,
improves blood circulation and contributes to steadiness.
Types of Yoga
Types of Yoga mostly involve the usage of
different poses or Yoga Asanas, meditation and breathing exercises or
Pranayama. While the ultimate goal of yoga is to unify body, mind and soul, there
are different ways to achieve this aim.
Yoga for Athletes
Yoga for Athletes is vital to strengthen all muscle
groups and build better balance and flexibility. Sports training also require a
holistic approach, unifying the body and mind through yoga.
Yoga for Women
Yoga for Women is the natural solution to the
physical and mental difficulties faced by women. All Yogic asanas are not
recommended for women as they have certain limitations, owing to the diverse
physiological structure between men and women.
Surya Yoga
Surya Yoga, also known as "Surya
Namaskar" is a type of yoga which is the salutation to the Sun. Surya is
the fountain source of strength and vitality, light and effulgence and so. It
naturally rules the heart, spine and constitutions of human body.
Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga
is an ancient limb of Indian Spiritual Traditions. Hatha yoga is a discipline
that harnesses and combines different currents of the body to invoke the all
powerful Kundalini force. Thus, the journey of Hatha yoga from physical to the
subtlest form is covered systematically step by step.
Astanga Yoga
Astanga
Yoga is a system of Yoga that was taught by Sage Vamana Rishi in the Yoga
Korunta, which is an ancient manuscript. This manuscripts contain lists of many
different groupings of asanas, as well as highly original teachings on Vinyasa,
Drishti, Bandhas, Mudras and Philosophy.
Raja Yoga
Raja
Yoga, also known as the "royal yoga", "royal union", or
the Classical Yoga is one of the six orthodox (astika) schools of Hindu
philosophy. This yoga was promoted by the widely known sage Patanjali in his
book of Yoga Sutras.
Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini
Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual discipline constructed around the
meditative and physical techniques which were found in the teachings of Shakti
Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Kriya Yoga, Tantra Yoga, and many other forms of
yoga.
Sankirtan Yoga
Sankirtan
yoga refers to taking the name of God. It is one of the nine modes of
Bhakti. According to the Puranas, the glory of the Supreme Being lies in his
Name. Hence, the easiest way to attain the lord is by remembering him.
Kriya Yoga
Kriya Yoga
is an ancient meditation technique of energy and breath control, or Pranayama.
It is also a comprehensive spiritual path, which includes additional meditation
practices and right living.
Tantra Yoga
Tantra
Yoga holds a special place for the Hindus as it is a potent power for
spiritual regeneration. It enlightens the one who is in darkness. It is a
unique approach which studies the phenomenon of the entire universe from the
perspective of the individual.
Nada Yoga
The individual engaged in Nada Yoga can hear the sound
of the heart if his mind is fixed on nada or anahata. In Nada Yoga, a yogi
finally attains laya or dissolution. The Yogi enters into samadhi and attains
knowledge of the self.
Laya Yoga Sadhana
Laya
Yoga Sadhana is a form of meditation in Kundalini Yoga that aims at
achieving mukti or liberation of soul. Laya Yoga is an integral stage of
Kundalini meditation and particular steps are followed to achieve the goal of
Laya Yoga Sadhana.
Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti
Yoga refers to a spiritual practise of offering utmost devotion (Bhakti) to
God. Bhakti is a series or succession of mental efforts at religious
realization, beginning with ordinary worship and ending in a supreme intensity
of love for God.
Sahaja Yoga
Sahaja
Yoga is a way of special meditation based on the experience of Self
Realization or Kundalini awakening which might occur within the human body.
Shri Mataji advocates that self-realization is the highest achievement of human
being.
Mantra Yoga
Mantra yoga
indicates the chanting of a word or phrase until the mind and emotions are
excelled and the super conscious is clearly exposed and experienced. Since human mind wanders into various
mediums, the music and rhythm of a Mantra easily rescues the mind.
Japa Yoga
Japa Yoga
or Japa Meditation refers to a particular form of yoga, where reciting a
specific mantra whilst concentrating is the basic crux. The word
"Japa" is a Sanskrit term which means to utter in low voice or
internally mutter.
Swara Yoga
Swara
Yoga is the science of realization of cosmic consciousness by the special
awareness or observation and controlling or manipulating the flow of breathes
through the nostrils. The word
"Swara" is a Sanskrit word, which means sound or musical note.
Karma Yoga
Karma
Yoga is the path of action in Bhagavad Gita that speaks about accuracy, by
which one can attain sublimity. To work relentlessly without the least
expectation of anything is the central idea of Karma Yoga.
Dhyana Yoga
Dhyana
Yoga is a path for `Nirvana` as stated by the Bhagavad Gita. It is the
discipline of knowledge, the path of wisdom, which believes in the knowledge of
the self (soul) and purity.
Khanda Manda Yoga
Khanda
Manda Yoga is one of the most difficult forms of Yoga, implying that the
Yogi cuts off his own arms and legs with a sharp cleaver, and then throws them
into a roaring fire.
Purna Yoga
Purna Yoga
or Integral Yoga is the art and an improvisation over the traditional Yoga
systems of India. In this type of Yoga, people are taught to love their own
self by living from the heart.
Corporate Yoga
Corporate
yoga is an effective technique to combat the stress caused by the daily
hustles. In the present competitive world, the challenges posed by work and
life are many which often leads to various physical and mental ailments
including arthritis, hypertension, slip disk, etc.
Indian Yoga Gurus
Indian
Yoga Guru connects himself with people from all religions and spread the
Yogic knowledge in the masses. The enlightened people who teach the techniques
of Yoga to common people are known as "Yoga Gurus.”
Yoga Ashramas in India
Yoga
Ashramas in India are scattered throughout the country to enrich people
with knowledge of various types of yoga. Yoga indeed echoes the rich legacy of
an age-old civilization while unfolding the wise ancient culture of India.
Yoga Institutes in India
Yoga
Institutes in India are established to teach Yoga - the natural science of
health. These institutes have eminent instructors or Gurus who guide the
students ensuring that they get maximum benefit out of yoga.