Yoga has a history of over two thousands years. During this time it has greatly developed resulting in a variety of practices and branches. Although all yoga branches serve the purpose of harmonizing and identifying the equilibrium between body and mind, every yoga branch is developed to serve different needs.
Hatha yoga
Hatha yoga is considered to be one of the primary forms of modern physical therapy. If you are interested in increasing your well-being state, you should direct yourself to the practice of hatha yoga. Apart from meditation common for all yoga branches, hatha yoga teaches you a series of important postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayamas).
Karma yoga
A very common and highly appreciated branch of yoga – karma yoga – promotes the principle according to which everything that happens to us in our present existence is a direct consequence of our previous actions. To avoid having to deal with negativism and selfishness in the future, karma yoga encourages its practitioners to try to eliminate them from their present.
Karma yoga needs to be practiced every day. Activities carried out with the precise goal of helping other people, such as Peace Corps, can be easily associated with the karma yoga path.
Raja yoga
Raja yoga, also known under the name of classical yoga, places a great accent on meditation. Raja yoga is a more complex form of training. Because of its complexity it typically starts with hatha yoga in order to prepare the body for more advanced training stages.
Studies have demonstrated that people attracted by this form of yoga are more introspective and interested in profound meditation. Various religious groups devote themselves to this yoga path, somewhat close to a monastic or contemplative lifestyle.
Jnana yoga
Jnana yoga is directed mainly to scholars. It implies development of intellect through the study of yoga traditional scripts and texts. It is also known to be the yoga of the yoga of the heart and wisdom. Although it is described as the most difficult of all yoga practices, jnana yoga is also one of the most direct and challenging paths.
Bhakti yoga
Bhakti yoga promotes and sustains the idea of devotion. The main message transmitted by this yoga path is that there is something divine in any form of creation. It is important to tolerate, accept and respect any forms of life we come in close contact with.
These are only a few of the various yoga branches or paths. Given the incredible variety of yoga branches and paths, anyone can find a yoga practice to promptly suit their needs of finding the inner equilibrium and peace.
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