I. Yoga Meditation
a. Yogasana (Yoga Postures)
b. Six Shatkarmas (Physical
and mental detoxification techniques)
c. Mudras and Bandhas
(Psychophysiological Energy Release Techniques)
d. Pranayama (Breathing vital
air)
3. Jnana Yoga:
Jnana Yoga is the process of
transforming intellectual knowledge into intelligence. It is the discovery of a
human being's existence concerning nature and the universe. Practice describes Jnana
Yoga as a means to attain a pure state of consciousness and wisdom. Wisdom literally means ‘knowledge, but in the
framework of yoga, it means the procedure of meditative awareness, which leads
to enlightened wisdom. It is not a way we try to find logical answers to
eternal questions, but it is part of meditation that leads to self-enquiry and
self-identification.
Some components of Jnana
Yoga are:
a. Achieving and not
believing
b. The self-observation that
leads to self-awareness
c. Experience of
understanding
d. Identify the personal
nature
e. Develop the cognitive
wisdom
f. Experiencing the inner
unity
4. Mantra Yoga
Mantra yoga or Japa yoga
(chanting mantra) has its origin in Vedic scriptures. In fact, all the verses
of Vedas are called mantras. Meditators can recite or chant the Veda mantras to
achieve ultimate redemption. Simply by chanting
the mantra, one can unite with the ultimate consciousness. Chanting of certain
Mantras is used in Transcendental Meditation propagated and practised by
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
5. Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti is the yoga of
devotion or complete faith. This belief is generally of God or in some form of
ultimate consciousness. It
can be Rama, Krishna or any other deities. The
important thing is that the person who wants to follow this path must have a very
resilient spiritual link with the object of faith. The flow of spiritual energy is directed towards this object. Most
people are overwhelmed by their emotions, which are often reflected
in the form of physical disorders and nervousness. This Bhakti Yoga
discharges suppressed feelings and carries cleansing of the inner self. Constant and intense meditation of God gradually
diminishes the ego of the practitioner, preventing new distractions,
restlessness or even pain. This induces strong bonds of love. Slowly one loses
self-identity and becomes one with the object of faith. This is called the
state of self-fulfilment.
6. Kundalini Yoga
Ultimate life-force energy is called Kundalini energy. It is the foundation of our imaginative power, mystical gifts, and divine feminine energy. Kundalini pulls the energy that lies latent at the base of our spine up to the crown of our heads. It creates an upward flow of energy and balances our chakras and energizes the body. This is called Kundalini awakening.
These are seven psychic
energy centres (or nerve bundles) throughout the body. They are Mooladhara (Root
chakra), Swadhishtana (Sacral chakra), Manipooraka (Solar plexus chakra),
Anahata (Heart chakra), Visuddha (Throat chakra), Ajnah (Third eye chakra) and
Sahasrara (Crown chakra). This yoga practice is
related to the awakening of the seven psychic centres or “chakras'' that exist
in every human being. The mind is made up of different subtle layers or Pancha
Koshas. Subtle layers are The anna-maya (food body or physical body at the
grossest level), The prana-maya (body made of vital life force or prana), The
mano-maya (body made of mind), The vijnana-maya (body made of consciousness)
and The ananda-maya (bliss body at the subtlest level).is gradually associated
with a higher level of consciousness. Each of these levels is associated with a
different chakra or psychic energy centre located throughout the psychic body.
There is one more chakra other than these six, which are associated with planes
below the human level. In all, there are psychic centres that connect us to the
levels of the animal mind, to the spontaneous realms, or to the sublime heights
of consciousness. In Kundalini Yoga, one awakens the higher chakras and the
activities associated with these higher psychic energy centres. The basic
method of awakening is to emphasize deeply on these chakras and induce their
stimulation. Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandhas and other Yoga mantras are used
to stimulate awakening.
7. Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is the path of devotion to work or duty. When one loses consciousness and is completely immersed in God, he can produce masterpieces. Losing consciousness means losing identity while working, thus leaving only a selfless duty. Generally, certain benefits follow our duty, and one gets attached to rewards. The ultimate goal of karma yoga is the detachment of the mind and to become the perfect instrument of super consciousness in this manifested universe. In the early stages of karma yoga, the person has a strong sense of ego, consciously or unconsciously, and he is associated with the results of his work. At least there is a compliment or appreciation, but through constant engagement at work and a change in mental attitude, one can certainly separate oneself from the ego and from one's own personality. In this state the work worships God, it becomes spiritual, and the person becomes adept and accomplished. He attains stability of mind in all situations and under no circumstances does he become restless or delighted. He is divine, and his works represent the will of God. The essence of Karma Yoga, extracted from the Bhagavad Gita states "The world is confined to its own activity, except when it is doing things that worship God." So everyone needs to consecrate every action and perform the duty without attachment to the consequence or outcome or result. Karma Yoga is a vast topic and elaborated on in Bhagavad Gita.
8. Kriya Yoga
The word Kriya means 'activity' or 'movement', which refers to the act or movement of consciousness. The verb also underlines some kind of practical or elementary training that leads to the complete merger with conscious energy as the close consequence of the preparation. Kriya Yoga does not prevent mental fluctuations but creates conscious action and awareness. In this way, all our faculties are integrated and synchronized to their entire potential. Kriya Yoga originated in ancient times and developed over time through practice and experience. The complete form of Kriya Yoga consists of more than 50 actions, of which only 25 or more are known. Kriya practices are recorded in many Tantric texts written in Sanskrit. Swami Paramhamsa Yogananda propagated the practices of Kriya Yoga in Europe and the USA from the secret teachings described in ancient texts of the Upanishads.
9. Swara Yoga
"Swara" is a Sanskrit word for sound. It is also a continuous flow of vital air (prana) through the nostrils and is also called Pranayama. Yoga means the union of body and mind with the ultimate consciousness. Not only Swara Yoga is a science that realizes cosmic consciousness through controlled breathing, but also a comprehensive study on concentration over-breathing manipulation. Pranayama is in many ways related to respiratory control. By practising Swara yoga, you can get relief from sunstroke and various seasonal and adverse physical and mental conditions. So it is a more comprehensive way of relaxing the body and mind through pranayama.
10. Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga is the Yoga of kings and this was developed by Swami Vivekananda. He derived and compiled it from Hindu Upanishads and especially from Sage Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras to suit the common people since it is very difficult to understand and assimilate. He propagated this meditation in AD 1893 during his visit to the US for the conference on the world parliament of religions. Raja Yoga Meditation is a form of practice available to people of all backgrounds and in simpler terms. It has no rituals and can be practised anytime, anywhere, which makes it unique, simple and easy to practice. Meditation is a state beyond the daily consciousness that initiates spiritual empowerment. Spiritual awareness gives us the freedom of choice between positive and negative thoughts. Instead of reacting to situations violently, we practice magnanimity, endurance and perseverance. We begin to live in unity, we create better, happier and healthier relationships and bond to the changes of the world and start to live for the better.