What is Yoga ?
-Definition of Yoga and the Six Branches of Yoga

Yoga is the worlds oldest system of self development and encompasses Mind, Body and Spirit.

There are many forms, styles and practices of Yoga. They all share the same aim that of connecting and uniting with the divine.

The Ancient Yogis had a great understanding of mans essential nature and his needs to live in harmony with himself and his environment.

They believed that the pyshical body was a vehicle and the mind was the driver, The soul was the mans true identity.And action, emotion and intelligence are the three forces which pull the body/vehicle.

In order for these to intergrate the three forces must be in balance.The Yogis formulated a unique method for maintaining this balance.

A method that incorporates all the movements that you need for physical health with the Breathing and Meditation techniques that ensure peace of mind.

Some techniques of Yoga date back more than 5,000 years. In ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, long life, and  self-understanding gave birth to this system of physical and mental exercise which has since spread throughout the world.

The term Yoga originates from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning  "to yoke, unite, join together as one."

Yoga is best known as a type of exercise that stretches and strengthens the body through exercise, breathing and meditation. There are many different styles of Yoga which have their own unique practices and philosophies

Six Branches Of Yoga

Each yoga branch is developed to serve different needs and purposes, but, as a general rule, they all serve the purpose of harmonizing and identifying the equilibrium between body and mind. In what follows, we are going to take a closer look at different yoga branches.

* If you are interested in increasing your well-being state, you should direct yourself to the practice of hatha yoga, which is considered to be one of the primary forms of modern physical therapy.  Apart from meditation, which is the common practice for all yoga branches, hatha yoga teaches you a series of important postures (known in yoga terminology under the name of asanas) and breathing exercises (entitled pranayamas).

* Another common and highly appreciated branch of yoga is the karma yoga, which promotes the principle according to which everything that happens to us in our present existence is a direct consequence of our previous actions.

 As a result, karma yoga encourages its practitioners to try to eliminate all the negativism and the selfishness from their present, in order to avoid having to deal with them in the future.

* Another branch of yoga, which, this time, places a great accent on the meditation, is the raja yoga.  Known also under the name of classical yoga, raja yoga is a more complex form of training, which is why it typically starts with hatha yoga, in order to prepare the body for more advanced training stages.

Studies have demonstrated that the persons attracted by this form of yoga are, as in general, more introspective people, interested in profound meditation. Moreover, various religious groups devote themselves to this yoga path, which is close to a monastic or contemplative lifestyle.

* Jnana yoga is a branch of yoga directed mainly to the scholars and it implies a development of the intellect through the study of yoga tradition 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.

* Another popular yoga branch, which promotes and sustains the idea of devotion, is the bhakti yoga.

 The main message transmitted by this yoga path is that there is something divine in any form of creation. Thus, it is important to tolerate, accept and respect any forms of life we come in close contact with.

These are, without any doubt, only a few of the various yoga branches or paths, but, nevertheless, the important thing is that anyone can find a yoga practice, which is able to promptly suit his or her needs of finding the inner equilibrium and peace.

Tantra Yoga is the path of ritual and possilbly the most misunderstood path. Some may think of Tantra yoga as sorcery, witchcraft, or some mysterious formula.Most people percieve Tantra Yoga as sexual. All of these perceptions are far from truth.

Tantra is the knowledge concerning Tattva (Truth or Brahaman) and Mantra (mystic syllables). It utilizes rituals to respectfully experience the sacred in  everything we do, not just sex though sex is part of it. Tantra Yoga practitioners must have purity, humility, devotion,courage, dedication to his Guru,cosmic lovefaithfulness,contentment,dispassion,non-covetouness,and truthfulness.

Hatha Yoga  is the most popular Yoga practised in the West and is the physical component, the postures and breathing exercises, of a broader path called Raja Yoga. Hatha translates as sun, ha, and moon, tha, and so Hatha Yoga literally means sun and moon joining together as one. 

Anyone can practice Yoga. You don't need any special equipment, clothing, or lessons; all you need is the will to pursue a healthier and happier lifestyle.

The Yoga Postures and Asanas exercise every part of your body. The stretching involved helps in toning your muscles and joints, including your spine.

Yoga not only helps to improve your body but also aids in keeping  your  internal organs in radiant health. By releasing  mental and physical  tension, you will liberate vast resources of energy.

The Yogic Breathing Exercises known as Pranayama revitalize the body and help control the mind, leaving you calm and refreshed; combine this with the practice of positive thinking and Meditation, and the result will be increased clarity, mental power and concentration.

Yoga and your Lifestyle

Embracing Yoga can enrich your life on many levels, helping you to find inner calm in this fast and stressful world we live in, whilst promoting total body health.

Many people start Yoga to keep fit and tone their bodies, other people have to start Yoga to help with aliments such as backache or to help with the recovery after an operation.

Whatever your reason for starting Yoga you will begin to feel energized which will positively affect your mental and emotional well being, allowing you to feel at ease and more complete in yourself. This will have an knock on effect within your relationships and the way you deal with life and all of its challenges.

 To understand what Yoga is all about, you need to experience it for yourself.  

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