Branches of Yoga

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Since time immemorial, the knowledge of yoga has been passed down from teacher to student by oral transmission. In this process as time progressed, practices gradually changed, and this has resulted in the rise of several schools of yoga.

Six major schools of yoga have gained prominence; Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Mantra Yoga. Three other schools of yoga; Laya Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Dhyana Yoga have been accommodated in Hatha Yoga.

All of these divergent forms of yoga share common goals; the enrichment of the individual and the pursuit of the ecstatic experience called Moksha.

We are all unique, however all spiritual seekers are divided into four types based on their tastes, general characteristics and sources of inspiration.

They are as follows:

• Discriminative and reasoning, or philosophical type of individual.
• Psychic type of personality, who responds more to mental stimuli than sensory stimuli.
• Devotional and loving type, who has a greater capacity for feeling and worship.
• Active type, where the dutiful mind can be seen in action.

According to our nature, one method of yoga may be more suitable than another.

Jnana Yoga is ideal for the discriminative type, Raja Yoga for the psychic type, Bhakti Yoga is great for the devotional type and Karma Yoga is suggested for the active type of individual.