by Tirtha Acharya | Jan 13, 2018 | Yoga
Kripalu yoga was founded by Amrit Desai in the United States in the name of his Indian Guru Shree Kripalvananda. The etymological meaning of Kripalu is a very kind person or a companionate person in Hindi language. Kripalu yoga starts with the understanding of the structure of our body and how to really start poses. It should be considered that the body of every person is different and we should do yoga with our body’s quality.
We have to respect the quality of our body and mind in doing yoga. If our mind is more logical, we have to add the study of the knowledge too. Some can dedicate themselves to some higher being, for those the prayer is suitable. We should not start yoga with reading books or watching the videos but we have to practice yoga by knowing our body’s quality perfectly in the guidance of a trained yoga teacher.
There are a lot of yoga styles in the world among them Kripalu yoga is the genre of the Hatha yoga system. Mainly yoga teaches us how to live our life more energetic, happy, and joyful, disease free, and without mental pressure. In yoga three parts of practice are important. Body is the outer part of our being. Body is the first part of yoga practice.
We should start our journey with our body. The mind is the second layer of our being and our spirit is the last part of the being to open. To nourish our body is easy task than other parts of being but it has blockages from the beginning of our life so we have to give more time open the blockages of the body. If our body becomes pure, our journey starts to be easier. If we overcome our body we can enter into our mind.
Kripalu yoga is different in the sense that it holds the poses more than other yoga types. When we hold longer the poses, we get the different experience and can have the more benefits. Holding the poses brings us into the deep relaxation. The meditation is more emphasized in this yoga.
It focuses on the relaxation than other styles of yoga. In the beginning, this yoga seems to be very different than others but when we adopt we feel the different taste of this yoga than any other yoga styles in the world. The poses are the same from the old tradition of yoga but its beauty is in its doing because it gives us deeper satisfaction.
Kripalu yoga focuses on the internal inspiration and the spirit. Our spirit has the capacity to be anything in this world. Kripalu yoga is the best way for the transformation of our body, mind, and spirit. Kripalu yoga is designed in a simple way so that everyone can perform. This yoga is for everyone who wants to do yoga in their life. This yoga can be said the gentle yoga. Kripalu yoga helps us to be strong for inner side and gives us the inspiration to life with lively.
As the goal of every yoga styles of the world, Kripalu yoga has its goal to harmonize our body, mind and spirit. This yoga aims to join our self with the universal self. The ultimate purpose of Kripalu yoga is to be enlightened in our life. When we receive enlightenment in our life, we can be happy every moment and help to promote humanity.
Humanity seeks such activists who are selfless in their life and advocate the message of peace and prosperity. To make this world beautiful and livable, we have to work for the change of the consciousness of the people. We have to spread the knowledge of yoga all around the world.
Kripalu yoga helps to make our body vital and our mind calm. This yoga can make us relief from our stresses and discomforts of the mind. It gives us the positive attitude to see our life and this world. This yoga specially focuses on our daily life and how we can apply yoga with our busy life.
No matter in which situation we are, we can apply this yoga continuously. This yoga teaches us to love all the aspects of our life and all the parts of the world. The most beautiful part of this yoga is that it inspires us to love the self. We have to love our body and our pure self, which cannot be seen but can be realized.
By loving the self, our relation becomes pure and spotless. We cannot love to others if we can’t love ourselves being sincere. This yoga also teaches every human society to love every one of the world for the sake of humanity. As mentioned before Kripalu yoga gives the emphasis all three dimensions of our life, body, mind, and spirit. All three are the important factors of our life and we have to purify all of them. If we can’t make pure our body, we can’t enter into our mind.
When yoga balances all the systems of our body, then our structure becomes healthy and sound. If we can’t improve our state of mind, we never can go into the spirit level. We have to eliminate all the blockages in our body first and then blockages of the mind. When we make our mind pure, the gateway to our spirit will open and we can easily encounter with our true self.
Kripalu yoga brings us into the clarity of the mind and fitness of the body. It is helpful for the meaningful life in this world. It is not only the way to have the life of our choice but also it is the medium to have a wonderful experience in our life. It is the balance of natural and the materialistic life.
Every one of the world search for the way out from the day to day hectic life and this yoga become the weapon of bringing us to the heavenly life. Body is regarded as the temple to live God, it is the sacred place and we should keep it pure. Scientists also discovered that where there is clean, there can be found positive energy. Kripalu yoga focuses on the prayer to establish our divine relationship.
by Tirtha Acharya | Jan 12, 2018 | Yoga
The word “Tantra” is a Sanskrit word which means a technique or a technology. Tantra also means a systematic applicable, “instrument, system, practice, text, theory”. The Rigveda gives the meaning of Tantra as “weave, wrap or loom”. It also gives the meaning to expand and explore. The scripture in Sanskrit states,-“Tanyate vistarayate gyanan anenan iti tantram” which means “Knowledge is weaved through tantra and expanded”.
Tantra is a spiritual or inner technology. We can find the meaning of Tantra as “principal or essential part, model, feature, main point, feature” in the post-Vedic text. Tantra Yoga requires subjective method, not an objective method. It is an individual method. It is found that the earliest definition is exposed in the ancient texts of Panini, Patanjali, and the literature of the language focused, ritual-oriented Mimamsa school of Hindu Philosophy. Tantra is found in different religion. Hindu mostly associate tantra with its goddess called Shaktism. It is followed by Shaivism, Ramanandi, Vaishnavism etc. Tantra is also found in Buddhist literature. Different sects of group practice tantra in their own ways.
Nowadays maximum people link the “tantra” with sex and sexual activities. But it is a misconception. It is true that Tantric practice improves sex life and can give control over sex. However, this is the only byproduct. The main purpose of Tantra is to reach up to enlightenment state. Sex is a basic instinct and the powerful energy. The pleasure that sex gives, is perishable. Tantra gives bliss, satisfaction and pleasure, is sustainable. Tantra gives the strength to reach up to Samadhi.
We can also say that Tantra transforms sex energy to divine energy. It controls all the human instincts like love, hate, greed, lust, ego, anger etc. and transforms. It is the truth that whatever can degrade you, it can upgrade you as well. Unbalanced food, alcoholic drinks, and uncontrolled sex can ruin an individual. However, if there is a systematic way for these three things, then these can lift the individual up. Tantra uses these things as key for the progress of the individual. The sexuality tends to find release at the lower level of energy while tantra is to build the energy from the basic level to the uppermost dimension of the energy system.
It is said that there are 114 energy manifestation centers throughout the body, referred chakras. The energy can be spilled from these centers. In order to build these centers, every basic instinct, like sexual instinct, anger instinct, greed instinct, emotion, intellect, etc must be under control and it should be built. Our whole instinct must be dedicated towards the particular goal.
If one goes towards negative act, the entire built-up energy and our ambition may be lost. Sometimes people start using the certain substance in the name of Tantra. If people do not follow a limit and a strong discipline then it will be an only addiction. So they miss the path. This is an external part of Tantra. The internal part of tantra is a completely opposite path on the tantra system which is original and subject.
Tantra makes realize that an individual is able to use his energy to make the things happen. To make different task possible one may have to may not have to use his body or mind. Tantra accumulates the strength from all the types of human instinct which makes the impossible to be possible. Tantra draws all the sciences like astrology, numerology, palmistry, chemistry, alchemy, Ayurveda, psychology, geometry etc. Whatever the things are required for the human beings in their daily life for their perfect life, those all things are combined together and applied in tantra yoga.
Tantra aims to take an individual to the super-conscious state. Its purpose is to expand awareness in all state of consciousness, whether moving state, unmoved state, dream state or sleep state. Our entire life is guided ignorance and unconsciousness. We are not aware of our activities. Our mind is indulged and attached to selfishness, greed, illusion etc. So human beings do a lot of mistakes. As we become aware then we can be free from these things. All the blockage of the path starts being cleared. We cannot do any mistake when we are conscious.
For the practice of Tantra Yoga, there is a strong unification of Asana, Pranayama, Bandha (energy Lock), Mudra, Mantra, and Chakra (energy center). Besides, visualization of deities, Yantra, meditation is an inseparable part of tantra yoga. It is a special combination to improve biology, psychology which develops an individual in all aspects.
The purpose of tantra yoga is to awaken Kundalini Energy. These types of yogic practices are very helpful to meet the purpose of Tantra Yoga. This helps to know all the factors that influence thoughts and feelings to go beyond the obstacles arising due to ignorance. It refreshes the thoughts, instincts, and emotion and creates peace and harmony. As we progress on the path tantra promotes a one-pointedness and centeredness to free from the limitation and explore the consciousness.
There is a universal rule of creation, preservation, and destruction. This is caused due to two principles: static and dynamic principle. The inner part is static and external part is dynamic. This universal rule exists till the universe exists. The desire (ichha-shakti) of Brahma (the divine) is the motivating force for this eternal process. Many spiritual sciences state that one should renounce all the desire in order to get enlightenment.
But Tantra never says so. The trial to be desireless is itself a strong desire. Thus it is paradox about desirefulness or desirelessness. Yet it suggests the individual to be happy and satisfied with what one possesses. Desires are natural and it remains till we live. When the desires mislead the people, they run after it. Their uncontrolled emotion and instinct may ruin their life and blocks the path of progress. People become the slave of their desire. Tantra Yoga provides the key to reprogram the mind and become its master. It teaches to be the master of own mind and desire. Tantra Yoga saves from being the slave of the mind.
by Tirtha Acharya | Jan 9, 2018 | Yoga
Iyengar yoga is the type of Hatha yoga named after its founder B. K. S. Iyengar. It is also the combination of the three parts of yoga, Postures, breathing exercise and meditation as most of the Hatha yoga systems in the world and its popular part is perfection in postures.
Its beauty can be seen in the complete way of doing postures. It focuses on going postures from simple to complex. Iyengar yoga’s main features are flexibility, stability, and awareness. This yoga seeks perfection in the postures and the perfect result from doing yoga. Perfect postures can fulfill our passion for yoga in our life and give us the complete satisfaction and benefits. Iyengar said that postures are an essential part of yoga journey in our life but they are not the end aim of yoga.
Iyengar Yoga is helpful to all types of people. It doesn’t discriminate anyone but it wants to collect everyone in its boundary. Iyengar yoga is for everyone and it wants to keep in its surrounding to every person of the world. Either someone is strong or weak; there is the place for all of them in this yoga. Iyengar yoga is the set of yoga which can be practiced by the different category of the people.
B. K. S. Iyengar managed more than 200 types of classical yoga poses in his own modality. He further re-categorized different breathing exercises in his own system. Iyengar yoga is a development of the practice of body, mind, and spirit to be liberated in life as the main purpose of the most of the yoga types of the earth. This yoga first focuses on the postures because postures are the beginning part of yoga. If we can’t do postures perfectly, we can’t go ahead perfectly. After getting perfection in our postures, we can go ahead in the field of spirituality more confidentially.
The base of Iyengar yoga is the eight limbs of Patanjali’s ‘Yoga Sutra’, the first scientific book about yoga and one of the most famous scriptures of Hindu philosophy. Eight limbs of Patanjali are the main foundation of yoga in modern times. This formula has the scientific ways to apply yoga in our daily life. This scripture describes the different levels of the spiritual path and gives the guidance to those who really want to walk in the path of yoga.
In Iyengar yoga, the structure in poses is very important. This yoga is also good for the physical and mental well-being. It can help to heal most of the mental and physical diseases and prevent us from many illnesses in our life.
How this yoga is different than other yoga types may be the main concern of the people who are searching the best yoga type to start in their life. Why do we have to choose this special Iyengar yoga in our life among many types?
Iyengar yoga is designed by considering the small and small factors of our body. It focuses on the arrangement of our body when we perform yoga. It uses the different types of props in the practice of yoga. Using props is especially for the people who can’t perform yoga due to their weakness. Those props help us to maintain the balance of our body.
Iyengar yoga for the sick and weak people uses supports to make comfortable. For the support, we can use sandbags, benches, blocks, straps etc. Those kinds of props can be very comfortable for our muscles. They are the real ways of making the less muscular effort while doing yoga.
In doing postures of Iyengar yoga, students should be alert being calm in the parts of the body where they are feeling the sensation. They have to bring their awareness to each breathing and body parts where there is the pressure. When we do yoga, our attention should be only on doing asanas because awareness is the most important factor in yoga. Slowly we become habitual in doing asanas. We don’t have to sleep but we have to be silent, peaceful, and emptiness. We should be fully conscious.
Iyengar yoga is different than other types of yoga because the teachers of this yoga are highly experienced and they know how to teach yoga to different personalities. Teachers teach Iyengar yoga in their direct observation for every student of yoga. In the class of Iyengar yoga, we can find the more supervision from the side of the teacher.
Teachers focus our every part of doing yoga and if we do some mistakes, they correct us immediately. The power of observation of the teacher is very appreciable because they are trained by such deep level to fit them to teach at a micro level.
The beginning part of the Iyengar yoga is the standing poses and simple postures. Slowly, there will be forward bending and back bending. After that, twists, inversion, and restorative poses are practiced. At the last part of the yoga session, there will be a deep relaxation.
For the deep relaxation, there usually can be done Savasana (Corpse Pose). When we do Savasana at the last part of the session, all the discomforts will disappear, satisfaction and peace of mind can be found. We can be in the state of bliss if we practice Iyengar yoga regularly for a long period of time.
Especially, we do Iyengar yoga for the flexibility of our body and to stretch our muscles. If we hold the postures for some minutes, our muscles start to be relaxed and toned. To keep our mind calm, we should do Iyengar yoga. Iyengar yoga helps us to be free from the pain of our body.
This yoga improves our postures of the body’s parts such as the neck, back, and legs. Postures can help us to increase our self-esteem and self-respect. Yoga helps to strengthen our immunity power which prevents us from the diseases. Yoga frees us from the blockages of our body which is the best way to be protected from the diseases.
Iyengar yoga helps us to make our lifestyle better. Our lifestyle becomes simple when we start Iyengar yoga. In Iyengar yoga, we learn how to make better our eating habit which is the healthy eating habit. This yoga can also upgrade our breathing and respiratory system. It helps to make our mind alert and body fit.
Iyengar yoga helps us to increase our stamina and concentration power which is very useful to boost our memory power. This yoga can be the turning point to those who want another way of living in the world. Meditation can heal the stress of our mind that we gain the strength for our day to day busy life.
Iyengar yoga is based on the gradual development of the difficult Asanas which help us to go in the deeper level in meditation. Meditation is the main dose of our spirit. If we can go into the deeper level, we can experience the higher state of happiness.
Iyengar yoga helps us to bring back the energy and the happiness in our life. It opens the most beautiful part of our life, positivity. It adjusts all the misbalances of our life and gives us the natural solutions for every problem which are connected with our life. For this very reason, Iyengar yoga can be the best yoga if you are searching one of the yoga types in your life.
by Tirtha Acharya | Jan 8, 2018 | Yoga
Nada means sound and yoga means union. Nada yoga is the part of yoga where individual’s mind is unified with the cosmic consciousness through the flow of sounds. The theory of nada states all creatures of the cosmos consists sound vibration, called nada. According to Nada yoga, the building block of the universe is moving sound energy rather than matter and particles. The universe is the projection of sound alone.
The nada Yogi believes that one eternal sound has created all five elements, five sense organs, five work organs, the fourfold mind, and the three gunas. Therefore they have the belief that a single divine sound is the creator of every seen and unseen things. The entire cosmos is a creation of that sound. Nada Yoga is the way to access and according to sound. The way of attaining the Samadhi through sound is called Nada Yoga.
Sound plays an important role to achieve a deeper combination with both outer and inner cosmos. The vibration of sound or music is also used to remove the problematic psychological and spiritual condition. It also removes the obstruction in the individual consciousness. These sound vibrations clean the barriers for Samadhi path. Actually, Samadhi is the state of pure awareness which transcends mind and body.
In this phase one discovers knowledge about body and world, emotional and cognitive intelligence and then an expansion of Atma (soul) into Nada or Shabda Brahma (God of Sound or word). Beyond it, there comes the experience of the Nirgun Brahma or pure consciousness. The practitioner remains on the witness stage.
All the parts of human body produce the sound. These body parts want to react and communicate with the sound of cosmos. They try to unify with the divine sound. But due to our busy lifestyle, we are unable to separate time to unify with the divine sound or Nada. As we practice to identify and hear the nada then our goal to the final destination will be successful.
The center of Nada is a matter of experience. Different types of practitioners trying to find the center of nada in different places of the body. Transcendental nada is said to be situated in the different centers. A devotee (Bhakata) of god tries to get his lord in Anahata Chakra. A meditator of the third eye tries to find the center of the institution in the Ajna chakra.
Some other meditator and Vedantins try to find the center of Hiranyagarbha in Sahasrara chakra (center of a skull). Similarly, Nada Yogis set the center of nada in Bindu. The Bindu is yet to be discovered. There is a center where inaudible, continuous, unbroken, eternal and unbeaten sound rolls on. That center is called Bindu. Therefore to discover the nada one has to find the Bindu primarily and finally.
Nada is expressed in two parts: Ahad Nada (sound produced by striking two objects) and Anahad Nada (self-produced sound). Ahad Nada is also expressed external music and Anahad Nada is expressed internal music. For example sound of clap is produced by striking two palms. So this sound is called Ahad Nada. The aim of Nada is to take Ahad to Anahad. Ahad is external aspects and Anahad is internal aspects. First Nada is created and unify the mind with the Nada.
As the practice becomes perfect, it takes to Anahad. “Aum” chanting is one of the best sounds for this work. Aum is the primal sound and uncreated vibration through which the universe is created. It is also the sound of the sun. Aum is the seed of all other sounds. The Anahad sound is heard at Anahat (heart) Chakra. From subatomic particles to bacteria and worms, from earth and moon to entire solar system, everything has their own sound and music.
Distant galaxy, newborn stars, black holes etc all have their sounds. The entire universe hums with its sound frequency. As we also hum with a frequency of universe, we unite with it and transform from Ahad to Anahad. This process is known as Nada Yoga.
Besides, there are four types of Nada Yoga
Para Nada
It is transcendent sound. It is beyond the access of sense organ and mind. It reveals the truth that sound is heard in the different dimensions in the sphere of super consciousness.
Pashyanti
The second stage of nada is subconscious sound. It has less frequency and more gross than para. Pashyanti is a Sanskrit word which means “that can be visualized or seen.” In a dream, sound can be perceived. The dream is neither conscious nor semi-conscious. But it is the part of the sub-conscious mind.
Madhyama
It is mental sound. It has lower frequencies than para and pashyanti. It is subtler than audible Vailkari.
Vaikhari
It is spoken a sound, so it is audible to the ears. It is producible by friction or by striking two things against one another.
As we practice nada yoga it heals the body, recovers mind and balances the person to become a fully functional person. It also works as therapy to lead a healthy life. It gives peace to mind, body, and soul. It improves concentration power and thinking capacity. It reduces anger, fear, anxiety, aggressiveness, etc. It creates an environment of joy, peace, and harmony. It refreshes whole mind and body and helps to live every moment to the fullest every day.
Steps for practicing Nada Yoga
- Choose a peace and clean place to practice Nada Yoga.
- Sit down on a mat in a comfortable pose- sukhasana, Vajrasana, siddhasana, padmasana, ardha-padmasana etc.
- With closed eyes, concentrate on breathing. Try to make the breath long and deep.
After doing this, there are varieties of ways for the practice of nada. We can practice anyone ways as we like:
Way no 1) Play a soothing, serene and divine sound. Focus and concentrate on it. Immerse yourself deeper and deeper with the sound. Then slowly shift the focus inwards to the inner and subtle sound. Remain in this state as much as you can. Practice it regularly.
Way no 2) Chant “Aum” for about 5 minutes. Then try to listen to it within the body. The internal listening process can be done up to an hour in one sit.
Way no 3) Practice Bhramari Pranayama for about five minutes. Then remain quite. Now with just closed ears try to listen internal sound. Remain in this pose for ten minutes or longer.
You may like some other types of Yoga: Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Tantra Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Sivananda Yoga
by Tirtha Acharya | Jan 6, 2018 | Yoga
Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion among different types of yoga. In this yoga, a yogi is devoted to the God, higher self or the higher power, universe, the true self or any higher being in this world or the beyond. Bhakti yoga was started in the ancient time. Bhakti yoga is mentioned in Shvetashvatara Upanishad.
The detailed description can be found in the Shreemad Bhagvat Geeta, the most famous holy scripture of the Hinduism. Simply, Bhakti means to love without any condition and doubt. When we love unconditionally to the God or any higher being or things for the purpose of spirituality, we can be in this path. It is also a way to be liberated as in other types of yoga. This yoga is the natural way of getting enlightenment.
The main goal of all yoga is to be oneness with the higher self by practicing different techniques. After all, yogis want to dissolve themselves to the God. Bhakti yoga believes that if our ultimate goal is to unite with the higher self, why we don’t practice of acting as we are already united with the God or higher self from the starting point. If one doesn’t have the total faith, for him or her this yoga is not suitable. Who are emotionally powerful and can dedicate themselves to the God or to the higher self are the real devotees of this Bhakti yoga. Intellectual personality can choose the Gyana yoga for their spiritual quest.
There are many ways in Bhakti yoga. The most famous way is to sing hymns to the God whom they love and make their beloved God. The Bhakti yogis forget everything and surrender themselves to their beloved God. Yogis make the hymns by praising to their favorite Lord. There are many lords in Hinduism to pray such as Shiva, Debi, Krishna, Bishnu, Ram etc. It is believed that God exists in all the particles of the world. There is nothing which doesn’t have the presence of God so if we feel the presence of God in anything; we can realize the existence of God.
In most religions of the world, devotion to the God is essential because it is an easy way or the effective way to attain God. In the Christianity also we can find the devotion to the Christ to find the God. Christ is the main lord to devote to the Christianity. There is great value in praying to the Christ in the Christian religion.
It is believed that love to the Christ leads us to the salvation or to the God. Praying is the main way to dedicate them to the Christian culture. They believe that the seat of the heaven is secured to whom who pray to the God in the name of Christ. Christ is the son of God and he is the representative of God in this world to give the message of God to the people of this earth.
Bhajans and Kirtans are the main part of Hindu culture. In Hindu culture, Hymns are the inseparable part of every aspect of their life. In every function of the Hindu culture, there are the different types of hymns of songs to celebrate. The main purpose of those songs is to praise the almighty God.
Hindus offer their food to the God before they eat. They think that it is not good to eat without offering the food to the God first. They have the opinion that God is our guide; he is the real security in our life. If we become the right hand of God, we never have to be frightened in our life for anything. This types of activities are also the example of Bhakti yoga.
Bhakti Yogi believes that whatever happens in our life, that happens for the good reason. There can’t be mistaken for the God. God puts us in the right place at the right time. There is not any doubt about God or the creator. There never can be replaced anything and any event. God’s choice is always right and he never fails to make this world beautiful. They enjoy the creation and become grateful to the God for this beautiful world.
Bhakti yogis think that every part of their life is the gift of God and they pray to God for giving them abundance in their life. They never ask anything in their praying but they become thankful to be the part of the God in this world. Bhakti Yogis worship making the statues of the God they love. They think the real God of the statue and respect that statue as their lover or beloved. Sometimes, they forget themselves in the worship of their beloved God. They forget to eat and sleep because they sink in the worship that they don’t feel the time and place.
Some of Bhakti yogis find their Guru is the reflection of God and devote to the Guru as he is the representative of God in this world. At last, the devotion converts into the salvation to those who are really believed in the existence of God. This yoga is the person who never doubts the existence of God. Who is skeptical about the presence of God cannot go with this yoga. For him or her, Gyana yoga is suitable. Yoga can be chosen by the quality of the person.
In Shrimad Bhagvat Geeta, Lord Krishna said not to be fearful. If we surrender everything to Lord Krishna, he is the protector of all the dangers in the life yogis but for that, they have to totally believe him. Bhakti yoga believes that what we love that we become. If we love the higher self, sooner or letter we become dissipated with the higher self or the supreme power. Our love to the God determines how fast we will get salvation in our life. If we love God totally forgetting ourselves, we can be at the deeper level.
Bhakti yogis think about only God in their mind whatever they do. Their body does many things but the mind always repeats the name of God. They become aware of reciting the holy name of God. For Bhakti Yogis, there is nothing important than to worship the God and to praise the God’s Grandeur. For them, God is omnipotent and omnipresent.
Some person gives their love to the people and believes totally. One day they are deceived and become sad and live sorrowful life. They become unhappy in their life because they put their belief in the wrong place. If we put our belief in the wrong place, we surely get betrayed. There is the right place to put our love that is God or higher self. If we can put our love to the supreme power, we never have to be deceived. And that becomes the way of Bhakti yoga.
by Tirtha Acharya | Jan 5, 2018 | Yoga
Integral Yoga integrates everything: body, mind, spirit. It is the combination of six parts of yoga: Hatha, Raja, Bhakti, Karma, Jnana, and Japa Yoga. This theory states that an individual requires these six parts of yoga for all-round development. The Goal of Integral Yoga, According to Swami Satchidananda Saraswati:
“The goal of Integral Yoga and the birthright of every individual is to realize the spiritual unity behind all the diversities in the entire creation and to live harmoniously as members of one universal family. This goal is achieved by maintaining our natural condition of a body of optimum health and strength, senses under total control, a mind well-disciplined, clear and calm, an intellect as sharp as a razor, a will as strong and pliable as steel, a heart full of unconditional love and compassion, an ego as pure as a crystal, and a life filled with Supreme Peace and Joy.”
Swami Satchidananda Saraswati brought Integral Yoga to the west from India. It is taught according to sage Patanjali and Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. So it includes all branches of Astanga yoga: Yama, Niyama, Aasana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi.
Shree Aurobindo has also talked on Integral Yoga. He aimed to human being to achieve deep and wide spiritual consciousness through integral yoga.
The Six Branches of Integral Yoga
Hatha Yoga
Hatha refers to the practice of physical yoga postures. Power yoga, Iyengar, Astanga, Vinyasa are all hatha yoga. The word “Hatha” gives two meaning- the first is ‘willful’ or ‘forceful’ or yoga activity. The second is: ‘ha’ means sun, ‘tha’ means moon, the yoga of balance. Hatha yoga aligns and strengthens the body.
It also calms the body, mind, and spirit and prepares for the meditation. Yoga asana helps to increase awareness on body and breath. As awareness and consciousness increase; one proceeds to the path of enlightenment. Swami Satchidananda wants Yoga asana to be “steady and comfortable.” So overexertion or force is avoided during the yoga pose. It should be practiced with rest and relaxation bestowing for meditative motion.
Raja Yoga
Raja means ‘king’. It also means ‘best or chief of its kind’. It means the highest stage of yoga. Hatha Yoga is one of the paths to reach the Raja Yoga. In the 19th-century, Swami Vivekananda summarized the Raja Yoga with “Yoga Sutras of Patanjali”. Raja Yoga is a path of meditation and self-discipline, based on ethical principles.
The practice of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali strengthens and harmonizes all aspects of the individual, engrossing in Self-realization. The Yoga Sutras are not just philosophy or intellectual game but it is the tool for Raja Yoga. Swami Satchidananda fostered his disciples to put into the practice manifesting that, “Raja Yoga is a golden key to disclose true spirituality, health, happiness, peace, and joy.
Bhakti Yoga
It is the path of loving and devotion towards the God. There are different names of the God. The individual can be a devotee on any name of the God. This is the practice to cultivate love and devotion toward God. The teachings on Bhakti Yoga draw references from the Bhagavad Gita, Shreemad Bhagwat Mahapuran and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. This teaching asserts Bhakti i.e. devotion aids the practitioner on the path to enlightenment.
There are many ways of Bhakti. Normal practices of Bhakti include bhajan (song on the name of God), kirtan (a form of call-and-response chanting), “dancing on God’s song”, puja (worship), prayer, “persistent reminiscence of the divine” etc. Some of the examples of Bhakti Yogi are- Mira Bai, Prabhupada, Akka Mahadevi etc. In Bhakti internal attitude of gratitude is expressed externally, which is said to be Devotion or Bhakti. Ego, selfish wanting etc are released by the Bhakti.
Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is the act of selfless service. All the efforts without desire for fruit are called Karma Yoga. The egoless efforts for others’ good are also known as Karma Yoga. The Karma Yogi dedicates all the deeds to the lord. It reaches meditation in action. Any work that is dedicated to god is itself is a path to enlightenment. As practitioner generates love towards all beings he starts selfless serving. It is the yoga of giving without expecting anything in return; thinking of the actions themselves as an offering to the divine. Being loyal to all of humanity, perceiving the lord within all beings and working for common happiness is the essence of Karma yoga.
Jnana Yoga
It is the path of wisdom or knowledge in the Integral Yoga. Jnana Yoga is related in search of the truth. Different types of study, analysis, awareness, etc are required to proceed towards the path of truth. The ceaseless effort of knowing the truth helps the practitioners to stop identifying themselves with their bodies and minds, and realize the unchanging “witness” within.
Jnana yoga focuses on separating the self from mind, body, and situation; and understanding the self as a permanent observer. This path is comparatively difficult. Janan Yoga helps to be free from delusion about the self and world. To awaken consciousness and awareness, Integral Yogi’s practice reflection, self-inquiry, study, and meditation. A part of the mind stands back and observes; this part of the mind is the witness to everything.
Japa Yoga
It is the yoga of repeating mantra or name of God. In Bhagawat Geeta, Lord Krishna says, “Yajnanam Japa-Yajnosmi-Among Yajnas I am Japa Yajna. Swami Satchidananda advised that Japa Yoga is one of the easiest methods to develop a successful meditation. Jnana Yoga requires mental sharpness while Japa Yoga does not require it. So it is an easy method for all.
Mantra has divine power. When one continuously enchants mantra, that mantra creates “cosmic vibration” in the space. His mental and spiritual body adapts to cosmic vibration. It creates the path to the goal. There are various types of Mantras. However, mantras received during initiation could be more beneficial. It is not necessary that mantras should have some meaning. Repeating any types of mantra with devotion can be a mantra.
You may like some other types of Yoga: Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Tantra Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Nada Yoga
