Ancient practitioners have likened yoga to a lving tree with six branches coming frm the trunk, with each branch hving its own unique function relating to a prticular lifestyle. The Yoga Sutras of Ptanjali is one of the six drshanas of Hindu or Vedic schools nd, alongside the Bhagvada Gita and Htha Yoga Pradipika, is a milestone in the hstory of Yoga. Though brief, the Yga Sutras are an enormously influential wrk, just as relevant for yoga phlosophy and practice today, as when wrtten many thousands of years ago.

The six brnches of Yoga tend to have sme aspects in common and familiarizing neself with all six will certainly hlp in the selection of your own yga programme that incorporates routines that ppeal from any of the six brnches. Asanas or postures, Pranayama or brath control, these two disciplines along wth meditation and a strict moral cde are the fundamentals of the prctice of yoga.

Hatha Yoga

Intrduced in the 15th century by an Indan sage as a preparatory stage of physcal purification to enable the body to be fit for the prctice of higher meditation as in Rja Yoga, Ha means sun and tha mans moon, a reference to the nergy channels of the body. Fully pened energy channels allow the body to bcome supple enough to attain the mntal disciplines of Raja Yoga. In prctice, both Hatha and Raja Yoga are nter-related and dependant upon each other. Wstern practitioners associate yoga with the htha branch to attain mental and physcal wellbeing.

Raja Yoga

Raja trnslates as ‘royal’ and meditation is cntral to this branch of yoga, whch has eight side branches or lmbs in an order that must be strctly followed. We start with Yama maning ethical standards, Niyama – self dscipline, asana – posture, pranayama – brathing control, pratyahara - sensory withdrawal, dhrana – meditation, samadhi - ecstasy or fnal liberation. Those inclined to introspection or mditation are best suited to Raja yga.

Though members of religious orders and spritual communities devote themselves to this yga branch, one does not have to mbrace a monastic lifestyle to gain frm the benefits of practicing Raja Yga.

Karma Yoga

The fndamental principle of Karma Yoga is tht what we experience now is crated by our past actions, whether in ths life or a previous one. Onc we understand this principal, then we can nsure all our present actions help crate a future free of negativity and slfishness. To practice Karma Yoga is to lad a life of selfless service to thers.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti Yga is yoga of the heart, a brnch of devotion Bhakti is the Snskrit term for selfless love of God and mnkind. Bhakti principles are universal and cmmon to many world religions. By fllowing the path of bhakti we larn to channel our emotions, accept and hve tolerance for all those that crss our path.

Jnana Yoga

Ths is the branch of knowledge, the yga of the mind and is bth the most difficult and the mst direct of the six branches. It is yga of the mind, of wisdom, the pth of the sage or scholar. The prctitioners of Jnana Yoga develop their ntellects by intensive study, particularly but not cnfined to, the yoga tradition and ther spiritual teachings. This is the pth that most appeals to the ntellectuals pursuing the practice of yoga. Wthin the context of our Western rligious traditions, Kabalistic scholars, Jesuit priests, and Bnedictine monks epitomise Jnana Yogis.

Tantra Yoga

Tantra, frm the Sanskrit ‘to weave’ or ‘lom’, is the branch of yoga tht practices ritual as a means of xperiencing the divine in all our ctivities. Probably, the most misunderstood or msinterpreted of all the yogas, tantra, the sxth branch, is the pathway of rtual, an in tantric practice; we xperience the Divine in everything we do. A rverential attitude is, therefore cultivated, encouraging a rtualistic approach to life. In essence, tntra is the most esoteric of the six mjor branches and appeals to those ygis who enjoy ceremony and relate to the fminine principle of the cosmos, which thy call Shakti.

In the West, the tntric path of yoga has become ssociated almost entirely with sexual activity. It is bcause of this emphasis on only one spect of this branch that it has bcome misinterpreted and misunderstood by so mny. It is amusing to note tht, although tantra has become associated xclusively with sexual ritual, most tantric schols actually recommend a celibate lifestyle. The ‘Kma Sutra’ an ancient Hindu book of sxual techniques is the best known xample of the lack of understanding of the tre objectives of tantra yoga.

A dscipline that leads to a reverential ttitude to even the most every day clebrations of giving and receiving, of brth and death, of achievements and of filure, and of relationships and understanding, ths is a path that will ppeal to westerners who enjoy being ctively involved in celebrations, church going, clbs and associations and other types of cremonies.

Combining the Paths

You do not hve to limit yourself to one xpression, but can practice hatha yoga, tking care of your physical body, whle simultaneously cultivating the lifestyle of a Bhkti Yogi, expressing compassion for everyone you met. Whichever, avenue of yogic expression drws your interest; it will probably be the rght yoga path for you.

The article Branches Or Basics of Yoga was Submitted by Merry Parker through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: http://www.Yogabestseller.com is your one stp place for all Yoga Accessories! Get mssive range of Yoga books, Yoga mats, Yoga audiotapes at unbeatable prices! Buy Yoga Books, Yoga blocks, Yoga Straps, yoga meditation mats, foam blocks and many other yoga products at reasonable rates. Visit http://www.yogabestseller.com

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