History

The science of yoga origins from the culture around the Indus-Saraswati river more than 5000 years ago. In the classic scriptures on yoga, the science is elaborated: The experiences of the sage Patanjali are gathered in the Patanjali Sutras, dated to somewhere between 200 B.C till 200 C.E. This scripture encompasses amongst significant verses, the description of the eightfolded path of Patanjali. Another fundamental text is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, from the 15th century C.E. This work is derived from older Sanskrit texts and Yogi Swatamarama's own yogic experiences. It includes information about shatkarma, asana, pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis, and mudras among other topics.

Yoga as we know it in the west today stem from two lineages of major influence.

Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1889-1989) influenced the emphasis on asana practice in yoga strongly, and brought Hatha yoga into its central current, as the signature of yoga today. Many modern schools of Hatha Yoga derive from the school of Sri Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, who taught from 1924 until his death in 1989. Among his students prominent in popularizing Yoga in the West were; Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, faithful and famous student and founder of the vigorous Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga style, B.K.S. Iyengar who emphasizes alignment and the use of props, Indra Devi and Krishnamacharya's son T.K.V. Desikachar who developed the Viniyoga style.

Parallell with Krishnamacharyas influence, Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh (1887-1963) and his many disciples, also spread yoga through the west.  His disciples includes Swami Vishnu-Devananda - founder of International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres, Swami Satyananda - of the Bihar School of Yoga, and Swami Satchidananda - of Integral Yoga, among others.

The paths of yoga

The different paths embodies our intentions in the practice, and how we approach and understand the surroundings. Following is the distinction between the four general paths to liberation (salvation or moksha) described; Bhakti, Karma, Raja and Jnana yoga.

Tantra - mainpath, energy. To become aware of teh different energycharacteristics, becoming conscious and compassionate about yourself, and caring for your own spiritual health.

Bhakti - devotion. Emotional compassion for the divine - the path of love and compassion. Devotes to Divine in heart and mind. The Hindu term Bhakti means the way of the heart referring to the spiritual practice of fostering loving devotion to God. It can be seen as a process of reunion with the Beloved that revolves around offerings of love and devotion and it includes such practices as worship ceremonies and chanting the names of the lord. The path of bhakti includes all artistic expressions of the heart and every emotional gift of the spirit.

Jnana - knowledge. The intellectual path to wisdom and consciousness through ex. introspection and spontaneous self-analysis. In Sanskrit Jnana means knowledge, and is often interpreted as knowledge of the true self. It is the way of the mind, and through this path we seek the wisdom that lies within every experience. It is the path of remembering and recognizing our divine nature through discrimination, the application of the right knowledge, and the refinement of our deepest understanding. Through Jnana we allow ourselves to trust deeply in the power of the mind to reveal the heart's greatest qualities.

Raja - Royalyoga. Combines all paths of yoga. Union is reached through consentration and meditation. Raja yoga of Patanjali, royal yoga, describes the entire process of absorption in God-consciousness using one-pointed meditation as the central practice. This path begins with a purification of the mind (yamas) and spirit (niyamas), then comes to the body via asana (body postures) and pranayama (breath). The eight limbs of Raja Yoga, or Ashtanga yoga of Patanjali are; Yama, social ethical precepts; Niyama, personal ethical disciplines; Asana, physical posture; Pranayama, breathing exercises; Pratyahara, withdrawal of the senses; Dharana, mental concentration; Dhyana, meditation or unbroken mental focus; Samadhi, absorption with the Absolute.

Karma - action. The path to balance and union is reached through non-egoistic actions. Karma yoga is the way of the body and is the discipline of action. It focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. Karma Yoga is the path of unconditionally serving God`s creation through physical action and right livelihood for the sake of both joy and dharma. It is described as a way of acting, thinking and willing by which one acts in accordance with one's duty (dharma) without consideration of personal selfish desires, likes or dislikes. One say that Moksha (salvation) or love of God (bhakti) can be attained by performing duties in an unselfish manner for the pleasure of the Supreme.

Hatha yoga is spiritual practice of realizing God using various asanas and pranayamas as the focus. The meditative is realized through asanas. It differs from the Raja yoga in that it focuses on shatkarma, the purification of the physical as leading to the purification of the mind and prana, or vital energy. Hatha Yoga is what most people associate with the word "Yoga" and is mainly practiced for mental, physical health, and vitality outside of India. Based on the meaning of the word hatha, it can refer to the union or integration of different entieties or opposites such as maskuline and feminine, hard and soft, mind and body, right and left, Spirit and Matter, and the Known and the Unknown. This tradition is otfen described as the yoga of willpower, though not by forcing what is unnatural, but use the inner power. This includes the force of love, action and knowledge to create a life of fulfilling discipline.

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Introduction
Benefits
Styles