TYPES OF YOGA for all ages

TYPES OF YOGA for all ages

This is among the most practiced forms of yoga. Here, the aim is to get rid of anxieties or apprehensions that usually clutter our mind. This also includes letting go of one’s ego or desires that can often become compulsive or addictive. This kind of yoga is particularly useful for those who are struggling to let go of a disturbing part of their past.

JNANA YOGA

This is among the more advanced forms of yoga that is not meant for beginners or those struggling to get their focus right. Also referred to as the yoga of higher knowledge, Jnana Yoga teaches its followers to use the mind to transcend any bodily pain or conflict. This kind of yoga requires a lot of self-discipline and the ability to be honest with oneself. Meditation is an integral part of yoga here and often Jnana Yoga experts talk about liberating the mind. Here, the idea is not to gain more intelligence but to gain from greater self-realization. This requires deep meditation and often, months of practice.

MANTRA YOGA

As the title suggests, Mantra Yoga stresses upon voicing chants or prayers. This usually includes repeating typical sounds or mantras to alleviate the pain or psychological problems. A single phrase or word might have to be repeated endlessly. There is usually a way of recommending the syllables to a follower, based upon the kind of pain or problem and his overall, bodily constitution.

KUNDALINI YOGA

Considered one of the oldest, most effective forms of yoga, it is usually followed by yogic gurus. Kundalini Yoga has often engaged controversy too due to its slightly-confusing approach of combining abstinence and indulgence in sex. This form of yoga teaches going celibate to attain spiritual growth as sexual activities are regarded detrimental to self-introspection or enlightenment. Later, sexual interaction is used in a particular manner as a means of enhancing one’s spiritual gains. Also called Tantric Yoga, this branch of yoga stresses upon using the Kundalini—a kind of psychic energy that can be tapped if sexual restraint and indulgence are systematically used.

These are just some of the many types of Yoga practiced across the world. Some yoga forms have been modified and renamed by popular yoga gurus though the basic aim of every variation of yoga remains the same. Learning a bit about various types of yoga and finding a capable, learned yoga teacher is perhaps the first step towards approaching yoga, correctly.