An Introduction to Yoga

Yoga is often viewed as an Eastern form of exercise, perhaps as useful as aerobics, but characteristized by postures far too difficult to duplicate. Firstly, having contorted myself into said postures, the exercises are similar to the stretches every athletic team performs before games and no harder than jogging. Aside from this aspect of yoga, this new fad is defined by Swami Patanjali as "that which destroys the vagaries of the mind." The main purpose of yoga is to control the mind and body, producing the detachment described in the Bhagavad Gita. There are actually five different paths to material detachment, and, ultimately,to god: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga, and Raja Yoga.

Karma Yoga: Yoga of Action

The essence of this philosophy is "do your duty." The word "karma" most will recognize as meaning something like "moral residue," which makes no sense. Karma, as I have come to understand it, is the weight on a soul left by past lives. An action done with good intentions yeilds good karma; bad intentions yeilds bad karma. Any karma means "unfinished business," which inevitably causes one to be reborn. The goal is no intentions, preforming an action because it is one's duty and for no other reason. When one has no karma, there is no need for reincarnation, and the soul rejoins God. This concept of intentionless action is called Nishkama Karma -- work without desire.

Jnana Yoga: Yoga of Knowledge

Deep contemplation and study of God and the nature of the universe describes this path. It is often considered to most difficult, probably because all knowledge is erased upon each new birth. For more information, Swami Vivekananda methodically discusses this complex yoga in his book on Jnana Yoga.

Bhakti Yoga: Yoga of Devotion

The goal of this yoga is a single minded devotion to God to the exclusion of all else. At the pinnacle of love, one achieves a complete union with God and freedom from human emotions. Bhakti Yoga is considered the easiest but also the most treacherous, for such devotion can lead to fanaticism if approached without a guru or knowledge of this danger.

Hatha Yoga: Yoga of Postures

This yoga is the most popular in the United States. A healthy mind cannot exist in an unhealthy body. These exercises increase flexibility and muscle control without increasing muscle mass. The precise postures and breathing patterns help calm the mind and harmonize the body and soul.

Raja Yoga: Yoga of Meditation