Continuing the Paths of Yoga, I’m delivering to you the practical side of this mysticism that thousands of people around the world use to achieve spiritual growth, and body purification. According to yoga experts, its early practice reduces the risk of developing most of the common illnesses. And according to Yogis, masters of Yoga, its exercises can deepen your meditation.

Practicing physical yoga is not difficult, and it can be done by anybody including babies, children, teens, and adults; one just needs to perform different asanas which are defined as bodily poses. In a great scale, there are dozens of easy positions that students must learn, and there are others quite singular that need a little touch of flexibility. Also, there are a kind of prescribed asanas for each specific body constitution, so that students reduce all risk of injures.

The most popular styles of yoga are Hatha Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga, but there’re other styles of Yoga taught and practiced today.

Below is a short guide of the most common disciplines derived from Hindu Yogis. Remember, first thing to do is to ask for your physician’s advice before getting involved into any exercise activity.

Hatha Yoga:

Hatha yoga is basically the type of yoga that requires asceticism, physical and breathing techniques to reach a certain pure and spiritual level. If it’s your first time hearing the word “asceticism”, don’t worry because it is a state of abstinent, a condition we all can achieve in life. Now, the goal of Hatha Yoga is to condition the body in a way that any perfomer can reach in meditation.

Vinyasa Yoga:

Vinyasa is exactly a breath-synchronized movement in yoga which means that all poses or asanas will flow from one to another and being coordinated with breathing for a transformative and balancing effect. According to its series of postures called Sun Salutation, this style of yoga tends to be more dynamic making it popular also by its balance on awareness and alignment, as for strength and flexibility.

Ashtanga Yoga:

Ashtanga, which means “8 limbs” in Sanskrit, is a rhythmically fast, intense set of yoga practice always performed in the same order.Ashtanga Yoga is physically demanding and it is meant for people seeking body strength, flexibility and workout including challenging series of postures with Ujjayi Breathing and vinyasas. In yoga terminology, this is called “flow”.

This process leads to an intense internal heat and a prolific sweat that purifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind.

Iyengar Yoga:

Iyengar Yoga focuses on alignment. In yoga, alignment describes the correct way in which the body should be stationed in order to obtain the maximum benefits of the pose. Iyengar Yoga works like this: Performers hold a posture for a longer time than the other Yogas, and repeat it several times. Its practice builds strong legs, and improves circulation, coordination and balance.

It is this discipline that pioneered the use of “Props” such as yoga blankets, cushions, belts, and benches used to bring the body into alignment and to provide support and diminish the risk of injures.

Kundalini Yoga:

This type of yoga uses a system of meditative techniques and movements related to the concept of intensified life-energy-pranotthana-. Typically, Kundalini Yoga teachers use fast-paced and repetitive movements often coordinated with in-calls and response chanting.

The emphasis in Kundalini is on the breath in conjunction with physical movements which also gives special consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system due to the freeing of energy in the lower body and allowing it to move upwards.

Bikram Yoga:

Known as “Hot Yoga”, this discipline is designed for a sequence of 26 asana yoga postures and 2 breathing exercises that are performed in a heated room between 95 – 100 degrees Fahrenheit (35 – 40 degrees Celsius).

As I have seen, this type of yoga demands the repetition and holding of each posture for a certain time accompanied by the “breath of fire” to warm and stretch muscles whilst oxygenating each organ an fiber for a healthy temple (body).

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The great sage Patanjali in his work Yogasutra codified all yogic knowledge and practices which prevailed in ancient India in the form of aphorisms. He defined Yoga in a simple way as – controlling of thoughts arising in the mind(I.2). The nature or work of mind is to think or desire always. As waves are generated along the seashore, so thoughts are generated in the mind incessantly. In order to fulfill these desires man acts relentlessly. When thoughts are controlled or prevented, the outwardly moving mind turns inwards. The sphere of the activities of mind contracts and mind comes to the center. At the center of mind lies the true self or soul(atman).

True self or soul is the source of life and consciousness in all living beings. In fact soul, life and consciousness are one and the same and constitute the only truth in the whole universe. The Upanishads which contain the spiritual cream of Indian Philosophy, describe that soul(atman) is Brahman, the ultimate Reality. World is not different from being, being is not different from Atman and Atman is not different from Brahman.

When thoughts in the mind are controlled, Yogasutra describes – the the seer rests in his true self(I.3). When all thoughts cease to exist, mind becomes pure conscious. As water is purified through filtration, so mind is purified by controlling thoughts. The pure conscious mind is the true self of a being. So through the practice of Yoga one regains one’s true self and nothing else.

Everything has a true self or true nature. The nature of sugar is to give sweetness, the nature of water is to give coolness and the nature of fire is to give heat. When a piece of gold is purified bu burning, it does not change over to any other thing, but becomes pure gold. Only a pure gold is appreciated and is more valuable. Similarly when the mind attains purity, it does not change over to any other thing or merge with something. When mind is pure conscious, it is pure bliss. The real nature of a being is its blissful state. In order to achieve this blissful state people of all religions wander here and there in search of God.

Religious people concieve of a God who is a divine being residing in heaven. This concept and imagination is only the reflection of true self. Heaven is the heart of a being and God is the true self. It is the true self or soul that impells an individual to seek for God. After long searches here and there, one returns to one’s true self and realises Gog within.

So the aim of Yoga is to realise this true self or God. Such a God is only real and existent. He gives life and consciousness to all beings. All worlds, all beings and all souls are one and the same. This is the ultimate Truth or Reality.

The author Premansu Chand is an Indian who practices Patanjali Yoga in its purest form. He has published his first book “Quest for Truth: the spiritual and yogic way” recently. More information relating to spiritualism and yoga can be received from this book.