There are many types of yoga to suit the individual’s needs and personality. No two human beings are alike and they have different takes toward the goings on in the world. Approaches to different situations they face are different and each of them has a way to go about dealing with them and working out a solution. Yoga has something to offer to everyone and it is up to the practitioner in consultation with his or her teacher or guru to sort out which one would be best suited. If you are not too sure about yourself, then some of the types may appeal to you or one of them might interest you and you can decide on what is best for you before approaching a teacher.

Bhakti yoga or intense devotion

bhakti yoga


Bhakti Yoga is all about devotion. If you are the devoted type who can put all his money on god and remain oblivious to all that happens with the strongest conviction that all will be well in god’s grace, then you should choose Bhakti from the types of yoga. It is intense love for god and it is as old as the mountains and the seas. Bhakti has been all through human existence when the fear of the unknown became a predominant concern to pray for well being of ourselves and our loved ones. It consists of hearing about god and his name and singing through devotional songs. Remembering god and his presence through worship is one of the types of yoga Bhakti. Surrendering yourself to the will of god is the ultimate in Bhakti yoga as you give up your ego in intense devotion.

Karma yoga or selfless service

karma yoga


Among the more active types of yoga is karma yoga or selfless service. To the western mind, the idea of god through the eyes of humanity and life that exists on earth can be best understood form the selfless services by people in the poverty stricken regions of the world. Many Americans work for aid agencies risking their lives in Africa and other places where humanitarian crisis and problems abound.

They don’t care for their lives as they brave the war zones to help out as workers, health professionals and teachers to educate the poor. Of the types of yoga, karma is about selfless service to god through humanity as human beings are not divorced from god. Dating back to nearly 1000BC, by practicing karma yoga, there are never any demands for the fruits of one’s actions.

The Ashtanga yoga of Pathanjali dates back earlier to 5000BC is about our 8 limbs and 8 fold paths. You need to adhere to a set of principles and moral codes and practice personal disciplines. Celibacy and non –coveting others possessions are among them and among the types of yoga, Asthanga has also been co-opted in the US with slight modifications to suit the western practitioner. There are yoga postures called asana which includes the lotus posture and breathing techniques. There are others like the one that focuses on knowledge and Hatha yoga. These are the main types of yoga that is popular in the west.

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