Yoga is a series of mental and physical tasks that bring the practitioner out of the material world and uniting the inner person with the Supreme Being. For most of the yoga types, there is no one way to practice them. Each type has its guidelines, but each type also has a specific emphasis. Some yoga types are focused on finding truth, while others seek mental strength or calm through meditation. Some types have remained in their original form, while others have been changed in modern times. Some types of yoga start by reciting a mantra, some with poses called asanas, and others begin with practiced breathing exercises.

Easy and relaxing, hatha yoga remains a popular type of yoga in the United States. Hatha is practiced by sitting quietly in a relaxed state before beginning the various poses. The poses are done gently and with grace to avoid any overstretching. The bhakti yoga goal is love. The main objective is to express love for God. Bhakti yoga is practiced by picturing God nearby. The bhakti practitioner sends love to the Supreme Being and attempts to keep that love flowing constantly.

Karma yoga focuses on achieving selflessness in order to better serve humanity. In karma yoga, selfless actions are the fastest path to the goal. The positive acts of the practitioner draw positive actions to them. Karma yoga is one of the Hindu worlds’ most popular types of yoga. Mantra yoga requires repeating a mantra in order to achieve a state of stillness. Once that stillness is gained, the practitioner stops repeating the mantra and gains a deep state of meditation. The goal of the meditation is to achieve a larger sense of consciousness.

Jnana yoga practitioners seek out a higher level of knowledge. Jnana uses meditation to achieve enlightenment after thoughts and feelings are left behind. Kundalini yoga seeks to strengthen the connection between the mind and body. A part of kundalini yoga is using sexual experiences in order to strengthen the bond. Physical touch is used as a means to connect the body and the emotions. The focus of purna yoga was a way to improve the next life. The way it is practiced now, the focus is on the current life’s spirituality. Purna yoga has a set of poses and techniques for meditation, as well as nutrition, that bring about enlightenment. Seeking a larger spirituality, purna practitioners seek to love themselves.

Raja yoga is often referred to as classical yoga. This yoga type is a way of achieving better physical and mental harmony. Raja yoga achieves a state of holistic healing that makes life more peaceful. The poses of raja yoga are meant to prepare for meditation and to keep the focus on the mind.