Yoga is an ancient practice originating in India that aims to unite the body, mind, and spirit. Ancient yoga styles such as Hatha, Kundalini, Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, Raja, Laya, Mantra, Dhyana, and Tantra offer diverse paths to spiritual growth through postures, meditation, devotion, knowledge, and selfless service.

Theory to be learned:Yoga theory
Field of Science:Psychology, World Religions, Sports
Prerequisites:Basic concepts from Hinduism.
Relations to Super* Theory: Presenting the idea of different dimensions of spiritual practice.
Level of Difficulty
★★★★

I now understand the existence of the Almighty Lord, the universal unity. He has created Himself and radiates like the sun, He is behind all darkness; and because of this understanding, I no longer fear even death. I declare to you, this is the Way, the only Way to salvation, the ultimate goal of every human life, eternal joy, and bliss. - Yaju 31.18

Original or classical yoga styles have their roots in ancient Indian sacred scriptures and philosophical texts. All modern yoga styles are, to some extent, based on these same methods. The original yoga styles included the names presented in Table 1.

Table 1. Classical Yoga styles.

Yoga Style Summary
Bhakti Yoga The yoga of devotion and love, surrendering to a higher power (Brahman) and worshiping it through prayer, song, and rituals.
Dhyana Yoga The path of meditation and contemplation, aiming for the realization of the self through mental concentration.
Hatha Yoga Focuses on physical postures (asanas) and breath control (pranayama) to balance the body and mind. The modern version is Ashtanga Yoga.
Jnana Yoga The yoga of knowledge and wisdom, seeking self-realization through self-study and the study of sacred texts.
Karma Yoga The yoga of selfless service and action, seeking spiritual growth through detached duty and action.
Kundalini Yoga Includes dynamic movements, breath work, chanting, and meditation to awaken spiritual energy and vitality.
Laya Yoga A spiritual practice aimed at dissolving the old persona so that the true self can emerge and unite with universal consciousness (Samadhi). Laya is said to work from the top down.
Mantra Yoga The use of sacred sounds or words (mantras) for spiritual growth and self-awareness. The idea is to learn to tune into different levels of consciousness.
Raja Yoga Also known as the "royal path," emphasizes turning inward away from the external world. The inner state of the human soul is opened through meditation and control of the body and mind.
Tantra Yoga A spiritual path originally based on poetic metaphors to express divine love and unity. In modern times, divine love has been mixed with sexuality.

The ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve a connection with God - a God who is beyond the principle of selfishness (the ego). According to yoga theory, Raja yoga is the most final form of yoga, towards which the spiritual process aims. According to the original wisdom of yoga, a person's spiritual process should involve practicing all of the above yoga styles evenly, not just one of them.

A wise and innocent person, who has dedicated themselves to the service of humanity, is eternally beloved by God. They achieve unity with God. - RIG.6.2.2

Connections to the Super* Theory

The theory of yoga presents the idea of different dimensions of spiritual practice, which are also strongly present in the adoption of the Super* Basic Exercise. The idea of the Super* Theory is to present and justify these dimensions using modern language and techniques."

References:

Bhagavad Gita. (n.d.). 

House of Truth. (n.d.). Maailmanrauha – Kirjeitä maailman ihmisille. https://houseoftruth.education/fi/kirjasto/totuuden-talon-julkaisut/maailmanrauha-kirjeita-maailman-ihmisille/kirje-hindulaisille

Patañjali. (1975). The Yoga sutras of Patanjali : the book of the spiritual man : an interpretation. London:Watkins.

Yogapedia.com. (n.d.). What is Laya Yoga? - definition from Yogapedia. https://www.yogapedia.com/definition/5309/laya-yoga 

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023). Hatha yoga pradipika. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatha_Yoga_Pradipika