The Main Paths of Yoga as Discussed in Yoga Instructor Courses

The term yoga itself means "union", the union of the individual awareness or soul with the Universal Consciousness or Spirit.  As most of the people perceive that yoga is only as good as physical exercises, these are actually just the most artificial aspect of this philosophical science of revealing the infinite abilities of the human mind and soul. 

There are four main paths of Yoga namely Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga, and Jnana Yoga.  Each of these paths is suitable to a different outlook or approach to life.  All the paths lead eventually to the same goal - to union with Brahman or God - if true wisdom is to be achieved then all the lessons of each path need to be incorporated.  Karma Yoga is the Yoga of Action.  It is the path opted mainly by those of an outgoing nature.  It can purify the heart of an individual by teaching to act selflessly without thought of gain or reward. One learns to redirect the ego by the act of detaching one’s self from the fruits of his or her actions and offering them up to God.  In order to achieve this, it is beneficial to keep the mind determined by reciting a mantra while engaged in any activity.  Bhakti Yoga is all-surrendering dedication through which one struggles to see and love the holiness in every creature and in everything, hence maintaining an unending worship.  Raja Yoga is the science of physical and mental control.  It is sometimes called the "royal road" because it offers a far-reaching method for directing the waves of thought by turning the human’s mental and physical energy into spiritual energy. 

Raja Yoga is also known as Ashtanga Yoga referring to the eight limbs leading to complete mental control.  The main practice of Raja Yoga is meditation.  It also includes all other approaches, which helps one to control body, energy, body senses, and mind.  Hatha Yoga is a system of physical postures, or asanas, whose deeper purpose is to cleanse the body, giving one consciousness and control over its inner states and rendering it suitable for meditation.  When the body and energy are under control, meditation comes naturally.  The Hatha-Yogi uses Relaxation and other exercises like Yamas, Niyamas, Mudras, Bandhas etc. to gain control of the physical body and the sensitive life force called Prana.  Jnana or Gyana Yoga is the philosophical path.  To gain the capability to distinguish between realism and fantasy is the main focus of this path. This is the path of wisdom, which highlights the application of discriminative intelligence to attain spiritual liberation.

All these and more are just some of the things that trainers impart to instructors when they enter the 300 hour yoga instructor courses NJ in yoga schools near them.  An RYS 300 hour yoga instructor courses NJ advanced training is intended to build upon and intensify the trainee’s understanding of the basic concepts of the practice and teaching of yoga that are commonly taught at the RYS 200-hour level.  These courses prepare its trainees to educate principles and methods of yoga that are more progressive, more comprehensive, and/or more subtler, and the training allows them to teach with greater skill than could sensibly be expected of an RYT 200.