The Sanscrit term of „jho“ (yoga) has a lot of different meanings, such as connection, uniting, or bonding. We can also understand or translate this word as a way or method to verify a theory by practice. Yogis were people who thought about existing organizations, dogmas and systems, and wanted to reach and find the truth. Originally, yoga, whose roots date back to the ancient history of mankind, included the philosophical contemplations of people in the Indian subcontinent. Only later, different yoga schools and trends appeared, aiming to work with the physical body. The development of the current “modern” yoga derives from Hatha yoga, and dates back to the turn of 19th and 20th century. The interest in modern yoga first appeared among the wider American public and since the 1960s yoga has become a well-known idea worldwide. Today, the term yoga includes a wide range of human activities and thinking.
Literary references mention four main classical styles of yoga. These aim to improve our self-knowledge and self-recognition and to understand processes running both inside the human body and in the surrounding world. In the past, they did not focus primarily on the physical body.
Karma yoga is one of them. Karma means a deed or activity. This type assumes that human beings behave in a way where they do not expect any rewards. Its basis is an unselfish, impartial and unbiased course without clinging to the results of our activities.
Bhakti yoga is another traditional style of yoga. It is a spiritual way of love, compassion, devotion to God, and of humility. It aims to teach us to love the whole universe, to love all human beings and animals and to love ourselves. We can practise Bhakti yoga in many different ways. We can read holy texts, repeat mantras, sing god names, or worship saints.
Jnana yoga is a philosophical style of traditional yoga where we can reach self-knowledge and self-recognition through studying and practical experience. It is a way that uses common sense and wisdom, and it is considered the most difficult. It involves self-questioning, eavesdropping, musing, contemplation and meditation.
Radha yoga is the last type of traditional yoga. Radha yoga is understood to be a royal journey – a journey where people win against themselves. It defines eight steps to master and reach the freedom of our mind and soul: yama (social code how to behave), niyama (personal code), asana (correct body postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (supression of the senses), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), samadhi (insight and immersion). Hatha yoga, derived from Radha yoga, is a much younger branch of yoga, and works mainly with the first four steps. Hatha yoga, focusing on the work with a human body mostly at its physical level, could be consider an umbrella type of yoga for all modern styles.
There are many modern styles of yoga, which predominate in today´s world. We could call them overall a modern posture yoga. Their main goal is the practice of asanas. Posture yoga focuses on the balance, stability and mobility of our physical bodies and the locomotive system. It optimises posture and teaches correct breathing mechanisms. Some of these modern styles attempt to focus on the spiritual, emotional, psychological and mental balance and health, with a higher or lesser effect. Some of them try to include traditional breathing, releasing, relaxing, concentration and meditation techniques. This subheading briefly introduces some selected types only; the ones which are most frequently exercised, or highly specific.
Power yoga is a very popular style, commonly offered in many gyms and fitness centres. It is a dynamic style of modern yoga without any strictly given order of practising the asanas. The style arranges and orders asanas to stretch and strengthen the whole body effectively. Breathing, relaxing and concentration techniques are an important part of the system. The spiritual part, meditations, mantras and other traditional techniques are not included.
Bikram yoga is a highly specific style, sometimes called Hot Yoga. This style means working out in a room heated up to 42°C. The heat has a specific effect on a body; toxins leave the body better, and muscles relax more easily. As for the range of motion, exercising people can get over their natural boundaries more easily. However, this could cause their muscles to be strained or pulled. More minerals may be released than is desirable. Heat and humidity can cause dizziness or fainting.
Jin yoga is another type of posture yoga, most distinctive for its lengthy holding of asanas. People stay in asanas for 3–5 minute or longer. Jin yoga focuses on stretching and relaxing some connective tissues, ligaments, tendons, fascia and cartilage. It can be included to complement other yoga classes to increase the elasticity and plasticity of soft tissues, and the flexibility of joints.
Acro yoga is a specific kind of couple yoga. It combines asanas, techniques of touch and communication, and work with “the other” body. Two people exercise, one of them often lies on their back to provide a stable base for the other person. Partner asanas, circle ceremonies, acrobatic flights and Thai massages are included in acro yoga.
Hormonal Yoga Therapy (HYT) is a modern yoga style focused on the harmonization of hormonal balance in a body. It is considered effective for many dysbalances and dysfunctions of the endocrine and reproductive systems. HYT is a certified system which includes a firmly set-up asana practice involving breathing and relaxing techniques derived from Hatha and traditional yoga. Tibetan energy techniques are also involved. A specific massage of selected inner organs performed by specific breathing techniques, yoga nidra and relaxation aims to bring a desirable effect. Its author is Dinah Rodriguez (*1927), and the system is protected by copyright.