Although yoga is more concerned with practice than with theory, a basic idea of the philosophical aspects will help the practitioner know what he is trying to do and achieve in yoga.

Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ which means to unite. Yoga is unity. The final attainment of yoga is the experience of the unity of the individual soul (jivatma) with the cosmic soul (paramatma).

The aim of yoga
Yoga is really a step-by-step build up of practices that develop and transform the personality. At first it strengthens a person to better master the daily challenges and tasks but the ultimate aim and purpose of yoga is samadhi, nirvana, mukti or kaivalya. These states represents a state of perception, a state of being, which is beyond the manifest personality.

This transformation of personality: consciousness, energy and mind is the spirit of yoga.

Yoga is not an ancient practice buried in oblivion but a very alive and living culture today. It is a timeless and eternal culture representing man’s need to evolve and transcend limitations. Yoga places the highest importance to knowledge, but this knowledge is a deep experiential, intuitive, transcendental knowledge, not just intellectual theorizing alone. It is the practical aspect of different complimentary philosophical systems of India. We will briefly touch on three of these philosophies: Tantra, Samkhya and Vedanta.

Tantra can be called the mother of yoga. Mythology says yoga was the science first taught by lord Shiva to his consort and disciple Parvati.
The moment man first started to ponder about his existence and his relationship to the universe the philosophy of tantra was born. The word tantra comes from two Sanskrit roots Tan and Tra, the roots represent the words tanoti ‘to expand’ and trayate ‘to liberate’ respectively. Therefore etymologically tantra means expansion of consciousness and liberation of energy.

The philosophy of tantra says there are two ultimate realities: consciousness and energy, shiva and shakti; it further says that these two forces are only apparently two that in essence they are actually one. Therefore the symbol of ardhanareshwar: shiva/shakti depicted as one. Yoga is the practical aspect of tantra.The purpose of yoga in tantra is to unite these two apparent realities energy and consciousness and experience it as one ultimate reality.

Samkhya is an atheistic realism and an uncompromising dualism. Yoga is the practical side of Samkhya philosophy. The basic premise of samkhya is that the universe is made of two separate and distinct ultimate realities: purusha and prakriti, consciousness and matter. Samkhya further says that the nature of the jivatma (the individual soul) is pure consciousness (purusha) and that the confusion lies in its identification with matter/mind (prakriti). So the aim of yoga in Samkhya is to separate purusha from prakriti to separate consciousness from matter.

The path of Raja Yoga given by Rishi Patanjali is based on Samkhya philosophy. Patanjali defines yoga as the state and the process by which there is the cessation of all the modifications of the mind (the mind here is seen as a subtle form of matter), for it is only then that pure consciousness can regain its true identity. It is only then that the true self, purusha, is free from the bondage of matter, prakriti.

Vedanta is the ultimate non-dualstic philosophy. Vedanta advocates only one ultimate reality whose nature is pure consciousness. There is one and only ONE, all else is an illusion, Maya. In Vedanta that ONE is called Brahman, and all the manifest world is his Maya, his play. So the aim of Yoga in Vedanta is to dissolve all sense of duality so that one may reunite with one’s own true nature, which is the undivided ultimate reality.
The maha vakyas are the ‘great statements’ given in the Upanishads to describe this ultimate nature –  Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahman), Tat Twam Asi (Thou art that).

THE BRANCHES OF YOGA
There are many branches in yoga but for the true yoga practitioner the divisions between the branches dissolve because a particular branch only emphasises one technique and facet of the personality over the other and no branch is exclusive to the other, rather it is best to combine the branches and practice a yoga of synthesis.
Only one dimension of yoga doesn’t produce the best results. If we emphasize only the physical dimension of yoga and reject other forms of yoga, then the development in the personality will be lopsided and not integral. We are not just the body, the emotions, the intellect or the psyche. It is the combination of all these that makes up our personality, so it is best to practice a combination, integrated yoga. Here’s a look at some of the most popular branches or paths of yoga:

Raja yoga
Raja Yoga as given by Sage Patanjali is a system by which one can discover the dormant areas of mind and consciousness. In his Yoga Sutras Patanjali has divided the process of yoga in to eight stages: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. He has described yoga as a subtle discipline aimed at mastering the ability to experience a cessation of all mental modifications, so that the seer can abide in his own true luminous self.

Hatha yoga
Hatha Yoga does not only signify yoga asanas. Hatha yoga is the yoga of balancing and purifying the body and energy system. Hatha yoga is meant to balance the sympathetic and Para sympathetic nervous systems. Ha represents the solar energy and tha represents the lunar energy. The techniques of hatha yoga purify, balance and activate the pranic and psychic energies of the body preparing the practitioner for the higher and more subtle practices of yoga.

Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion, it the system of yoga that relates to the emotional personality. It relates to the very powerful and very potential emotional energy. If one can understand and handle this energy, then feelings and emotions become a very positive and elevating force.
Bhakti yoga is a method of channelling the energy of feeling and emotion for the discovery of the Self, the inner being. It is a process that streamlines and balances restless, excited, up surging, distracted emotions, depleted or surplus emotions, conflicting and confused emotions, giving these emotions a positive direction and expression. It is said to be the safest, fastest and most exalting path to union.

Karma Yoga
This system of yoga relates to the daily activities we do from morning till night. In karma yoga there is a certain philosophy to life and action. It says it’s not what you do but how you do it that is significant. It is a form of yoga in which you are fully participating in life but at the same time you are merely acting, you remain a witness to the actions, it is a very subtle point of not involving the self. It is the yoga of non-attachment and yet perfection in action.

Jnana Yoga
This is the yoga that begins with an intellectual inquiry to the nature of existence and reality. It is a process of contemplation and meditation leading to the realization of the absolute truth and reality. The big pitfall here would be to remain stuck on the intellectual plane. The aim is to transcend the mind; to expand the mind to perceive beyond the intellect and senses. It is a difficult path only for those with an intuitive, discerning intellect and a burning passion to know the truth or else it remains a mental philosophy.

Mantra Yoga
Mantra Yoga is a very profound science based on sound vibration. Mantra is the means of transmission between guru and disciple. The mantra given by a guru which one practises everyday with regularity ultimately causes the inherent dormant energy to awaken, to explode. There also are some universal mantras which can be chanted by everyone without specific initiation by a guru such as the mantra Om, the Gayatri mantra or Maha Mritunjaya mantra. These mantras are chanted for specific benefits or overall concentration, peace and well-being of mind. The sound vibrations soothe and balance the body energy.
Mantra yoga is a profound and accurate science based on the relation of sound vibration to thought and matter. It is one of the basic techniques of tantra.

Kundalini Yoga
This system of yoga is concerned with awakening the psychic/energy centres, called chakras in Sanskrit, which exist in every individual. The mind of every individual is made up of various levels of subtlety. Each level of mind is associated with a psychic centre or chakra located through the psychic body.

Kriya yoga
Kriya yoga deals with the purifying, balancing and awakening of the inherent energies in the body.