‘In yoga, this is how it is: 12 years of hatha plus six years of raja yoga plus three years of mantra yoga, plus one year of laya yoga is equal to the effect of just one year of kundalini yoga.’ (Aquarian Teacher Manual). Which doesn’t discredit other styles of yoga – it’s not about the destination and all about the journey, amiright?
The idea of 22 forms of yoga intrigued me deeply. I did some research into what these might be. This list, like everything in life, is open to interpretation! So, the 22 forms of yoga are perhaps as follows:
Hatha yoga: physical postures and movements (Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Iyengar etc are all forms of hatha)
Dhyana yoga: contemplation and continuous meditation (one of Patanjali’s eight limbs)
Japa yoga: meditative repetition of a mantra, divine name or sacred sound
Naad yoga: yoga of sound vibrations
Mantra yoga: chanting the sacred sounds to focus and project the mind
Yantra yoga: visual meditation with a mandala, image of a goddess, sacred geometry etc
Tratak yoga: visual meditation on the form or image of the guru
Laya yoga: absorption into higher consciousness, merging with the infinite
Bhakti yoga: devotional surrender
Karma yoga: yoga of action or selfless service
Kriya yoga: yoga of ritual action, cleansing actions
Shakti yoga: intentional action to harness energy, strength and power
Raja yoga: goal of yoga, enlightenment/liberation/samadhi
Guru yoga: focus on the master as a route to enlightenment
Sahej yoga: yoga of mastery, completion, union with infinity
Jnana yoga: using the mind to penetrate Maya (illusion) to discover the true nature of the Self
Sankhya yoga: knowledge and insight about the true nature of Self
Advaita yoga: truth, realisation of non-duality, merging with the infinite Self
Kundalini yoga: yoga of awareness and awakening
Siddha yoga: developing superpowers (Yogi Bhajan’s siddhi was to make it rain at will, but there are others such as manifesting vibhuti – protective sacred ash – or to be in multiple physical places simultaneously)
Tantra yoga: sacred techniques to clear and transform the subconscious mind (White Tantra in kundalini yoga)
Astanga yoga: based on Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga rather than Pattabhi Jois’s series
‘Japa Yoga is part of kundalini yoga, as are shakti yoga, laya yoga, bhakti yoga, raja yoga, and hatha yoga. Laya is the contact of the sound of the mantra. Mantra is the formation of the notes and the scale of the sounds and its applied actions or potency. Jappa is the technology, shakti is the power, bhakti is the devotion in it. Raja is the royalty of philosophy that gives you gracefulness. Hatha is the union of Ha and Tha, the mastery of polarity. These seven form kundalini yoga.’
Well, for me kundalini yoga contains all 22 forms of yoga!
Sat nam x