Four paths of yoga

• What Yoga involves

  • Yoga aims to achieve union of the self with the deity through self discipline and worship 
  • Yoga involves concentrating deeply on God - either as the non-personal Brahman , as the more personal bhagavan , or as the god within , antaryami
• How yoga helps Hindus and other people

  • Practicing yoga helps Hindus reach moksha 
  • Yoga comes from Sanskrit word meaning “discipline” or “yoke” 
  • Yoga helps Hindus and non-Hindus to live better lives and reach inner peace 
  • Many Westerners use yoga as physical exercise or as a path to well-being 
  • Hindus use yoga to help them let go of negative feelings
• The 4 paths of yoga

  • Karma yoga 
  • Jnana yoga  
  • Ashtanga yoga 
  • Bhakti yoga
• Karma Yoga

  • Karma yoga is the path of selfless action 
  • Is for those doing good actions in the world whilst aiming to free the soul from the desire for money or success 
  • Requires the performance of special rituals  , e.g. havan (sacred fire sacrifice) 
  • Examples of karma yoga include giving to charity or improving the local environment
• Jnana Yoga

  • Jnana yoga is the path of knowledge and understanding requiring a learned teacher 
  • It is a stricter path for those giving up worldly pleasures to focus on God’s non personal nature 
  • Followers hope to reach self realization through studying scriptures and a guru’’s guidance 
  • Followers try to be one with Brahman and see the world as a harmonious whole 
  • Examples of jnana yoga are treating people equally and believing that divisions due to race and wealth are illusions due to human ignorance
• Ashtanga Yoga

  • Ashtanga yoga is the path of meditation 
  • The focus is on meditation and finding God within the heart 
  • It is followed by ascetics at Kumbh Mela and also those who practice transcendental meditation , reciting mantras 
  • Examples of ashtanga yoga include meditation at places of pilgrimage and using mantras and prayer beads
• Bhakti Yoga


  • Bhakti yoga is the path of personal devotion 
  • It aims to develop loving devotion to God - It focuses on loving service and worship of a personal God , bhagavan , as a way to reach union with God 
  • It teaches that everything belongs to God 
  • Examples of Bhakti Yoga include meditation meditating before an image of Krishna in the home each day